Heavy to excessive rainfall may lead to flooding Wednesday over southwest Pennsylvania into northern West Virginia, and western Maryland. Flood Watches have been issued. An extended period of hot weather will continue for parts of coastal southern California including Los Angeles through Thursday. Heat Advisories remain in effect. Read More >
Overview
LAST UPDATE 12 PM EDT 5/20/17
A cold front brought isolated severe weather to the forecast area on May 18, 2017. Reports of wind damage were prevalent, along with several reports of flooding and smaller hail. Mammatus clouds were observed by many across the area just prior to sunset.
Wind
A majority of the reports received with this event were due to straight line winds. Here are photos submitted to us of the damage. For select radar images of the wind signatures, see our "Radar" section.
Wind Damage in the Haviland, Oh area
Two swaths of wind damage were noted from separate thunderstorms west of Haviland. The first storm snapped a couple dozen power poles near the ground from northwest of Haviland to west of Haviland along County Road 107. A few smaller tree limbs were also blown down. Around 625 pm EDT, A second swath caused significant damage to a large pole barn southwest of the intersection of State Route 114 and County Road 87. Debris was carried to the southeast for roughly 2 miles across open fields. Several power poles were also snapped towards the end of the downburst. Along County Road 107, between 70 and 80 power poles were snapped by strong winds. Winds are estimated at between 80 to 85 mph.
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| Aerial View of Damage on CR 87 (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Aerial View of Power Pole Damage on CR 107 (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Ground View of Power Poles (Courtesy NWS) | Ground View of Power Poles (Courtesy NWS) |
Wind Damage East of Cecil, OH
Damage was found along a roughly one mile path of isolated damage starting near the intersection of County Road 224 and 133. At around 429 pm EDT, an older pole barn was impacted by the winds, causing it fall onto itself and mainly roofing debris being carried roughly a third of a mile. Several 2 by 4 boards were found embedded in the ground in various directions. Along this same path a garage door was pushed in with a few pieces of roofing thrown east to northwest of the
intersection of County Roads 224 and 139. A 5th wheel trailer was rolled several times, landing in a pond. Near the intersection of County Roads 218 and
133, 2 garage doors were pushed in. One of the buildings had its north and south walls pushed outward.
While the boards in the ground near the pole barn, as well as damage to structures south of the destroyed barn may suggest some weak rotation, damage in the area was not conclusive enough to classify a small area of damage as possibly tornadic. Data will continue to be reviewed.
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| Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) |
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| Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) |
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| Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) | Storm Damage near Cecil, OH (Courtesy of Rick McCoy, Van Wert EMA) |
Flooding
The storms were pretty efficient rain producers, causing rain rates of up to 1-2 inches per hour. Additionally, the storms moved over the same area repeatedly for a long portion of the evening, which led to flooding-particularly in Huntington County, IN. Allen county, IN was also under a flood warning, but reports of flooding were not sent to us as of 5/19 at 4 AM EDT.
Flooding Photos/Video
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| Tony Ehler near (Huntington, IN EMA) Meridian Road near 900 N | Tony Ehler near (Huntington, IN EMA) near 900 N | Tony Ehler near (Huntington, IN EMA) 1000N between Seminary Rd & Roanoke Rd |
Mammatus Clouds
One unusual sight observed near sunset in several parts of the forecast area were the Mammatus clouds. We even saw them here at IWX. Thanks to those who submitted these beautiful photos.
Mammatus results from the sinking of moist air into dry air. It is in essence an upside down cloud. The sharp bounday of mammatus is much like the sharp boundary of a rising cumulonimbus cloud before an anvil has formed. Mammatus typically develop on the underside of a thunderstorm's anvil and can be a remarkable sight, especially when sunlight is reflected off of them.
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| Kyler Welden |
Logan Gonya (Angola, IN) |
Mark Hawley | Mark Hawley |
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| Twitter User "HippyPokerGuy" | Jim Merin | Megan Dodson (NWS IWX) | Megan Dodson (NWS IWX) |
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| Megan Dodson (NWS IWX) | Tom Coomes ABC 57 | Twitter User "CoachJen" |
Twitter User "CoachJen" |
Radar:
Winds
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| Reflectivity (Z) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:26 PM EDT | Velocity (V) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:26 PM EDT | Storm Relative Velocity (SRV) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:26 PM EDT | Correlation Coefficient (CC) near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:26 PM ET |
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| Reflectivity (Z) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:29 PM EDT | Velocity (V) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:29 PM EDT | Storm Relative Velocity (SRV) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:29 PM EDT | NROT near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:29 PM EDT |
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| Reflectivity (Z) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:34 PM EDT | Velocity (V) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:34 PM EDT | Storm Relative Velocity (SRV) Near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:34 PM EDT | Correlation Coefficient (CC) near Cecil/Paulding, OH: 4:34 PM ET |
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| Reflectivity (Z) Near Payne, OH at 5 pm EDT | Velocity (V) Near Payne, OH at 5 pm EDT | Vertical Cross Section of Reflectivity (Z) Near Payne, OH at 5 pm EDT | Correlation Coefficient (CC) near Payne, OH: 5 PM EDT |
Storm Reports
LSRIWX
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
931 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0910 PM HEAVY RAIN 4 NE NINE MILE 41.02N 85.18W
05/18/2017 M1.56 INCH ALLEN IN MESONET
MESONET STATION E9914, 3 NE NINE MILE.
0905 PM HEAVY RAIN 4 NNW HUNTINGTON 40.93N 85.55W
05/18/2017 M1.31 INCH HUNTINGTON IN MESONET
MESONET STATION AT649, 3 NW HUNTINGTON.
0903 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 W ROLLING HILLS 41.03N 85.29W
05/18/2017 M0.85 INCH ALLEN IN MESONET
MESONET STATION E6631, ROLLING HILLS.
0903 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 SW CHARLOE 41.10N 84.48W
05/18/2017 M0.76 INCH PAULDING OH MESONET
MESONET STATION D4262, 3 SW CHARLOE.
0902 PM HEAVY RAIN LEIPSIC 41.10N 83.99W
05/18/2017 M0.79 INCH PUTNAM OH MESONET
MESONET STATION E0171, LEIPSIC.
0850 PM FLOOD 3 ESE GOBLESVILLE 40.98N 85.45W
05/18/2017 HUNTINGTON IN PUBLIC
WATER OVER MERIDIAN ROAD, NORTH OF 900 N.
0830 PM FLOOD 1 WSW ROANOKE 40.96N 85.38W
05/18/2017 HUNTINGTON IN PUBLIC
WATER OVER THE ROAD- 900N.
0825 PM FLOOD 1 NNW ROANOKE 40.97N 85.38W
05/18/2017 HUNTINGTON IN EMERGENCY MNGR
WATER OVER THE ROAD-1000N BETWEEN SEMINARY
RD & ROANOKE RD.
0757 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 WSW PERU 40.75N 86.09W
05/18/2017 MIAMI IN EMERGENCY MNGR
REPORTS OF SEVERAL TREES DOWN AROUND THE
PERU, IN AREA-AND SEVERAL LIGHTNING STRIKES.
WINDS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 50 MPH.
APPROXIMATELY 1" OF RAIN WAS MEASURED AS
WELL.
0746 PM TSTM WND GST 2 NE NINE MILE 41.00N 85.20W
05/18/2017 M53 MPH ALLEN IN ASOS
0739 PM HEAVY RAIN 4 NNW HUNTINGTON 40.93N 85.55W
05/18/2017 M0.93 INCH HUNTINGTON IN MESONET
MESONET STATION AT649, 3 NW HUNTINGTON.
0732 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SE GOBLESVILLE 40.96N 85.47W
05/18/2017 HUNTINGTON IN EMERGENCY MNGR
HEALTHY 2-3" LIMB DOWNED AT INTERSECTION OF
SR9 AND 900 N.
0724 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W ADAMSBORO 40.79N 86.29W
05/18/2017 CASS IN EMERGENCY MNGR
A COUPLE OF TREES REPORTED ON HOUSES, NEAR
INTERSECTION OF CR 150 N AND CR 450 E.
NUMEROUS TREES REPORTED DOWN IN THE NEARBY
WOODED AREA.
0715 PM TSTM WND GST OTTAWA 41.02N 84.04W
05/18/2017 M48 MPH PUTNAM OH AWOS
0623 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N CONVOY 40.95N 84.71W
05/18/2017 VAN WERT OH EMERGENCY MNGR
SHINGLES BLOWN OFF OF A HOUSE ROOF.
0620 PM HEAVY RAIN AKRON 41.04N 86.02W
05/18/2017 M1.03 INCH FULTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
30 MINUTE STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION.
0600 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 ESE BEAVER DAM LAKE 41.09N 85.96W
05/18/2017 KOSCIUSKO IN 911 CALL CENTER
REPORTS OF A TREE DOWN ON S 675 W BETWEEN
BEAVER DAM AND SILVER LAKE, IN.
0542 PM TSTM WND GST 2 ENE NINE MILE 40.99N 85.19W
05/18/2017 M56 MPH ALLEN IN ASOS
0525 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 E CECIL 41.22N 84.52W
05/18/2017 PAULDING OH EMERGENCY MNGR
EM CALLED TO REPORT DAMAGE FROM THE
CECIL/EMERALD TOWNSHIP AREA. THERE WERE
REPORTS OF SEVERAL TREES DOWNED, 3-4 POWER
LINES DOWNED, A TRAMPOLINE WAS BLOWN OUT
INTO THE ROAD. THIS WAS NEAR SR 111N AND CR
133. THEN NEAR CR 138 & CR 178 THE EMERALD
TOWNSHIP BUILDING ROOF WAS PARTIALLY BLOWN
OFF INTO THE WOODS. REPORTS OF WOOD STICKING
OUT FROM THE GROUND, 2 FLATTENED BARNS, AND
A HOUSE TO THE SOUTH OF EMERALD TOWNSHIP
BUILDING THAT HAS A HOUSE LEANING ON IT.
THERE WERE REPORTS OF A CAMPER THAT WAS
THROWN INTO A POND ON CR 133. NO REPORTS OF
INJURIES OR FATALITIES AT THIS TIME.
0515 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 ESE DESHLER 41.20N 83.89W
05/18/2017 HENRY OH PUBLIC
TRAMPOLINE TOSSED INTO A TRAILER, CAUSING
MINOR DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER. TRAMPOLINE WAS
TIED DOWN.
0511 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NE BRICETON 41.10N 84.62W
05/18/2017 PAULDING OH EMERGENCY MNGR
18 POWER POLES DOWNED ALONG CR 95.
0505 PM TSTM WND DMG PAYNE 41.08N 84.73W
05/18/2017 PAULDING OH TRAINED SPOTTER
DOWNED TREES OF ABOUT 1-2 FT DIAMETER. POWER
LINES DOWNED FROM TREES ON THE CORNER OF
GIBSON AND MERRIN STREET IN PAYNE, OH.
0505 PM TSTM WND GST PAYNE 41.08N 84.73W
05/18/2017 E60 MPH PAULDING OH TRAINED SPOTTER
ALSO OBSERVED PEA SIZED HAIL.
0436 PM TSTM WND DMG GILEAD 40.97N 86.02W
05/18/2017 MIAMI IN EMERGENCY MNGR
REPORTS OF TREES DOWN ON SR 19. ALSO REPORTS
OF TREES DOWNED ON MACY-GILEAD RD. TREES
LOOK HEALTHY, ONE IS 3 FT IN DIAMETER, THE
OTHERS AROUND 1-2 FT IN DIAMETER.
0429 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 E CECIL 41.22N 84.52W
05/18/2017 PAULDING OH EMERGENCY MNGR
OLD WOODEN BUILDINGS WERE KNOCKED DOWN,
WALLS BLOWN OUTWARD AND DOORS BLOWN OFF.
DEBRIS CARRIED ABOUT 1/4 MILE TO THE
SOUTHEAST.
0429 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 S THE BEND 41.22N 84.52W
05/18/2017 PAULDING OH EMERGENCY MNGR
NEAR INTERSECTION OF CR 133 AND C-224, BARN
BLOWN APART, DEBRIS SCATTERED FOR ABOUT 1/2
A MILE INTO THE WOODS TO THE NE. SOME OF THE
DEBRIS WAS SHOT INTO THE GROUND.
Environment
Storms developed in a subtle confluence zone ahead of the cold front, in a pre-frontal trough. This provided the "lift" or "trigger" for the storms.
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Figure 1: 10 AM EDT Surface Map (WPC) |
Figure 2: 2 PM EDT Surface Map (WPC) | Figure 3: 5 PM EDT Surface Map (WPC) | Figure 4. 8 PM EDT Surface Map (WPC) |
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