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
A cold front moved through the forecast area on the afternoon of May 28th, 2017. Strong to severe storms brought funnel clouds, gusty winds, and large hail to the region. Heavy rain from the thunderstorms led to flooding problems, especially in areas where heavy rainfall occurred earlier this week. While a funnel cloud was visible in a storm near North Manchester, we have not received any reports of damage (as of 10:15 pm EDT). If you saw hail of 1" or greater diameter or have wind damage, please send your report to the National Weather service using this form.
Below is a GOES-16 visible loop from 1830-1914Z (230-314 pm EDT) of the deep cumulonimbus clouds that developed along the surface warm front over northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. Line of bubbling cloud oriented northwest to southeast denoted the position of the actual surface warm frontal boundary. A mesoscale sector was in place over the area with imagery taken every minute.
*NOTE* The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing testing. Users bear all responsibility for inspecting the data prior to use and for the manner in which the data are utilized.
Tornado or Funnel Cloud?
While we haven't received confirmation that a tornado touched down, it looks like the funnel cloud near North Manchester, IN was really close to being a tornado. These photos of the funnel were submitted to us through social media. This occurred around 4 pm EDT. There have been no reports of damage in this area as of 11:15 pm EDT 5/28. If you have any reports of damage, submit it to us using this form.
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| Fig. 1: Funnel near North Manchester by Andrew Elzroth | Fig. 2: Funnel near North Manchester by David Fenker | Fig. 3: Funnel near North Manchester by Derek Hammontree | Fig. 4: Funnel near North Manchester by Josiah Maas |
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| Fig. 5: Funnel near North Manchester by Michael Geiger | Fig. 6: Funnel near North Manchester by Rhonda McClure |
Later on in the evening around 7:30 PM EDT, a tornado warning was issued for southern Huntington County, IN. There were no reports of a tornado or even a funnel with this storm, however there was rotation observed on radar, as seen below. If you have any reports of damage, or if you saw a funnel cloud or tornado with this storm, submit it to us using the form.
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| Fig. 1: Storm that prompted the Tornado warning in Southern Huntington County, IN. Reflectivity and Velocity. Images captured using GR2 Analyst | Fig. 2: Storm that prompted the Tornado warning in Southern Huntington County, IN. Reflectivity and NROT. Shows rotation in the storm. Images captured using GR2 Analyst | Fig. 3: Storm that prompted the Tornado warning in Southern Huntington County, IN. Reflectivity and VIL. Shows the Hail core of the storm. Images captured using GR2 Analyst |
Wind & Hail:
Severe storms led to reports of strong to severe wind gusts and pea to just over quarter-sized hail. The largest hail report was ping pong ball size (1.5") near Hicksville, Ohio.
Wind
While there were no pictures of wind damage submitted to us as of 11:15 PM EDT May 28, 2017, we did receive several reports of 40-60 mph wind gusts.
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| Fig. 1: Shelf cloud near Warren from Doug Sparks | Fig. 2: Shelf cloud near Bluffton from John Tinney | Fig. 3: Shelf cloud on SR65 from Eric Harteis |
Hail
Hail reports of up to 1.5" in diameter occurred during this event. Here are some of the photos we received.
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| Fig. 1: Dime Sized Hail. Photo by: Brandon Lee England | Fig. 2: Hail in Fort Wayne, IN. Photo by: Rod Hissong | Fig. 3: Hail in Fort Wayne, IN. Photo by: Rod Hissong | Fig. 4: Hail in Fort Wayne, IN. Photo by: Rod Hissong |
Flooding
Heavy rainfall from this event, combined with the excessive rain from the past month or so led to flooding. You can see in figures 3 and 4 that we are well above normal for May in many areas.
Above Normal Rainfall
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| Fig. 1. 24 hr Precipitation Map. Map created via the NWS AHPS page | Fig. 2. Total May Precipitation (Thru 5/29/17 AM). Map created via the NWS AHPS page | Fig. 3. May Precipitation (Thru 5/29/17 AM) departure from normal. Map created via the NWS AHPS page | Fig. 4. Percent of normal for May precipitation. Map created via the NWS AHPS page |
For specific rainfall amounts reported by instrumentation and observers, see the "rainfall" tab.
Flooding Photos
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| Figure 1. Flooding Near Adams, MI. Photo by Scott Taylor | Figure 2. Flooding Near Adams, MI. Photo by Scott Taylor | Figure 3. Flooding in Bluffton on Wabash Road near the Wabash River. Photo by Doug Sparks. |
Video
Tremendous street flooding in Liberty Center Ohio - video courtesy of Megan Bockelman.
Photos:
Thanks to those who submitted photos and video from the event. Below are additional photos we received.
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| Photo: Abbot Carder | Photo: Chris Roller (IWX) | Photo: Dan Gadberry | Photo: Dan Gadberry |
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| Photo: Dan Gadberry | Photo: Doug Sparks | Photo: Keith Hosman | Photo: Logan Gonya |
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| Photo: Logan Gonya | Photo: Megan Dodson (IWX) | Photo: Megan Dodson (IWX) | Photo: Rod Hissong |
Radar:
Below are a few of the radar images from the event. Figures 1 and 2 show the hail core in the storm near Hicksville, OH. Figure 3 shows the storm total precipitation from this event.
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| Fig. 1. 2:42 pm EDT 3-D Volumetric Radar Reflectivity Image near Hicksville Ohio. Note the pink to purple colors aloft indicating where the hail core was forming aloft around 20 thousand feet! Images captured using GR2 Analyst | Fig. 2. Two panel image showing 0.5 degree Reflectivity (left) and Maximum Estimated Hail Size (MESH, right). The purple colors indicated 2.5" hailstones. Hicksville, OH. Images captured using GR2 Analyst | Fig. 3. 12 hour Storm Total Rainfall ending at 1100 pm EDT. The purple colors denote 2-3" of rain that fell from these storms! Image captured from NWS AWIPS System. |
Storm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
928 PM EDT SUN MAY 28 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0915 PM HEAVY RAIN FORT WAYNE 41.08N 85.14W
05/28/2017 M0.30 INCH ALLEN IN PUBLIC
0.30" IN 15-20 MINS.
0854 PM HAIL FORT WAYNE 41.07N 85.14W
05/28/2017 M1.00 INCH ALLEN IN BROADCAST MEDIA
0837 PM HAIL 1 SW FORT WAYNE 41.06N 85.15W
05/28/2017 E0.88 INCH ALLEN IN PUBLIC
0829 PM HEAVY RAIN LAUD 41.05N 85.45W
05/28/2017 E0.64 INCH WHITLEY IN PUBLIC
0.64" IN 10 MIN SPAN.
0825 PM HAIL 1 N FORT WAYNE 41.08N 85.14W
05/28/2017 M0.25 INCH ALLEN IN PUBLIC
PEA SIZED HAIL COVERING THE ROAD.
0727 PM HAIL 2 WNW MAJENICA 40.78N 85.49W
05/28/2017 M0.75 INCH HUNTINGTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0705 PM FLOOD 1 NW BOWERSTOWN 40.90N 85.45W
05/28/2017 HUNTINGTON IN EMERGENCY MNGR
WESTBOUND DRIVING LANE BLOCKED BY WATER.
0654 PM HAIL OTTAWA 41.02N 84.04W
05/28/2017 E0.88 INCH PUTNAM OH TRAINED SPOTTER
ESTIMATED NICKLE-SIZED HAIL IN OTTAWA. WINDS
WERE ESTIMATED ABOUT 50 MPH. HEAVY RAIN WAS
CAUSING A LOT OF PONDING OF WATER ON THE
ROADS.
0654 PM HAIL 3 N LINCOLNVILLE 40.80N 85.67W
05/28/2017 M1.00 INCH WABASH IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0630 PM HAIL 2 SSE WABASH 40.77N 85.81W
05/28/2017 M1.00 INCH WABASH IN TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTED A FULL RANGE OF HAIL BETWEEN PEA
SIZED ALL THE WAY UP TO QUARTER SIZED.
DELAYED REPORT.
0625 PM HAIL SPENCERVILLE 40.71N 84.35W
05/28/2017 M0.25 INCH ALLEN OH PUBLIC
0601 PM HAIL 2 SSW ANDREWS 40.83N 85.62W
05/28/2017 M0.25 INCH HUNTINGTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0535 PM HAIL OHIO CITY 40.77N 84.61W
05/28/2017 E0.50 INCH VAN WERT OH BROADCAST MEDIA
0453 PM FLOOD 3 SE BIPPUS 40.92N 85.57W
05/28/2017 HUNTINGTON IN PUBLIC
WATER ACROSS ROADWAY ON SR16 IMMEDIATELY
WEST OF SR105. WATER RISING.
0448 PM TSTM WND GST 1 E OAKSHADE 41.67N 84.13W
05/28/2017 M60 MPH FULTON OH TRAINED SPOTTER
0439 PM TSTM WND GST 3 N TEDROW 41.65N 84.21W
05/28/2017 E60 MPH FULTON OH PUBLIC
0430 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 NE BRUNERSBURG 41.32N 84.37W
05/28/2017 E1.20 INCH DEFIANCE OH PUBLIC
EVENT TOTAL.
0426 PM FLOOD FARMER 41.38N 84.63W
05/28/2017 DEFIANCE OH TRAINED SPOTTER
FIELDS UNDER WATER.
0412 PM FLOOD 2 SSE MONTPELIER 41.56N 84.59W
05/28/2017 WILLIAMS OH FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
WATER UP TO 2 FT OVER INTERSECTION OF CR 6
AND US 20.
0405 PM FLOOD 2 SE NAPOLEON 41.37N 84.10W
05/28/2017 HENRY OH EMERGENCY MNGR
INCH OF WATER COVERING ALL OF NEARBY FIELDS.
0402 PM HAIL 4 S NAPOLEON 41.34N 84.12W
05/28/2017 E0.25 INCH HENRY OH PUBLIC
0359 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 1 NNW BRACKEN 41.00N 85.64W
05/28/2017 HUNTINGTON IN PUBLIC
AS INDICATED BY PICTURES/VIDEOS AND PUBLIC
REPORTS.
0356 PM TSTM WND GST NAPOLEON 41.39N 84.13W
05/28/2017 M60 MPH HENRY OH PUBLIC
0355 PM HAIL 2 W NORTH MANCHESTER 41.01N 85.80W
05/28/2017 M0.25 INCH WABASH IN PUBLIC
0338 PM HAIL 1 WNW LISBON 41.42N 85.28W
05/28/2017 E0.75 INCH NOBLE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR KENDALLVILLE.
0337 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 NW BRUNERSBURG 41.33N 84.43W
05/28/2017 E1.50 INCH DEFIANCE OH PUBLIC
1.5 INCH RAIN IN 45 MINS.
0335 PM FLOOD 3 NNE BRUNERSBURG 41.35N 84.36W
05/28/2017 DEFIANCE OH PUBLIC
STANDING WATER IN FIELDS.
0325 PM HAIL 3 NW BRUNERSBURG 41.34N 84.44W
05/28/2017 M1.00 INCH DEFIANCE OH PUBLIC
0320 PM HAIL 4 NE THE BEND 41.33N 84.47W
05/28/2017 E0.75 INCH DEFIANCE OH TRAINED SPOTTER
0318 PM HAIL 2 N NEY 41.41N 84.52W
05/28/2017 M1.00 INCH DEFIANCE OH TRAINED SPOTTER
0304 PM HAIL 4 N HICKSVILLE 41.35N 84.77W
05/28/2017 M1.50 INCH DEFIANCE OH TRAINED SPOTTER
0250 PM HAIL 1 W ROCHESTER 41.06N 86.22W
05/28/2017 E0.50 INCH FULTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0235 PM HAIL 4 N HICKSVILLE 41.35N 84.77W
05/28/2017 M1.00 INCH DEFIANCE OH TRAINED SPOTTER
Rain Reports
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Northern Indiana 439 PM EDT Mon May 29 2017 ...24 Hour Rainfall Reports For May 28th 2017... Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon ...Indiana... ...Adams County... Linn Grove 1.15 in 0645 AM 05/29 40.66N/85.03W ...Allen County... Rolling Hills 0.35 in 0703 AM 05/29 41.03N/85.29W 2 WSW Maples 0.33 in 0700 AM 05/29 40.99N/85.00W Woodburn 3n 0.23 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.16N/84.85W ...Blackford County... (kc9dcr)hartford City 0.3 SS 0.28 in 0700 AM 05/29 40.45N/85.37W Hartford City 0.27 in 0700 AM 05/29 40.45N/85.37W ...De Kalb County... Garrett 0.78 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.34N/85.13W Auburn 0.25 in 0600 AM 05/29 41.37N/85.05W ...Grant County... Fairmount 0.22 in 0700 AM 05/29 40.42N/85.64W ...Huntington County... 3 NE Majenica 2.05 in 0713 AM 05/29 40.82N/85.41W 1 ENE Bowerstown 1.08 in 0700 AM 05/29 40.90N/85.41W 2 NW Warren 0.61 in 0645 AM 05/29 40.71N/85.45W ...Miami County... 1 WNW Deedsville 0.70 in 0700 AM 05/29 40.92N/86.12W ...Noble County... 2 E Rome City 0.26 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.50N/85.31W ...Steuben County... Angola 0.62 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.64N/84.99W Metz 0.46 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.61N/84.84W 1 E Hamilton 0.45 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.53N/84.89W 1 W Golden Lake 0.33 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.60N/85.09W 1 S Angola 0.33 in 0600 AM 05/29 41.62N/85.00W 2 WSW Golden Lake 0.27 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.59N/85.10W 2 ENE Crooked Lake 0.22 in 0600 AM 05/29 41.70N/84.99W ...Wabash County... Wabash 0.53 in 0600 AM 05/29 40.80N/85.83W ...Wells County... Bluffton 1.10 in 0645 AM 05/29 40.74N/85.17W ...Michigan... ...Hillsdale County... Litchfield 0.64 in 0630 AM 05/29 42.05N/84.75W ...Ohio... ...Allen County... Lima 1.14 in 0730 AM 05/29 40.73N/84.12W Bluffton 0.77 in 0715 AM 05/29 40.89N/83.89W 1 SSW Elida 0.43 in 0724 AM 05/29 40.76N/84.21W ...Defiance County... Defiance 9.4 NE 0.72 in 0600 AM 05/29 41.38N/84.24W ...Fulton County... 1 NE Tedrow 0.30 in 0728 AM 05/29 41.62N/84.19W ...Henry County... 3 SE Mcclure 1.39 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.33N/83.91W Gallup 0.27 in 0700 AM 05/29 41.46N/84.15W ...Paulding County... 1 NW Oakwood 2.10 in 0712 AM 05/29 41.11N/84.40W 3 SW Charloe 0.39 in 0714 AM 05/29 41.10N/84.48W ...Putnam County... Kalida 0.39 in 0710 AM 05/29 40.98N/84.20W ...Van Wert County... 2 WNW Convoy 0.24 in 0716 AM 05/29 40.93N/84.74W 1 ENE Van Wert 0.24 in 0717 AM 05/29 40.87N/84.56W ...Williams County... 1 WSW Bryan 0.26 in 0709 AM 05/29 41.46N/84.57W
Environment
There are 3 ingredients needed to develop thunderstorms: Moisture, Instability, and Lift. To make those storms severe, wind shear is needed. On May 28th, 2017 a cold front moved through our forecast area during the afternoon and early evening hours. This provided the lift. We also had sufficient moisture transport ahead of the front, with precipitable water values up to around 1 inch or so. Instability and wind shear were also present, with about 1500 J/kg of surface based CAPE and 35-40 knots of shear.
Surface Weather Maps
A cold front is shown moving through the forecast area during the day/evening on May 28th, 2017 (Fig. 1-3). Additionally, at 300 MB we see a Jet streak, which led to additional upper level support for storms (Fig. 4-6). In the mid levels, an upper level trough was approaching the region.
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| Figure 1: 10 AM EDT Surface Analsyis (WPC) | Figure 2: 2 PM EDT Surface Analsyis (WPC) | Figure 3: 5 PM EDT Surface Analsyis (WPC) |
Lift
Upper level divergence was present from the Jet at 300 mb, mid level support from the wave moving through the area (500mb).
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| Figure 4: 3 PM EDT 300mb Analysis (SPC) | Figure 5: 4 PM EDT 300mb Analysis (SPC) | Figure 6: 5 PM EDT 300mb Analysis (SPC) |
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| Figure 7: 3 PM EDT 500mb Analysis (SPC) | Figure 8: 4 PM EDT 500mb Analysis (SPC) | Figure 9: 5 PM EDT 500mb Analysis (SPC) |
Instability and Wind Shear
Instability was present when the front arrived, which made it easy for storms to develop. Wind Shear was also present, as seen in figure 6.
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| Figure 4: SFC CAPE (J/kg) at 1 pm EDT (SPC) | Figure 5: SFC CAPE (J/kg) at 3 pm EDT (SPC) | Figure 6: Wind Shear (knots) (SPC) |
Moisture
Moisture was also present, as shown in the images below. Precipitable water values were around 1 inch.
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| Figure 7: Moisture Transport 2 pm EDT (SPC) | Figure 8: Moisture Transport 4 pm EDT (SPC) | Figure 9: Moisture Transport 5 pm EDT (SPC) |
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