Storm described as the worst in memory by many in Michigan City, Indiana downs trees, powerlines; National Weather Service survey team suspects damage straightline wind induced
Chicago Tribune photographer John Smierciak shares these shots of Wednesday night's storm damage in Michigan City. John reports he took these photos at Washington Park next to the marina in Michigan City. A Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory wind sensor there recorded an extraordinary gust at the height of last night's storms of 106 mph. A trained spotter reported a tornado touchdown around 6:12 pm. However, the National Weather Service's Steve Eddy, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, and John Taylor, lead forecaster---both from the Northern Indiana NWS Forecast Office--have been on scene surveying the damage across northwest Indiana. Their observations and those of a helicopter overflight of the area suggest the trees knocked down are oriented in the same direction, a signature of straightline wind damage. A full report on the damage produced by that storm will be issued later today. Subsequent storms in the Chicago area produced 1.20" of rain at Midway Airport, reports the site's official NWS observer Frank Wachowski, bringing the South Side's August rainfall tally to 6.00"--the 9th heaviest since observations began there in 1928. Other storms across Wisconsin overnight have produced rain gauge measurements of 4"+ rain near Madison at Cottage Grove and Reedsburg in southern Wisconsin. There are Doppler rain estimates across the Badger State as high as 9-10" in areas over which t-storms have trained overnight and Thursday morning. Many thanks to former intern Chuck Heaver for his many reports from the scene in northwest Indiana last evening. Thanks, as always, to Jim Allsopp, our Chicago National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist for information on the ongoing storm survery there.
Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
Gary Lawrence picks up wood from a roof that crashed into his antique shop from a closed factory in the backround while John Stelke looks at his van which was damaged by falling trees outside his home. Photos provided by John Smierciak
Damage on the lakefront in Washington Park next to the marina.
