Rounds of rain and thunderstorms on the 4th resulted in at least two instances of flooding. 90 inches of rain was recorded on the 4th, preceded by about 1 inch of rain from March 31 through April 3.
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.
Rounds of rain and thunderstorms on the 4th resulted in at least two instances of flooding. At Benton Harbor, 1.90 inches of rain was recorded on the 4th, preceded by about 1 inch of rain from March 31 through April 3.
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 4, 12:46 AM EST, 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
146 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- More rain and storms are expected through today. Heavy rain
is possible west of I-69 where a flood watch remains in
effect.
- Severe storms capable of damaging straight-line winds are
possible east of I-69 this afternoon and early evening.
- Cooler and drier weather returns Sunday-Wednesday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 146 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026
Our CWA is currently in a relative lull in activity as initial surge
of isentropic ascent and associated convection lifts E/NE. Surface
warm front remains just south of our CWA and as expected, much of
the earlier activity remained elevated with just some small hail and
isolated heavy rain. Better instability remains locked to our south
for now with easterly low level flow over our entire CWA. That will
change by later this morning though as upstream trough approaches
and southwesterly LLJ ramps up. Surface warm front will begin
inching north around 08-09Z but midlevel lapse rates are only around
6 C/km and even MUCAPE values struggle to get much above 1000 J/kg.
Surface warm front will also struggle to fully lift north until
after sunrise. Expect showers and storms currently over IL to
blossom and lift NE into our NW half after 08Z but isolated heavy
rain will be the only real concern given relatively stable
conditions, particularly in the low levels. Our NW CWA has the best
chance of seeing an inch or two of rain through the morning but
luckily this area missed out on the heavy rain the night of the
31st. Still, isolated pockets of heavy rain and flooding will remain
possible roughly 08-14Z and no changes to the flood watch planned.
Attention then turns to the cold front set to swing through the area
later today. Latest hi-res continued earlier trend of a slightly
slower frontal passage that would allow areas east of I-69 time to
destabilize. MLCAPE values climb to around 1500 J/kg with 30 kts of
0-6km shear. Linear forcing, some modest DCAPE and strong,
unidirectional flow will favor damaging straight-line winds and
wouldn't be surprised at all to see some impacts east of I-69 17-
23Z. For areas west of I-69, conditions look to remain stable with
just some light-moderate rain at times through the day. Not
expecting heavy rain but it won't take much to cause problems given
extremely saturated soils and will therefore keep the watch going
until 5PM for now. Later shifts may be able to trim or cancel once
the dust settles with morning rainfall.
Rain exits our far SE around 03Z this evening and a welcome reprieve
from active weather sets up for early next week. Much cooler
(seasonable) temps arrive tonight with a reinforcing shot of cold
air Mon into Tue. Lows Mon night dip well into the 20s and highs on
Tue remain in the low/mid 40s. Mainly dry conditions are expected
but Sunday night into Mon could feature some very light rain (maybe
even a few snowflakes) as a shortwave/cold front pass. Some low
chances of rain arrive later next week as mid/upper flow flattens
and eventually returns to southwesterly. However, best chances
appear north of our area until next weekend, allowing time for
fields to slowly dry and river levels to recede.&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 130 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026
Predominantly MVFR/IFR conditions at the terminals this period,
with breaks to VFR possible overnight. E-NE winds will shift
south through the morning, then become west-northwest by late
afternoon, early evening. The bulk of the precipitation is north
and east of the terminals, with the exception of some minor
showers just southwest of KFWA (near KHHG/KMZZ/KGUS). Guidance
re: evolution tonight is all over the place for both sites-with
some developing additional convection near the warm front (south
of KFWA) and lifting it north into KSBN, others mostly dry and
VFR until the cold front gets closer. KSBN is most likely to see
convection, however right now it's focused just west and north
of the terminals. Did bring in a tempo from 9-13z as the warm
front lifts into the area and the cold front is just to the
northwest near Lake MI. At KFWA- most guidance remained VFR/MVFR
through the overnight, but current observation suggests around
600-800ft. Have a tempo for now, as I'm not certain how long
this will persist. Most of the surrounding sites are MVFR/VFR.
Have a prob30 from 9-12z for potential convection along the
front as it approaches, but it may end up being showers and
perhaps some BR/FG (some models drop to 1/2SM at times, but left
out for now given uncertainties). The cold front moves through
tomorrow afternoon/evening for KFWA, and this morning/early
afternoon for KSBN-which will bring a more steady period of
heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms (especially at KFWA given
it's arriving in peak heating).
&&
.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Flood Watch through this afternoon for INZ005>009-012>015-017-
018-103-104-116-203-204-216.
OH...None.
MI...Flood Watch through this afternoon for MIZ078>080-177-277.
MARINE...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...AGD
AVIATION...MCDHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Northern Indiana 240 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026 INZ005>009-012>015-017-018-103-104-116-203-204-216-MIZ078>080-177- 277-041845- Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Starke-Pulaski-Marshall- Fulton IN-Whitley-Allen IN-Northern La Porte-Eastern St. Joseph IN- Northern Kosciusko-Southern La Porte-Western St. Joseph IN- Southern Kosciusko-Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Northern Berrien- Southern Berrien- 240 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026 /140 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026/ ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM EDT /10 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and southwest 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. Flood Watch. Isolated thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening become more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. .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. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. INZ020-022>027-032>034-MIZ081-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025- 041845- White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash-Huntington-Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford- Jay-Hillsdale-Williams-Fulton OH-Defiance-Henry-Paulding-Putnam- Van Wert-Allen OH- 240 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana, southwest Michigan and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Isolated thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening become more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Locally heavy rainfall is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. On Saturday, there is a risk of severe thunderstorms over northwest Ohio. Locally heavy rainfall is possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LMZ043-046-041845- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 240 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters of southeastern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Conditions hazardous to small craft are possible this weekend.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
849 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026
OHZ025-040130-
Allen OH-
849 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN ALLEN COUNTY
THROUGH 930 PM EDT...
At 849 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Waynesfield, or 8 miles southeast of Fort Shawnee, moving northeast
at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Harrod and Westminster.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4064 8405 4079 8389 4078 8388 4065 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 0049Z 229DEG 15KT 4063 8398
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MARSILISpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1009 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026
INZ018-027-OHZ024-040245-
Allen IN-Adams IN-Van Wert OH-
1009 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN ALLEN...
NORTHEASTERN ADAMS AND NORTHWESTERN VAN WERT COUNTIES THROUGH 1045 PM
EDT...
At 1008 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Monroeville, or near Decatur, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Convoy and Dixon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4087 8490 4094 8491 4099 8480 4099 8470
4087 8468
TIME...MOT...LOC 0208Z 260DEG 14KT 4092 8488
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
FISHERPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1022 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 PM Hail Dixon 40.95N 84.80W
04/03/2026 M0.70 Inch Allen IN Emergency Mngr
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Northern Indiana 1032 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026 OHZ016-024-025-040300- Allen OH-Putnam OH-Van Wert OH- 1032 PM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL PUTNAM... SOUTHEASTERN VAN WERT AND WEST CENTRAL ALLEN COUNTIES THROUGH 1100 PM EDT... At 1032 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Delphos, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...Penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Lima, Delphos, Elida, Southworth, Needmore, Gomer, and Rushmore. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. && LAT...LON 4073 8445 4087 8442 4088 8413 4073 8410 TIME...MOT...LOC 0232Z 270DEG 25KT 4081 8436 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH FISHER
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotter reports that flooding is occuring with water as deep as the seat of a park bench.
Numerous reports from local media about a railroad washout east of Coloma, MI. Media states that the washout was discovered around 5pm ET on the 4th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, April 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: 1326350, 1326351.