Situation Report 001--Atmospheric Turbulence Event--Midwest, USA-

HEADQUARTERS
FB Tango, Cal Bear Dispatch (-)
PacWest Bureau, Capitola 95010
17 May 2025

To.       TBA
Fm.     Hayes, FB Tango, Advanced Weather Stn.
Subj.    Situation Report 001--Atmospheric Turbulence Event--Midwest, USA-

Encl (1) Immed. Dist. Fwd. not classified.

PART I. ORGANIZATIONAL DATA

1.  Key Government Agencies and Organizations Involved: 

        a.   National Weather Service (NWS): 

                (1)  Issued tornado emergencies, severe thunderstorm warnings, and dust storm alerts; provided real-time tracking and forecasts. 

        b.   NOAA Storm Prediction Center: 

                (1)  Provided risk assessments, including a Level 4 out of 5 severe weather risk for the Midwest and Ohio Valley, and tracked the evolution of the outbreak. 

        c.   Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): 

                (1)  Monitored and reported on air traffic disruptions due to atmospheric turbulence, issuing NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) as needed. 

        d.   State and Local Emergency Management Agencies: 

                (1)  Coordinated disaster response, search and rescue, and issued curfews and emergency declarations in hard-hit areas such as St. Louis. 

        e.   Utility Companies (e.g., Appalachian Power): 

                (1)  Mobilized thousands of workers from neighboring states to restore power and repair infrastructure.

        f.  Tracking and Reporting Mechanisms: 

                (1)   Meteorological Data: 

                        (i)  Real-time radar, satellite imagery, and storm spotter reports were used to track storm cells, tornadoes, and wind events. 

        g.   Public Alerts: 

                (1)  Emergency alerts were disseminated via radio, television, mobile devices, and social media platforms by the NWS and local authorities. 

        g.   Incident Reporting: 

                (1)  Hospitals, emergency services, and local officials provided casualty and damage reports, while utility companies tracked outages and restoration progress.            h.  Aviation Safety: 

                (1)  The FAA issued advisories and rerouted air traffic as needed due to turbulence and severe weather conditions. 

 PART II. NARRATIVE SUMMARY

1.  Midwest Atmospheric Turbulence Event: 

        a.  May 17–19, 2025 

                (1)  Summary of the Event 

                        (i)   From May 16 through the weekend of May 17–19, 2025, the Midwest experienced a significant severe weather outbreak, characterized by intense thunderstorms, damaging winds, and tornado activity. 

                        (ii)  This event led to widespread atmospheric turbulence, particularly affecting air travel and ground conditions across several states. 

        b.   Meteorological Details 

                (1)   A potent low-pressure system and strong upper-level jet stream moved across the central U.S., drawing warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico into the Midwest. 

                        (i)  This classic setup for severe weather in mid-May resulted in: Large clusters of thunderstorms (Mesoscale Convective Systems, or MCS) 

                        (ii)  Widespread damaging winds, with gusts exceeding 75–80 mph in some areas, especially near Chicago and Wisconsin Tornadoes, some reaching EF-2 strength or greater, particularly in southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin Large hail and flash flooding in localized areas 

                        (iii)   The Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 4 out of 5 (Moderate to High) risk for severe weather, highlighting the seriousness of the threat. 

        c.   Impacts and Turbulence 

                (1)   The severe storms produced significant atmospheric turbulence, both at the surface and aloft, leading to hazardous conditions for aviation. 

                (2)  Flights over the Midwest are particularly prone to turbulence during such storm outbreaks due to strong convective activity and wind shear.                                        (3)  Communities in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana reported tornado damage, widespread power outages, and wind destruction. 

                        (i)  Juneau and Mayville, WI, experienced some of the worst impacts, with tornado-warned storms and wind speeds near 80 mph. 

                        (ii)   The event was notable for its scale, with over 140 million people under severe weather warnings at its peak. 

        d.   Outlook 

                (1)   The severe weather pattern was expected to continue into the weekend and early the following week, with risks shifting slightly south and east, but the Midwest remained under threat for additional storms and turbulence. 

2.   Midwest Severe Weather Event: May 17–19, 2025 

        a.  Overview Between May 17 and 19, 2025, the Midwest and Ohio Valley experienced a significant severe weather outbreak characterized by intense atmospheric turbulence, including widespread damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. The event followed days of escalating severe weather, with the National Weather Service and NOAA's Storm Prediction Center issuing high-level warnings across multiple states. 

        

3.   Atmospheric Turbulence and Weather 

        a.  Impacts A potent trough and robust surface low pressure system moved through the region, creating conditions for severe thunderstorms, supercells, and tornadoes. The strongest risk corridor extended from Wisconsin through Chicago, northern Indiana, and into southwest Michigan, with tornadoes (some potentially strong), hailstones exceeding 2–3 inches in diameter, and damaging wind gusts over 75 mph reported. 

        b.   On May 16, tornado-warned storms caused significant damage in Wisconsin, with wind speeds near Chicago reaching nearly 80 mph. The threat zone shifted southward into the Ohio River Valley for the weekend, with enhanced risk for tornadoes and destructive winds in southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and surrounding areas. 

4.  Conclusion 

        a.  The period of May 17–19, 2025, saw a massive atmospheric turbulence event across the Midwest, driven by a classic spring severe weather setup. 

        b.  The combination of tornadoes, damaging winds, and widespread thunderstorms created hazardous conditions both on the ground and in the air, making it one of the most significant severe weather episodes of the season. 

 PART III. SEQUENTIAL EVENTS

1.  Midwest Atmospheric Turbulence Event: May 17–19, 2025 

        a.  The Midwest is currently experiencing a significant and prolonged severe weather outbreak from May 15 through at least May 19, 2025. 

                (1)  This event is marked by multiple, sequential waves of atmospheric turbulence, including tornadoes, destructive winds, and large hail, affecting millions across the region. 

        b.   Key Details and Timeline May 15, 2025: 

                (1)  An unseasonably warm and moist airmass, combined with an approaching cold front, triggered a line of strong to severe thunderstorms across Wisconsin and neighboring states. 

                (2)  Initially, large hail was the main threat, but as storms evolved, tornado risk increased. Clark County, WI, saw three tornadoes, including an EF2 near Unity and Colby. 

                (3)  Damage was reported in several communities, with wind gusts near Chicago reaching almost 80 mph. 

2.  May 16, 2025: 

                (1)  The severe weather threat expanded, with over 135 reports of damaging winds, more than 90 hail events, and at least a dozen tornadoes across the Upper Midwest. 

                        (i)  The most intense activity shifted toward southern Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, where the NOAA Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe weather. 

                        (ii)  This included the potential for EF2 or stronger tornadoes, hail up to tennis ball size, and widespread damaging winds exceeding 75 mph. 

3.   May 17, 2025: 

                (1)  The aftermath revealed at least 7 fatalities and widespread destruction across the Midwest. 

                (2)  Cleanup efforts began in hard-hit areas, especially in Wisconsin and Illinois, as additional waves of storms were forecast for the coming days. 

                (3)  The risk of tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail remained high, with meteorologists warning of the possibility for "high-end long-track tornadoes" and further sequential severe weather events. 

4.   Outlook 

        a.  Through May 19, 2025: The severe weather pattern is expected to persist, with additional outbreaks of thunderstorms, tornadoes, and damaging winds likely to continue into early next week. 

        b.  The active front will gradually shift eastward, but the Midwest and Ohio Valley remain at significant risk for further atmospheric turbulence and sequential severe weather episodes. 

5.  Sequential Nature of the Event 

        a.  The outbreak is not a single event but a sequence of severe weather episodes, each building upon the previous day's atmospheric instability. 

        b.   Each wave has included tornadoes, destructive straight-line winds, and large hail, with the risk area shifting slightly each day but consistently impacting the Midwest and Ohio Valley. 

6.   Conclusion 

        a.  From May 15–19, 2025, the Midwest is enduring a rare, multi-day sequence of severe atmospheric turbulence events, resulting in at least seven deaths, extensive property damage, and ongoing threats from tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds.         b.  The situation remains dynamic, with further severe weather expected into early next week. 

 PART IV. CIVIL AFFAIRS

1.  Civil Affairs Reaction 

        a.  Emergency services and local authorities were on high alert, responding to power outages and storm damage, especially in hard-hit communities like Juneau and Mayville, Wisconsin. 

        b.   Cleanup and recovery operations began immediately after the storms, with civil authorities coordinating shelter, debris removal, and restoration of essential services. 

        c.   Warnings and advisories were continuously updated by the National Weather Service, urging residents to seek shelter and prepare for rapidly changing conditions. 

2.   Press and Social Media Coverage 

        a.  Major weather outlets and local news stations provided real-time updates, emphasizing the severity of the event and the risks to public safety. 

        b.   Social media platforms saw widespread sharing of storm footage, damage reports, and safety information, with hashtags related to the Midwest storms trending regionally. 

                (1)   Meteorologists and storm chasers posted live updates, radar images, and warnings, helping to amplify official advisories and share on-the-ground impacts. 

3.   Conclusion 

        a.  The May 17–19, 2025 Midwest severe weather event was marked by massive atmospheric turbulence, leading to widespread damage and a robust civil and media response. 

        b.  Real-time warnings, rapid emergency mobilization, and extensive press and social media coverage helped mitigate risks and inform the public as the situation evolved. 

PART V. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

1.  Government Agency Roles

Agency/Organization	Role in Event Response and Tracking
National Weather Service	Issued warnings, tracked storms, provided forecasts
NOAA Storm Prediction Center	Assessed severe weather risk, tracked tornado potential
Federal Aviation Administration	Managed airspace safety, issued NOTAMs, rerouted flights
State/Local Emergency Management	Coordinated disaster response, search and rescue, curfews
Utility Companies	Power restoration, infrastructure repair

2.  Summary Table: Key Impacts and Hazards

Date	Main Hazards	Most Affected Areas	Severity Level
May 15, 2025	Tornadoes, large hail, high winds	Wisconsin, Illinois	Enhanced (3/5)
May 16, 2025	Tornadoes (EF2+), hail, wind	IL, IN, KY, MO, OH	Moderate/High (4/5)
May 17, 2025	Widespread damage, fatalities	Midwest (esp. WI, IL, IN, KY)	High
May 18–19, 2025	Ongoing severe storms, tornadoes	Midwest, shifting eastward	Ongoing risk

3.  Summary Table: Key Features of the Event

Aspect	Details
Main Hazards	Tornadoes (EF-2+), 2–3+ inch hail, wind gusts 75–80 mph
Affected Areas	Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri
Civil Response	Emergency alerts, shelter operations, power restoration, debris cleanup
Media Response	Extensive coverage by national/local outlets; high activity on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok
Social Media Trends	Storm footage, live warnings, community check-ins

4. Synthetic Intelligence Queries: Perplexity AI.

5. Image: Zoom Earth, Wind Speed, Midwest.

6. Report filed by:  JCL< FB Tango, Capitola Bureau.

END SITREP//UNCLASSIFIED//IMMED REL..