Two lines of storms moved across the area on April 5th, 2023 with isolated damaging wind, hail, and heavy rain. There was also some minor flooding.
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.
Two lines of storms moved across the area on April 5th, 2023 with isolated damaging wind, hail, and heavy rain. There was also some minor flooding.
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 Apr 5, 10:26 AM EST, 2 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1126 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 1123 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
Severe storms are possible through late this afternoon, but the
overall risk is declining. Dry and cooler conditions to end the
week.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 1123 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
An updated weather briefing has been published to depict a declining
tornado and hail risk. Squall line that has moved in from the west
has weakened and MUCAPE is declining. Cluster of storms moving
through central IN will further muddy the waters so to speak. So,
have removed the "kitchen sink" from the forecast grids and have
instead offered damaging wind as the primary threat, should
convection become reinvigorated with pockets of clearing noted on
satellite.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Today and Tonight)
Issued at 448 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
Staying the course with respect to messaging potential severe
weather outbreak today. Some time adjustments per latest CAMS
trends with strong/increasingly deep convection into northwest CWA
around 13-14 UTC. Overall hi-res model output muddled, but
overall consensus remains the same. Of concern is warm front slow
to progress through northern CWA with thermal/backed low level
flow enhanced due through southern Lakes influence. Latest
RAP/HRRR latching onto triple point/frontal mesovort developing
over northeast Missouri, evident in composite reflectivity. This
feature will lift northeast and as present MLCIN 200-30; J/kg
across CWA erodes expect scattered convective initiation by mid
morning western/northwest CWA. Presence of lagged boundary and
approach of mesovort into northeast IL/northwest IN may result in
locally enhanced backed surface/effective inflow resulting in
discreet/semi- discreet within background of already impressive
0-1km SRH on order of 300-350 m2/s2. Additional northeast ejecting
mesovorts within deep southwest flow hinted per CAMS and will
likely be features of interest into midday across remainder of CWA
with MLCAPE on order 1000-1500 K/kg, locally to 2000 J/kg and
deep layer shear 50-60 knots. Continued slight backing in lowest
100 mb noted with directional veering with height to 2 km of
roughly 30-40 degrees should be sufficient for continued
supercell/clusters with all hazards threat through mid afternoon.
Much of prefrontal convection shifts through eastern CWA into Ohio
by late afternoon, around 22 UTC. There is a final concern for
linear convection tied to cold front sweeping CWA in 21-02 UTC
timeframe. Primary hazard with this round would be 60-70 mph wind
gusts associated with linear segments, though potential line
breaks/misovort spinups also possible. Model trends through this
morning have begun to recognize the second round potential
convective depth tied to cold front immediately in advance of
northern extrusion of dryline.
&&
.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 448 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
Large sprawled post frontal surface ridge from Dakotas through
Missouri Valley will spread eastward through the Great Lakes and
to southern New England/Mid Atlantic by Sunday. This will assure
an extended period of dry weather with a gradual warming trend,
following Thursday's cool down into the upper 40s/lower 50s. A
weak mid level wave could bring a chance of showers early next
week, yet present indications are that sensible weather effects
will be nominal.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday Morning)
Issued at 638 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
At the onset, storms were developing just west of SBN to the
Lansing IL area. A wind gust to 53 knots was reported at VPZ.
The entire area was in the warm sector. Scattered showers are
storms area possible through about mid afternoon with high winds a
good bet. An EML with steep lapse rates combined with large shear
values should support severe storms. Have mentioned stronger
storms and adjusted timing. Storms clear by mid to late afternoon.
in the SBN area; later in FWA.
&&
.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ this evening for
INZ005>009-012>015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-103-104-116-
203-204-216.
MI...NONE.
OH...Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for OHZ001-002-004-005-
015-016-024-025.
LM...Gale Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for LMZ043-046.
&&
UPDATE...Brown
SYNOPSIS...Brown
SHORT TERM...Murphy
LONG TERM...Murphy
AVIATION...Skipper
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www.youtube.com/NWSNorthernIndianaHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Northern Indiana 131 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 MIZ078>081-177-277-061745- Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-Northern Berrien- Southern Berrien- 131 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Michigan. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. INZ005>009-012>015-017-020-022>025-032-103-104-116-203-204-216- 061745- Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Starke-Pulaski-Marshall- Fulton IN-Whitley-White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash-Huntington-Grant- Northern La Porte-Eastern St. Joseph IN-Northern Kosciusko- Southern La Porte-Western St. Joseph IN-Southern Kosciusko- 131 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 /1231 PM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023/ ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. INZ018-026-027-033-034-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025-061745- Allen IN-Wells-Adams-Blackford-Jay-Williams-Fulton OH-Defiance-Henry- Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH- 131 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. LMZ043-046-061745- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 131 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters of southeastern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Gale Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Conditions may be hazardous to small craft Thursday morning.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1039 AM EDT WED APR 5 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1038 AM FLOOD WATERVLIET 42.19N 86.26W
04/05/2023 BERRIEN MI TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTS FLOODING NEAR COUNTY LINE RD
AND RED ARROW HIGHWAY IN WATERVLIET. ROADS
AND MANY FIELDS FLOODED.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1129 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
INZ013-015-020-022>024-051615-
Miami IN-Wabash IN-Cass IN-White IN-Fulton IN-Pulaski IN-
1129 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Wabash, east
central White, Fulton, southeastern Pulaski, Cass and Miami Counties
through 1215 PM EDT...
At 1129 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Logansport, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Mexico around 1145 AM EDT.
Other locations in the path of this storm include Akron.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 PM EDT for north central
Indiana.
&&
LAT...LON 4056 8637 4069 8637 4069 8652 4074 8653
4074 8672 4071 8676 4114 8631 4106 8602
4104 8602 4104 8593 4056 8593
TIME...MOT...LOC 1529Z 229DEG 49KT 4080 8641
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AndersenSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1133 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
INZ005>007-MIZ079-080-051615-
Lagrange IN-Steuben IN-Elkhart IN-St. Joseph MI-Branch MI-
1133 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern Steuben,
northeastern Elkhart, Lagrange, St. Joseph and Branch Counties
through 1215 PM EDT...
At 1133 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 9 miles west of Union City to near Sturgis to
near Topeka. Movement was east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Union City around 1145 AM EDT.
Other locations in the path of these storms include Bronson and
Coldwater.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 69 in Michigan between mile markers 15 and 21.
Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 101 and 138.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 PM EDT for north central
and northeastern Indiana...and southwestern Michigan.
&&
LAT...LON 4158 8520 4163 8581 4176 8579 4180 8576
4188 8576 4207 8561 4207 8491
TIME...MOT...LOC 1533Z 265DEG 41KT 4210 8532 4183 8553 4159 8562
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AndersenSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1237 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
INZ032-051700-
Grant IN-
1237 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Grant County through
100 PM EDT...
At 1237 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Swayzee, or 11 miles west of Fairmount, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Swayzee around 1240 PM EDT.
Marion and Fairmount around 1250 PM EDT.
Gas City and Jonesboro around 1255 PM EDT.
Other locations in the path of this storm include Upland and
Matthews.
This includes Interstate 69 in Indiana between mile markers 252 and
268.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 PM EDT for central and
east central Indiana.
&&
LAT...LON 4057 8586 4063 8545 4038 8544 4038 8586
TIME...MOT...LOC 1637Z 263DEG 39KT 4044 8586
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
AndersenSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1241 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
INZ017-018-024>027-051715-
Wabash IN-Whitley IN-Huntington IN-Adams IN-Wells IN-Allen IN-
1241 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Allen,
southeastern Wabash, southeastern Whitley, Huntington, Wells and
northwestern Adams Counties through 115 PM EDT...
At 1241 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Huntington, moving northeast at 70 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Fort Wayne and New Haven.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 469 between mile markers 0 and 12.
Interstate 69 in Indiana between mile markers 272 and 305.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 PM EDT for central, north
central and northeastern Indiana.
&&
LAT...LON 4065 8576 4101 8565 4111 8507 4065 8504
TIME...MOT...LOC 1641Z 244DEG 59KT 4091 8552
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
AndersenPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
137 PM EDT WED APR 5 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1250 PM TSTM WND DMG JONESBORO 40.49N 85.63W
04/05/2023 GRANT IN EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW TREES DOWNED.
&&The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:36 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree on house at 164 North Water Street in Ney, Ohio. Time estimated from radar.
Shed was knocked over and what looked like a piece of the shed's metal siding was ripped off and blown in the field. Time estimated from radar.
EM reported tree down on power lines at the intersection of CR M2 and 424. Time estimated from radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, April 2023
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: 1091556, 1091557, 1091559.