A cold front moved across the area, interacting with an moderately unstable and highly sheared environment to produce numerous thunderstorms. Some of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.
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 cold front moved across the area, interacting with an moderately unstable and highly sheared environment to produce numerous thunderstorms. Some of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.
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 26, 6:15 PM EST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 715 PM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 156 PM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 Expect increasing clouds and the chance for showers and even a few thunderstorms as a cold front moves through the forecast area tonight into Thursday. Severe weather is not expected at this time. High temperatures will be a bit cooler on Friday, only reaching into the 60's. Rain is expected again this weekend as another system moves through the region. Thunderstorms are possible. && .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Thursday) Issued at 334 PM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 Entering a fairly active weather period with several high amplitude waves ejecting out of the southwest CONUS and impacting our area. First such wave already beginning to lift NE and will bring a chance of rain later this evening and overnight. Chances for widespread/moderate rain are on the low side, outside of our far western CWA. Midlevel wave dampens and pivots more NNW overnight while best upper level support remains just to our NW. Trailing cold front does not arrive until diurnal minimum of instability and will be intersecting increasingly hostile environment as it tracks east with residual dry air and loss of parent forcing for ascent. Still, most places will probably see some light showers with morning cold frontal passage and latest hi-res guidance does show convection presently entering southern Illinois will clip our western zones this evening. A few strong storms with gusty winds may be possible with the evening activity but instability is very limited by the time this wave arrives and not expecting any severe threat. Convection should gradually trend down as it lifts NNE late this evening. Anticipate dry conditions by Thursday afternoon. Non-diurnal temp trend expected given morning cold front passage. Overnight temps will likely hover in the 60s and then hold steady or slightly decline during the day as CAA wing rotates through. && .LONG TERM...(Thursday Night through Wednesday) Issued at 334 PM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 Of slightly more concern is potential for heavy rain over the weekend. Strong Pacific jet (around 160 kts at 300mb) will carve out a healthy PV anomaly over the southwest CONUS by early Saturday with downstream ridge amplification in our our region. Rain chances begin again Friday afternoon with initial surge of low level theta-e and WAA but this initial rain will be light/SCT with lackluster moisture advection and weak isentropic upglide. LLJ strengthens Friday night as trough inches closer but most guidance sources keep focus of moisture convergence/precip to our south, which makes sense given the pattern aloft. Main timeframe to watch will be later Saturday into Sunday and Sunday night. Several waves of moderate/heavy precip expected during this time as upper low approaches, sends warm front north, and then eventually cold front arrives late Sunday. Deterministic QPF taken at face value would suggest prodigious rain but smaller scale convective elements often wreak havoc with final solution and latest 12Z GFS actually shows main axis of heaviest rain will set up to our west and southwest. Periods of rain certainly expected, and may be heavy at times, but given recent (relatively) dry conditions, spring green-up, and low levels on area rivers, suspect it will take a lot to cause any significant flooding. Moisture advection/PW values don't really ramp up in our CWA until late Sunday, ahead of quick- hitting cold front, and orientation of front with respect to mid/upper level pattern does not seem favorable for a long duration of continuous heavy rain. Given very low confidence on flooding potential, will hold off on any ESF issuance at this point. Some, very low, threat for severe weather on Sunday but late arrival of cold front and very marginal instability to begin with will severely limit potential. Some light wraparound showers possible through Monday but main story will be cooler temps. Mainly dry conditions expected midweek, though will have to watch next trough swinging through the southern CONUS. Latest runs keep bulk of this precip to our south but something to watch given wet weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday Evening) Issued at 709 PM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 Tricky forecast this evening with the incoming front and the chance of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms will move from SW to NE reaching the terminals between 01z and 04z. After thunderstorms pass rain will linger at the terminals into the morning with best chance of rain just after midnight. Flight conditions should remain VFR during the storms with winds 5-10 kts out of the S and SW and then deteriorate to MVFR cigs by morning near Lake Michigan. Lower confidence MVFR cigs will reach FWA so left out of forecast. By tomorrow afternoon conditions should return to VFR and winds will increase to 15 kts out of the SW. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Friday for LMZ043-046. && SYNOPSIS...MCD SHORT TERM...AGD LONG TERM...AGD AVIATION...Heidelberger Visit us at www.weather.gov/iwx Follow us on Facebook...Twitter...and YouTube at: www.facebook.com/NWSNorthernIndiana www.twitter.com/nwsiwx www.youtube.com/NWSNorthernIndiana
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Northern Indiana 539 AM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-004-005- 015-016-024-025-270945- La Porte-St. Joseph IN-Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Starke- Pulaski-Marshall-Fulton IN-Kosciusko-Whitley-Allen IN-White-Cass IN- Miami-Wabash-Huntington-Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay-Berrien- Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-Williams-Fulton OH-Defiance- Henry-Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH- 539 AM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 /439 AM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southwest Michigan...northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a chance of thunderstorms over western portions of the area this afternoon and tonight. An isolated storm with strong gusty winds is possible west of Route 35. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday There is a chance of thunderstorms Thursday. An isolated severe storm is possible over northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio, and the adjacent counties in southern Michigan. There is a chance of thunderstorms Saturday night through Sunday night. Locally heavy rainfall is possible in this timeframe. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. && Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio for further details or updates...or check our web site at weather.gov/iwx LMZ043-046-270945- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 539 AM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of The Nearshore Waters of Southeastern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A small craft advisory is in effect today. There is a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight. An isolated storm with gale force wind gusts is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday There is a chance of thunderstorms Thursday morning and Saturday night through Sunday night. Hazardous conditions for small craft are possible Monday. && Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio for further details or updates...or check our web site at weather.gov/iwx
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
931 PM EDT WED APR 26 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 WSW BOWERSTOWN 40.89N 85.45W
04/26/2017 HUNTINGTON IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
10 INCH HEALTHY TREE DOWN ACROSS ROAD.
&&
GHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
933 PM EDT WED APR 26 2017
MIZ081-OHZ001-270200-
Hillsdale-Williams-
933 PM EDT WED APR 26 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN HILLSDALE AND NORTH
CENTRAL WILLIAMS COUNTIES...
At 932 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Pioneer, or 9
miles north of Montpelier, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hudson, Pioneer, Jerome, Pittsford, Moscow, Ransom, Waldron, North
Adams, Prattville, Frontier, Shadyside, Betzer, Osseo, Somerset
Center, Kunkle and Alvordton.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4204 8436 4176 8436 4163 8447 4167 8464
4207 8452 4207 8446
TIME...MOT...LOC 0132Z 203DEG 32KT 4171 8453
NWSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
943 PM EDT WED APR 26 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0902 PM TSTM WND DMG HUNTINGTON 40.88N 85.50W
04/26/2017 HUNTINGTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES DOWN ACROSS THE ROAD.
&&
GHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
948 PM EDT WED APR 26 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0850 PM TSTM WND DMG BANQUO 40.70N 85.62W
04/26/2017 HUNTINGTON IN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS ROAD.
&&
GHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1001 PM EDT WED APR 26 2017
INZ007-MIZ080-081-OHZ001-002-004-270245-
Steuben-Branch-Hillsdale-Defiance-Fulton-Williams-
1001 PM EDT WED APR 26 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN STEUBEN...
EASTERN BRANCH...HILLSDALE...NORTH CENTRAL DEFIANCE...NORTHWESTERN
FULTON AND WILLIAMS COUNTIES...
At 958 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Quincy to Bryan. Movement was
northeast at 55 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Coldwater, Bryan, Hillsdale, Montpelier, Morenci, Jonesville,
Edgerton, West Unity, Quincy, Pioneer, Litchfield, Stryker, Fayette,
Reading, Edon, Holiday City, Edgerton In Williams County, Long Lake,
Jerome and Somerset.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4138 8458 4143 8476 4197 8502 4207 8492
4207 8437 4171 8436 4172 8402
TIME...MOT...LOC 0158Z 222DEG 48KT 4196 8492 4144 8454
NWSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1010 PM EDT WED APR 26 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1010 PM HAIL 2 NW MONTPELIER 41.60N 84.63W
04/26/2017 E0.50 INCH WILLIAMS OH TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
GHThe Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:10 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Local newspapers reported a few down power lines.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, April 2017
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: 695785.