Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 9, 2018

Name: Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 9, 2018
Start: 2018-05-09T07:16
End: 2018-05-09T17:46
Location: Indiana

May 9, 2018 · NWS LOT · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across parts of northwest Indiana during the afternoon and evening of May 9th.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 LOT wrote it up.

Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across parts of northwest Indiana during the afternoon and evening of May 9th.

What forecasters said that day

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 Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 9, 5:26 AM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 9, 5:26 AM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 9, 2:58 AM CST, 4 hours 18 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 9, 2:40 AM CST, 4 hours 36 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 9, 4:06 AM CST, 3 hours 10 minutes before

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Local storm report, May 9, 5:30 AM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

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Local storm report, May 9, 5:40 AM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

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Local storm report, May 9, 5:49 AM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before

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The radar

The Chicago radar (KLOT), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lake

When: May 9, 7:16 AM CST
Where: Lake County, 4 mi S of Crown Pt
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.362, -87.370

A two foot diameter tree was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lake

When: May 9, 5:13 PM CST
Where: Lake County, 0.53 mi NE of Lake Dalecarlia
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.334, -87.412

A one foot diameter tree was blown down onto a car near Colfax and Center Streets.

Thunderstorm Wind, Porter

When: May 9, 5:32 PM CST
Where: Porter County, 1.81 mi ENE of Porter Xrds
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 41.410, -87.138

A large tree was blown down along Indiana State Road 2.

Thunderstorm Wind, Porter

When: May 9, 5:46 PM CST
Where: Porter County, 3 mi NE of Valparaiso
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 41.501, -87.009

A large tree limb and a power line were blown down in Jackson Township. Other large tree limbs were blown down in parts of Porter County.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Indiana in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, May 2018

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 753460, 753458, 753462, 753464.