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Flood Watch Issued by NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)
Indiana Target Area: Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, Pulaski and Starke Counties.
The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Flood Watch for the following rivers Tippecanoe River and Maumee River in Indiana. Tippecanoe River near Ora affecting Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, Pulaski and Starke Counties and Maumee River at Ft. Wayne affecting Allen and Paulding Counties. This watch is from Friday afternoon until further notice.
Forecasted rainfall at Ora along the Tippecanoe river and at Ft Wayne along the Maumee river is expected to cause rises along the rivers.
*At 10 AM Wednesday the stage was 9.9 feet and steady.
*Flooding is possible.
*Flood stage is 12.0 feet.
*Forecast...If current precipitation forecasts hold...The river may rise to near 12.7 feet Saturday afternoon.
Instructions: A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based oncurrent forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. More information can be found on the internet at www.weather.gov/iwx under Rivers and Lakes.
Flood Warning Issued by NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)
Indiana Target Area: Cass, Kosciusko, Miami, Wabash, and Whitley Counties.
The Flood Warning has been extended for the following rivers...Eel River at North Manchester affecting Cass, Kosciusko, Miami, Wabash and Whitley Counties.
Recent and forecast rainfall will lead to rise on area rivers this week. The Flood Warning has been extended for The Eel River at North Manchester. This is from this evening to late Sunday night. At 10 AM Wednesday the stage was 5.7 feet and falling.
*Moderate flooding is forecast.
*Flood stage is 9.0 feet.
*Forecast...The river will rise above flood stage Wednesday night and crest near 13.9 feet around 8 PM Thursday April 6 and fall below flood stage around 1 AM Sunday April 9.
*At 14.0 feet...South Mill Street Lumber Company begins to move lumber to higher ground.
*This crest compares to a previous crest of 13.5 feet which occurred on Jun 16 2015.
Instructions: Never drive vehicles through flooded areas. The water may be too deep to allow safe passage. Never allow children to play in or near flood waters. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or local media for further statements and updated forecasts. Detailed river forecasts and more information can be found on the internet at www.weather.gov/iwx under Rivers and Lakes. All times are in Eastern Time. This statement will be updated in about 24 hours or sooner if necessary.
Flood Warning Issued by NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)
Indiana Target Area: Cass, Kosciusko, La Porte, Miami, Starke, St. Joseph, Wabash and Whitley Counties.
The Flood Warning has been extended for the following rivers...Eel River at North Manchester affecting Cass, Kosciusko, Miami, Wabash and Whitley Counties. Kankakee River at Davis affecting La Porte, Starke and St. Joseph Counties. This is from late Thursday night to late Saturday night.
Heavy precipitation this evening has led to the rises along the Eel River at North Manchester and at the Kankakee River at Davis.
*Forecast: The river will rise above flood stage early Friday morning and crest near 10.0 feet around 2 PM Friday March 31 and fall below flood stage around 2 AM Saturday April 1.
*At 9 PM Thursday the stage was 7.0 feet and rising.
*Minor flooding is forecast.
*Flood stage is 9.0 feet.
*At 10.0 feet, Flood waters near lumber company and trailer court on South Mill Street.
Instructions: Never drive vehicles through flooded areas. The water may be too deep to allow safe passage. Never allow children to play in or near flood waters. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or local media for further statements and updated forecasts. Detailed river forecasts and more information can be found on the internet at www.weather.gov/iwx under Rivers and Lakes. All times are in Eastern Time. This statement will be updated in about 24 hours or sooner if necessary.
Indiana's Severe Weather Preparedness and Flood Awareness Week.
There will be a statewide tornado drill at 10:10 a.m. and 7:35 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, giving residents, schools and businesses an opportunity to practice their respective plans. Beckman said it's important to take these drills seriously. "We fall into a little bit of a sense of 'it's not going to happen here' or 'they're just setting the sirens off and nothing's going to happen' and that's the worst thing we can do," Beckman said.
Indiana state officials are encouraging Hoosiers to heed the message behind Indiana's Severe Weather Preparedness and Flood Awareness Week, which lasts through Saturday(3-25-2017).
Indiana is no stranger to severe weather, as Gov. Eric Holcomb's proclamation for the week illustrates by recalling the state getting hit by 15 tornadoes in 1992, the record 72 twisters in 2011 and the federal disaster declaration for the southern part of the state following powerful storms in 2012. Howard County have seen some destructive tornadoes as recently as last year and 2013. Cass County Emergency Management Agency Director Alvin Beckman said the county has been "fairly lucky" as far as extensive weather damage as of late, it too has seen tornadoes, high-wind storms and its waterways swell in recent years. That's why Beckman is echoing the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's(IDHS) advice for severe weather preparedness this week, which is made up of three parts: planning, preparing and practicing.
Planning
"You want to have that plan done ahead of time instead of trying to come up with one as you're dealing with tornado damage or wind damage or something like that," Beckman said. Beckman and the IDHS suggest getting a weather radio. The IDHS recommends one with a label indicating it's "all-hazard" that dispatches alerts from the National Weather Service. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration label is ideal too, along with one designating SAME technology, which "allows radios to be programmed to specific counties and types of alerts," according to an IDHS press release. Beckman said the radios cost between $30 and $40.
Knowing the difference between watches and warnings is important too. Watches indicate the possibility of a thunderstorm or tornado while warnings are issued when such weather patterns are confirmed in the area. The IDHS and Beckman encourage residents to pay attention to local media alerts and to take all of them seriously.
It's important for schools and businesses to also have those plans, Beckman said, and to update them over time as elements affecting them change.
Preparing
The IDHS goes on to suggest preparing a kit with food and water for three days, first-aid materials, flashlights, batteries, small tools, at least a set of FRS handheld radios(If you have a license for the GMRS radios, than those would be a better radio to use.) and any other items needed.
Prune tree limbs and secure outdoor items that could be affected by high winds, IDHS continues. Residents should make sure cellphones are charged and that all household members have phone numbers of friends and family.
Keep neighbors in mind who have disabilities or mobility challenges to be able to direct first responders to them should they need help, IDHS also recommends.
Practicing
Practice taking household members quickly but calmly to where they should go in severe weather. Ideally that's a basement or storm shelter, according to the IDHS. If one isn't available, head to an interior room on the lowest level with no windows. If the bathroom has no windows, that would be a preferred place to go. Another drill residents should run is getting under a sturdy table or desk or covering up with pillows, blankets, coats or a mattress to protect oneself from flying debris, according to the IDHS press release. Rehearsing evacuation routes both from home and the neighborhood is another exercise that will help Hoosiers prepare for severe weather.
Parents can help their children be prepared by having them pretend to call 911 and practice calmly talking with an emergency dispatcher, the IDHS suggests, adding a family member or friend could take on the dispatcher role.
Another weather event the IDHS and Beckman want residents to be aware of is flooding, especially with the upcoming arrival of spring. Both urge drivers not to attempt to drive on flooded roads, even if the water looks shallow, as the road may have washed out under the surface. The IDHS also recommends residents look into getting flood insurance if they don't already have it. More information is available at floodsmart.gov. The IDHS is posting more information on severe weather preparedness on Facebook and Twitter at @IDHS throughout the week. More information is also available at getprepared.in.gov.
Dense Fog Advisory Issued by NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)
Indiana Target Area: Cass, Elkhart, Fulton, Grant, Huntington, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Marshall, Miami, Noble, St. Joseph, Wabash and Whitley Counties.
The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Dense Fog Advisory, which is in effect until 5 AM EDT Saturday.
****HAZARDOUS WEATHER****
*Areas of Dense fog will lift from west to east overnight including areas west of Interstate 69.
*Widespread visibility of a quarter of a mile or less can be expected.
***IMPACTS***
*Hazardous driving conditions with the dense fog may be compounded by possible black ice spots on some roads from recent snow, sleet and freezing rain.
Instructions: A Dense Fog Advisory means visibility will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving is needed than slow down, use your headlights which should be on low beam and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.
Special Weather Statement Issued by NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)
Indiana Target Area: Cass, Elkhart, Fulton, Grant, Huntington, Kosciusko, La Porte, Lagrange, Marshall, Miami, Noble, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Starke, Wabash, White and Whitley Counties.
Areas of fog this evening.
Fog will persist through the evening hours with some spots of dense fog with visibility of one quarter mile or less. Use caution if driving this evening. The foggy conditions are expected to improve by midnight.
Special Weather Statement Issued by NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)
Indiana Target Area: Fulton, Marshall, Pulaski and St. Joseph Counties.
LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS THIS MORNING.
Moderate to at times heavy lake effect snow showers will continue this morning. The combination of snow accumulating on roads and rapid fluctuations in visibility will create hazardous travel conditions during the morning commute in some areas, especially along and west of US 31. Visibility may be reduced to less than a quarter of a mile at times with heavier snow bursts. Motorists should exercise caution and allow extra time to reach their destination.
THIS IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE WEATHER ALERT THAT WAS ISSUED SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Winter Weather Advisory Issued by NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)
Indiana Target Area: Cass, Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Starke and White Counties.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT /10 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING
****HAZARDOUS WEATHER****
*Snow will overspread northwest Indiana and southwest Lower Michigan early this morning, and will continue through the day before ending later this evening. A lull in the snow coverage and intensity will be possible this afternoon and evening.
*Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are expected, highest north of Highway 30.
***IMPACTS***
*Roads will become snow covered and slick, especially this morning.
Instructions: A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means that periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibility and use caution while driving.
THIS IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE WEATHER ALERT THAT WAS ISSUED SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Winter Weather Advisory Issued by NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)
Indiana Target Area: Adams, Allen, De Kalb, Huntington, Lagrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley Counties.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 AM EDT TUESDAY.
****HAZARDOUS WEATHER****
*Snow will overspread northeast Indiana, south central Lower Michigan, and northwest Ohio around daybreak, and will continue into tonight before diminishing. A lull in the snow coverage and intensity will be possible this afternoon into tonight.
*Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are expected.
***IMPACTS***
*Roads will become snow covered and slick, especially Monday morning.
Instructions: A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means that periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibility and use caution while driving.