Remnants of sub-tropical storm Alberto progressing northward into the western Ohio Valley while an upper level trough from the northern Great Plains approached from the east. Temperatures warmed well into the 80s, combining with the rich tropical moisture to cause unstable conditions across eastern Indiana into northwestern Ohio (NE quadrant of system).
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.
Remnants of sub-tropical storm Alberto progressing northward into the western Ohio Valley while an upper level trough from the northern Great Plains approached from the east. Temperatures warmed well into the 80s, combining with the rich tropical moisture to cause unstable conditions across eastern Indiana into northwestern Ohio (NE quadrant of system).
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 30, 12:42 PM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 142 PM EDT Wed May 30 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 140 PM EDT Wed May 30 2018 Chances for showers and thunderstorms are on the increase as we approach the afternoon and early evening hours, with remnants from subtropical storm Alberto lifting northward across the region. Some of these storms may be strong to severe, with the main threats being heavy rain, localized flooding, and gusty winds. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Lows tonight will only drop to around 70 degrees. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Thursday, with high temperatures climbing into the upper 80s and low 90s. && .UPDATE... Issued at 118 PM EDT Wed May 30 2018 Short Term section updated with latest thoughts on the impacts of Alberto. && .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Thursday) Issued at 118 PM EDT Wed May 30 2018 What remains of Alberto continues to inject significant uncertainty into the near-term periods. Hi-res models have been adjusting to a slightly more western positioning as the low center has moved north. This has resulted to the center of Alberto maintaining close proximity to the IL/IN state line. The result of the further western positioning places the western Ohio Valley in the northeast quadrant of the system. This portion of the storm has been noticeably void of appreciable convective activity. This is likely to change through 2 PM as visible satellite imagery shows a significant increase in agitated CU across the majority of the area. So we are close to the start time of convection and hi- res models are showing the vast majority of storms clearing the area by midnight. Hazard Expectations: Not much change to expected hazards with damaging wind gusts, heavy rain, and possibly an isolated tornado. SPC meso-analysis page shows roughly 1500 J/kg of MUCAPE across the area. This, with the increasing low level shear as the center of Alberto approaches would be enough for strong to severe storms embedded within banded convection. While brief heavy rain remains possible with any storm today and into tonight, the greatest risk of widespread heavy rain and potential flooding would be locations along and west of HWY 31. This is due to the orientation of Alberto's bands pulling moisture from Lake Michigan. Brief strong to damaging wind gusts are possible area wide this afternoon/evening due to precipitation loading of downdrafts and potential for wet microbursts. Locations along and east of I-69 hold the best potential (confidence of occurrence remaining low) for an isolated tornado. Timing on this potential hazard would be from 4 PM EDT until 9 PM EDT for IN and MI while OH may see this window continue until midnight. Confidence: Heavy rain west of HWY 31...High. Locally heavy rain and strong to damaging wind gusts area wide...Medium. Tornado occurrence along and east of I-69...Low. As mentioned above, should see a notable drop in convective activity after midnight. Thursday...another upper shortwave will be ejecting eastward out of the southern High Plains. This will bring another round of convection potentially to locations along and south of Route 24. Recent models have backed off on the initiation of this convection; pushing it back to the evening and possible overnight hours. There is also some potential for these storms to initiate further north along residual outflow boundaries from today's convection. Better instability exists south of the area, but there could be enough for a storm to become strong. && .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 421 AM EDT Wed May 30 2018 Period will start with cold front slowly moving through the area during the afternoon hours of Thursday. Could end up being a fair amount of clearing to start the day with guidance trying to take many locations into the upper 80s to possibly lower 90s again. Plenty of moisture still around with dewpoints hovering around/above 70 which will aid in a fair amount of instability as well as increasing shear with the approach of the front and proximity of the upper level trough. CAMs give 1000-2000 J/Kg of MLCAPE during the day with rapid development of a line of storms vicinity of I-69 area during the early afternoon hours before dropping quickly SE. Little better chance for severe with this activity, but may form far enough SE that by the time it gets it act together it will be leaving the area. SPC DY2 has placed SE areas in a marginal risk for severe which looks reasonable at this point. Front will sink south Thursday night into Friday with some lingering showers possible in its wake. By Friday night skies should clear and much lower humidity values and temperatures will be in store through the weekend as high pressure builds in from the north. Trough and associated front will attempt to move into western areas late Sat into Sunday, but little more than chc showers to accompany it. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday Afternoon) Issued at 140 PM EDT Wed May 30 2018 VFR conditions will deteriorate this afternoon and evening as remnants of subtropical storm Alberto make their way into northern Indiana/Northwest Ohio. Bands of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms will impact both of the terminals, with isolated showers already developing ahead of the main bands across central Indiana (as of 1740Z). Expect mainly MVFR conditions, with potential for brief IFR conditions during the heavier rain and/or thunderstorms. Improvement will begin at both sites generally after the 3z time frame late this evening. Otherwise, expect gusty winds out of the southeast to become more southwest through Thursday. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...NONE. && UPDATE...CM SYNOPSIS...MCD SHORT TERM...CM LONG TERM...Fisher AVIATION...MCD 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 443 AM EDT Wed May 30 2018 INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-004-005- 015-016-024-025-310845- 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- 443 AM EDT Wed May 30 2018 /343 AM CDT Wed May 30 2018/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southwest Michigan...northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Thunderstorms are expected through tonight, with the best chance this afternoon and evening. The main threat will be heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches per hour at times, which may lead to minor flooding. A few storms could reach severe levels, capable of damaging winds and possibly a brief tornado this afternoon and evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Thunderstorms are possible across the area Thursday into Thursday night. Isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible, especially southeast of a Marion to Napoleon line. Damaging winds as well as heavy rain will pose the main threats. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening as well as Thursday. && Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio for further details or updates...or check our web site at weather.gov/iwx LMZ043-046-310845- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 443 AM EDT Wed May 30 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of The Nearshore Waters of Southeastern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into this evening. Locally gusty winds and higher waves will be possible with the strongest storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday There is a chance of thunderstorms Thursday. Conditions may become hazardous for small craft and there is the potential for dangerous swimming conditions Friday into Friday night. && Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio for further details or updates...or check our web site at weather.gov/iwx
The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:18 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency management officials reported a tree was blown onto State Route 18, east of the State Route 1 intersection.
Local media reported a one to two foot diameter healthy tree limb was blown down.
Partially rotten one to two foot diameter tree limb down on Cook Road.
Law enforcement officials reported a tree was blown down onto County Road 600, southwest of State Route 9.
Law enforcement officials reported a tree was blown down on County Road 455 E, near County Road 5900 S.
Law enforcement officials reported a tree was blown down in the area of County Road 1800 N on 075 E.
Law enforcement officials reported a tree was blown down on County Road 400 N, hear County Road 100 W.
Law enforcement officials reported a tree was blown down on County Road 450 N near County Road 1250 W.
A trained spotter reported a one foot diameter tree was uprooted, blocking the road in the housing addition at Litchfield and Orchard Ct.
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: 755117, 755118, 755119, 755121, 755133, 755122, 755123, 755125, 755127.