An area of low pressure from Green Bay to Lake Huron, meausring 988mb, produced widespread wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph. This resulted in property damage and numerous reports of blown-over semi-trucks.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
An area of low pressure from Green Bay to Lake Huron, meausring 988mb, produced widespread wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph. This resulted in property damage and numerous reports of blown-over semi-trucks.
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 Mar 13, 1:50 AM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
250 AM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- High Wind Warning is in effect for gusts up to 60 mph.
- A strong storm system will bring rain and thunderstorms late
Sunday into Sunday night, followed by strong winds and snow on
Monday. Accumulating snow is expected, mainly in northwest IN
and southwest MI.
- Temperatures mid 60s to near 70 on Sunday will crash into the 20s
by Monday. Tuesday morning wind chills near 0.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 249 AM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026
A powerhouse low moves through the Great Lakes today bringing a
sharp increase in wind gusts this morning that persists through the
day. Southwesterly wind gusts by sunrise (45-50mph) become westerly
prior to noon and reach their peak intensity during the midday hours
(50-60 mph). Wind gusts diminish near sunset. Some guidance suggests
wind gusts of 45 mph could linger in northwest Ohio just beyond our
8PM EDT expiration time of the High Wind Warning; trends will be
monitored.
The 992mb low, currently over western MN, is already producing
widespread 45-55 knot (52-63 mph) wind gusts in the wake of its
associated cold front(s). This is well correlated to a 925-mb jet of
similar magnitude working its way through the Dakotas. This jet
might lose a few knots of its punch through time as the parent
trough flattens through time, but nonetheless, a very impressive
setup for wind today with the ~990mb low contrasting with a
1024mb high over the Southeast US, and mixing this afternoon
tapping into the 60+ knot jet at 850mb (4k FT AGL).
Along with the wind, a brief period rain/snow is possible this
morning, primarily along and north of the US 6 corridor. A stout
dry layer is so far preventing hydrometeors from reaching the ground
as of this early-morning writing. But, racing across Iowa is a
strong but narrow area of rain showers. Despite the 12-degree
dew point depressions there, rain is reaching the ground. The
duration of precipitation will be brief locally and little to no
snow accumulation is expected. This afternoon, there could be a
brief period of lake-enhanced snow but duration will be brief
as well, in part due to the overwhelming wind profile today.
The next storm system of interest takes shape during the latter part
of the weekend as low pressure deepens over the central US. An
amplified trough over the Plains places us in the warm sector
starting early Sunday morning. Where this warm front sets up will be
the focus for rain (even some early-AM snow showers in southern
MI). As the front progresses north during the day, a period of
dry weather is anticipated before the cold front sweeps through
Sunday night and Monday. During the dry period,another round of
gusty winds is possible (40-70% chance of 40mph wind gusts).
Showers, and a few thunderstorms, along the cold front
depending on instability profiles could produce locally damaging
wind gusts as well. Then, by Monday morning, rain changing to
snow looks to result in 1-2 inches of snow area-wide before lake
effect snow adds to the total for westerly/northwesterly flow
locations. Once again, the Sunday to Monday period will feature
a 30 to 40 degree temperature change with temperatures Monday
tumbling into the 30s.
A highly amplified upper-air pattern persists through the week with
our area on the fringe of a sharp temperature gradient. This
gradient would be the channel for passing shortwaves, including
a clipper system (snow) Wednesday, attempting to suppress the
building Four Corners ridge. Overall, am optimistic for a
gradual warming trend beyond midweek but the thermal gradient
and active jet stream results in murky details.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 135 AM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026
Strong and compact midlevel vort max currently approaching the
Great Lakes. Best forcing for ascent passes just north of the
area but a few sprinkles are possible (too warm for snow). Very
dry low levels will keep conditions VFR through the period
though. Main concern will be very strong winds through the day.
Momentum transfer supports frequent gusts to 45kts at KSBN and
just shy of 50 kts at KFWA. Wind direction initially from the
S/SW will steadily veer to WNW by late in the day. Expect the
strongest gusts in the 15-18Z window with a direction of right
around 260 degrees.
&&
.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...High Wind Warning 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.
OH...High Wind Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for OHZ001-002-
004-005-015-016-024-025.
MI...High Wind Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for MIZ078>081-
177-277.
MARINE...Gale Warning until 5 AM EDT early this morning for LMZ043-046.
Gale Warning from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 PM EDT this
evening for LMZ043-046.
Storm Warning until 5 PM EDT this afternoon for LMZ043-046.
&&
DISCUSSION...Brown
AVIATION...AGDHazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Northern Indiana 147 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026 INZ005>009-012>015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-103-104-116-203-204- 216-MIZ078>081-177-277-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025-131800- 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- 147 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026 /1247 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026/ ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM EDT /4 AM CDT/ TO 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ FRIDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana, southwest Michigan 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. High Wind Warning. .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. High Wind Warning. Thunderstorms are likely Sunday night with strong winds and accumulating snow possible on Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LMZ043-046-131800- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 147 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM EDT FRIDAY... ...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 5 PM EDT FRIDAY... ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM TO 11 PM EDT FRIDAY... 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. Storm Warning. .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. Storm Warning. Gale Warning. Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely for much of this period. Gales are possible Sunday night into Monday.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1032 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0735 AM Tornado 2 WSW Vera Cruz 40.69N 85.11W
03/11/2026 Wells IN NWS Storm Survey
A weak circulation touched down in an open
field southwest of the intersection of CR S
600 E and E 350 S. The tornado moved
northeast causing damage to a pole barn
which lost its roof as well as had leaning
walls. Debris impacted an adjacent pole barn
with the pieces of metal being carried
downstream into a yard just to the east of
the above noted intersection. The
circulation continued across mainly
unplanted fields, but drone imagery
indicated a narrow area of very light
scouring in the field and inflow into the
tornado. A tree fell onto SR 116 near E 300
S, which a car ran into to. It then
continued northeast before lifting near the
county line at S 700 W-1. A small garage was
shifted off its foundation as the garage
door was impacted by the winds as it
dissipated.
0916 AM Tornado 2 S Redkey 40.32N 85.15W
03/11/2026 Jay IN NWS Storm Survey
A tornado touched down south of CR W 800 S
and west of SR 1, crossing the road and
snapping 3 power poles. On the northern
edge, a barn suffered door damage, a few
downed trees and damage to a greenhouse. The
tornado moved NE, crossing W 800 S and
causing roof damage to a home as well as
some tree damage on a few properties. As it
was passing northwest of the intersection of
CR W 800 S and S 700 W, it caused roof
damage to the roof of a pole barn with
debris being carried roughly 350 yards to
the east. The final damage was noted at 2
animal barns on S 600 W where roof lost was
noted, the most extensive being on the west
side of S 600 W where the metal roofing was
carried into an adjacent field. No damage
was noted beyond this area.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Automated station KSBN recorded wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph. Reports received of a damaged traffic signal pole and tree branches down around South Bend and the Indian Village neighborhood.
Automated station KOXI Knox - Starke Co. Airport.
Huntington AWOS recorded a 59 mph wind gust. Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down onto a house in Huntington. No injuries reported. They also reported power lines down around the county.
Power poles snapped and blocking Highway 13. Reports of roof damage in the county and at least one vehicle overturned. 1 Injury when tree fell onto someone working on a car outdoors.
Report received of a gutter ripped off a building.
Automated station at Rochester, KRCR.
Wind gusts of 59 mph to 70 mph recorded at Fort Wayne Int'l Airport. Also received reports of small trees and branches down near Aboite.
Grissom Airforce Base AWOS recorded a 59 mph wind gust.
Recorded wind gusts from Goshen Airport, KGSH.
Power lines down and roof damage at the Mississinewa High School. KMZZ AWOS recorded wind gusts of 56 to 58 mph.
Member of the public reported a 70 mph wind gust.
Report of a barn roof damaged near Blaine and a tree was uprooted onto a mobile home near Portland. Semi truck blown over near Bluff Point.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, March 2026
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: 1323899, 1323895, 1323908, 1323904, 1323891, 1323999, 1324001, 1323901, 1324002, 1323998, 1323893, 1323905.