All posts by Jay Farlow

I'm Jay Farlow. W9LW is my amateur (ham) radio call sign. I've been a ham since 1973. I've been a volunteer storm spotter for the National Weather Service SKYWARN program since the 1970s. I've also been a volunteer EMT and firefighter and member of a disaster medical assistance team. I advise the leadership team of Associated Churches Active in Disaster, a ministry of Associate Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County. Learn more about w9lw at www.qrz.com/db/w9lw.

Severe thunderstorm watch for much of Indiana, Illnois, part of Ohio

County map for severe thunderstorm watch 363

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 363
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
305 PM CDT TUE JUN 25 2013

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS
NORTHERN INDIANA
NORTHWEST OHIO

* EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 305 PM UNTIL
1000 PM CDT.

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
NUMEROUS DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH LIKELY
SEVERAL LARGE HAIL EVENTS WITH A FEW VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2
INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 65
STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 40 MILES WEST OF
PEORIA ILLINOIS TO 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FORT WAYNE INDIANA. FOR
A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH
OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 361...WW 362...

DISCUSSION...STORM DEVELOPMENT IS NOW UNDERWAY ACROSS CENTRAL
ILLINOIS... PERHAPS AIDED BY FORCING ASSOCIATED WITH A SHORT WAVE
IMPULSE MIGRATING EAST OF THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. IN THE
PRESENCE OF THERMODYNAMIC PROFILES CHARACTERIZED BY FAIRLY STEEP
MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND LARGE CAPE...DEEP LAYER WESTERLY FLOW AND
VERTICAL SHEAR IS SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE UPSCALE GROWTH FROM
SUPERCELLS TO AN INCREASINGLY ORGANIZED...EASTWARD ADVANCING
MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 363 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

ILC017-019-021-039-041-045-053-057-063-075-091-093-095-099-105-
107-113-115-123-125-129-137-139-143-147-167-175-179-183-197-203-
260300-
/O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0363.130625T2005Z-130626T0300Z/

IL
. ILLINOIS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

CASS CHAMPAIGN CHRISTIAN
DE WITT DOUGLAS EDGAR
FORD FULTON GRUNDY
IROQUOIS KANKAKEE KENDALL
KNOX LA SALLE LIVINGSTON
LOGAN MACON MARSHALL
MASON MCLEAN MENARD
MORGAN MOULTRIE PEORIA
PIATT SANGAMON STARK
TAZEWELL VERMILION WILL
WOODFORD


INC001-003-007-009-011-015-017-023-033-035-039-045-049-053-057-
059-063-065-067-069-073-075-085-087-089-091-095-097-099-103-107-
111-113-121-127-131-133-135-141-149-151-157-159-165-169-171-179-
181-183-260300-
/O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0363.130625T2005Z-130626T0300Z/

IN
. INDIANA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAMS ALLEN BENTON
BLACKFORD BOONE CARROLL
CASS CLINTON DELAWARE
DE KALB ELKHART FOUNTAIN
FULTON GRANT HAMILTON
HANCOCK HENDRICKS HENRY
HOWARD HUNTINGTON JASPER
JAY KOSCIUSKO LAGRANGE
LAKE LA PORTE MADISON
MARION MARSHALL MIAMI
MONTGOMERY NEWTON NOBLE
PARKE PORTER PULASKI
PUTNAM RANDOLPH ST. JOSEPH
STARKE STEUBEN TIPPECANOE
TIPTON VERMILLION WABASH
WARREN WELLS WHITE
WHITLEY


OHC003-039-051-069-125-137-161-171-260300-
/O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0363.130625T2005Z-130626T0300Z/

OH
. OHIO COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ALLEN DEFIANCE FULTON
HENRY PAULDING PUTNAM
VAN WERT WILLIAMS  

Severe thunderstorm watch issued for much of Ohio

Map from severe thunderstorm watch #362
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 362
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
340 PM EDT TUE JUN 25 2013

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
WESTERN MARYLAND
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL OHIO
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA
LAKE ERIE

* EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON FROM 340 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT
EDT.

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
SEVERAL DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH LIKELY
SEVERAL LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 70
STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES EAST OF
LATROBE PENNSYLVANIA TO 65 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF DAYTON OHIO.
FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH
OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 361...

DISCUSSION...STORM DEVELOPMENT IS NOW WELL UNDERWAY IN THE PRESENCE
OF MODERATE BOUNDARY LAYER INSTABILITY. CONSOLIDATING COLD POOLS
MAY CONTRIBUTE TO FURTHER UPSCALE CONVECTIVE GROWTH...AND THE
EVOLUTION OF ONE OR TWO SMALL STORM CLUSTERS ACCOMPANIED BY THE RISK
FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. EAST SOUTHEASTWARD MOTION WILL BE ENHANCED
BY A BELT OF 20-30 KT WESTERLY LOWER/MID TROPOSPHERIC FLOW.

AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 27030.


...KERR
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 362 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1200 AM EDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

OH
. OHIO COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ALLEN ASHLAND ASHTABULA
ATHENS AUGLAIZE BELMONT
CARROLL CHAMPAIGN CLARK
COLUMBIANA COSHOCTON CRAWFORD
CUYAHOGA DARKE DELAWARE
ERIE FAIRFIELD FAYETTE
FRANKLIN GEAUGA GREENE
GUERNSEY HANCOCK HARDIN
HARRISON HOCKING HOLMES
HURON JEFFERSON KNOX
LAKE LICKING LOGAN
LORAIN LUCAS MADISON
MAHONING MARION MEDINA
MERCER MIAMI MONROE
MONTGOMERY MORGAN MORROW
MUSKINGUM NOBLE OTTAWA
PERRY PICKAWAY PORTAGE
PREBLE RICHLAND SANDUSKY
SENECA SHELBY STARK
SUMMIT TRUMBULL TUSCARAWAS
UNION WASHINGTON WAYNE
WOOD WYANDOT

 

Watch considered for northern Ohio

See an update to this post.


Mesoscale discussion 1220 map

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center might soon issue a watch for parts of northern Ohio, possibly including part of IMO SKYWARN quadrant two (see map above). The SPC issued a mesoscale discussion at 3:04 p.m. EDT that indicates the potential is increasing across identified area for damaging gusts and isolated large hail as storms continue to develop and move generally eastward into a destabilizing air mass.

Today’s severe weather risk increases, expands

Wind probability map from Day 1 Convective Outlook
Probability of damaging thunderstorm winds or wind gusts of 50 knots or higher within 25 miles of a point. (More Info)

The risk of severe weather in Indiana and surrounded areas has increased and expanded, according to the Day 1 Convective Outlook that the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued at 8:52 a.m. EDT. The SPC increased the slight risk area from the northern half of Indiana to the northern two thirds of the state. It also broadly increased the slight risk area to the east.

In addition, and perhaps more significant to readers of this blog, the probabilities of severe wind and hail in northern Indiana doubled from the previous outlook. Throughout the area covered by the Northern Indiana NWS office (see map at right), the probability of damaging thunderstorm winds or wind gusts of 50 knots (58 mph) or higher within 25 miles of a point is now 30 percent. In the same area, the SPC also forecasts a 30 percent probability of one inch diameter hail or larger within 25 miles of a point.

This morning, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Michael Lewis of the northern Indiana NWS office provided the following information via email to SKYWARN storm spotters:

Today:

Threat: Severe Winds > 58 MPH with Isolated damaging winds > 70 mph and torrential rainfall.

Timing: Isolated storms from mid-day through early afternoon. Redevelopment into more linear during the late afternoon into the evening. Location: Early this morning along and north or US-30. Development along and south of US-24 around mid-day. Development west of IN-9 later this afternoon with rapid eastward expansion.

Wednesday:

Threat: Straight Line Winds. Widespread damaging winds possible > 70 mph, hail > 1″ diameter, and torrential rainfall.

Timing: Squall line development early afternoon, rapidly building and accelerating across Indiana through early evening.

Location: Early this morning along and north or US-30. Development along and south of US-24 around mid-day. Development west of IN-9 later this afternoon with rapid eastward expansion.

Northern Indiana (NWS office) will be monitoring:

  • Emergency Managers and Media Partners
  • Social Media – (Facebook / Twitter)
  • Amateur Radio
  • e-mail (w-iwx.webmaster@noaa.gov)

Slight risk of severe weather continues — check your weather radio!

Maps from the day 1 and day 2 convective outlooks

See an update to this post.


The northern half of Indiana (see the map at top left) as well as some surrounding areas remains at slight risk of severe weather between 8 a.m. today and 8 a.m. tomorrow, according to the Day 1 Convective Outlook that the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center issued at 1:59 a.m. EDT. All 37 counties served by the northern Indiana NWS office are included. The main threats are damaging straight-line winds and hail but there’s a small risk of tornadoes as well.

Between 8 a.m. tomorrow and 8 a.m. Thursday, the entire state of Indiana plus a large surrounding area (see map at lower left) remains under a slight risk.

Unfortunately for Fort Wayne residents, this slight risk is occurring while the Fort Wayne NOAA Weather Radio transmitter is crippled. Due to a part failure the transmitter is running at reduced power, until the ordered part comes in. That means your weather radio might not be picking up the signal, which also means it won’t alert you of watches and warnings.

I suggest you check your weather radio now to see if you can hear the continuous broadcast. If you can, you’lre probably OK. If not, plan to monitor a local TV or radio station so you’ll know if a watch or warning comes out.

Severe thunderstorm watch issued for northern Indiana

Watch map

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued severe thunderstorm watch number 358 for a large part of northern Indiana until midnight EDT. The watch includes all 37 Indiana, Michigan and Ohio counties covered by the Northern Indiana NWS office.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center indicated in a mesoscale discussion that a severe thunderstorm system is moving across northeastern Illinois and severe winds are expected from it as it continues east across southern Lake Michigan, southwestern lower Michigan and northern Indiana.

Primary threats in the watch area include:

  • Numerous damaging wind gusts with a few gusts to 75 mph possible.
  • Hail of up to one inch in diameter
  • The possibility of a few tornadoes.

At 6:56 p.m. EDT the Northern Indiana NWS office tweeted the following message:

Several reports of overturned semi trucks, downed power lines, and downed trees in the west suburbs of Chicago

     .    INDIANA COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE

    ADAMS ALLEN BLACKFORD
    BOONE CARROLL CASS
    CLINTON DE KALB ELKHART
    FOUNTAIN FULTON GRANT
    HOWARD HUNTINGTON JAY
    KOSCIUSKO LAGRANGE LA PORTE
    MARSHALL MIAMI MONTGOMERY
    NOBLE PARKE PULASKI
    ST. JOSEPH STARKE STEUBEN
    TIPPECANOE TIPTON VERMILLION
    WABASH WARREN WELLS
    WHITE WHITLEY 
     
     
       .    OHIO COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

    ALLEN DEFIANCE FULTON
    HENRY PAULDING PUTNAM
    VAN WERT WILLIAMS  

    Severe thunderstorm watch issued for extreme northwestern Indiana

    Map for severe thunderstorm watch number 356

    The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued severe thunderstorm watch number 356 at 4:15 p.m. EDT. In addition to a large part of northeastern Illinois and parts of southern Wisconsin and Lake Michigan, the watch includes five Indiana counties in the northwestern corner of the state: Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. The watch is in effect until 11 p.m. EDT (10 p.m. CDT).

    Primary threats include

    • Numerous damaging wind gusts with a few gusts to 80 mph possible.
    • Large hail of up to two inches in diameter.
    • The possibility of a few tornadoes.

    Fort Wayne’s weather radio transmitter having problems

    NOAA weather radio logo

    If you’re having trouble hearing the NOAA Weather Radio transmiter in Fort Wayne (on 162.55 MHz), there’s a good reason. See the message below from the northern Indiana National Weather Service office:

    PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
    315 PM EDT MON JUN 24 2013 /215 PM CDT MON JUN 24 2013/

    ...FORT WAYNE WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE
    POWER ISSUES...

    THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER AT FORT WAYNE...WXJ-58 AT 162.550
    MHZ...WILL CONTINUE TO BROADCAST AT LOW POWER DUE TO EQUIPMENT
    PROBLEMS AT THE SITE. THIS IS RESULTING IN A DEGRADED BROADCAST
    SIGNAL FROM THE TRANSMITTER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND
    PARTS ARE ON ORDER TO REPAIR THE EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS. THE EXPECTED
    RETURN TO SERVICE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME...BUT REPAIRS ARE HOPED
    TO BE MADE BY END OF THE WEEK.

    ALTERNATE NOAA RADIO BROADCASTS AROUND THE FORT WAYNE REGION ARE
    AS FOLLOWS: WXM-98 FROM MARION AT 162.450...KXI-94 FROM ANGOLA AT
    162.425 MHZ...WXJ-90 FROM CRIDERSVILLE AT 162.400 MHZ. WE
    APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE. THIS STATEMENT
    WILL BE UPDATED WHEN MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.

    Indiana risk for severe weather tomorrow expands

    Day 2 convective outlook map

    The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has expanded the area of Indiana that is at slight risk of receiving severe weather tomorrow. Previously, the SPC’s Day 2 Convective Outlook placed the northern third of Indiana at slight risk between 8 a.m. EDT tomorrow (Tuesday, June 25) and 8 a.m. EDT Wednesday (June 26). At  1:27 p.m. EDT, the SPC issued an updated outlook that indicates a slight risk for the northern half of Indiana, including all 37 Indiana, Michigan and Ohio Counties covered by the northern Indiana NWS weather forecast office.

    Our next look at the risk for northern Indiana should come at about 2 a.m. tomorrow morning, when SPC issues the first Day 1 Convective Outlook of the day.

    Watch possible in NW Indiana this afternoon/evening

    The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) might issue a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of extreme northwestern Indiana this afternoon or this evening, according to a mesoscale discussion the SPC issued at 3:11 p.m. EDT. Such a watch would likely cover only a few counties in the northwestern corner of Indiana (e.g. Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper).