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, 6:58 PM EST, 52 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
758 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.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 745 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
Fairly complicated set up here in the short term for here in
northern Indiana. Which is probably not so much for forecasters
for locations across the High Plains in which these very dry
low level convective events are more commonplace. We have the
synoptic winds from the southwest being amplified by convective
outflows. These winds have then been kicking up dust/dirt back
over central IL and has pushed this dust into northern IN with
even some additional dust being added locally. Did address the
wind/dust potential initially with an SPS but with the increase
in wind speeds/dust decided to go with a combination of Severe
Thunderstorm warnings for the winds and a blowing dust advisory
for of course the dust. This is one event that will stand out in
the future for sure.
&&
.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 /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 757 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
Complicated TAF period at least in the short term with southerly
gusty winds being amplified by thunderstorm outflows and also
kicking up dust and locally dropping vsbys due to the blowing
dust. This will be expected through 03z Sat for KSBN and 04z
KFWA. Will continue to monitor as this may take a bit longer to
push through. Wind gusts up to 35 kts expected with slightly
higher gusts possible at times through 04z Sat. South to southwesterly
Winds back to more westerly late in the period and slightly
decrease through the remainder of the TAF period. Gusts still
expected around 25 kts.
&&
.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Blowing Dust Advisory until 11 PM EDT /10 PM CDT/ this evening
for INZ005>009-012>015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-103-
104-116-203-204-216.
OH...Blowing Dust Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for OHZ001-
002-004-005-015-016-024-025.
MI...Blowing Dust Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for
MIZ078>081-177-277.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EDT Saturday for LMZ043-046.
&&
DISCUSSION...Steinwedel
AVIATION...Andersen
UPDATE...AndersenHazardous 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
818 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0735 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Winona Lake 41.22N 85.81W
05/16/2025 Kosciusko IN NWS Employee
NWS employee reports tree branches down over
southeast Warsaw in Kosciusko County
Indiana. Estimated winds around 50 mph.
&&
JAPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
819 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Rome City 41.49N 85.35W
05/16/2025 M57 MPH Noble IN Trained Spotter
0655 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Monticello 40.75N 86.76W
05/16/2025 White IN Emergency Mngr
White County has several trees and poles
down. Reports of damage to houses and
buildings. Church in Reynolds lost its
steeple. Tree in front room of a house,
siding blown off a house in Reynolds, tree
on car in Monticello, tree on front porch.
Possible damage to a hog barn in Reynolds.
0655 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Monticello 40.75N 86.76W
05/16/2025 White IN Public
Pictures on social media of trees down in
town.
0729 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Fairmount 40.42N 85.65W
05/16/2025 Grant IN Trained Spotter
Reports of power lines down.
0733 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Andrews 40.86N 85.60W
05/16/2025 Huntington IN Emergency Mngr
Multiple reports of trees down in Andrews.
0734 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NE Winona Lake 41.24N 85.78W
05/16/2025 Kosciusko IN Emergency Mngr
Tree and power lines down near CR 300 E and
Old US 30.
0735 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE North Manchester 41.01N 85.77W
05/16/2025 Wabash IN Trained Spotter
The top part of a mature oak tree (estimated
28-36 inches in width) fell and hit a house,
causing significant damage to the structure
and its roof. No injuries.
0741 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Rochester 41.06N 86.20W
05/16/2025 Fulton IN Trained Spotter
Reports of trees down.
0746 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Columbia City 41.16N 85.48W
05/16/2025 Whitley IN Amateur Radio
Reports of trees down in Columbia City.
0750 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Jonesboro 40.48N 85.63W
05/16/2025 Grant IN Public
Tree down blocking Main Street.
0758 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Blue Lake 41.22N 85.36W
05/16/2025 Whitley IN Amateur Radio
Trees down.
0735 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Culver 41.22N 86.42W
05/16/2025 Marshall IN Emergency Mngr
Reports of trees down.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
821 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WNW Rochester 41.07N 86.24W
05/16/2025 Fulton IN Trained Spotter
Trained spotter reported a couple of trees
down and several branches 2 to 3 inches in
diameter downed by winds estimated to be 50-
60 mph west of Rochester in Fulton County,
Indiana.
&&
JAPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
823 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0756 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ENE Nine Mile 40.98N 85.18W
05/16/2025 M66 MPH Allen IN ASOS
Wind gust at the Fort Wayne International
Airport.
0756 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 E Arcola 41.11N 85.21W
05/16/2025 Allen IN Amateur Radio
Two foot diameter trees down on Leesburg
Road, near Kromer Rd.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
834 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0729 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Claypool 41.13N 85.88W
05/16/2025 Kosciusko IN Amateur Radio
Tree down on S Clay St at Calhoon St.
0754 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE James Lake 41.31N 85.72W
05/16/2025 Kosciusko IN NWS Employee
Snapped pear tree and another tree uprooted.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
848 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0756 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 E Arcola 41.11N 85.21W
05/16/2025 Allen IN Amateur Radio
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 4
E Arcola. Six foot diameter, rotten tree
down on Leesburg Road, near Kromer Rd.
&&
LWFThe Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:48 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Pictures of a 100+ year-old tree uprooted at the Delphos Waterworks Park. Tree fell onto and destroyed a shelter.
Picture of a large tree down on Van Wert County EMA Facebook page.
Large tree downed blocking Faulkner Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, 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: 1264994, 1264996, 1265001.