A moist and marginally unstable atmosphere was in place as a series of short waves moved through. The first impacted the area from late morning into the afternoon hours with the second moving in during the late evening hours.
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 moist and marginally unstable atmosphere was in place as a series of short waves moved through. The first impacted the area from late morning into the afternoon hours with the second moving in during the late evening hours. A few marginally severe hail reports came in during the late evening hours.
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 14, 6:48 PM EST, 3 hours 59 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 748 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 316 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 Showers and thunderstorms will continue this afternoon with moderate to heavy rain. The severe threat has diminished. Wet weather will continue into Friday. Saturday should be mostly dry, but more rain will move in Saturday night and Sunday. && .UPDATE... Issued at 707 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 Have made slight adjustments on POPs for the evening and overnight hours. Convection over the next few hours should be contained south of HWY 30 along the leading edge of an EML. Overall logic to the forecast hasn't changed, another round of convection is expected as a shortwave moves across the mid-MS valley sending the ongoing convection over IA into the forecast area much later tonight. Deep layer shear continues to look on the lower side (20-25kt 0-6km) overnight while instability of 1000-2000 J/kg continues to migrate northwards accompanied by dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s. One feature which could help in the shear department is the MCV steadily moving northeast from southern MO. Given it's current track, the center will likely slide across far NE IN/NW OH. This wouldn't be a great trajectory for storm organization for most of the area, but if a storm can initiate on the east side of the center then it would be in a better environment. The HRRR has picked up on this feature which shows most of the additional storms developing on the N to NE side of the MCV north of Hwy 30. Should this prove true, then the MCV wouldn't provide much aid to storm intensity. Continue to think the greatest severe hazards tonight remain strong to damaging wind gusts and heavy rain leading to flooding. Will likely add our remaining MI counties into the watch given the influences of the MCV allowing for a greater eastward expansion of storms as it moves north around midnight. && .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Friday) Issued at 316 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 A shortwave currently over central Illinois is pushing an MCS across northern Indiana this afternoon, and will eventually move into northern Ohio. Showers and thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rain can therefore be expected through early evening. The forecast area remains in the warm sector with the warm front over southern Michigan and the cold front extending from Wisconsin back across the plains. It has become quite warm and humid with highs in the 60s north to mid 70s southeast, and dewpoints in the 60s. This has allowed the area to become fairly unstable with MUCAPE 500-1000 J/kg. However, shear is marginal at around 30 kts and forecast to decrease this evening. With ongoing rain and associated cooling, expect instability to decrease as well, and a limited severe weather threat. Yet there could still be some gusty winds up to 45 mph. The current round of storms is expected to move out of the area by late evening. There may be a break in activity, and then another shortwave will move in from west around midnight with more showers and thunderstorms. The biggest threat with this complex will be heavy rain, especially across northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan. An additional 1 to 2 inches will be possible during this period, and some localized flooding or ponding of water could occur. A Flood Watch has been issued. The cold front will move through the area around mid-day Friday, pushing moisture eastward. By evening, most of the area will start to dry out and clouds will scatter. However, the front will stall over the Ohio Valley, and light rain could persist over the southeast counties. Despite the cold front, it will be mild on Friday with highs in the 70s except 60s near Lake Michigan. Highs are likely to occur early though, with cooler air moving in late afternoon with the front. && .LONG TERM...(Friday Night through Thursday) Issued at 316 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 A transitory ridge of high pressure will build in on Friday night into Saturday morning. Dry weather may not last long though, with another low pressure system poised to bring more rain and thunderstorms on Saturday night into Sunday as a deep closed low swings through the Great Lakes. Lingering showers due to wrap- around moisture are now also forecast to persist on Monday and possibly Tuesday as the low stalls over the SE US. Dry conditions should return for Wednesday and Thursday, but confidence is low since latest model runs hold onto the low through the end of the week. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday Evening) Issued at 707 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 Chances for convection will keep confidence low for the 00z TAf cycle. Initial round of convection has already gone through the terminals and we should see a lull of activity over the first couple of hours. Models show an additional round of convection possible for KFWA as a MCV over southern MO continues to move northeast with time. KSBN could miss out on convection from this feature and have it's chances associated more with the eastward progression of the complex of storms over IA. Have made adjustments at both terminals to try to capture this brief lull and renewal of convection at the terminals. Given the slow progression of the convection and associated cold front, KSBN will likely see the greatest impacts overnight. A Prolonged period of degraded ceilings and visby is expected when convection moves over the terminals. Outside of the initial convection may have to wait until closer to 12z for the front to bring convection to the terminals. Have also maintained LLWS mention overnight as a strong LLJ moves over the terminals and surface winds drop below 10kt. An return to VFR is possible at the very end of this TAF cycle as the cold front moves southeast of the terminals. Have introduced this improvement with this issuance. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...Flood Watch through Friday morning for INZ003>005-012-014. MI...Flood Watch through Friday morning for MIZ077>079. OH...NONE. LM...NONE. && UPDATE...CM SYNOPSIS...Cobb SHORT TERM...Cobb LONG TERM...Cobb AVIATION...CM 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 756 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 INZ006>009-013-015>018-020-022>027-032>034-OHZ001-002-004-005-015- 016-024-025-160000- Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Pulaski-Fulton IN-Kosciusko-Whitley- Allen IN-White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash-Huntington-Wells-Adams-Grant- Blackford-Jay-Williams-Fulton OH-Defiance-Henry-Paulding-Putnam- Van Wert-Allen OH- 756 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms will be possible into tonight across much of the area. The severe weather threat has diminished, although there could be a few strong wind gusts. Heavy rain is also possible, which could cause some ponding of water and minor flooding in areas that see repeated rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Additional chances for thunderstorms exist Saturday night into Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LMZ043-046-160000- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 756 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters of southeastern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms will be possible through tonight, which may cause locally higher winds and waves. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Thunderstorms will be possible again Saturday night into Sunday. INZ003>005-012-014-MIZ077>081-160000- La Porte-St. Joseph IN-Elkhart-Starke-Marshall-Berrien-Cass MI- St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale- 756 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020 /656 PM CDT Thu May 14 2020/ ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... 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. Flood Watch. Thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rain are expected overnight. An additional 1 to 2 inches of rain with locally higher amounts will be possible. This could cause some ponding of water and minor flooding in areas that see repeated rainfall. These storms may also be capable of producing strong wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Thunderstorms are expected Friday morning. These storms will be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall which could lead to flooding of poor drainage areas. Additional chances for thunderstorms exist Saturday night into Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
659 PM EDT THU MAY 14 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SSE VAN WERT 40.84N 84.57W
05/14/2020 VAN WERT OH EMERGENCY MNGR
APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE TRACK OF DAMAGE THAT
INCLUDED TWO 3FT DIAMETER TREES SNAPPED,
SHINGLES BLOWN OFF HOME, AND SEVERAL LIMBS
SNAPPED.
&&
AGDSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
909 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020
INZ016-017-150145-
Whitley-Kosciusko-
909 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL WHITLEY AND SOUTHEASTERN
KOSCIUSKO COUNTIES...
At 908 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Pierceton, or
near Winona Lake, moving east at 40 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Warsaw, Columbia City, Winona Lake, Tri-lakes, Pierceton, Etna,
Larwill, Sidney, Ridinger Lake, Lorane, Blue Lake, Goose Lake,
Coesse, Collins, Ormas, Packerton and Wooster.
&&
LAT...LON 4124 8590 4130 8563 4130 8554 4127 8554
4126 8535 4118 8532 4118 8534 4113 8534
4107 8584
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 256DEG 38KT 4118 8577
HAIL...0.50IN
WIND...50MPH
NWSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1004 PM EDT THU MAY 14 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0947 PM HAIL 2 SW EGE 41.27N 85.31W
05/14/2020 E0.50 INCH NOBLE IN PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: HALF-INCH (0.50 IN.).
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1143 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020
INZ005-006-008-016-017-150415-
Lagrange-Whitley-Noble-Kosciusko-Elkhart-
1143 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN ELKHART...NOBLE...
NORTHWESTERN WHITLEY...NORTHEASTERN KOSCIUSKO AND SOUTHWESTERN
LAGRANGE COUNTIES...
At 1143 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over North Webster,
or 7 miles southeast of Syracuse, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Kendallville, Ligonier, Syracuse, Avilla, Albion, Rome City, Topeka,
North Webster, Pierceton, Swan, Etna, Wolcottville, Leesburg,
Cromwell, Brimfield, Big Barbee Lake, Honeyville, Ridinger Lake,
Merriam and Big Lake.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4167 8552 4135 8519 4131 8519 4117 8570
4134 8589
TIME...MOT...LOC 0343Z 237DEG 37KT 4134 8567
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPH
CMThe Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 7 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:48 UTC.
2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Several quarter size hailstones noted by off duty NWS employee amongst mainly pea to penny size hail.
Quarter size hail observed at the NWS Northern Indiana office.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 2020
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: 895554, 895555.