A broken line of thunderstorms developed in a moderately, but highly sheared environment. Pockets of damaging winds occurred along this line.
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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 broken line of thunderstorms developed in a moderately, but highly sheared environment. Pockets of damaging winds occurred along this line.
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 19, 1:22 PM CST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 322 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 108 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 Breezy conditions with the slight risk for severe thunderstorms continue to be the weather story through today. The primary hazard with any severe storm is damaging wind gusts. A cold front will pass through behind these storms, sending overnight lows into the mid 40s to near 50 degrees. It will be notably cooler on Monday with highs shy of 60 degrees. Looking ahead, the next opportunity for rain is Tuesday night. && .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Monday) Issued at 309 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 First round of convection has moved over the area and is starting to move off to the east with time. While there has been a few embedded enhanced echos the main impacts have been periods of heavy rain and a few wind gusts into the 40mph range. Weak updraft strength with this first round have been easily sheared apart. Clearing line of clouds is quickly encroaching into the far western counties. This should result in a quick jump in temps of 3-5 degrees. Looking across eastern IL, dewpoints have remained in the mid-60s as temperatures have risen into the mid-70s. Further south and west into southern IL, lower dewpoints in the upper 50s have been able to mix to the surface. Ongoing convection across southeastern IL developed on the intersection of these dewpoints. This development also correlate with the left exit region of a jet rounding the base of the upper trough. Trajectory of this jet region would bring it across our western/central zones over the next few hours. This, coupled with any destabilization from the clearing line, will help to support renewed/reinvigorate convection. Radar VAD profiles across IL show mostly unidirectional flow within this area of developing/ongoing convection. Will have to watch influence of the clearing line as the KIWX VAD profile does show some veering in the lowest 1000m. If this veering persists despite mixing, then a non-zero chance for a tornado would exist. Greater confidence is with a quick jump in temperatures, low level mixing, and VAD winds quickly becoming unidirectional. Primary hazard with storms remains damaging wind. As mentioned above, strongly sheared storms are unlikely to result in much of a large hail risk. Front starts to push into the area late this afternoon/early evening. There is a window where the lifting jet exit region and the front overlap to strengthen convection. The best area for this overlapping would be along and north of I-80. This is well reflected in the HRRR with a progressive line of convection. This line moves across the northern zones before exiting around 03Z. && .LONG TERM...(Monday Night through Sunday) Issued at 309 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 Focus of the forecast is on the near term, but the general theme for the remainder of the forecast remains unchanged. Dry and cool conditions Monday into Tuesday, next chance for precipitation Tuesday night/Wednesday, warmer Thurs and Friday. Location of the building sub-tropical high over the southeastern US will dictate if Thurs/Fri have chances for precip. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday Afternoon) Issued at 108 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 Pre-frontal rain showers with ceilings near/at MVFR criteria will impact the terminals to start off the TAF period. Gusty winds to about 30 knots remain in play as the low-level jet continues to near the area. The best chance for thunderstorms is outlined in the TEMPO groups; through FWA remains more likely to have a thunderstorm compared to SBN. After thunderstorms along the cold front pass through, VFR conditions can be expected until a secondary cold front drops south near 12z, brining MVFR ceilings back to the terminals. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...Small Craft Advisory until noon EDT Monday for LMZ043-046. && SYNOPSIS...Brown SHORT TERM...CM LONG TERM...CM AVIATION...Brown 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 431 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ077>081-202045- 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- 431 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 /331 PM CDT Sun May 19 2019/ ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 194 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Thunderstorms will spread from west to east this afternoon and into the late evening hours. These storms are expected to become severe and be capable of producing damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall. The additional rainfall may cause some flooding of urban areas and rises on creeks, streams and rivers. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Thunderstorms are possible Tuesday night and Wednesday; however, the storms are not expected to become severe. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025-202045- Williams-Fulton OH-Defiance-Henry-Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH- 431 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Another round of thunderstorms will spread from west to east this afternoon and into the late evening hours. These storms could become strong to severe and be capable of producing damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall. The additional rainfall may cause some flooding of urban areas and rises on creeks, streams and rivers. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Thunderstorms are possible Tuesday night and Wednesday; however, the storms are not expected to become severe. SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this evening. LMZ043-046-202045- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 431 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 194 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for The Nearshore Waters of Southeastern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening which can produce very strong winds. In addition, a small craft advisory is in effect through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. A small craft advisory is in effect through Monday morning.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
350 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019
INZ003-MIZ077-192015-
La Porte-Berrien-
350 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019
...A SHOWER WILL AFFECT NORTHERN LA PORTE AND SOUTHWESTERN BERRIEN
COUNTIES...
At 349 PM EDT/249 PM CDT/, a shower was located near Chesterton,
moving northeast at 45 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
shower.
Locations impacted include...
Michigan City, La Porte, Westville, Trail Creek, New Buffalo, Three
Oaks, Long Beach, Pottawattamie Park, Michiana Shores, Grand Beach,
Michiana, Waterford, Pinhook, Otis, Pottawattomie Park, Pinola,
Hesston, Springville and Rolling Prarie.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 38 and 61.
Interstate 94 in Indiana between mile markers 33 and 45.
Interstate 94 in Michigan between mile markers 0 and 4.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They can relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Northern Indiana .
&&
LAT...LON 4171 8693 4173 8691 4176 8693 4184 8679
4176 8650 4176 8652 4172 8652 4151 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 1949Z 235DEG 40KT 4159 8700
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...50MPH
BrownSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
307 PM CDT Sun May 19 2019
INZ003-012-013-192030-
La Porte-Pulaski-Starke-
307 PM CDT Sun May 19 2019
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN PULASKI...
STARKE AND LA PORTE COUNTIES...
At 306 PM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a broken line extending from Valparaiso to near De Motte.
Movement was northeast at 60 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
La Porte, Westville, Knox, North Judson, Kingsford Heights, Wanatah,
Hamlet, La Crosse, Koontz Lake, Oak Grove, Hanna, Kingsbury, Lomax,
Ober, English Lake, Salem Heights, Fish Lake, Brems, Stillwell and
Clarks.
This includes Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 59 and
61.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They can relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Northern Indiana .
&&
LAT...LON 4152 8693 4168 8664 4176 8653 4165 8653
4165 8649 4157 8649 4156 8650 4152 8650
4152 8652 4151 8653 4143 8652 4143 8647
4129 8647 4111 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 239DEG 54KT 4146 8699 4112 8716
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...50MPH
BrownSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
415 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019
INZ003-MIZ077-192045-
La Porte-Berrien-
415 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL LA PORTE AND
SOUTHERN BERRIEN COUNTIES...
At 415 PM EDT/315 PM CDT/, a strong thunderstorm was located near New
Buffalo, or near Trail Creek, moving northeast at 50 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Michigan City, La Porte, Buchanan, Bridgman, New Buffalo, Three Oaks,
Long Beach, Stevensville, Pottawattamie Park, Shorewood-Tower Hill,
Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert, Dayton, Baroda, Galien, Michiana
Shores, Grand Beach, Michiana, Union Pier, Glendora and New Troy.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 47 and 61.
Interstate 94 in Indiana between mile markers 39 and 45.
Interstate 94 in Michigan between mile markers 0 and 22.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They can relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Northern Indiana .
&&
LAT...LON 4175 8689 4204 8654 4186 8630 4176 8648
4176 8652 4174 8653 4161 8675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 234DEG 42KT 4174 8673
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...50MPH
BrownSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
426 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019
INZ003-MIZ077-192100-
La Porte-Berrien-
426 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN LA PORTE AND SOUTH
CENTRAL BERRIEN COUNTIES...
At 425 PM EDT/325 PM CDT/, a strong thunderstorm was located over La
Porte, moving northeast at 45 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
La Porte, Westville, Three Oaks, Byron, Pinola, Hudson Lake, Hesston,
Pinhook, Springville, Haskell, Otis and Rolling Prarie.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 38 and 61.
Interstate 94 in Indiana near mile marker 39.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They can relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Northern Indiana .
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT/900
PM CDT/ for north central and northwestern Indiana...and southwestern
Michigan.
LAT...LON 4161 8693 4182 8662 4175 8652 4165 8653
4165 8649 4164 8649 4143 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 235DEG 38KT 4161 8677
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...50MPH
BrownPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
456 PM EDT SUN MAY 19 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM HAIL BUCHANAN 41.83N 86.37W
05/19/2019 E0.25 INCH BERRIEN MI PUBLIC
&&
BMLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
457 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019
INZ004-005-012-014-192130-
St. Joseph-Marshall-Elkhart-Starke-
457 PM EDT Sun May 19 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL ELKHART...SOUTHERN
ST. JOSEPH...NORTHEASTERN STARKE AND NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL
COUNTIES...
At 457 PM EDT/357 PM CDT/, a strong thunderstorm was located near
Walkerton, or 9 miles northwest of Plymouth, moving northeast at 60
mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
South Bend, Elkhart, Mishawaka, Goshen, Dunlap, Gulivoire Park,
Osceola, Walkerton, North Liberty, Lakeville, Koontz Lake, La Paz,
Teegarden, Tyner, Woodland, Jimtown, Donaldson and Wyatt.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT/900
PM CDT/ for north central and northwestern Indiana.
LAT...LON 4143 8652 4149 8652 4170 8600 4163 8589
4134 8648 4143 8653
TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 238DEG 50KT 4147 8642
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...50MPH
FISHERThe Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:58 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotters reported trees uprooted and snapped in the area. A roof was blown off a building.
A trained spotter reported tree damage along US 35.
Emergency management officials reported a tree was blown down.
Emergency management officials reported a 12 inch diameter tree was blown down across Market Street.
Local media reported several large branches snapped with power lines reported on some roadways.
Emergency management officials reported power lines down across the road.
Emergency management officials reported a tree fell over onto a power pole.
Law enforcement officials reported several trees were blown down.
The public reported several small diameter tree limbs broken off with shingles blown off roofs.
Emergency management officials reported a tree was blown down across a road.
Emergency management officials reported trees were blown down with some tree top damage at County Road 300 North and 900 East on the Blackford and Jay county line.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 2019
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: 831643, 831644, 831645, 831647, 831991, 831648, 831649, 831650, 831651, 831652, 831653, 831655.