Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1986
Tornado Warning 31, NWS Detroit, MI
NWS Detroit, MI issued this tornado warning at Sep 29, 1986, 2:33 AM EDT for Macomb County, Saint Clair County, Michigan. It was in force for 42 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Sep 29, 1986, 2:33 AM EDT (06:33 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 29, 1986, 3:15 AM EDT
- In force
- 42 min
- Issued by
- NWS Detroit, MI
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Macomb County, MI, Saint Clair County, MI
The radar
The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 3:00 AM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | St. Clair, MI |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.
The nearest sounding before it
Detroit, MI (KFNT), launched 00:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 53 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1626 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 984 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 36 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 81 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 118 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.5
- Supercell composite
- 3.9
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KDTW 290633 TORWRN MIC099-147-290730- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WESTERN REGION NETWORK ISSUED BY DETROIT MI 233 AM EDT MON SEP 29 1986 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 330 AM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...SOUTHERN MACOMB AND SOUTHERN ST. CLAIR ...THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS FOR THE COUNTIES JUST MENTIONED AT 225 AM...DETROIT POLICE AND SKYWARN SPOTTERS OBSERVED FUNNEL CLOUDS IN NORTHERN DETROIT. WEATHER RADAR ALSO INDICATED LARGE HAIL WITH THIS STORM. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER IF AVAILABLE. OTHERWISE GO TO A CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE. CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO..COMMERCIAL RADIO..OR TELEVISION FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. ZALESKI
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, Sep 28, 10:00 PM EDT, 4 hours 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT MI 945 PM EDT SEPTEMBER 28 1986 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 529 IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR PERSONS IN SAGINAW AND SHIAWASSEE COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS FROM 20 MILES SOUTH OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA TO 40 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN AND 70 MILES EITHER SIDE OF THE LINE. AT 1000 PM EDT THIS EVENING WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA WITH NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN..AND SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN. THESE STORMS STRETCHED IN A 30 MILE WIDE BAND FROM MUSKEGAN TO THE SOUTHWEST ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. ONCE AGAIN..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT FOR SAGINAW AND SHIAWASSEE COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE VERY FAVORABLE FOR PRODUCTION OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS ARE URGED TO KEEP A CLOSE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO..OR LOCAL TELEVISION OR COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS FOR FURTHER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS DICKS
Special weather statement, Sep 28, 10:53 PM EDT, 3 hours 40 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
1052 PM EDT SUN SEP 28 1986
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM MONDAY
MORNING FOR MOST OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 529 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT
MONDAY MORNING. THE LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM VICINITY OF
MUSKEGON...GRAND RAPIDS...TO SOUTHWEST OF KALAMAZOO CONTINUES TO MOVE
EAST AT 35 MPH. REPORTS OF HIGH...POSSIBLY DAMAGING WINDS...AND VERY
HEAVY RAINFALL HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC AND CIVIL DEFENSE IN
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN.
HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS EXCEEDING 1.50 INCHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE
PAST HOUR NORTH OF MUSKEGON. 1/2 INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTING TO AROUND
50 MPH HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM NORTHWEST OF GRAND RAPIDS TO KALAMAZOO.
THIS LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...HIGH GUSTY WIND...HAIL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE EAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH.
ALL PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS...SHOULD TAKE EXTRA CAUTION
AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE SHELTER IF NEED ARISES. DUE TO
POSSIBLE HEAVY RAINFALL...WATER LEVELS IN LOW LYING AREAS AND FLOOD
PRONE STREAMS COULD RISE QUICKLY IF HEAVY RAINS DO OCCUR. STAY TUNE
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR
FURTHER UPDATES.
...RUNYAN...Special weather statement, Sep 28, 11:41 PM EDT, 2 hours 52 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
1130 PM EDT SUN SEP 28 1986
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN UNTIL 200 AM EDT...AS OTHER COUNTIES OF
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN ARE CANCELLED FROM THE WATCH...
PORTIONS OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH..NUMBER 529 HAVE BEEN
CANCELLED. COUNTIES NO LONGER IN THE CURRENT WATCH ARE OCEANA...
NEWAYGO...MECOSTA...MUSKEGON...MONTCALM...OTTAWA...KENT...IONIA...
ALLEGAN...BARRY...VAN BURREN...KALLAMAZOO...BERRIEN.
COUNTIES REMAINING IN THE CURRENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ARE
GRATIOT...SAGINAW...CLINTON...SHIAWASEE...EATON...INGHAM...LIVINGSTON...
CALHOUN...JACKSON...CASS...ST JOSEPH...BRANCH...AND HILLSDALE.
THIS SQUALL LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...WITH HIGH GUSTY WIND...HAIL
...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE EAST AT 30
TO 35 MPH. BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IF NEED ARISES.
DUE TO POSSIBLE HEAVY RAINFALL...STREAMS..WATER LEVELS IN LOW LYING
AREAS AND UNDERPASSES ON ROADWAYS ARE PRONE TO FLOODING. STAY TUNE
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR
FURTHER UPDATES.
...RUNYAN...Special weather statement, Sep 29, 12:04 AM EDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
1204 AM EDT MON SEP 28 1986
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN UNTIL 200 AM EDT...AS MORE COUNTIES OF
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN ARE CANCELLED FROM THE WATCH...
PORTIONS OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH..NUMBER 529 HAVE BEEN
CANCELLED. COUNTIES NO LONGER IN THE CURRENT WATCH ARE GRATIOT...
CLINTON...EATON...AND CASS.
COUNTIES REMAINING IN THE CURRENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ARE
SAGINAW...SHIAWASEE...INGHAM...LIVINGSTON...CALHOUN...JACKSON...
ST JOSEPH...BRANCH...AND HILLSDALE.
AT 1155 PM EDT THE LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED SOUTHEAST
FROM NORTHEAST OF LANSING...TO SOUTH OF BATTLE CREEK...INTO ST JOSEPH
COUNTY. THESE STORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE EAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH.
SEVERAL REPORTS OF 3/4 INCHES OF RAINFALL AND 1/2 INCH HAIL HAVE BEEN
RECEIVED FROM BATTLE CREEK TO VICINITY OF LANSING IN THE PAST HOUR.
DUE TO POSSIBLE HEAVY RAINFALL...STREAMS..WATER LEVELS IN LOW LYING
AREAS AND UNDERPASSES ON ROADWAYS ARE PRONE TO FLOODING. STAY TUNE
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR
FURTHER UPDATES.
... RUNYAN...Special weather statement, Sep 29, 12:22 AM EDT, 2 hours 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION FOR DATE...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
1204 AM EDT MON SEP 29 1986
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN UNTIL 200 AM EDT...AS MORE COUNTIES OF
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN ARE CANCELLED FROM THE WATCH...
PORTIONS OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH..NUMBER 529 HAVE BEEN
CANCELLED. COUNTIES NO LONGER IN THE CURRENT WATCH ARE GRATIOT...
CLINTON...EATON...AND CASS.
COUNTIES REMAINING IN THE CURRENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ARE
SAGINAW...SHIAWASEE...INGHAM...LIVINGSTON...CALHOUN...JACKSON...
ST JOSEPH...BRANCH...AND HILLSDALE.
AT 1155 PM EDT THE LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED SOUTHEAST
FROM NORTHEAST OF LANSING...TO SOUTH OF BATTLE CREEK...INTO ST JOSEPH
COUNTY. THESE STORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE EAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH.
SEVERAL REPORTS OF 3/4 INCHES OF RAINFALL AND 1/2 INCH HAIL HAVE BEEN
RECEIVED FROM BATTLE CREEK TO VICINITY OF LANSING IN THE PAST HOUR.
DUE TO POSSIBLE HEAVY RAINFALL...STREAMS..WATER LEVELS IN LOW LYING
AREAS AND UNDERPASSES ON ROADWAYS ARE PRONE TO FLOODING. STAY TUNE
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR
FUR$THER UPDATES.
...RUNYAN...Special weather statement, Sep 29, 1:30 AM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI 130 AM EDT MON SEP 29 1986 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 529 HAS BEEN CANCELLED... THE REMAINING COUNTIES OF SAGINAW...SHIAWASEE...INGHAM...LIVINGSTON... CALHOUN...JACKSON...ST JOSEPH...BRANCH...AND HILLSDALE HAVE BEEN CLEARED. ALTHOUGH THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED VERY HEAVY RAINS CONTINUE ACROSS PARTS OF LOWER MICHIGAN. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 400AM FOR BRANCH COUNTY OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. AT 125 AM A LINE OF VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM EAST OF FLINT TO JUST WEST OF DETROIT. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO..Y.LOCAL RADIO OR TV...FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. ...KOPECEK...
The office that day
Everything else NWS Detroit, MI issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 12:29 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DTX | Genesee, Shiawassee | 61 min |
| Sep 29, 1:05 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DTX | Oakland, Washtenaw | 55 min |
| Sep 29, 7:54 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | DTX | Genesee | 66 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.