Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Detroit, MI

May 30, 1989Washtenaw County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this tornado warning at May 30, 1989, 8:01 PM EDT for Washtenaw County, Michigan. It was in force for 29 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 30, 1989, 8:01 PM EDT (00:01 UTC)
Expired
May 30, 1989, 8:30 PM EDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Whole counties

County Washtenaw 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

Detroit, MI (KFNT), launched 00:00Z, 0.0 hours before the alert went out and 62 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, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 1989-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 209 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, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 1989-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 234 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
209 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
606 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
234 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
356 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.

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, May 30, 4:40 PM EDT, 3 hours 21 minutes before
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
440 PM EDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 358 IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL
   AND ALL OF SOUTH LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 11 PM EDT...
...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH TWO THIRDS OF LOWER MICHIGAN
   THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...
AT 330 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN...NORTHEAST INDIANA AND
NORTHWEST OHIO. MOVEMENT OF THIS AREA WAS TO THE EAST AT 40 MPH.
A LARGE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY RADAR NEAR BENTON HARBOR AT 4 PM.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY DOUNPOURS CONTINUED OVER
SOUTH WISCONSIN. MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...
LARGE SIZE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTENING AND HEAVY RAIN.

PERSONS IN AREAS OF STONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO
A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING CONDITIONS DEVELOP.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
STATIONS FOR UPDATES OF THESE STORMS.

TFF
Special weather statement, May 30, 4:45 PM EDT, 3 hours 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT MI
445 PM EDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #358 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11PM EDT...
...THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING SHIAWASEE AND MIDLAND COUNTIES...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EAST CENTRAL LOWER
MICHIGAN UNTIL 11 PM EDT.  A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT ALSO.
AT 420 PM EDT RADAR INDICATED A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN CENTRAL
INGHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN... MOVING EAST AND APPROACHING
SHIAWASEE COUNTY.

THIS STORM WAS PART OF A BAND OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY STRETCHING
NORTH INTO MIDLAND COUNTY.

LARGE HAIL... DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE AS THESE STORMS PASS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO
FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS.

JOHNSON
Special weather statement, May 30, 6:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
550 PM EDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 358 IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL
   AND ALL OF SOUTH LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 11 PM EDT...
...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH TWO THIRDS OF LOWER MICHIGAN
   THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...

AT 430 PM EDT THE NATIONAL LIGHTNING NETWORK INDICATED THE MOST
FREQUENT LIGHTNING NEAR THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE BETWEEN GRAND RAPIDS
AND BENTON HARBOR. RADAR AND SATELLITE ALSO INDICATE THE STRONGEST
STORMS OVER SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF LOWER MICHIAN. MOSTLY IN AN AREAS
THAT IS BOUNDED BY LANSING...JACKSON...BENTON HARBOR...AND LUDINGTON.
GRAND RAPIDS AND MUSKEGON BOTH HAD HEAVY RAIN DURING THE LAST HOUR.

ANOTHER AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY DOUNPOURS CONTINUED OVER
SOUTH WISCONSIN. MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS WAS EAST AT 40 MPH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING SHOULD BE PREPERARED TO MOVE TO
LARGE HAIL...DEALY LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN THAT CAN CAUSE
FLASH FLOODING.

PERSONS IN AREAS OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO
A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING CONDITIONS DEVELOP.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND DTELEVISION
STATIONS FOR UPDATES OF THESE STORMS.

WDM
Special weather statement, May 30, 6:16 PM EDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
610 PM EDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR THE NORTHERN
   PART OF CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 358 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE
   REMAINDER OF CENTRAL LOWER AND ALL OF SOUTH LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL
   11 PM...
...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH TWO THIRDS OF LOWER MICHIGAN
   THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 358 HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...MAISTEE...WEXFORD...
MISSAUKEE...ROSCOMMON...OGEMAW...MASON...LAKE...OSCELOA

THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL AND ALL
OF SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 1100 PM.
REMEMBER...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...
LARGE HAIL...DEALY LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN THAT CAN CAUSE
FLASH FLOODING.

PERSONS IN AREAS OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED TWO MOVE TO
A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING CONDITIONS DEVELOP.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
STATIONS FOR UPDATES OF THESE STORMS.

WDM
Special weather statement, May 30, 7:19 PM EDT, 42 minutes before
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
720 PM EDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 358 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE
   SOUTH HALF OR LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 1100 PM...
...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH TWO THIRDS OF LOWER MICHIGAN
   THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...

DURING THE PAST HOUR THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAS BECOME SEVERE.
THE SEVERE WEATHER OCCURED OVER SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. A TORNADO
WAS SPOTTED BY THE POLICE 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF KALAMAZOO. AROUND
630 PM FUNNUEL CLOUDS WHERE SPOTTED 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF KALAMAZOO
BY CIVIL DEFENSE OFFICALS. AT 635 PM A SPOTTER IN KALAMAZOO REPORTED
HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH. STREET FLOODING
WAS ALSO OBSEVERD.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING INTO SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN NEAR
THE CITIES OF LANSING AND JACKSON. THE STORMS ARE REMAINING VERY
INTENSE. THE STORMS WILL MOVE OVER THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF
MICHIGAN AFTER 745 PM EDT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL
...DEALY LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN THAT CAN CAUSE FLASH FLOODING.

PERSONS IN AREAS OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO
A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING CONDITIONS DEVELOP.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
STATIONS FOR UPDATES OF THESE STORMS.

WDM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 30, 8:00 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXWashtenaw30 min
May 30, 8:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXMonroe, Wayne61 min
May 31, 7:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLivingston, Oakland60 min
May 31, 7:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLenawee65 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 1989Every tornado warning in 1989Tornadoes in 1989

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.