Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Gaylord, MI

March 27, 1991Missaukee County, Osceola County, Wexford County, Michigan

NWS Gaylord, MI issued this tornado warning at Mar 27, 1991, 6:40 PM EST for Missaukee County, Osceola County, Wexford County, Michigan. It was in force for 65 min. 2 reports 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
Mar 27, 1991, 6:40 PM EST (23:40 UTC)
Expired
Mar 27, 1991, 7:45 PM EST
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS Gaylord, MI
Area
Whole counties

Counties Missaukee County, MI, Osceola County, MI, Wexford County, MI

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 27, 7:00 PM ESTThunderstorm Wind 0Missaukee, MI
Mar 27, 7:10 PM ESTThunderstorm Wind 0Osceola, 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

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 222 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, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 12:00Z on 1991-03-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 12:00Z on 1991-03-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 59 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1516 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-11 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 KMKG 272342
TORMKG
MIC113-165-133-280045-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MUSKEGON MI
640 PM EST WED MAR 27 1991

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 745 PM EST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

IN NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN

   ...MISSAUKEE COUNTY...EASTERN WEXFORD COUNTY

IN WEST CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN

   ...OSCEOLA COUNTY

AT 630 PM EST STATE POLICE REPORTED A TORNADO JUST NORTH OF REED CITY
IN OSCIOLA COUNTY AT 7 MILE ROAD AND US 131. ALSO...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
WAS REPROTED FROM CADILLAC AT 620 PM.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.

IMF

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, Mar 27, 4:55 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
MIZ065-064-066-048-067-068-272300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT-RANGE WEATHER FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALPENA MI
455 PM EST WED MAR 27 1991

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF LOWER MICHIGAN THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  IN NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH: MONTMORENCY...ALPENA...OSCODA...
ALCONA AND IOSCO.

AT 450 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER WEST-CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...JUST
SOUTH OF TRAVERSE CITY.  OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER
EXTREME NORTHERN AND NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN FROM HILLMAN...20 MILES
WEST OF ALPENA...WEST TO NEAR PETOSKEY.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AROUND
45 MILES AN HOUR. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING OVER
ROGERS CITY AND MILLERSBURG BY 515 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE
WATCH AREA...PREPARE YOURSELF FOR POSSIBLE TORNADOES...AND SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL.

CAMPBELL
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 4:57 PM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
MIC035-039-051-129-137-143-272245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT RANGE WEATHER FORECAST...COR TO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUGHTON LAKE MI                   HEADER...
438 PM EST WED MAR 27 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL
MIDNIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE LOWER PENINSULA OF
MICHIGAN...INCLUDING ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...UNTIL
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. COUNTIES INCLUDED IN NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN
ARE CLARE...GLADWIN...ROSCOMMON...OGEMAW...CRAWFORD AND OTSEGO.

AT 430 PM EST RADAR INDICATED A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY PRODUCING STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
TO THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 45 MPH. PERSONS IN NORTH CENTRAL LOWER
MICHIGAN ARE STRONGLY URGED TO KEEP AN EYE ON WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER
DEVELOP FROM THESE STORMS AS THEY PASS OVERHEAD.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOS. THESE STORMS ARE
DEVELOPING AND MOVING RAPIDLY AND LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING MAY
OCCUR BEFORE A TORNADO FORMS.

AGAIN...IF YOU ARE IN THE WATCH AREA BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IMMEDIATELY SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.

KEITH

NNNN
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 5:29 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes before
MIZ065-064-066-048-067-068-280000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT-RANGE WEATHER FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALPENA MI
530 PM EST WED MAR 27 1991

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF LOWER MICHIGAN THIS
EVENING.  IN NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE
INCLUDED IN THE WATCH: MONTMORENCY...ALPENA...OSCODA...ALCONA...AND
IOSCO.

AT 520 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING OVER WEST-CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...
SOUTH FROM PETOSKEY...TO NEAR TRAVERSE CITY.  ANOTHER STRONG
THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER EXTREME NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN...JUST SOUTH
OF CHEBOYGAN.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT AROUND 50 MILES
AN HOUR.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO NORTHEAST
LOWER MICHIGAN FROM THE SOUTH.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR
HALE...AROUND 50 MILES SOUTH OF ALPENA...AND NEAR ROSE CITY...30
MILES EAST OF HOUGHTON LAKE.  THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE
ALSO MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR...AND WILL BE MOVING
OVER MIO...GLENNIE...AND GREENBUSH...BY 6 P2M.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE
WATCH AREA...PREPARE YOURSELF FOR POSSIBLE TORNADOES...AND SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL.

CAMPBELL
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 5:55 PM EST, 45 minutes before
MIZ065-064-066-048-067-068-280030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT-RANGE WEATHER FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALPENA MI
600 PM EST WED MAR 27 1991

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF LOWER MICHIGAN THIS
EVENING.  IN NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE
INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA: MONTMORENCY...ALPENA...OSCODA...ALCONA...
AND IOSCO.

AT 600 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE CLOSER TO
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN.  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED SOUTHWEST
FROM 10 MILES EAST OF CHEBOYGAN...TO NEAR TRAVERSE CITY...WHERE SOME
HAIL WAS REPORTED DURING THE PAST HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 60 MILES AN HOUR.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING NORTH OF OSCODA...
40 MILES SOUTH OF ALPENA...AND NEAR FAIRVIEW...AROUND 35 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF ALPENA.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT
60 MILES AN HOUR...AND WILL BE MOVING OVER ALPENA AND HUBBARD LAKE BY
615 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU ARE IN ;OR NEAR THE
WATCH AREA...PREPARE YOURSELF FOR POSSIBLE TORNADOES...AND SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL.

CAMPBELL
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 6:08 PM EST, 32 minutes before
MIC035-039-051-129-137-143-280000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT RANGE WEATHER FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUGHTON LAKE MI
601 PM EST WED MAR 27 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL
MIDNIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE LOWER PENINSULA OF
MICHIGAN...INCLUDING ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...UNTIL
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. COUNTIES INCLUDED IN NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN
ARE CLARE...GLADWIN...ROSCOMMON...OGEMAW...CRAWFORD AND OTSEGO.

AT 600 PM EST RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS
FROM TRAVERSE CITY TO JUST WEST OF GRAND RAPIDS. THESE STORMS
PRODUCED 70 MPH WINDS AND LARGE HAIL AS WELL AS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
AS THEY MOVED THROUGH WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN. THE STORMS ARE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 TO 50 MPH.

PERSONS IN CLARE AND ROSCOMMON COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THESE STORMS AS THEY WILL MOVE THROUGH THESE COUNTIES BETWEEN
630 AND 700 PM EST. IF YOU SEE SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHING TAKE
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. SECONDS CAN SAVE LIVES.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES. LITTLE OR NO
ADVANCE WARNING MAY OCCUR BEFORE A TORNADO FORMS.

FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION...STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS ON
THIS DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION PLEASE STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION ORR RADIO STATION.

KEITH
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 6:21 PM EST, 19 minutes before
MIZ065-064-066-048-067-068-280100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT-RANGE WEATHER FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALPENA MI
625 PM EST WED MAR 27 1991

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF LOWER MICHIGAN THIS
EVENING.  IN NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE
INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA: MONTMORENCY...ALPENA...OSCODA...ALCONA...
AND IOSCO.

AT 620 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE CLOSER TO
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN.  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED SOUTHWEST
FROM 15 MILES EAST OF CHEBOYGAN...TO JUST NORTHWEST OF GAYLORD.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY TO THE NORTHEAST AROUND 50
MILES AN HOUR...AND WILL BE PASSING OVER ONAWAY BY 645 PM.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING OVER THUNDER BAY...AND NEAR THE
FLETCHER FLOODWATERS...AROUND 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ALPENA. THIS
STORM WAS ALSO MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST...AND WILL BE PASSING OVER
LACHINE BY 645 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE
WATCH AREA...PREPARE YOURSELF FOR POSSIBLE TORNADOES...AND StEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

CAMPBELL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 27, 4:53 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXBenzie, Grand Traverse, Manistee67 min
Mar 27, 5:29 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXMuskegon, Newaygo, Oceana61 min
Mar 27, 6:08 PM ESTTornado WarningAPXNewaygo67 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes in 1991

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.