Power Outage in Columbia City, IN

A lake effect snow band clipped Whitley County with 1 to 3 inches of heavy wet snow, heaviest across northern portions of the county. This combined with leaves on tress led to several reports of downed trees and power outages across the county. Roads also became snow covered for a time with a few accidents reported across the region.

Trees were reported down onto power lines.

A survey of damage by emergency management officials and NWS personnel indicated numerous trees and power lines were blown down in the Tri Lakes area, especially between State Routes 9 and 109. All roads at one point were impassable due to the amount of damage. The swath of damage continued southeast through Columbia City and towards the Allen county line. A semi was reported blown off the road on US-30. Spotter estimated and measured wind speeds of 70 to 80 mph were noted in some spots, both in the Tri Lakes area as well as approaching Allen county.

A survey of damage by emergency management officials and NWS personnel indicated numerous trees and power lines were blown down in the Tri Lakes area, especially between State Routes 9 and 109. All roads at one point were impassable due to the amount of damage. The swath of damage continued southeast through Columbia City and towards the Allen county line. A semi was reported blown off the road on US-30. Spotter estimated and measured wind speeds of 70 to 80 mph were noted in some spots, both in the Tri Lakes area as well as approaching Allen county.

A trained spotter reported a 52 mph wind gust measured on their home equipment during the 12 PM hour. In surrounding areas, wind gusts in excess of 45 MPH began during the 8 AM hour. Frequent gusts of 40 to 50 mph from west and northwest were observed in the area through the early afternoon. These wind gusts resulted in instances of tree damage and subsequent power outages.

A narrow band of snow fell with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation reported. The greatest snowfall amounts were reported across the northwest part of the county. A report of 4.8 inches of snowfall was received 2 miles WNW of Etna, IN. The snow combined with ice remaining on trees from recent freezing rain led to some instances of downed tree limbs. Some power outages also were reported.

Periods of freezing rain with temperatures near freezing accumulated to between 0.10 and 0.20 across the area on New Year's Day, mainly during the morning and early afternoon hours. This led to a few reports of tree limbs down and spotty power outages across the region. There were also reports of a few car accidents as roads were slick in spots.

Trees, tree limbs, power lines and poles were all reported down in spots across the county.

Emergency management officials reported a tree fell over onto a power pole.

Long duration sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts 50 to 55 mph occurred across the county, resulting in trees, tree limbs and power poles suffering damage.

Freezing rain, at times mixed with sleet, accumulated up to 0.20 inches in spots on February 12th. Numerous slide-offs and minor accidents occurred across the county. Many schools and some businesses were closed on February 12th due to the icy conditions. Fallen tree branches were reported across the region, with many onto roads and power lines creating scattered power outages.

Emergency management officials reported a large tree fell onto a home, as well as taking down power lines.

Emergency management officials reported power lines down on West County Road 700 South between 850 West and 900 West.

Reports of trees and power lines down which resulted in some damage to cars and some structural damage of houses.

Emergency management officials reported two power poles were down.

A combination of freezing rain, sleet, and wind gusts to 40 mph created scattered power outages and downed trees. Slick spots on mainly elevated surfaces also aided in difficult travel and a few accidents. Ice accumulations across the county were generally around a tenth of an inch.

Light snow developed during the late evening hours of January 31st and became heavy at times February 1st into early February 2nd. Total snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 8 and 12 inches, heaviest across northern portions of the county. Wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph, combined with the falling snow, created reduced visibilities and blowing snow. Numerous events were cancelled across the region, along with reports of slide-offs and accidents due to snow covered and slick roads. There were also reports of road closures in rural areas as unplowed roads became impassible. The heavy, wet, nature of the snow also led to sporadic power outages.

Law enforcement officials reported numerous trees and tree limbs down across the county, with some onto power lines causing sporadic power outages.

Local officials reported trees, tree limbs and power lines down across the county. A power line was reported down across train tracks near State Route 9 and 14.

Temperatures dropped into the single digits and teens below zero as arctic air filtered in behind a powerful winter storm that dropped more than a foot of heavy snow on the region. Strong westerly winds, with gusts between 30 and 40 mph, created deadly wind chills and significant blowing and drifting snow. Dangerous winds chills between 30 and 45 degrees below zero were common. The extremely cold temperatures and significant blowing snow kept many north-south roads impassable or restricted to single lanes. There were numerous reports of accidents and slide-offs across the region due to the slick roadways, with many businesses and schools closed each day.

Emergency management officials reported a tree down across a road with power lines down.

Moderate rain overspread the region on February 26th. Surface temperatures hovered near freezing during the morning hours which allowed the rain to freeze on mainly elevated surfaces. Ice accretions near a tenth of an inch were common on trees, power lines, bridges, and overpasses. This combined with wind gusts to 30 mph aided in downing a few tree limbs. There were also reports of isolated power outages and accidents across the region.

County dispatch reported multiple trees down throughout the county. Power lines were also reported down, with at least two house fires being caused by the downed lines.

Rain changed over to heavy wet snow Tuesday afternoon and continued into the evening hours before ending. Snowfall totals generally ranged between 6 and 9 inches across the county, with a report of 7.0 inches 7 miles south-southeast of Columbia City. The snow fell at 1 to 2 inches per hour at times. The heavy wet snow created localized power outages, along with hazardous driving conditions which resulted in a few accidents and slide-offs. There were also reports of school delays and cancellations the next morning.

Emergency management officials reported a tree across the road on Ashford Drive, as well as power lines down on East Linker Street. Other reports of trees down were received in the southwestern part of the county. A few limbs fell onto vehicles, but no injuries occurred.

Emergency management officials reported a tree limb fell onto a power line, causing the line to break.

Very windy conditions were seen across the area on December 9th as a deep area of low pressure tracked into Michigan. Wind gusts between 45 and 60 mph were common during the late morning and afternoon hours. There were reports of power lines and trees down across the region due to the strong winds, which resulted in isolated power outages.

Scattered to numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines down were noted by county officals.

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. A trained spotter reported nearly a half an inch of ice accumulation in Columbia City. Utility companies reported numerous power outages across the area due to significant ice accumulations on power lines and trees.

A storm survey and eye witness reports indicated that a brief tornado developed just east of the intersection of Lincoln Way and County Road 500 East. The circulation initially flipped a horse trailer and destroyed the top portion of an older barn, picking up the roof and depositing it at the end of its track in an open field. Numerous trees were uprooted and three power poles toppled on the south side of the road, with the circulation then crossing the road. A small section of a soy bean field had the plants stripped of all vegetation except the stalks. The maximum width of the tornado was no more than 300 yards and was on the ground less than one quarter mile with duration no more than 2 minutes. Damage is estimated at around $20,000.

Scattered areas of trees, tree limbs and power poles were observed from near the South Whitley area to northeast of Coesse. The wind damage continued into Allen County. As noted in a separate event, a brief tornado was confirmed within this swatch of damage. Damage is estimated at $8,000.

An eight inch (8) diameter tree was blown down across power lines.

Two to four tenths of an inch of ice covered roads and power lines, creating hazardous driving conditions and widespread power outages along with tree limbs downed. No injuries or deaths were reported in the county.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down on the south side of the city.

Power lines and a tree was reported blown down.

An intense area of low pressure moving across Michigan produced sustained winds of 40 MPH with measured gusts to 60 MPH across all of Northern Indiana, Northwest Ohio and Southwest Lower Michigan from late morning through early evening. Widespread reports of trees and power lines downwere received from law enforcement across the region.

Winds gusted to 65 MPH behind a strong cold front that moved across the region during the late afternoon and evening. Numerous power outages occurred with trees and power lines down. Damage was reported to some roofs with extensive damage to the Knox City Court Building in Starke County.

Power lines were blown down.

HAM radio operator reported trees and power lines down west of Columbia City.

An unusually strong cold front moved through the region during the daylight hours of the 9th. A strong pressure gradient existed with the front as 3 hour pressure falls of 4 millibars ahead of the front combined with 3 hour pressure rises of 11 millibars. Winds just above the surface ranged from 70 to 80 mph. The combination of these 2 factors was tapped by a narrow line of showers immediately ahead of the cold front. Widespread reports of trees, tree limbs and power lines being blown down were received as surface winds of 50 to 70 mph were experienced by many areas. A large tree was blown down onto a house in Columbia City. The wind gust was recorded 5 miles north of Columbia City by a spotter.

Emergency Management reported numerous trees and power lines down across the two counties.

Tree limbs and power lines down across town.

Power pole snapped.

Many barns and few homes damaged. Several trees and power lines down.

Numerous trees down on houses and cars. A South Whitley factory had its roof blown off and the Tranter Printing building lost its roof which crashed into a vehicle destroying it. Several homes sustained damage from fallen trees with many power lines blown down across town.