The Weather Control Panel

Please come back soon for the complete story.

A devastating ice storm affected much of the region, with over an inch of ice accumulation in some areas.

A major storm system brought near-blizzard conditions to western Michigan Wednesday through late Thursday night. In our area, the areas most greatly affected were Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties in southern Michigan. A Winter Storm Warning was issued for these areas. Strong winds blew heavy snow to the point where visibilities were less than one quarter of a mile and white-outs at times. Winds of 30 mph and gusts to near 50 mph made it diffucult to accurately measure exactly how much snow fell. However, one report from a trained weather observer recorded 17.3" of heavy snow near Dowagiac, MI in Cass County. Snowfall totals of this magnitude were not forecasted. This serves as a reminder that winter weather accumulation amounts are very difficult to forecast, and can vary greatly, especially in lake effect areas. Be wise when deciding whether it is safe enough to travel or not.

This was the first major snowfall for the region. Expect more snowfall to arrive soon and be ready by monitoring any weather alerts given by the National Weather Service.

With the possibility of snow in the forecast for this Thanksgiving, some people have asked how unusual it is for snow to fall on Turkey Day in our area. Well here are some stats compiled by the National Weather Service Northern Indiana Office for past Thanksgiving days at climate stations South Bend (SBN) and Fort Wayne (FWA) dating back to 1975.

Find your local and travel forecasts at: http://weathercontrolpanel.webs.com/thanksgiving.htm

South Bend, IN - Chart below

Thanksgiving Day records for South Bend go back 34 years to 1975. Measurable snow has occurred on 8 of 34 Thanksgiving days, which equals about 24 percent of the time. The most recent measurable snowfall occurred in 2007 when Thanksgiving fell on November 22nd. A total of 1.9 inches fell on this day, with a high temperature of 38 and a low of 29. The precipitation total for the day was 0.21 inches. There was also 1.7 inches that fell during Thanksgiving 2005 which was on November 24th. The high was 40 on this day but the low temperature was a very cold 15 degrees.

The coldest high temperature recorded on Thanksgiving day since 1975 was 29 in 1989. The coldest low temperature was 15 recorded in 2005. The warmest temperature was a balmy 63 which occurred in 1990. The warmest low temperature was 49 in 1979.

The maximum snowfall recorded was 5.5 inches in 1980. There have been 25 years with no snowfall and 1 year with just a trace of snowfall. The maximum snow depth on Thanksgiving day was 6 inches in 1975. The earliest Thanksgiving day with measurable snowfall occurred just two years ago on November 22nd, 2007 when 1.9 inches fell.

Fort Wayne, IN - Chart below

Thanksgiving day records for Fort Wayne go back 34 years to 1975. Measurable snow has occurred on 5 of 34 Thanksgiving days, which equals about 15 percent of the time. The most recent measurable snowfall occurred in 2004 when Thanksgiving fell on November 25th. A total of 0.6 inches fell on this day, with a high temperature of 37 and a low of 25. The precipitation total for the day was only a Trace.

The coldest high temperature recorded on Thanksgiving day since 1975 was 29 in 1989. The coldest temperature was 14 recorded in 2005. The warmest temperature was a mild 59 which occurred in 1976. The warmest low temperature was 51 in 1979.

The maximum snowfall recorded was 4.0 inches in 1980. There have been 26 years with no snowfall and 3 years with just a trace of snowfall. The maximum snow depth on Thanksgiving day was 4 inches in 1975. The earliest Thanksgiving day with measurable snowfall occurred on November 23rd, 1989 when 0.4 inches fell.

South Bend Thanksgiving Day Weather [Amounts in inches, t=trace]

Year      High Low  Precipitation Snowfall Snow depth

27-Nov-2008 44 22 0 0 0

22-Nov-2007 38 29 0.21 1.9 2

23-Nov-2006 55 25 0 0 0

24-Nov-2005 40 15 0.07 1.7 T

25-Nov-2004 36 24 T T 5

27-Nov-2003 45 38 0.03 0.0 0

28-Nov-2002 30 21 0 0.0 0

22-Nov-2001 54 38 0 0.0 0

23-Nov-2000 32 15 0 0.0 4

25-Nov-1999 46 28 0 0.0 0

26-Nov-1998 58 37 0 0.0 0

27-Nov-1997 47 26 0.52 0.0 0

28-Nov-1996 33 21 0.04 0.4 1

23-Nov-1995 34 24 0 0.0 T

25-Nov-1994 45 28 0 0.0 0

25-Nov-1993 43 34 0.22 0.0 0

26-Nov-1992 42 32 0.04 0.2 0

28-Nov-1991 41 36 0.13 0.0 0

22-Nov-1990 63 39 0.21 0.0 0

23-Nov-1989 29 20 0.02 0.2 T

24-Nov-1988 57 31 0 0.0 0

26-Nov-1987 42 34 0 0.0 0

27-Nov-1986 39 27 0 0.0 0

28-Nov-1985 36 32 0.04 0.7 1

22-Nov-1984 41 21 0 0.0 0

24-Nov-1983 35 29 0 0.0 0

25-Nov-1982 36 21 0 0.0 0

26-Nov-1981 60 37 0.23 0.0 0

27-Nov-1980 37 35 0.65 5.5 T

22-Nov-1979 59 49 0.69 0.0 0

23-Nov-1978 47 38 0.62 0.0 0

24-Nov-1977 39 33 0 0.0 0

25-Nov-1976 55 32 T 0.0 T

27-Nov-1975 36 30 0.18 2.3 6

Fort Wayne Thanksgiving Day Weather [Amounts in inches, t=trace]

Year      High Low Precipitation   Snowfall Snow depth

27-Nov-2008 46 20 0 0 0

22-Nov-2007 42 33 0.03 T 0

23-Nov-2006 50 26 0 0 0

24-Nov-2005 39 14 T T T

25-Nov-2004 37 25 T 0.6 T

27-Nov-2003 47 38 0.1 0.0 0

28-Nov-2002 31 20 0 0.0 T

22-Nov-2001 56 32 0 0.0 0

23-Nov-2000 34 19 0 0.0 0

25-Nov-1999 45 28 T 0.0 0

26-Nov-1998 54 36 0 0.0 0

27-Nov-1997 48 26 0.18 0.0 0

28-Nov-1996 33 24 0 0.0 0

23-Nov-1995 39 26 0 0.0 0

25-Nov-1994 50 24 0 0.0 0

25-Nov-1993 41 36 0.29 0.0 0

26-Nov-1992 43 32 0.01 T 0

28-Nov-1991 51 38 0.12 0.0 0

22-Nov-1990 58 33 0.32 0.0 0

23-Nov-1989 29 18 0.02 0.4 T

24-Nov-1988 55 26 0 0.0 0

26-Nov-1987 38 36 0 0.0 0

27-Nov-1986 41 31 0 0.0 0

28-Nov-1985 33 32 0.14 0.7 1

22-Nov-1984 40 19 0 0.0 0

24-Nov-1983 39 30 0 0.0 0

25-Nov-1982 33 21 0 0.0 0

26-Nov-1981 58 34 0.07 0.0 0

27-Nov-1980 36 32 0.15 4.0 2

22-Nov-1979 57 51 0.55 0.0 0

23-Nov-1978 49 38 0.32 0.0 0

24-Nov-1977 39 31 0 0.0 0

25-Nov-1976 59 29 0 0.0 0

27-Nov-1975 35 29 0.07 1.5 4

Looking for your this year's Thanksgiving forecast? Travel forecasts are also available! Go to: http://weathercontrolpanel.webs.com/thanksgiving.htm

Please click on the following link for a complete write-up summary of the tornadoes of this date.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/events/2002/11_10_02_tornadoes/index.php

4 dead

26 injured

F4 tornado damage at Van Wert, Ohio (winds 207 to 260 mph). Tornado touched down near Willshire and moved northeast for 53 miles to central Henry County. The tornado lifted near Malinta, Ohio. F4 damage occurred on Lincoln Highway west of Van Wert. F4 damage also occurred at the intersection of Dull-Robinson and Zook roads. There was one fatality at this location, as well as an injury. A couple was in the upstairs portion of their home. As the tornado approached the husband attempted to cover his wheelchair-bound wife. As he was doing this the home was hit, and a projectile struck the husband in the back of his head. His wife was sent to the hospital in critical condition. Another casualty occurred when the tornado swept a car off the road near Van Wert's Twin Cinemas, killing the driver inside.

After leaving the city of Van Wert, the tornado was between F3 and F4 strength through the remainder of Van Wert County. The tornado maintained F3 strength through Paulding County and extreme northwest Putnam County. Two more fatalities took place near Continental, Ohio, when the tornado destroyed a mobile home. The twister then began to weaken, becoming F0 in strength across Henry County.

F1 tornado damage at Hartford City, Indiana (Blackford County) (winds 73 to 112 mph). The tornado touched down two miles southwest of Hartford City on Angling Road and headed northeast, through the north side of town, to three miles northeast of Hartford City. The continuous track was five miles long. There was evidence that this tornado may have briefly touched down several times from northeast of Hartford City to east of Montpelier.

F0 tornado damage near Petroleum, Indiana (Wells County) (winds 40 to 72 mph). This damage was discovered during the aerial survey. This was a brief touchdown with minimal damage.

F3 tornado damage near Berne, Indiana (Adams County) (winds 158 to 206 mph). Touched down two miles northeast of Berne and headed northeast. Lifted at the state line near Salem. Path length 5 miles.