Indiana, 1997

Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 18, 1997

May 18, 1997 · NWS LOT · 8 events in 7 counties and zones

8 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Chicago radar (KLOT), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:49 UTC.

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Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Porter

When
May 18, 8:50 PM EST
Where
Porter County, Valparaiso
Coordinates
41.470, -87.050

Trees and limbs downed throughout the county, especially southwest of Valparaiso.

Thunderstorm Wind, La Porte

When
May 18, 9:00 PM EST
Where
La Porte County, La Porte
Coordinates
41.600, -86.720

Damage occurred mainly in the northern portion of the county, with many trees and large limbs down in LaPorte. Some limbs fell across roads and houses.

Thunderstorm Wind, Starke

When
May 18, 9:10 PM EST
Where
Starke County, Knox
Coordinates
41.300, -86.630

Strong winds downed trees north of Knox.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Joseph

When
May 18, 9:13 PM EST
Where
St. Joseph County, South Bend
Measured
81 kt (93 mph)
Coordinates
41.670, -86.250

A 93 mph wind gust was recorded near the Michiana Regional Airport in South Bend. There was widespread damage to trees, limbs and power lines. Trees and limbs fell on houses.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Joseph

When
May 18, 9:14 PM EST
Where
St. Joseph County, Mishawaka
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Coordinates
41.670, -86.170

Trees and limbs downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Elkhart

When
May 18, 9:30 PM EST to 9:40 PM EST
Where
Elkhart County, Elkhart
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
41.680, -85.970

A 75 mph wind gust was recorded at Goshen at 930pm. Winds were estimated at 70 mph or greater at Elkhart, Bristol and Middlebury. Goshen was hardest hit with many large trees and limbs, broken uprooted, down on houses and cars. Most damage occurred around 3rd and Main Streets. Shingles were torn off roof tops. Reported 30 or 40 power poles blown down in the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When
May 18, 9:30 PM EST
Where
Marshall County, Tippecanoe
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
41.200, -86.120

A trailer was blown over, one person was injured.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kosciusko

When
May 18, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Kosciusko County, Warsaw
Coordinates
41.230, -85.830

Trees and limbs downed.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Indiana in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5597957, 5597958, 5597956, 5597959, 5597960, 5597961, 5597962, 5597963.