Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 1992

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Detroit, MI

July 4, 1992Washtenaw County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this tornado warning at Jul 4, 1992, 9:38 PM EDT for Washtenaw County, Michigan. It was in force for 52 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 4, 1992, 9:38 PM EDT (01:38 UTC)
Expired
Jul 4, 1992, 10:30 PM EDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Whole counties

County Washtenaw County, MI

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KFNT), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 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 1992-07-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 493 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 1992-07-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 73 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
493 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1652 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
73 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
155 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDTW 050148 COR
TORDTW
MIC161-050230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING...CORRECTED FIRST PAR...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
938 PM EDT SAT JUL 4 1992

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF LOWER MICHIGAN
      WASHTENAW

AT 933PM EDT...A FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY GRASS LAKE TOWNSHIP FIRE
DEPARTMENT JUST WEST OF CHELSEA...51 MILES WEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT
ANOTHER FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY SAND LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
SOUTHWEST OF MANCHESTER...53 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT.
THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.
THE STORM WILL BE OVER DEXTER AT 945 PM AND THE CITY OF BRIDGEWATER
AT 950 PM. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD TAKE COVER NOW.
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.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES...
TAKE COVER IN A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

 NASH/BAILEY

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 4, 6:23 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
MIZ019-021-024-027>030-035-030220-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
621 PM EDT THU JUL 02 1992

AT 617 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...
SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING NEAR MOUNT CLEMENS...21 MILES NORTH
NORTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. ANOTHER STORM WAS 10 MILE NORTH OF
HOWELL...48 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THESE STORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS WERE PART OF A SCATTERED AREA OF SHOWERS...THAT EXTENDED
ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN FROM SOUTHERN MACOMB TO
EXTREME WESTERN LENAWEE COUNTIES.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE..LOOK FOR SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING. STRONG WINDS...HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. STAY INSIDE...AWAY
FROM WINDOWS...UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO STATION OR
LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
UPDATES.

BBN
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 6:33 PM EDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before
MIZ019-021-024-027>030-035-042325-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR DATE/TIME GROUP...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
621 PM EDT THU JUL 02 1992

AT 617 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...
SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING NEAR MOUNT CLEMENS...21 MILES NORTH
NORTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. ANOTHER STORM WAS 10 MILE NORTH OF
HOWELL...48 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THESE STORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS WERE PART OF A SCATTERED AREA OF SHOWERS...THAT EXTENDED
ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN FROM SOUTHERN MACOMB TO
EXTREME WESTERN LENAWEE COUNTIES.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE..LOOK FOR SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING. STRONG WINDS...HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. STAY INSIDE...AWAY
FROM WINDOWS...UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIOd STATION OR
LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
UPDATES.

BBN
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 7:04 PM EDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
MIZ019-021-024-027>030-035-050005-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
702 PM EDT THU JUL 02 1992

AT 655 PM EDT...RADAR SHOWED A SCATTERED AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH
VERY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING OVER SOUTHEAST
LOWER MICHIGAN. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS JUST NORTH OF ARMADA...36
MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STORMS WERE PART OF A SCATTERED AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
THAT EXTENDED ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE..LOOK FOR SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING. STRONG WINDS...HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY
LIGHTNI^NG ARE ALL POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. STAY INSIDE...AWAY
FROM WINDOWS...UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO STATION OR
LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
UPDATES.

BBN
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 7:09 PM EDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
MIZ019-021-024-027>030-035-050005-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORECTED FOR DATE...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
702 PM EDT SAT JUL 04 1992

AT 655 PM EDT...RADAR SHOWED A SCATTERED AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH
VERY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING OVER SOUTHEAST
LOWER MICHIGAN. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS JUST NORTH OF ARMADA...36
MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STORMS WERE PART OF A SCATTERED AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
THAT EXTENDED ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE..LOOK FOR SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING. STRONG WINDS...HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. STAY INSIDE...AWAY
FROM WINDOWS...UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO STATION OR
LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
UPDATES.

BBN
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 8:27 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
MIZ019-021-024-027>030-035-050125-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
825 PM EDT SAT JUL 04 1992

AT 823 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED A SCATTERED AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING OVER SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN. THE STRONGEST
STORM WAS NEAR ANN ARBOR...34 MILES WEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

WASHTENAW COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AND VERY
HEAVY RAIN OVER ADDISON IN LENAWEE COUNTY...69 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST _
OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT.

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM CENTRAL SAINT
CLAIR COUNTY THROUGH OAKLAND AND WAYNE COUNTIES TO SOUTHERN LENAWEE
COUNTY.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING. DO NOT STAND NEAR WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONE
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. MOTORISTS
SHOULD
AVOID LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
UPDATES.

BBN
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 8:38 PM EDT, 1 hour before
MIZ019-021-024-027>030-035-050125-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED LAST PAR...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT MI
825 PM EDT SAT JUL 04 1992

AT 823 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED A SCATTERED AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING OVER SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN. THE STRONGEST
STORM WAS NEAR ANN ARBOR...34 MILES WEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

WASHTENAW COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AND VERY
HEAVY RAIN OVER ADDISON IN LENAWEE COUNTY...69 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST _
OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT.

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM CENTRAL SAINT
CLAIR COUNTY THROUGH OAKLAND AND WAYNE COUNTIES TO SOUTHERN LENAWEE
COUNTY.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING. DO NOT STAND NEAR WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONE
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. MOTORISTS
SHOULD AVOID LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO
AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES.

BBN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 4, 9:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXWashtenaw, Wayne44 min
Jul 5, 12:15 AM EDTTornado WarningDTXLenawee30 min
Jul 5, 12:22 AM EDTTornado WarningDTXLenawee23 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 1992Every tornado warning in 1992Tornadoes in 1992

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.