The National Weather Service (NWS) has a tool called the “Enhanced Data Display” (EDD) that you might not have seen, because officially, it’s in an experimental stage. But the tool is available for public use and offers a vast array of options to displaying NWS data over a Google Map.

One valuable use of EDD is to learn about weather issues that might exist along the route of a road trip you’re planning. This is especially valuable during winter weather, as it can help you decide when (or whether) to depart on your trip.

But travel weather is just one of many features of EDD. And because EDD has so many features, I found it just a little difficult to learn by playing with its user interface.

So, if you have an hour and a quarter to kill, the NWS has produced a very verbose video demonstration of EDD’s many functions and features. To be honest, I have not yet viewed the entire demo yet but I did preview it. Very interesting, if time consuming!

…VERY LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE TONIGHT… VERY LIGHT PATCHY DRIZZLE OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL AFFECT NORTHERN INDIANA…SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN…AND NORTHWEST OHIO EARLY THIS MORNING WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING. A FEW SLICK SPOTS ON UNTREATED ROADS ARE POSSIBLE…ESPECIALLY ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING EARLY THIS MORNING…PLEASE USE CAUTION AND
View the full statement on the NWS website.

…VERY LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE TONIGHT… VERY LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE AND FLURRIES WILL AFFECT NORTHERN INDIANA…SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN…AND NORTHWEST OHIO OVERNIGHT. A FEW SLICK SPOTS ON UNTREATED ROADS WILL BE POSSIBLE…ESPECIALLY ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION IF TRAVELING OVERNIGHT. FREEZING DRIZZLE IS EXPECTED TO END BY 5
View the full statement on the NWS website.

…WINTRY MIX TO AFFECT THE AREA THIS MORNING… …WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TODAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR A WINTRY MIX…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TODAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER…
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Meteorologists from the Memphis NWS office presented a two-hour SKYWARN spotter training session via Google Hangouts and you can see a recording of the entire thing on YouTube.

The recording provides useful and interesting information, but viewers should not assume that their local NWS offices will recognize the program as official spotter training. The northern Indiana NWS office does not, according to Michael Lewis, that office’s warning coordination meteorologist.

At the time of this writing, the only ways to be recognized by the northern Indiana office as a trained spotter are to attend an in-person training session sanctioned by that office or complete  MetEd online training, Lewis said.

Of course, taking training recognized by your local office matters only if you wish to on that office’s official list of trained spotters, which can help improve the credibility of any reports you make to that office. In my experience, the northern Indiana NWS office accepts reports from anyone, trained or not. But reports that come from spotters they recognize has having received official training probably have a greater effect on meteorological decision making.

Strong, non-thunderstorm winds blew over trees and utility poles all over northern Indiana, northwestern Ohio and southern Lower Michigan yesterday. They also caused some sporadic structural damage.

The greatest structural damage reported to the northern Indiana office of the National Weather Service happened in Elkhart, where wind blew some of a steel roof off a commercial building:

Major Roof damage East side Elkhart. Half of roof blown off. Between Cr15 and Cr17. @NWSIWX . pic.twitter.com/i5XEsSkRwC

— Central IN_SVR_WX (@IN_Svr_Wx) November 24, 2014

A Fort Wayne resident sent WANE TV a photo of damage to the awning on her manufactured home:

Sandra sent this picture from Fort Wayne. High winds knocked down awning on her house. @NWSIWX @wane15 pic.twitter.com/gUvuKRGbmL

— Jesse Hawila (@JesseWFAA) November 24, 2014

Another Fort Wayne resident reported damage to his storm door:

https://twitter.com/matthewshaynes/status/536906765397663744

The most pervasive damage, however, was to trees and utilities.

Strong winds are causing large branches and trees to fall today. Treat all downed wires as live. pic.twitter.com/61vQ4AKrKQ

— AC Homeland Security (@ACHomeland) November 24, 2014

By 10:16 a.m., more than 6,000 of Indiana Michigan Power’s customers in Allen County, Ind. were without power. By 7 p.m., that number was down to 400.

Estimated Restoration Times pic.twitter.com/z24XUNMri3

— I&M (@IN_MI_Power) November 25, 2014

By late afternoon, the northern Indiana NWS office issued this compilation of reports it had received. It also provided this list of the highest recorded winds in its coverage area.

High winds are dropping trees and causing power outages and traffic problems in the Fort Wayne area this morning.

As of 10:59 a.m. EST, Indiana Michigan Power reported on its website that 517 of its customers in Allen County had no power. Another 130 I&M customers in Whitley County also had outages.

The Whitley County Emergency Management Agency reported that much of Columbia City lost power:

POWER OUTAGE – Much of Columbia City is without power right now. Crews are working on the problem. DO NOT CALL… http://t.co/3aasbekpCx

— Whitley County EMA (@WhitleyCo_EMA) November 24, 2014

The Indiana Department of Transportation reported that trees  blocked westbound lanes of U.S. 24 in extreme southwestern Allen County, near the intersections of Homestead Road and West Hamilton Road.

ALLEN CO: US 24 WB @ W Hamilton blocked by tree. Officers on scene & INDOT crews en route to clear the tree. May wish to seek alt routes.

— INDOT Northeast (@INDOTNortheast) November 24, 2014

ALLEN CO: Strong winds have downed another tree on US 24 just W of Homestead Rd into WB lane.

— INDOT Northeast (@INDOTNortheast) November 24, 2014

The official anemometer at Fort Wayne International Airport recorded a gust of 57.5 mph (50 knots) at 11:09 a.m. EST.

The northern Indiana office of the National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for much of northeastern Indiana, northwestern Ohio and one county of southern Lower Michigan at 10:33 a.m. EST. The warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. EST.

The high wind warning indicates that gusts to 60 mph are possible today. These could cause additional fallen trees and utility poles and cause additional power outages. Gusts could also blow light and high-profile vehicles off roads.

The Indiana Toll Road has banned travel by all triple trailers, long double trailers (high profile only) and all high profile, over-sized permit trucks between the 31 (Valparaiso) interchange and the 144 (Angola) interchange until 7 p.m., according to a report from South Bend TV station WSBT.

The northern Indiana office of the National Weather Service issued a special weather statement this morning regarding a chance of freezing rain and ice accumulation in its forecast area tonight and tomorrow.

The statement indicates that its meteorologists expect light freezing rain to move into far northwestern Indiana after midnight. They expect the freezing rain to spread across northeastern Indiana, southern Lower Michigan and northwestern Ohio through early tomorrow morning.

The statement indicates that meteorologists had some uncertainty regarding the timing and amount of freezing rain. People in the area should nonetheless be prepared for light ice accumulation on roadways and walkways.

Any freezing rain that does fall should change to rain by mid-morning tomorrow, as temperatures rise.

Governor Mike Pence has recorded a radio public service announcement for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) that promotes the public service provided by Hoosiers who are ham radio operators. The announcement includes a mention of hams participating in the National Weather Service SKYWARN program.

The announcement has reportedly been sent to Network Indiana for playing during its programs, which air on radio stations throughout the state.

Use the player below to listen to the announcement.