Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Detroit, MI

September 14, 1990Macomb County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this tornado warning at Sep 14, 1990, 2:26 PM EDT for Macomb County, Michigan. It was in force for 49 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 14, 1990, 2:26 PM EDT (18:26 UTC)
Expired
Sep 14, 1990, 3:15 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Whole counties

County Macomb 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 14, 2:30 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 62Macomb, 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 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 43 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 12:00Z on 1990-09-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 134 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 12:00Z on 1990-09-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 82 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
134 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-58 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
825 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
82 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
82 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDTW 141826
TORDTW
MIC099-141915-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
226 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO AND SPECIAL 
MARINE WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE 
FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF LOWER MICHIGAN
      MACOMB

...THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS FOR THE
COUNTY JUST MENTIONED

AT 220 PM EDT...WEATHER RADAR AND SKYWARN SPOTTERS CONFIRMED A
TORNADO IN MADISON HEIGHTS...12 MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT.
PEOPLE IN THE CITIES OF WARREN...STERLING HEIGHTS AND ROSEVILLE
SHOULD TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.  MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAST AT
35 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS IN
A BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...FIND SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.

 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 14, 11:20 AM EDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
MIZ001>068-141730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
1115 AM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

...TORNADO WATCH 745 IN EFFECT TILL 500 PM...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 744 CANCELED...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL 500 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON.  THE WATCH COVERS LOWER MICHIGAN
ROUGHLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM GRAND HAVEN TO A POINT ON SAWINAW
BAY 25 MILES NORTH OF BAY CITY.

LARGER CITIES UNDER THIS WATCH INCLUDE GRAND RAPIDS...LANSING...
FLINT...SAGINAW...BENTON HARBOR...KALAMAZOO...JACKSON...ANN ARBOR
AND DETROIT.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA.  IF YOU LIVE IN THE WATCH AREA...PLAN NOW A COURSE
OF ACTION TO TAKE SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN YOUR LOCATION.

THIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES THE OLD SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
THAT HAD BEEN IN EFFECT ACROSS LOWER MIC/HIGAN.
THE TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES TILL 5 PM.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

EDF
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 11:37 AM EDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
MIZ026-031>034-036>039-042-141635-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT MI
1135 AM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EAST CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNTIL
                                5PM EDT...

AS OF 11AM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR
ALL OF EAST CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNTIL 5PM EDT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ARENAC
COUNTY.  THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS..HEAVY RAINFALL..LARGE HAIL..
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE.  THESE STORMS COULD ALSO PRODUCE
A TORNADO WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.

AT 1135AM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHING
FROM WESTERN ARENAC COUNTY THROUGH MIDLAND COUNTY SOUTHWEST THROUGH THE
GRAND RAPIDS AREA.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED OVER NORTHERN
MIDLAND COUNTY NEAR EDENVILLE..40 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAGINAW.  THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING EAST AT AROUND 35 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN EAST CENTRAL MICHIGAN ASM WELL AS BOATERS ON SAGINAW BAY
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER.  STAY TUNED TO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO AND LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS
FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

DJF
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 12:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
MIZ026-031>034-036>039-042-141730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLINT MI
1235 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EAST CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNTIL
                                5PM EDT...

AT 1230PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING SOUTHWESTWARD FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTION OF
SAGINAW BAY THROUGH THE LANSING AREA IN SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN.  THE
STRONGEST STORMS IN EAST CENTRAL MICHIGAN ARE LOCATED IN NORTH CENTRAL
SAGINAW COUNTY NEAR THE CITY OF SAGINAW.  MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS IS
EAST SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 30 MILES PER HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN..DAMAGING WINDS..AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.  THEY MAY ALSO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES WITH LITTLE
OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  PERSONS IN EAST CENTRAL MICHIGAN SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THREATENING WEATHER AND SEEK SHELTER
AS IT APPROACHES.  DRIVERS SHOULD ALSO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN DRIVING IN
HEAVY RAINFALL DUE TO PONDING ON ROADS.

STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO AND LOCAL TELEVISION AND
RADIO STATIONS FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

DJF
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 1:35 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
MIZ001>068-141930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
135 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

...TORNADO WATCH 745 CONTINUES IN EFFECT TILL 500 PM EDT...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL 500 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON.  THE WATCH COVERS LOWER MICHIGAN
ROUGHLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM GRAND HAVEN TO A POINT ON SAWINAW
BAY 25 MILES NORTH OF BAY CITY.

AT 110 PM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE...EXTENDED
FROM SAGINAW BAY...THROUGH FLINT AND JACKSON...AND THEN SOUTHWARD INTO
NORTHWEST INDIANA.  MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHWEST
MICHIGAN AS THESE STORMS MOVED THROUGH THE AREA EARLIER TODAY.  THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...AND
POSSIBLE TORNADOES AS THEY MOVE ACROSS SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN THIS
AFTERNOON.

THERE HAS ALSO BEEN SOME NEW DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHTER SHOWERS
OUT AHEAD OF THIS MAJOR LINE OF STORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN.  THESE SHOWERS WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE DETROIT
AREA EXTENDING BACK TO AROUND ANN ARBOR AND SOUTH TO MONROE.

BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SATETY QUICKLY IF SEVERE OWEATHER
APPROACHES YOUR LACATION.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

EDF
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 1:39 PM EDT, 47 minutes before
MIZ001>068-141930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT  ...CORRECTED 3RD PARGH LAST SENTENCE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI        SOUTHWEST SHOULD BE
135 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990                       SOUTHEAST...

...TORNADO WATCH 745 CONTINUES IN EFFECT TILL 500 PM EDT...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL 500 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON.  THE WATCH COVERS LOWER MICHIGAN
ROUGHLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM GRAND HAVEN TO A POINT ON SAWINAW
BAY 25 MILES NORTH OF BAY CITY.

AT 110 PM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE...EXTENDED
FROM SAGINAW BAY...THROUGH FLINT AND JACKSON...AND THEN SOUTHWARD INTO
NORTHWEST INDIANA.  MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHWEST
MICHIGAN AS THESE STORMS MOVED THROUGH THE AREA EARLIER TODAY.  THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...AND
POSSIBLE TORNADOES AS THEY MOVE ACROSS SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN THIS
AFTERNOON.

THERE HAS ALSO BEEN SOME NEW DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHTER SHOWERS
OUT AHEAD OF THIS MAJOR LINE OF STORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN.  THESE SHOWERS WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE DETROIT
AREA EXTENDING BACKT TO AROUND ANN ARBOR AND SOUTH TO MONROE.

BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY QUICKLY IF SEVERE WEATHER
APPROACHES YOUR LACATION.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

EDF
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 2:01 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
MIZ001>068-142000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANN ARBOR MI
200 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

...TORNADO WATCH 745 CONTINUES IN EFFECT TILL 500 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN AND THE THUMB...
...TORNADO WATCH CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN...

TORNADO WATCH 745 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

..LOWER PENINSULA..
MIDLAND   BAY
MONTCALM  GRATIOT   SAGINAW
OTTAWA    KENT      IONIA     CLINTON   SHIAWASEE
ALLEGAN   BARRY     EATON     INGHAM
VAN BUREN KALAMAZOO CALHOUN
BERRIEN   CASS      ST JOSEPH BRANCH

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED EAST OF THESE AREAS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN AND
THE THUMB TILL 5 PM.  CITIES THAT REMAIN UNDER THE WATCH INCLUDE
FLINT...JACKSON...ANN AROBR...AND DETROIT.

IF YOU LIVE IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN OR THE THUMB...PREPARE FOR
THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...
HAIL...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS.  A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

EDF

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 14, 12:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXGenesee, Shiawassee64 min
Sep 14, 1:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXTuscola66 min
Sep 14, 1:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLivingston, Washtenaw41 min
Sep 14, 1:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLenawee41 min
Sep 14, 1:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXSanilac51 min
Sep 14, 2:01 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXOakland29 min
Sep 14, 2:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXMonroe, Wayne61 min
Sep 14, 2:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXMacomb, Saint Clair61 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 1990Every tornado warning in 1990Tornadoes in 1990

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.