Indiana May 13th 2005 Severe Storms

A Stormy Friday the 13th for parts of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio

A warm front moved rapidly north through northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio into southern Lower Michigan during the morning as low pressure moved east through Illinois. A strong south to southwest  flow in the developing warm sector allowed for temperatures to climb to around 80 with surface dewpoints into the middle 60s.  With ample sunshine and moisture, moderate instability developed during the early afternoon. Thunderstorms initially developed in the warm sector and along the retreating warm front, but became more widespread as numerous outflow boundaries from collapsing thunderstorms interacted. The vast majority of reports received were in the form of wind damage and hail. For a complete summary see the Preliminary Local Storm Report below.

A few reports were received of a possible tornado near Rochester, Indiana Friday afternoon. Pictures were forwarded to the National Weather Service after being sent to TV station WSBT by a local resident. The pictures , shown below, indicate a definite circulation on the ground in an open field near the intersection of 200 W and Olson roads. Based on examination of the photos as well as additional information from the person submitting the pictures, it has been determined that this was a gustnado.  A gustnado is similar to a dustdevil or whirlwind and is not considered a tornado. No damage was reported with this gustnado.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT FOR MAY 13, 2005

.TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON  
   
.DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.  
  
            ..REMARKS..  
  
0130 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N WOLCOTT             40.79N 87.04W   
05/13/2005                   WHITE              IN   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
            12 LARGE TREES UPROOTED. LARGE BRANCHES FELL ON HOUSE   
            DAMAGING IT. NEW GARAGE DESTROYED. TWO SHEDS BLOWN AWAY.  
  
0220 PM     HAIL             5 SE DEFIANCE           41.23N 84.29W   
05/13/2005  1.00 INCH        DEFIANCE           OH   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
0256 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ARGOS                   41.24N 86.25W   
05/13/2005                   MARSHALL           IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
            TREE BLEW OVER IN ARGOS  
  
0256 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BREMEN                  41.45N 86.15W   
05/13/2005                   MARSHALL           IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
            TREE BLEW OVER IN BREMEN  
  
0323 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 S HARTFORD CITY       40.39N 85.37W   
05/13/2005                   BLACKFORD          IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
            65 MPH WINDS MEASURED  
  
0330 PM     HAIL             HARTFORD CITY           40.45N 85.37W   
05/13/2005  1.00 INCH        BLACKFORD          IN   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
0335 PM     HAIL             HARTFORD CITY           40.45N 85.37W   
05/13/2005  0.88 INCH        BLACKFORD          IN   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
0335 PM     HAIL             1 W HARTFORD CITY       40.45N 85.39W   
05/13/2005  1.75 INCH        BLACKFORD          IN   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
0335 PM     HAIL             HARTFORD CITY           40.45N 85.37W   
05/13/2005  1.00 INCH        BLACKFORD          IN   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
0354 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MARKLE                  40.83N 85.34W   
05/13/2005                   WELLS              IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN IN AND AROUND MARKLE   
            AND UNIONDALE AREAS.  
  
0405 PM     TSTM WND DMG     COLDWATER               41.94N 85.00W   
05/13/2005                   BRANCH             MI   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
            SEMI TRUCK BLEW OVER IN COLDWATER. NUMEROUS POWER LINES   
            AND TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT BRANCH COUNTY.  
  
0407 PM     HAIL             3 SE DECATUR            40.80N 84.89W   
05/13/2005  0.75 INCH        ADAMS              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
0420 PM     TSTM WND DMG     VAN WERT                40.86N 84.58W   
05/13/2005                   VAN WERT           OH   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
            59 MPH WINDS MEASURED IN VAN WERT.  
  
0423 PM     TSTM WND DMG     VAN WERT                40.86N 84.58W   
05/13/2005                   VAN WERT           OH   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
            NUMEROUS LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN.  
  
0435 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE CONVOY             40.91N 84.69W   
05/13/2005                   VAN WERT           OH   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
            ROOF RIPPED OFF AUTOBODY SHOP AND INTO A CAR.   
  
0435 PM     HAIL             10 E LITCHFIELD         42.04N 84.56W   
05/13/2005  0.75 INCH        HILLSDALE          MI   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
0440 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MONTGOMERY              41.78N 84.81W   
05/13/2005                   HILLSDALE          MI   AMATEUR RADIO     
  
            LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN  
  
0440 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW OTTOVILLE          40.95N 84.37W   
05/13/2005                   PUTNAM             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
            METAL GRAIN BIN ROLLED AND WRAPPED AROUND A POLE.  
  
0500 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HILLSDALE               41.93N 84.64W   
05/13/2005                   HILLSDALE          MI   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN THROUGH OUT THE   
            COUNTY.  
  
0502 PM     HAIL             LOGANSPORT              40.75N 86.36W   
05/13/2005  0.75 INCH        CASS               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
0508 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NAPOLEON                41.39N 84.13W   
05/13/2005                   HENRY              OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
            NUMEROUS BRANCHES DOWN THROUGHOUT COUNTY. BRANCHES UP TO   
            5 TO 6 FEET IN LENGTH AND 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN.  
  
0525 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MEXICO                  40.81N 86.11W   
05/13/2005                   MIAMI              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
            TREE BRANCHES OF 9 TO 10 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN.  
  
0535 PM     TSTM WND DMG     9 E LOGANSPORT          40.75N 86.19W   
05/13/2005                   CASS               IN   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
            SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN NEW WAVERLY AND HOOVER.  
  
0535 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N PERU                40.78N 86.07W   
05/13/2005                   MIAMI              IN   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.  
  
0545 PM     HAIL             LOGANSPORT              40.75N 86.36W   
05/13/2005  1.00 INCH        CASS               IN   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
            HAIL OF 3/4 INCHES TO 1 INCH REPORTED ALL AROUND   
            LOGANSPORT.  
  
0550 PM     TSTM WND GST     10 S WINONA LAKE        41.07N 85.82W   
05/13/2005  60 MPH           KOSCIUSKO          IN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE  
  
0555 PM     HAIL             NORTH MANCHESTER        41.00N 85.77W   
05/13/2005  0.88 INCH        WABASH             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
0600 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LA FONTAINE             40.67N 85.72W   
05/13/2005                   WABASH             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
            NUMEROUS LARGE TREE BRANCHES DOWN.  
  
0730 PM     HEAVY RAIN       8 NE WARSAW             41.32N 85.74W   
05/13/2005  2.45 INCH        KOSCIUSKO          IN   BROADCAST MEDIA   
  
            2.45 INCHES OF RAIN BETWEEN 630PM AND 730PM  
  
0738 PM     HEAVY RAIN       4 E LEESBURG            41.33N 85.77W   
05/13/2005  2.05 INCH        KOSCIUSKO          IN   NWS EMPLOYEE      
  
 

Pictures of Gustnado in Rochester, Indiana
Was taken facing south, towards the leading edge of an approaching storm

Circulation clearly on the ground	Dust being thrown into the air
Circulation becoming weaker	Photos Courtesy of Jason Sayler Rochester, IN