East to west oriented MLCAPE axis of 1000 to 2000 J/KG existed across far southern Lower Michigan and far northern Indiana. Effective shear was maximized across northwestern Indiana but did lower somewhat with southward extent.
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.
East to west oriented MLCAPE axis of 1000 to 2000 J/KG existed across far southern Lower Michigan and far northern Indiana. Effective shear was maximized across northwestern Indiana but did lower somewhat with southward extent. A line of thunderstorms moved across southern Lake Michigan into northwestern Indiana. Additional storms developed further south along theta-e axis. Result was damaging wind gusts, a few which were significant with reports of trees, tree limbs and power lines down in several areas. Localized flooding occurred in some areas, mainly those prone to high water.
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 May 2, 6:34 PM EST, 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 734 PM EDT Wed May 2 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 322 PM EDT Wed May 2 2018 A wet period is just ahead with periodic chances for showers and storms from tonight through Friday, with storms ending early Friday evening. A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, but widespread severe weather is not expected. Highs will be in the 70s Thursday through Saturday, then a little cooler Sunday with highs from 65 to around 70. Little if any rain is expected this weekend. && .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Friday) Issued at 317 PM EDT Wed May 2 2018 Moisture has really increased from the south this afternoon with dew points climbing to around 60 degrees most areas. Any fire weather issues will end tonight with a widespread rain. Given moisture increasing from the south with steeper mid level lapse rates, surface based CAPEs per SPC analysis had climbed to around 1500 J/Kg over the southern sections of northern Indiana this afternoon. A stray shower or storm is possible over these area; however, better chances for showers & storms will be tonight as upstream convection organizes and moves east along a strong but slowly moving front. Severe weather parameters appear marginal tonight through Friday. The Storm Prediction Center has maintained a marginal risk for severe storms into Friday in this regard. There may be a break in the showers and storms Thursday before the second wave moves across the area late Thursday into Friday. Precipitable water values will rise above 1.5 inches per GFS and be close to climate maxes for this time of year through Thursday night. Widespread rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches are likely by late Friday. Locally heavy rainfall and rises on rivers are likely with some rivers possibly flooding. && .LONG TERM...(Friday Night through Wednesday) Issued at 317 PM EDT Wed May 2 2018 A tranquil period is ahead for the weekend into early next week. There is a good chance a weak system will bring some showers Sunday, but the rest of the period from Saturday through next Wednesday should be dry with temperatures close to normal. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday Evening) Issued at 734 PM EDT Wed May 2 2018 VFR through the overnight although continued and sustained moisture advection into the area along with numerous showers/thunderstorms will eventually yield MVFR cigs aft daybreak Thu. Thereafter should remain dry/stable until late aftn/early eve before next chc tsra takes shape. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...Skipper SHORT TERM...Skipper LONG TERM...Skipper AVIATION...T 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...UPDATED National Weather Service Northern Indiana 519 PM EDT Wed May 2 2018 INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-004-005- 015-016-024-025-031000- 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- 519 PM EDT Wed May 2 2018 /419 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southwest Michigan...northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight Scattered to numerous thunderstorms tonight. A few storms may approach severe limits with hail up to 1 inch and wind gusts to 60 mph this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Additional chances for thunderstorms exist toward Thursday evening and again Friday afternoon. A few strong storms are possible each period with an isolated severe risk possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed this evening. && Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio for further details or updates...or check our web site at weather.gov/iwx LMZ043-046-031000- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 519 PM EDT Wed May 2 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of The Nearshore Waters of Southeastern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight A few southwest gusts to 25 knots are possible this evening. Scattered to numerous are expected through evening. A strong to severe thunderstorm is possible this evening with gusty winds in excess of 35 knots and hail up to 1 inch in diameter. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Conditions hazardous to small craft may develop Thursday night into early Friday. Additional chances for thunderstorms exist Thursday afternoon and evening with an isolated strong to severe thunderstorm possible. && Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio for further details or updates...or check our web site at weather.gov/iwx
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
656 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
INZ003-012>014-022330-
La Porte-Marshall-Pulaski-Starke-
656 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN PULASKI...STARKE...
WEST CENTRAL MARSHALL AND SOUTHERN LA PORTE COUNTIES...
At 656 PM EDT/556 PM CDT/, a strong thunderstorm was located over
North Judson, or 8 miles west of Knox, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Knox, North Judson, La Crosse, Hanna, Winona, Donaldson, and
Grovertown.
LAT...LON 4139 8693 4146 8658 4133 8637 4115 8667
4114 8672 4115 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 2256Z 242DEG 33KT 4125 8678
NWSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
700 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
INZ007-MIZ080-081-022330-
Steuben-Branch-Hillsdale-
700 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN STEUBEN...
SOUTHEASTERN BRANCH AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES...
At 700 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Reading, or 12
miles southwest of Hillsdale, moving east at 50 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hillsdale, Hudson, Somerset, Cambria, Camden, and North Adams.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 69 in Michigan between mile markers 1 and 8.
Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 147 and 151.
LAT...LON 4181 8436 4167 8492 4185 8506 4207 8440
4207 8436
TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 249DEG 43KT 4181 8482
NWSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
711 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
INZ017-018-022345-
Whitley-Allen-
711 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL ALLEN AND
SOUTHEASTERN WHITLEY COUNTIES...
At 711 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near South Whitley,
or near Columbia City, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Fort Wayne, Columbia City, Washington Center, Arcola, Dunfee,
and Collins.
This includes Interstate 69 in Indiana between mile markers 303 and
310.
LAT...LON 4111 8560 4122 8533 4110 8513 4101 8533
4100 8538 4100 8555
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 247DEG 30KT 4106 8551
NWSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
729 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
MIZ081-030000-
Hillsdale-
729 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN HILLSDALE COUNTY...
At 728 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Hillsdale,
moving northeast at 45 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hillsdale, Hudson, Jonesville, Osseo and Somerset Center.
LAT...LON 4205 8436 4186 8436 4180 8457 4207 8473
4207 8437
TIME...MOT...LOC 2328Z 246DEG 40KT 4193 8454
NWSSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Northern Indiana 744 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018 INZ004-005-014-030015- St. Joseph-Marshall-Elkhart- 744 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN ELKHART...CENTRAL ST. JOSEPH AND NORTH CENTRAL MARSHALL COUNTIES... At 743 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Lakeville, or near Gulivoire Park, moving northeast at 45 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... South Bend, Elkhart, Mishawaka, Goshen, Granger, Osceola, and Wyatt. This includes Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 85 and 88. LAT...LON 4141 8631 4158 8647 4175 8607 4163 8586 TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 235DEG 39KT 4153 8630 NWS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
751 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
MIZ080-081-030015-
Branch-Hillsdale-
751 PM EDT WED MAY 2 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN BRANCH AND WEST
CENTRAL HILLSDALE COUNTIES...
At 750 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Bronson, or 8
miles southwest of Coldwater, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Coldwater, Marble Lake, and Coldwater Lake.
This includes Interstate 69 in Michigan between mile markers 2 and
17.
LAT...LON 4203 8492 4187 8472 4176 8501 4176 8514
4187 8521
TIME...MOT...LOC 2350Z 237DEG 28KT 4184 8509
NWSThe Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:54 UTC.
14 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The automated surface observation system at the South Bend Regional Airport recorded a 63 knot gust.
A trained spotter reported trees uprooted and large branches snapped.
The public reported a tree of unknown size down onto a local roadway.
The public reported 10 to 15 inch diameter trees were blown down.
The public estimated wind gusts to 60 mph as well as dime size hail.
The pubic reported numerous tree limbs were snapped.
Law enforcement officials reported power lines down in the city from the wind and falling trees.
Local media reported trees and tree limbs were blown down.
Several power poles were blown down near Martin's Supermarket.
The public reported several trees and tree branches down.
Local media reported at least five trees were blown down, some impacting fences and structures. At least one home had a large tree fall onto the roof, causing extensive damage. No damage estimate is available.
Two large trees were snapped on the northwest side of Warsaw. Several smaller limbs also down in the area.
An off duty NWS meteorologist observed a large tree, roughly 10 to 15 inches in diameter was snapped and laid onto County Road E 1100 N.
An off duty NWS meteorologist observed several tree limbs, roughly 6 to 8 inches in diameter were snapped along County Road E 1100 N.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 2018
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: 743875, 743877, 743878, 743880, 743876, 743881, 743882, 743883, 743884, 743892, 743900, 744590, 743871, 743873.