Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1986

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Detroit, MI

August 26, 1986Genesee County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this tornado warning at Aug 26, 1986, 8:06 PM EDT for Genesee County, Michigan. It was in force for 24 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 26, 1986, 8:06 PM EDT (00:06 UTC)
Expired
Aug 26, 1986, 8:30 PM EDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Whole counties

County Genesee County, MI

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Dayton/James M C, OH (KDAY), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 350 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1986-08-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 991 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1986-08-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 198 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
991 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-59 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
895 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
198 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
246 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
8.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KFNT 270006
TORFNT
MIC049-270030-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT MI
806 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY OF

EAST CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...SOUTHERN GENESEE

GRAND BLANC POLICE AND SPOTTERS REPORTED A BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN
AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF BELSAY AND PERRY ROADS IN GENESEE COUNTY...
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP AT 803 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE TORNADO
RETREATED INTO THE CLOUDS SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO..GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER IF
AVAILABLE. OTHERWISE GO TO A CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR.  DO NOT STAY IN A CAR OR MOBILE HOME..FIND A REINFORCED
SHELTER OR LIE FLAT IN A DITCH OR RAVINE.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 26, 6:11 PM EDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT MI
605 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 1986

..... THUNDERSTORMS OCCURING IN CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...

.VERY HEAVY TO INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING INDICATED ON WEATHER
RADAR IN ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF LANSING IN INGHAM COUNTY AS OF
600 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE IMBEDDED IN A VERY
LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINSHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS
ESTENDING FROM THE SAGINAW BAY SOUTHWEST TO NEAR SOUTH BEND INDIANA.
ALSO..A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING HAIL IS OCCURING NEAR THE THREE RIVERS
AREA IN SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. THIS STORM ALSO PRODUCED A BRIEF
FUNNEL CLOUD WHICH TORE SOME SIDING OFF A HOUSE NEAR KALAMAZOO.

.THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST AT NEAR 40 MILES AN HOUR
AND PERSONS SHOULD WATCH CLOSELY FOR LARGE HAIL..DAMAGING WINDS..
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A TORNADO AS THESE
STORMS PASS THROUGH THE AREA AND TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER
CONDITIONS OCCUR.
.A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN LOWER
MICHIGAN.

.STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVISION AND COMMERCIAL
RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LASTEST WEATHER UPDATES.

DICKS
Local storm report, Aug 26, 6:27 PM EDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
625 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 1986

...POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN SOUTH LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 618 PM STATE POLICE REPORTED EVIDENCE OF A POSSIBLE TORNA(DO
TOUCHDOWN IN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY NEAR THOMAS ROAD AND US-12. CITIZENS
HAVE REPORTED TREES DOWN AND HOUSES DAMAGED. STATE POLICE WERE
ENROUTE TO INVESTIGATE.

HUGHES
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 6:32 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
630 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 1986

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 500 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ADDITIONAL
COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN...

ST. JOSEPH AND CALHOUN COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN ARE NO
LONGER INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA.

THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR BRANCH..JACKSON..HILLSDALE..
WASHTENAW..LENAWEE..OAKLAND..MACOMB..WAYNE..AND MONROE COUNTIES
UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT.
*
AT 630 PM THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM MICHIGANS THUMB
THROUGH THE FLINT AND JACKSON AREAS AND INTO NORTHEAST INDIANA. THE
LINE WAS MOVING TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

HUGHES
Local storm report, Aug 26, 6:39 PM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
ADDITIONAL REPORT...

STATE POLICE AFTER INVESTIGATION REPORT SOME STRAIGHT-LINE WIND
DAMAGE..TREES DOWN AND MINOR HOUSE DAMAGE..BUT NO PATTERN SUGGESTING
A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN.

HUGHES
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 6:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT MI
640 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 1986

..... THUNDERSTORMS OCCURING IN CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...

.VERY HEAVY TO INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING INDICATED ON WEATHER
RADAR IN ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF LANSING IN INGHAM COUNTY AS OF
635 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE IMBEDDED IN A VERY
LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINSHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS
EXTENDING FROM THE SAGINAW BAY SOUTHWEST TO NEAR SOUTH BEND INDIANA.
ALSO..A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING HAIL OCCURED NEAR THE THREE RIVERS
AREA IN SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. THIS STORM ALSO PRODUCED A BRIEF
FUNNEL CLOUD WHICH TORE SOME SIDING OFF A HOUSE NEAR KALAMAZOO.
IN LANSING A BARN WAS DAMAGED BY THE THUNDERSTORMS CURRENTLY HEADING
IN THIS DIRECTION.
.THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST AT NEAR 40 MILES AN HOUR
AND ARE NOW ENTERING SHIAWASSEE COUNTY. LOOK FOR LARGE HAIL..DAMAGING WINDS
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A TORNADO AS THESE
STORMS PASS THROUGH THE AREA AND TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER
IS SIGHTED.

.A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN LOWER
MICHIGAN.

.STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVIS1ION AND COMMERCIAL
RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LASTEST WEATHER UPDATES.

DICKS
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 7:32 PM EDT, 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
730 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 1986

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 500 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ADDITIONAL
COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN...

BRANCH AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN ARE NO
LONGER INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA.

THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR JACKSON..WASHTENAW..LENAWEE..
OAKLAND..MACOMB..WAYNE..AND MONROE COUNTIES UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT.

AT 730 PM A LINE jOF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR PORT HURON
THROUGH THE DETROIT AREA TO JUST NORTH OF FORT WAYNE INDIANA. A
SECOND AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM FLINT TO NEAR
JACKSON.  STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 TO 40 MPH.

HUGHES

The office that day

Everything else NWS Detroit, MI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 26, 8:28 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXGenesee, Lapeer27 min
Aug 26, 8:52 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXWashtenaw, Wayne23 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 1986Every tornado warning in 1986Tornadoes in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.