A unique event impacted the region on Friday May 16th. Showers and thunderstorms developed across central Illinois and tracked into northern Indiana.
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 unique event impacted the region on Friday May 16th. Showers and thunderstorms developed across central Illinois and tracked into northern Indiana. Rain cooled downdrafts in a dry environment allowed strong gusty winds of 40 to 70 mph to spread out in advance of the precipitation. These strong winds resulted in numerous reports of tree damage and power outages. In addition, these strong winds preceding the rain led dust and dirt being kicked up into the atmosphere with limited visibility at times.
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 16, 1:15 PM EST, 4 hours 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 215 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a chance for storms this evening, mainly between 7pm and 10pm EDT. A few thunderstorms could become severe with damaging winds the primary threat, mainly south of US 24. - Cooler and breezy on Saturday. - Periodic rain chances return next week, mainly Tuesday through Thursday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 215 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025 A shortwave, 70-80 kt 500 mb jet, and an attendant cold front track through this evening into the early overnight through the base of an Upper Midwest upper low. The associated shot of deeper ascent and some low level moisture return with a developing low level jet should bring a period of scattered showers/storms to most of the area this evening. Still cannot rule out a few strong to severe storms, mainly south of US 24, as shear profiles are favorable for organized convection. Instability is the limiting factor however with MLCIN and dry air to overcome, though incoming height falls/cooling aloft, and some last minute low level theta-e advection, should eventually allow updrafts to break the cap with MLCAPE potentially surging into the 1000-1500 j/kg range (highest southeast of US 24). High DCAPE with steep 0-3km lapse rates favor a downburst wind threat if any multicell clusters/lines emerge. Overall confidence in anything more than isolated strong to severe cells is low, with greater probs for severe storms off to the south near the primary moisture/instability axis. Cold advection on the southern fringes of a stacked low moving east through the Great Lakes region will provide significantly cooler and breezy conditions post-frontal later tonight into Saturday. Cyclonic flow around the low will also allow stratocu to build in for a time, especially north of US 30 where non zero chances for a rogue sprinkle/shower will exist. Sunday is definitely the preferred weekend day weather-wise as high pressure nudges in from the north with sunshine, lighter winds and slightly warmer temps. Next week continues to look wet at times as an upper low cuts off and slowly tracks east through the Central US and Great Lakes. The greatest chances for rain are the Tuesday through Thursday periods, with temperatures generally below average for mid-late May. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 127 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025 An upper level speed max lifting across downstream portion of upper trough and an accompanying upper level short wave will help to advect some increased low level moisture northward late this afternoon/early this evening. Sfc dew points have mixed out nicely early this afternoon into the upper 40s to lower 50s. The challenging part of this convective forecast is trying to assess extent of moisture return in advance of this short wave tonight and how much destabilization can occur. Strengthening low/mid level wind fields and initial dry profiles do suggest potential of some strong winds with any storms (or showers). Have not made substantial changes to previous timing of main potential threat in the 00Z-03Z window for thunder. Otherwise, southerly gusts to 20 to 25 knots will be maintained in advance of the associated cold front this evening, with post-frontal west winds gusting to 30 to 35 knots by Saturday afternoon. Conditions should remain primarily VFR this period with the exception of any stronger showers and storms. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...None. OH...None. MI...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EDT Saturday for LMZ043-046. && DISCUSSION...Steinwedel AVIATION...Marsili
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Northern Indiana 218 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025 INZ005>009-012>015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-103-104-116-203-204- 216-MIZ078>081-177-277-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025-171830- Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Starke-Pulaski-Marshall- Fulton IN-Whitley-Allen IN-White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash-Huntington- Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay-Northern La Porte- Eastern St. Joseph IN-Northern Kosciusko-Southern La Porte- Western St. Joseph IN-Southern Kosciusko-Cass MI-St. Joseph MI- Branch-Hillsdale-Northern Berrien-Southern Berrien-Williams- Fulton OH-Defiance-Henry-Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH- 218 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025 /118 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana, southwest Michigan and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a chance for storms this evening, mainly between 7pm and 10pm EDT. A few thunderstorms could become severe with damaging winds the primary threat, mainly south of US 24. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. LMZ043-046-171830- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 218 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT SATURDAY... 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. Small Craft Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Small Craft Advisory.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
308 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1005 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 E Pottawattomie Park 41.72N 86.82W
05/15/2025 La Porte IN Emergency Mngr
Delayed report of large tree downed on
mobile home. Time estimated from radar.
&&
NDMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
321 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 SE Barron Lake 41.82N 86.14W
05/15/2025 Cass MI Broadcast Media
Delayed report. Two trees uprooted and large
tree branches downed. Time estimated from
radar.
&&
NDMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
347 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1020 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNW Saint Joseph 42.11N 86.50W
05/15/2025 M96 MPH LMZ043 MI Mesonet
St Joseph, MI Weatherflow station.
1020 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NW Bridgman 41.98N 86.62W
05/15/2025 M63 MPH LMZ043 MI Buoy
A 54 knot gust was recorded by the Buoy
45026.
1010 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NW Michigan City 41.73N 86.91W
05/15/2025 M48 MPH LMZ046 IN C-Man Station
A 42 knot gust was recorded at the Michigan
City GLERL site (MCYI3).
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
403 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1005 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 E Pottawattomie Park 41.72N 86.82W
05/15/2025 La Porte IN Emergency Mngr
Delayed report of large tree downed on
mobile home. Time estimated from radar.
1020 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Saint Joseph 42.10N 86.49W
05/15/2025 Berrien MI Trained Spotter
Large 3 foot diameter tree downed onto a
house. Time estimated from radar.
1025 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Buchanan 41.83N 86.37W
05/15/2025 Berrien MI Broadcast Media
Reports of large trees downed. Time
estimated from radar.
1028 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Berrien Springs 41.95N 86.34W
05/15/2025 Berrien MI Broadcast Media
Reports of large trees downed. Time
estimated from radar.
1100 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 SE Barron Lake 41.82N 86.14W
05/15/2025 Cass MI Broadcast Media
Delayed report. Two trees uprooted and large
tree branches downed. Time estimated from
radar.
1020 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNW Saint Joseph 42.11N 86.50W
05/15/2025 M96 MPH LMZ043 MI Mesonet
St Joseph, MI Weatherflow station.
1020 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NW Bridgman 41.98N 86.62W
05/15/2025 M63 MPH LMZ043 MI Buoy
A 54 knot gust was recorded by the Buoy
45026.
1010 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NW Michigan City 41.73N 86.91W
05/15/2025 M48 MPH LMZ046 IN C-Man Station
A 42 knot gust was recorded at the Michigan
City GLERL site (MCYI3).
1004 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Trail Creek 41.70N 86.86W
05/15/2025 La Porte IN Trained Spotter
Received photos of tree limbs down. Time
estimated by radar.
1005 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Michigan City 41.71N 86.88W
05/15/2025 La Porte IN Trained Spotter
Trees down. One reportedly on a mobile home.
Time estimated by radar.
1013 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 N Benton Heights 42.13N 86.42W
05/15/2025 M61 MPH Berrien MI ASOS
1025 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 N Benton Heights 42.13N 86.42W
05/15/2025 M72 MPH Berrien MI ASOS
ASOS station KBEH Benton Harbor.
1130 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 ESE Fishers Lake 41.98N 85.53W
05/15/2025 St. Joseph MI Emergency Mngr
Emergency manager reports trees and power
lines down from Three River to Mendon. Time
estimated via radar.
1130 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 E Fishers Lake 41.98N 85.53W
05/15/2025 St. Joseph MI Emergency Mngr
Emergency manager reports tree limbs and
powerlines down from Three Rivers to Mendon.
Time estimated via radar.
1135 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SW Fishers Lake 41.97N 85.60W
05/15/2025 M59 MPH St. Joseph MI AWOS
AWOS station KHAI Three Rivers.
1155 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NW Elkhart 41.72N 86.00W
05/15/2025 M59 MPH Elkhart IN AWOS
AWOS station KEKM Elkhart Municipa.
&&The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:42 UTC.
30 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees down in and around Walton.
Tree down onto a house on Clinton St near Burlington Ave.
Power poles leaning on W County Road 300 S near CR 125 W.
Lightning strike caused a structure fire on the 1500 Block of Delaware Road.
Large tree and power line down on the 6000 block of CR E 90 S.
Power lines down on the 6700 block of W US 24.
White County has several trees and power poles down. Reports of damage to houses and buildings. A church in Reynolds lost its steeple. A tree fell into the front room of a house. Siding was blown off a house in Reynolds. A tree fell onto a car in Monticello.
Barn collapsed.
Trained spotter reported a couple of trees down and several branches down. Estimated wind speeds of 50 to 60 mph.
Report of power lines down.
Tree down on S Clay Street at Calhoun St.
Three foot diameter tree down across Wheeling Pike and CR 600.
There are multiple reports of trees down in Andrews.
Tree and power lines down near CR 300 E and Old US 30.
Mature oak tree lost part of its top.
Trained spotter reports trees down.
Large tree uprooted at a residence.
Large tree snapped at the base and fell onto N Kalorama Rd. A truck was crushed. A power pole was snapped.
Reports of trees down in and around Columbia City.
A metal barn door was removed.
A pear tree was snapped and another tree was uprooted.
A tree is down blocking Main Street.
Numerous reports of trees and power lines down across Whitley Co. Also, a report of a field fire.
Two-foot diameter trees down on Leesburg Rd near Kromer Rd.
Amateur radio operator reports trees down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 2025
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: 1265019, 1265021, 1265027, 1265023, 1265017, 1265024, 1265025, 1265041, 1265026, 1265047, 1265042, 1265059, 1265061, 1265044, 1265063, 1265064, 1265066, 1265076, 1265077, 1265032, 1265067, 1265072, 1265079, 1265033, 1265068, 1265074, 1265029, 1265030, 1265034, 1265069, 1265031.