Overview
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. We would like to thank all spotters, emergency management, public, and law enforcement for their assistance with reports during and after the event.
Reports Overview
Storm Reports
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
909 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0855 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Van Wert 40.86N 84.59W
05/16/2025 Van Wert OH Public
Picture of large tree down on Van Wert
County EMA Facebook page.
0850 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Delphos 40.84N 84.33W
05/16/2025 Allen OH Broadcast Media
Local media relayed pictures of a more than
100 year old tree uprooted at the Delphos
Waterworks Park. The tree fell onto a
shelter, destroying it. There was no
injuries. Time estimated by radar.
1015 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Paw Paw Lake 42.22N 86.26W
05/15/2025 Berrien MI Trained Spotter
Tree limb down. E 50-58 mph winds.
0745 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NNW Tippecanoe Lake 41.34N 85.77W
05/16/2025 Kosciusko IN NWS Employee
Large tree snapped at the base and fell onto
N Kalorama Rd. A truck was crushed and power
pole snapped by the tree.
0746 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE James Lake 41.31N 85.72W
05/16/2025 Kosciusko IN NWS Employee
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1
SSE James Lake. Snapped pear tree and
another tree uprooted.
0645 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE Lake Cicott 40.78N 86.51W
05/16/2025 Cass IN Emergency Mngr
Large, rotten tree branch fell onto a
garage.
0840 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 W Middle Point 40.85N 84.48W
05/16/2025 M57 MPH Van Wert OH Mesonet
Mesonet station AS860 Van Wert.
0846 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SE Cavett 40.91N 84.53W
05/16/2025 M51 MPH Van Wert OH Emergency Mngr
0900 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSW Harrod 40.68N 83.93W
05/16/2025 Allen OH Public
Large tree downed blocking the road on
Faulkner Road. Time estimated from radar.
0912 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNW Lima 40.78N 84.12W
05/16/2025 M55 MPH Allen OH Mesonet
Mesonet station FW8774 Lima 1 N.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1013 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 N Benton Heights 42.13N 86.42W
05/15/2025 M61 MPH Berrien MI ASOS
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 Gst 1 N Benton Heights 42.13N 86.42W
05/15/2025 M72 MPH Berrien MI ASOS
ASOS station KBEH Benton Harbor.
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.
0821 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 N Shoreham 42.07N 86.51W
05/16/2025 Berrien MI Public
Many trees down in a small region at the
corner of Red Arrow Highway (S Lakeshore
Dr.) and Brown school road in Shoreham, MI.
Several trees down across the street and
large give inch branches or central trunk
pieces broken on large trees near this
corner. Lots of downed branches at our house
at 2909 S Lakeshore Dr (about 2 dozen up to
3 inch in diameter).
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.
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.
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).
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.
0751 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Columbia City 41.16N 85.48W
05/16/2025 Whitley IN Emergency Mngr
Numerous reports of trees and power lines
down across Whitley county. Also a report of
a field fire with location unknown.
0755 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 S Coesse 41.11N 85.40W
05/16/2025 M56 MPH Whitley IN Mesonet
Mesonet station PDU05 Northeast Purdue
Agricultural Ce.
0758 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Blue Lake 41.22N 85.36W
05/16/2025 Whitley IN Amateur Radio
Trees down.
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.
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.
0752 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Bluffton 40.74N 85.17W
05/16/2025 Wells IN Trained Spotter
Picture shared on social media of a large
tree broken tree branch.
0757 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SW Ossian 40.86N 85.20W
05/16/2025 M65 MPH Wells IN Trained Spotter
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.
0820 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WNW South Bend 41.70N 86.32W
05/16/2025 M55 MPH St. Joseph IN ASOS
ASOS station KSBN South Bend International
Ap.
0815 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNE Kendallville 41.47N 85.25W
05/16/2025 M51 MPH Noble IN AWOS
AWOS station KC62 Kendallville.
0654 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 S Grissom Afb 40.63N 86.15W
05/16/2025 M55 MPH Miami IN AWOS
AWOS station KGUS Grissom AFB Peru.
0735 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Culver 41.22N 86.42W
05/16/2025 Marshall IN Emergency Mngr
Reports of trees down.
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.
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 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.
0745 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Syracuse 41.43N 85.75W
05/16/2025 Kosciusko IN Trained Spotter
Large tree uprooted at a residence. Time
estimated.
0733 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Andrews 40.86N 85.60W
05/16/2025 Huntington IN Emergency Mngr
Multiple reports of trees down in Andrews.
0746 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 NW Warren 40.70N 85.47W
05/16/2025 Huntington IN Emergency Mngr
Metal barn door removed.
0748 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SSW Huntington 40.83N 85.53W
05/16/2025 M66 MPH Huntington IN Mesonet
Mesonet station CW9663 Huntington.
0755 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 S Bowerstown 40.85N 85.45W
05/16/2025 M56 MPH Huntington IN AWOS
AWOS station KHHG Huntington.
0729 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Fairmount 40.42N 85.65W
05/16/2025 Grant IN Emergency Mngr
Tree down across and blocking main street in
center of Jonesboro, IN. Approx size of
trunk 3+ft diameter. Top half broke out and
is across the street. Relayed by amateur
radio operator.
0729 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Fairmount 40.42N 85.65W
05/16/2025 Grant IN Trained Spotter
Reports of power lines down.
0732 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Matthews 40.38N 85.50W
05/16/2025 Grant IN Emergency Mngr
Three foot plus diameter tree down across
wheeling pike and 600 near Matthews IN.
0750 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Jonesboro 40.48N 85.63W
05/16/2025 Grant IN Public
Tree down blocking Main Street.
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.
0735 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 ENE Rochester 41.07N 86.18W
05/16/2025 M51 MPH Fulton IN AWOS
AWOS station KRCR Rochester.
0741 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Rochester 41.06N 86.20W
05/16/2025 Fulton IN Trained Spotter
Reports of trees down.
0800 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 S Elkhart 41.66N 85.97W
05/16/2025 Elkhart IN Broadcast Media
Large tree downed on the south side of
Elkhart. Time estimated.
0643 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SW Walton 40.65N 86.27W
05/16/2025 Cass IN Emergency Mngr
Large tree down onto road along County Road
E 800 S.
0645 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 E Walton 40.66N 86.22W
05/16/2025 M60 MPH Cass IN Mesonet
Mesonet station FW1989 Walton.
0645 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SW Logansport 40.74N 86.37W
05/16/2025 Cass IN Emergency Mngr
Tree onto house on Clinton St, near
Burlington Ave.
0646 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 S Dunkirk 40.72N 86.39W
05/16/2025 Cass IN Public
Power poles leaning on W Country Road 300 S,
near S County Road 125 W.
0648 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 E Lake Cicott 40.76N 86.50W
05/16/2025 Cass IN Emergency Mngr
Power lines reported down in the 6700 block
of West US 24.
0648 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSW Walton 40.63N 86.26W
05/16/2025 Cass IN Emergency Mngr
Large tree and power line down in roadway on
6000 block of CR E 90 S.
0715 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 S Logansport 40.72N 86.37W
05/16/2025 M56 MPH Cass IN AWOS
AWOS station KGGP Logansport.
0715 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSE Leases Corner 40.84N 86.36W
05/16/2025 Cass IN Emergency Mngr
Collapse of barn structure. Time estimated.
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.
0800 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Poe 40.94N 85.09W
05/16/2025 M56 MPH Allen IN Amateur Radio
0810 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 N New Haven 41.11N 85.03W
05/16/2025 M71 MPH Allen IN Trained Spotter
0815 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SE Wallen 41.15N 85.15W
05/16/2025 M54 MPH Allen IN AWOS
AWOS station KSMD 1 SE Wallen.
Photos & Video
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| Blowing Dust in Kingsford Heights, IN (Photo courtesy of Lucas G @weatherstudioLG on X) |
Blowing dust near Edwardsburg, MI (photo courtesy of Meso Station) |
Sun obscured by blowing dust Photo courtesy of Josh Briggs |
Large tree uprooted in Royal Center, IN vicinity Photo courtesy of Rocky Buffum |
Radar
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| KIWX 0.5 reflectivity from 5/16 ~ 735PM EDT. Weak returns heading toward the radar likely indicative of some dust. | KIWX 0.5 base velocity 5/16 735 PM EDT. Base velocities indicating 50 to 65 mph winds at about 1000-1500 above ground level. |
Environment
Overview of synoptic plots.
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| Figure 1: 500 mb 5/16 22Z | Figure 2: 700 mb 5/16 22Z | Figure 3: Precipitable Water 5/16 22Z |
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| Figure 4: KFWA sounding 22Z May. The dry subcloud layer and steep low level lapse rates were very supportive of strong downdrafts. | Figure 5: SBCAPE 22Z 5/16 | Figure 6: Satellite imagery (courtesy of CIRA) depicting dust lifting northeast across NE Illinois/NW Indiana |
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