March 2026 Sets Record for Severe Weather in Northern Indiana

National Weather Service office issued 57 severe thunderstorm warnings, nearly double the previous record.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:52pm

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The National Weather Service's Northern Indiana office reported that March 2026 was the busiest March on record for severe weather, issuing 57 total severe thunderstorm warnings and 18 tornado warnings - nearly three times the previous record. The office forecasts for parts of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and saw a high concentration of warnings in several counties.

Why it matters

The unusually high number of severe weather events in March 2026 put significant strain on the NWS Northern Indiana office, requiring extensive post-storm work and overtime hours. This highlights the increasing challenges weather forecasters face in keeping up with the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events driven by climate change.

The details

The NWS Northern Indiana office issued 57 total severe thunderstorm warnings in March 2026, covering nearly their entire forecast area. This shattered the previous record of 28 warnings set just last year. Three specific regions saw a high concentration of warnings: LaPorte, Starke, and Marshall Counties; a line from Warsaw to Fort Wayne; and the southern part of the area in Grant, Blackford, and Jay Counties. The office also issued 18 tornado warnings, nearly three times the previous record of 7 set in 2023. Nearly a third of the days in March (9/31) included a severe weather risk in the forecast area.

  • In March 2026, the NWS Northern Indiana office issued 57 total severe thunderstorm warnings.
  • The previous record for severe thunderstorm warnings in March was just 28, set in 2025.
  • The office also issued 18 tornado warnings in March 2026, nearly three times the previous record of 7 set in 2023.

The players

NWS Northern Indiana Office

The National Weather Service office that forecasts for portions of northern Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwest Ohio.

Nathan Marsili

A meteorologist with the NWS Northern Indiana office.

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What they’re saying

“What really made this particular March a challenge was the amount of post-storm work that goes into these events with surveys and getting information out about damage. Sometimes those post-storm duties can kind of run into the beginning of the next severe event.”

— Nathan Marsili, Meteorologist

What’s next

The NWS Northern Indiana office forecasts the first full week of April will see mostly dry conditions and a minimal severe threat, at least through the middle of the week. However, there are signals that another active weather pattern could develop in mid-to-late April, bringing more rain chances and potential severe storms.

The takeaway

The record-breaking severe weather in March 2026 highlights the growing challenges weather forecasters face in keeping up with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events driven by climate change. The strain on the NWS Northern Indiana office underscores the need for continued investment in weather monitoring, forecasting, and emergency response capabilities to protect public safety.