Isolated severe thunderstorms produced small hail and gusty wind.
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.
Isolated severe thunderstorms produced small hail and gusty wind.
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 4, 2:13 PM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
313 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- There is a marginal to slight risk for severe storms this
evening and tonight (5pm to 1am EDT). Expect damaging winds to
60 mph, hail up to around 1 inch in diameter with severe
storms. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Heavy rain
and flooding is possible into the overnight hours.
- More widespread rain is expected Tuesday, with chances for
non- severe thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in
the 50s and 60s, warmest along and south of US 24.
- Chances for Rain Wednesday and Friday, with isolated
thunderstorms possible on Friday afternoon. Highs will be in
the 50s, low 60s. Lows will be in the mid to upper 30s
Wednesday night, and the 40s Thursday and Friday night.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 311 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
This evening-tonight's marginal risk for severe weather was upgraded
to a slight risk for portions of the area. Confidence in severe
weather occurring is medium. There are some uncertainties with
regards to the start time of the event. Much of the guidance
initiates storms closest to 7-8 pm EDT, but there are still several
models that begin closer to 5-6 pm EDT. A lot will depend on the
available moisture-which could limit development initially (well
mixed boundary layer from full sun earlier today). A decent cu field
has developed for areas west or just along I 69 as of this writing.
Dewpoints are in the mid-upper 40s and low 50s, driest further north
in MI/NW Ohio. This is lower than what the earlier timed models
suggest (NAM/RAP)--values are closer in line to the HRRR. If the
HRRR is right, development may be closer to 8 pm EDT when the better
moisture arrives (still only mid 50s) with strengthening of the LLJ.
Main focus for convection will be a mid-level wave riding up from
the southwest this evening (aforementioned "warm-front-like" feature
in prev. AFD)-then the cold front that drops from NW to SE through
the overnight. The main threat with any severe storms would be
damaging wind gusts given inverted-V type soundings. Large hail is
also possible with 25-35 knots of 0-6km shear and mid level lapse
rates around 7C/KM (could be slightly higher further south of US 30
this evening per the NAM). Heavy rain and ponding of water on the
roads is a threat in any thunderstorms, however overnight there
could be some minor flooding in areas that receive repeated storm
activity (from both the earlier wave ahead of the cold front and
then the cold front itself).
SPC did add a 2 percent tornado risk with the increased low level
shear (decent hodographs)...however it's conditional on moisture
profiles as well (which is our greatest uncertainty). If we get the
deeper moisture we could see LCL's in the 500-1000 m range (more
favorable for tor risk). Per their discussion, they will re-
evaluate the moisture quality for the tor risk.
Otherwise, cold front continues eastward through Tuesday, stalling
near US 24, with surface low riding up along/southeast of it through
the afternoon. Rain will be fairly widespread (especially along this
corridor), with chances for a few thunderstorms (Non-severe). As the
surface low drifts E-SE through Wednesday, expect dwindling chances.
Dry conditions Thu, then chances for rain and a few storms return
Fri into the weekend. Highs Wed-Fri will be in the 50s, low 60s.
Overnight lows will be in the mid-upper 30s Wed night (coldest
along/north of I 80-90) with light winds-so there could be some
frost potential. Warmer Sat-Sun with highs in the mid-upper 60s, low
70s.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 142 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
A warm frontal feature moves northward from central IN/IL area this
afternoon into the evening ahead of a cold front sliding southeast
from the Western Great Lakes. These features bring chances for
showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon and evening with
damaging wind, hail, a low chance for a tornado as the main threats.
In any thunderstorm, heavy rain can lead to the visibility and
ceilings dropping down into MVFR conditions. The tendency for these
storms will be to go from a severe threat to a heavy rain threat as
we move into the overnight period.
Winds are expected to be south of the southwest this afternoon into
tonight before becoming more northwesterly. Gusts today to 30 kts
calm down tonight and weaker winds occur on Tuesday with the front
sliding through. Additionally, some LLWS will be possible
tonight.
&&
.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...None.
OH...None.
MI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for LMZ043-
046.
&&
DISCUSSION...MCD
AVIATION...RollerSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Northern Indiana 505 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026 INZ012>015-017-020-022>027-032>034-116-216-042315- Starke-Pulaski-Marshall-Fulton IN-Whitley-White-Cass IN-Miami- Wabash-Huntington-Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay- Northern Kosciusko-Southern Kosciusko- Including the cities of Knox, North Judson, Bass Lake, Winamac, Francesville, Medaryville, Plymouth, Bremen, Culver, Rochester, Akron, Columbia City, Tri-Lakes, South Whitley, Monticello, Monon, Brookston, Logansport, Royal Center, Peru, Grissom AFB, Mexico, Wabash, North Manchester, Huntington, Roanoke, Bluffton, Ossian, Decatur, Berne, Marion, Gas City, Upland, Hartford City, Montpelier, Portland, Dunkirk, Syracuse, Milford, North Webster, Leesburg, Warsaw, Winona Lake, Silver Lake, and Mentone 505 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026 /405 PM CDT Mon May 4 2026/ ...Gusty Winds and Patchy Blowing Dust... Winds from the southwest gusting up to 40 mph will lead to some areas of blowing dust in open/rural locations through the early evening. Drivers should be prepared for changes in visibility. These gusty winds and the resulting blowing dust will slowly subside around sunset.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
507 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0135 PM Blowing Dust 2 E North Judson 41.21N 86.74W
05/04/2026 Starke IN Trained Spotter
Visibility down to 1 mile due to blowing
dust.
&&
MJPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
519 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0506 PM Hail 1 E Sturgis 41.80N 85.40W
05/04/2026 E0.50 Inch St. Joseph MI Public
Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.).
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
528 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0526 PM Hail 2 W Penn 41.95N 85.97W
05/04/2026 M0.70 Inch Cass MI Trained Spotter
Dime size hail reported with a storm
currently moving over Cassopolis at the
intersection of Quaker and Decatur streets.
&&
MJSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
530 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
MIZ078-079-042200-
St. Joseph MI-Cass MI-
530 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN CASS AND
NORTHWESTERN ST. JOSEPH COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM EDT...
At 529 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Marcellus, or 10 miles east of Dowagiac, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Cassopolis, Marcellus, Penn, Flowerfield, Vandalia, Moore Park, La
Grange, Paradise Lake, Donnell Lake, Diamond Lake, Howardsville,
Clear Lake, and Wakelee.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4185 8598 4196 8608 4207 8591 4207 8542
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 239DEG 27KT 4197 8591
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
AndersenSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
536 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
MIZ080-081-042215-
Hillsdale MI-Branch MI-
536 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN BRANCH AND NORTHWESTERN
HILLSDALE COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EDT...
At 536 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Coldwater, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Coldwater, Hillsdale, Jonesville, Quincy, Litchfield, Long Lake,
Kinderhook, Batavia, North Adams, Allen, South Butler, Lake Of The
Woods, Marble Lake, and Coldwater Lake.
This includes Interstate 69 in Michigan between mile markers 3 and
18.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4195 8447 4178 8504 4190 8517 4207 8491
4207 8459
TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 243DEG 31KT 4186 8504
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
AndersenThe Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:51 UTC.
3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Media relayed picture of hail in Three Rivers around nickel size.
Spotter reports quarter size hail in Stevensville just after 7 PM EDT.
Photo on Facebook of penny to quarter size hail.
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, May 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: 1334267, 1334268, 1334269.