Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Grand Rapids, MI

July 7, 1991Allegan County, Van Buren County, Michigan

NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this tornado warning at Jul 7, 1991, 7:09 PM EDT for Allegan County, Van Buren County, Michigan. It was in force for 36 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 7, 1991, 7:09 PM EDT (23:09 UTC)
Expired
Jul 7, 1991, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Area
Whole counties

Counties Allegan County, MI, Van Buren County, MI

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KFNT), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 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, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 1991-07-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1038 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 1991-07-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 35 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
1038 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-84 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1127 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
126 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KGRR 072309
TORGRR
MIC005-159-072345-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
709 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 1991

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

   IN THE SOUTHWEST PART OF LOWER MICHIGAN
      ALLEGAN...VAN BUREN

AT 705 PM EDT...WEATHER RADAR INDICATED TORNADOES 5 MILES NORTH OF
SOUTH HAVEN...AND OVER NORTH BERRIEN COUNTY MOVING TO VAN BUREN
COUNTY. THE STORMS PRODUCING THE TORNADO SIGNATURES WERE MOVING TO
THE EAST AT 50 MPH.

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.

MJK

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, Jul 7, 1:49 PM EDT, 5 hours 20 minutes before
MIZ013-004-016-015-003-010-009-002-071850-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
148 PM EDT THU JUL 4 1991

...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 140 PM EDT...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM OVER THE
CITY OF HOLLAND...25 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF GRAND RAPIDS. OTHER STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WERE NEAR GREEN LAKE AND THE CITY OF PARCHMENT. THE
STROMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 40 MPH. THE STORM OVER HOLLAND WILL
REACH THE NORTH DORR AREA BY 215 PM EDT.

PERSONS IN SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR BRIEF HEAVY
RAIN...SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE INCDOORS BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORMS
APPROACH YOUR AREA.
MJK
Special weather statement, Jul 7, 5:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
MIZ013-004-016-015-003-010-009-002-072245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
548 PM EDT THU JUL 4 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT...
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE EAST SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN...

AT 543 PM EDT...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
APPROACHING THE EAST SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. THE LINE WAS JUST OFFSHORE
GRAND HAVEN...TO 15 MILES WEST OF ST. JOSEPH. THE LINE WAS MOVING TO THE
EAST AT 50 MPH AND WILL REACH THE CITIES OF COOPERSVILLE AND PAW PAW
BY 615 PM EDT. THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING VERY STRONG
WINDS...HAIL...AND TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER. IF SEVERE WEATHER IS SIGHTED IN YOUR AREA...
TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. AFTER THE WEATHER HAS PASSED...NOTIFY YOUR
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
MJK
Special weather statement, Jul 7, 6:26 PM EDT, 43 minutes before
MIZ011-012-018-020-022-023-025-040-041-080100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI
625 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL
1100 PM EDT...

AT 600 PM EDT...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN...JUST REACHING THE
SHORE NEAR MUSKEGON. THE LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 45 TO
50 MPH.

AROUND SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...SKIES WERE MOSTLY SUNNY WITH
TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 80S TO NEAR 90. THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH-
WEST AT 5 TO 15 MPH.

SKIES WILL BECOME MOSTLY CLOUDY EARLY THIS EVENING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL
LOWER MICHIGAN. THE FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LAKESHORE WILL
MOVE THROUGH THE AREA BETWEEN 730 AND 830 PM. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN
IN THE UPPER 80S EARLY...AND THEN FALL INTO THE MID 70S AFTER THE STORMS
MOVE THROUGH. WINDS WILL BE VARIABLE AT 5 TO 15 MPH AND THEN BECOME
WEST.

SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH STRONG WINDS... LARGE
HAIL... AND HEAVY RAIN. TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS
IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WEATHER RADIO FOR TH]E LATEST STATEMENTS AND UPDATES ON THIS DANGEROUS
WEATHER SITUATION.

SHEETS
Special weather statement, Jul 7, 7:01 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
MIZ011-012-018-020-022-023-025-040-041-080100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI
800 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL
1100 PM EDT...
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 700 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE
BEGINNING TO APPROACH SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. A LINE OF STORMS
EXTENDED FROM NEAR GRAND RAPIDS SOUTHWEST TO GRAND HAVEN...WITH
ANOTHER AREA IN BERRY COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST
BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH WITH THE LEADING STORM ENTERING EATON COUNTY
BY 720 PM EDT.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...POSSIBLE TORNADOES...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING
AND HEAVY RAINS.
.
STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS
AND UPDATES ON THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.

P.LEWIS
Special weather statement, Jul 7, 7:05 PM EDT, 4 minutes before
MIZ011-012-018-020-022-023-025-040-041-080100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI
700 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL
1100 PM EDT...
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 700 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE
BEGINNING TO APPROACH SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. A LINE OF STORMS
EXTENDED FROM NEAR GRAND RAPIDS SOUTHWEST TO GRAND HAVEN...WITH
ANOTHER AREA IN BERRY COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST
BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH WITH THE LEADING STORM ENTERING EATON COUNTY
BY 720 PM EDT.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...POSSIBLE TORNADOES...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING
AND HEAVY RAINS.
.
STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS
AND UPDATES ON THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.

P.LEWIS

...CORRECTION TO TIME IN HEADER...

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 6, 9:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRKent, Ottawa44 min
Jul 6, 9:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRVan Buren47 min
Jul 6, 10:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRIonia51 min
Jul 6, 10:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRAllegan52 min
Jul 6, 10:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRKent46 min
Jul 6, 10:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRClinton58 min
Jul 6, 11:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRClinton39 min
Jul 7, 6:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRAllegan, Ottawa36 min
Jul 7, 6:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRKent33 min
Jul 7, 6:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRIonia, Montcalm48 min
Jul 7, 7:02 PM EDTTornado WarningGRROttawa28 min
Jul 7, 7:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRBarry, Kent29 min
Jul 7, 7:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRREaton68 min
Jul 7, 7:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRCalhoun61 min
Jul 7, 7:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRKalamazoo30 min
Jul 7, 7:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRClinton, Gratiot, Ingham43 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.