A warm front attempted to move in during the day, but a strong easterly flow and extensive low clouds and fog did not allow the boundary to mix northward. Low pressure moved from Missouri towards northern Indiana during the evening hours.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS IWX wrote it up.
A warm front attempted to move in during the day, but a strong easterly flow and extensive low clouds and fog did not allow the boundary to mix northward. Low pressure moved from Missouri towards northern Indiana during the evening hours. A line of strong to severe storms initiated ahead of the low and along the warm front and moved into southern parts of the area. A strong low level jet allowed for temperatures and moisture above the surface to increase, causing elevated instability. Damage occurred across several counties in southern portions with much of it occurring at tree top and roof levels, suggesting winds could not fully mix down. Surveys of several areas indicated that brief circulations were embedded within these wind damage swaths, leading to the confirmation of several weak tornadoes.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Northern Indiana wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 19, 6:25 PM EST, 2 hours 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA 725 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011 .AVIATION... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED UPSTREAM ACROSS ILLINOIS NEAR STRONG LOW PRESSURE CENTER. A WARM FRONT EXTENDS EAST OF THIS LOW INTO CENTRAL INDIANA. NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT...A PERSISTENT EASTERLY WIND AND LIGHT SHRA WAS HELPING TO KEEP LOW CIGS LOCKED IN. WARM FRONT EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTH BUT WILL LIKELY REMAIN JUST SOUTH OF KFWA AND WELL SOUTH OF KSBN. INCREASING LOW LEVEL JET THIS EVENING OVER TOP OF THIS BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO HELP GENERATE ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING. LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN IS PRIMARY CONCERN AT TAF SITES WITH THESE STORMS IF THEY DO DEVELOP. MAIN COLD FRONT TO MOVE THROUGH AFTER 05Z WITH LINE OF STRONG STORMS ALONG IT WITH POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WIND GUSTS AND HAIL AS WELL AT TAF SITES. OTHERWISE EXPECT LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN CIGS AND VIS UNTIL MIXING OCCURS NEAR CONVECTION. SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBS SHOW LOW CIGS AND VIS BACK TO COLD FRONT AND NORTH OF WARM FRONT. IFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH SLOWLY RISING CIGS WEDNESDAY. && .SHORT TERM... CONV INITIATION IMMINENT INVOF OF INTENSE SFC CYCLONE OVR WRN/CNTRL MO. DOWNSTREAM WARM SECTOR AIRMASS IS QUITE UNSTABLE AND CONTS TO DESTABILIZE FURTHER W/ADDNL DVLPMNT XPCD ALG NWD RTNG WMFNTL BNDRY AFT 21Z COINCIDENT W/NOCTURNAL LLJ RAMP. MOST OBVIOUS CONCERN IS HOW FAR NORTH WMFNT MIXES W/HIGHRES MODEL PLACEMENT QUITE CONCERNING ALG/SOUTH OF A MARION TO LIMA LINE TWD MID EVENING AS 0-1 SRH NR 400 AND MIXED LYR CAPES NR 1500 SUGGEST SIG RISK FOR TORNADOES SHLD CONV MODE YIELD A WINDOW OF DISCRETE ACTIVITY THIS EVENING. OTHERWISE GREATER HAIL/WIND RISK EXTENDS FARTHER NORTH THROUGH NRN IN/NW OH OVERTOP SHALLOW/COLD BNDRY LYR IN ASSOCN/W LIKELY UPSCALE GROWTH OF MO CONV SEED THIS AFTN. REGARDLESS SFC LOW AND ATTENDANT CDFNT CLR ERN PORTION OF CWA BY 09Z W/STG CAA FOLLOWING IN ITS WAKE. WILL GENERALLY SIDE W/COLDER MOS TEMPS GIVEN EXTENSIVE STRATOCU FOLLOWING IN INTENSE CAA WING WED AND SHADE SLIGHTLY LWR WED NIGHT AS SOME CLD EROSION SHLD OCCUR LATE AS SFC RIDGE BLDS IN. && .LONG TERM... THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... FCST PERIOD TO BEGIN WITH SFC HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION PROVIDING A SEASONABLY COOL BUT MOSTLY SUNNY DAY. WEAK GRADIENT WILL KEEP WINDS LIGHT AND OUT OF THE NE WITH TEMPS 50-55F. QUIET WX IS SHORT-LIVED AS FRONTAL BOUNDARY BEGINS TO RETURN NORTHWARD IN RESPONSE TO LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING IN THE PLAINS. THIS WILL BRING OVERRUNNING PRECIP INTO THE AREA LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS OFFER VARYING SOLNS AS TO DEGREE OF DEVELOPMENT OF SFC LOW BUT CONSENSUS NOW FAVORS A DEEPER LOW WITH A NE TRACK TOWARD WESTERN GREAT LAKES. THIS WILL SWING COLD FRONT THROUGH THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT. EVEN GREATER UNCERTAINTY TO FOLLOW WITH HOW FAR SOUTH FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH BEFORE STALLING OUT. LATEST GFS BRINGS DEEPER SFC LOW THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES AND PUSHES FRONT DOWN TO OH VALLEY AND ALLOWS FOR WEAK SFC RIDGE TO BUILD INTO THE AREA WHILE 00Z ECMWF OFFERED A WEAKER SOLN AND KEEPS FRONT HUNG UP OVER OUR AREA WHILE BRINGING ADDL FRONTAL WAVES RIDING UP ALONG BOUNDARY. GIVEN THIS UNCERTAINLY...WILL NOT BE MAKING ANY MAJOR CHANGES DAYS 5-7 AND KEEP LOW CHANCE POPS DAYS 5-6 BEFORE FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF THE AREA AND SETS THE STAGE FOR SIGNIFICANT WARMUP BY DAY 7...ALTHOUGH WILL JUST TREND TOWARD L80S OFFERED BY HPC GUIDANCE. && .AVIATION... WIDESPREAD IFR CONDS ALG COLD SIDE OF STOUT WMFNTL BNDRY DRAPED THROUGH CNTRL IL/SRN IN WILL ESSENTIALLY GO NOWHERE THIS PD AS INTENSE SFC LOW OVR CNTRL MO THIS AFTN EJECTS ENE OVERNIGHT YET STAYS SOUTH OF THE TERMINALS. STG ERLY GRADIENT THIS AFTN WILL SLOWLY VEER BFR SHIFTING SW AFT MIDNIGHT. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR LMZ043-046. && SHORT TERM...T LONG TERM...LOGSDON AVIATION...LASHLEY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA 652 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011 INZ020-022>027-032>034-OHZ024-025-201000- WHITE-CASS IN-MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD- JAY-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MONTICELLO...BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT... PERU...WABASH...NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...BLUFFTON...OSSIAN... DECATUR...BERNE...MARION...HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND... VAN WERT...DELPHOS...LIMA 652 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHWEST OHIO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES. ANY TORNADO THAT DEVELOPS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE STRONG THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP A WEATHER RADIO ON ALERT OR HAVE SOME NOTIFICATION METHOD TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO TO BED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX INZ008-009-012>018-OHZ004-005-015-016-201000- NOBLE-DE KALB-STARKE-PULASKI-MARSHALL-FULTON IN-KOSCIUSKO-WHITLEY- ALLEN IN-DEFIANCE-HENRY-PAULDING-PUTNAM- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENDALLVILLE...LIGONIER...AUBURN... GARRETT...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...WINAMAC...FRANCESVILLE...PLYMOUTH... BREMEN...ROCHESTER...WARSAW...WINONA LAKE...COLUMBIA CITY... SOUTH WHITLEY...FORT WAYNE...DEFIANCE...NAPOLEON...PAULDING... ANTWERP...OTTAWA...PANDORA 652 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011 /552 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OHIO AND NORTHERN INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING...WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED WIND DAMAGE INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. HAIL SIZE MAY EXCEED AN INCH AND A HALF IN DIAMETER WITH THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP A WEATHER RADIO ON ALERT OR HAVE SOME NOTIFICATION METHOD TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO TO BED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX INZ003>007-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-201000- LA PORTE-ST. JOSEPH IN-ELKHART-LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-BERRIEN-CASS MI- ST. JOSEPH MI-BRANCH-HILLSDALE-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MICHIGAN CITY...LA PORTE...SOUTH BEND... MISHAWAKA...ELKHART...GOSHEN...LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...ANGOLA...NILES... BENTON HARBOR...ST. JOSEPH...BUCHANAN...DOWAGIAC...CASSOPOLIS... STURGIS...THREE RIVERS...COLDWATER...HILLSDALE...BRYAN... MONTPELIER...WAUSEON...ARCHBOLD 652 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011 /552 PM CDT TUE APR 19 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN...NORTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHWEST OHIO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCED ISOLATED LARGE HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS UNLIKELY THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX LMZ043-046-201000- NEW BUFFALO MI TO ST JOSEPH MI-MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI- 652 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF SOUTHEASTERN LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX/?N=MARINE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
448 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0447 PM HEAVY RAIN NEW HAVEN 41.07N 85.01W
04/19/2011 M1.00 INCH ALLEN IN TRAINED SPOTTER
RAINFALL TODAY
&&
EVENT NUMBER IWX1100636
SKIPPERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA 949 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011 INZ003-004-MIZ077-200215- BERRIEN MI-LA PORTE IN-ST. JOSEPH IN- 949 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011 AT 948 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LA PORTE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... LA PORTE... BUCHANAN... NEW BUFFALO... NEW CARLISLE AND THREE OAKS... SPRINGVILLE...MICHIANA SHORES AND MICHIANA... ROLLING PRARIE...BYRON AND HESSTON... STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT WEDNESDAY MORNING/100 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING/ FOR NORTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHWESTERN OHIO. LAT...LON 4201 8639 4175 8626 4151 8674 4173 8691 TIME...MOT...LOC 0149Z 235DEG 51KT 4158 8678 MCS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
958 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011
INZ003-004-012>015-020-022-200245-
CASS IN-FULTON IN-LA PORTE IN-MARSHALL IN-PULASKI IN-ST. JOSEPH
IN-STARKE IN-WHITE IN-
958 PM EDT TUE APR 19 2011
AT 852 PM CDT/952 PM EDT/...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 22 MILES
WEST OF WANATAH TO 18 MILES WEST OF FRANCESVILLE TO 9 MILES SOUTH OF
FRANCESVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
PENNY SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
WINAMAC...
KNOX...
ROCHESTER...
PLYMOUTH...
MEDARYVILLE...
WANATAH AND LA CROSSE...
STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES.
SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT
WEDNESDAY MORNING/100 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING/ FOR NORTHERN INDIANA
AND NORTHWESTERN OHIO.
LAT...LON 4092 8694 4146 8694 4149 8654 4149 8617
4094 8616 4091 8618 4091 8696 4091 8699
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 238DEG 63KT 4146 8722 4106 8713
4091 8684
MCSThe Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 112 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:57 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement officials reported two trees down as well as a power pole.
Emergency management officials reported a pole barn was destroyed by strong winds.
Emergency management officials reported trees down as well as minor barn damage in Grass Creek.
Large trees were snapped in half or uprooted.
Law enforcement officials reported the awning at a strip mall, located in the 6600 block of St. Joe Road, was ripped off. Businesses affected included Bikes -and- Boards, Mamma Mia's Pizza and New Republic Tattoo.
Law enforcement officials reported approximately 20 vehicles at the Miami County Correctional Facility having windows blown out. Several vehicles at residences around the facility suffered similar damage.
Law enforcement officials reported a tree down near the intersection of County Roads 400 South and 300 East. An additional tree was reported down 3 mile south of this location, near the intersection of U.S.-35 and State Route 10.
Law enforcement officials reported a large tree down across the road at County Road 300 North, just west of U.S. 31.
An outdoor antenna tower was bent over at roof level at a residence on County Road 700 North. In addition, a tree was snapped next to the house, the roof of a garage was damaged and the corner of the garage shifted off its foundation. Winds are estimated to range from 65 to 75 mph.
A NWS survey team was sent to investigate damage from a small, older barn. Debris was found up to one eighth of a mile from the structure with a small piece of debris being wrapped around a power pole. While the possibility exists that a brief circulation was present, this feature would have been associated with the gust front and not considered a tornado. Winds were estimated at between 65 and 75 mph.
Law enforcement officials reported a barn down near the intersection of County Roads 150 South and 500 East. Trees, tree limbs and power lines were also reported down across the county.
Emergency management officials reported a tree being blown down across State Route 16.
Emergency management officials reported several empty grain bins blown over.
Emergency management officials reported a barn being blown down in the 1900 block of North State Route 13.
Law enforcement officials reported a barn being blown down and some of the debris thrown into an adjacent residence.
A survey of damage in Grant County indicated that a circulation touched down roughly two miles southwest of Fairmount. The circulation touched down at a residence in the 10,000 block of County Road South 200 West. The back side of the roof of the residence was ripped off, along with some siding stripped and windows broken. Debris from the property was carried into the adjacent field. The tornado continued northeast where other residences as well as trees suffered varying degrees of damage. The tornado lifted near the intersection of State Routes 26 and 9. Damage found was consistent with winds between 100 and 110 mph.
A survey of damage indicated a second circulation touched down three miles southwest of Upland and lifted just to the west northwest of Upland. Minor home damage occurred as well as several hardwood trees being snapped. Winds are consistent with speeds of 90 to 95 mph.
The public reported the rood of a milk house was blown off and a concrete wall of the structure blown down. A 32 foot travel trailer was rolled twice and destroyed and a nearby mobile home suffered skirting damage.
Emergency management officials reported numerous power lines down on County Road 1050 South.
Law enforcement officials reported a barn being blown off its foundation.
Amateur radio operators reported large branches down as well as some structural damage to a barn in the area.
Law enforcement officials reported a large tree falling onto a trailer.
Local broadcast media reported a shed flattened and a barn roof destroyed in the town of Greenwood. In addition, a machinery building suffered roof damage and a shed was blown onto a pick-up truck.
Law enforcement officials reported roofs off of several outbuildings as well as a chicken coop being blown over. Debris from some structures was blown into adjacent roads.
A survey of straight line wind damage indicated a circulation touched down north of the intersection of County Road 400 N and US 27, near Antiville. Evidence in trees suggested the circulation touched down in an open field and tracked northeast across US 27, snapping 5 power poles as it crossed, causing power flashes observed by local residents. The circulation did not remain in contact with the ground during its roughly 7 mile track. Areas of snapped trees or tree limbs were seen along the track. Structural damage was noted in two locations, mainly to garages or pole barns.
Law enforcement officials reported three power poles were snapped along U.S. 27, between County Roads 400 and 500 North.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Indiana, 2011Warnings in Indiana, April 2011
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: 298591, 303577, 298592, 303578, 298595, 298609, 286807, 298623, 298627, 303579, 303591, 298621, 298610, 303626, 298620, 303627, 296354, 296357, 303634, 303628, 303629, 303630, 303631, 303633, 298634, 287758, 303632.