Indiana, 1999

Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, September 28, 1999

September 28, 1999 · NWS IWX · 12 events in 7 counties and zones

Isolated supercell thunderstorms developed along a prefrontal boundary the afternoon of the 28th. The strongest storm initiated over White county around 3:00 pm EST and tracked rapidly northeast at 30 knots.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$185,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
12

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS IWX wrote it up.

Isolated supercell thunderstorms developed along a prefrontal boundary the afternoon of the 28th. The strongest storm initiated over White county around 3:00 pm EST and tracked rapidly northeast at 30 knots. This storm was responsible for producing several microbursts as well as dropping torrential rain and small hail throughout its lifetime before it finally dissipated as it crossed the Indiana/Ohio state line that evening. In some places... the hail accumulated several inches deep. The hardest hit areas were across central into eastern Fulton county, especially the Nyona lake area and in Columbia City. Crop losses were likely high especially to the soybean crop but no dollar estimates were available for this storm.

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When
September 28, 3:20 PM EST
Where
Cass County, 7 mi NW of Logansport
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.820, -86.450

Several trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fulton

When
September 28, 3:37 PM EST
Where
Fulton County, 4 mi W of Fulton
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.950, -86.350

Many trees blown down. Several homes sustained minor to moderate damage from fallen tree limbs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fulton

When
September 28, 3:50 PM EST
Where
Fulton County, 4 mi E of Fulton
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
40.950, -86.180

This storm intially developed over white county and intensified as it moved rapidly northeast eventually becoming supercellular across southwestern Fulton county. Initially the public reported a tornado in the Nyona lake area but it was later confirmed by a NWS storm survey team that a microburst had occurred in that area from 2 miles north of the lake to 1 mile south. Numerous trees had limbs broken off and several large pine trees were snapped off taking down many power lines. Extensive damage also occurred to three homes and at least two vehicles from fallen trees. Additionally three boats on the lake were flipped over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Miami

When
September 28, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Miami County, Macy
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.970, -86.130

Several trees and power lines blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Whitley

When
September 28, 4:30 PM EST
Where
Whitley County, 4 mi E of South Whitley
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
41.080, -85.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Whitley

When
September 28, 4:30 PM EST
Where
Whitley County, 4 mi E of South Whitley
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
41.080, -85.530

A few tree limbs and one tree were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Whitley

When
September 28, 4:52 PM EST
Where
Whitley County, Columbia City
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
41.170, -85.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Whitley

When
September 28, 4:52 PM EST
Where
Whitley County, Columbia City
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
41.170, -85.480

Several trees were blown down with many tree limbs down on houses. Extensive damage also occurred to power lines throughout the city with some residents going without power for the entire night.

Hail, Whitley

When
September 28, 5:02 PM EST
Where
Whitley County, Churubusco
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.230, -85.320

Thunderstorm Wind, De Kalb

When
September 28, 5:25 PM EST
Where
De Kalb County, Auburn
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.370, -85.050

Two trees were reported blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allen

When
September 28, 5:34 PM EST
Where
Allen County, 2 mi W of Huntertown
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.230, -85.200

A few trees were reported blown down.

Hail, White

When
September 28, 6:45 PM EST
Where
White County, 2 mi S of Brookston
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.570, -86.850

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Indiana in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, September 1999

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: 5717001, 5717002, 5717003, 5717004, 5717005, 5717006, 5717007, 5717008, 5717009, 5717010, 5717011, 5717012.