Alert archive / Michigan / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994
Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Grand Rapids, MI
NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this flash flood warning at Jul 5, 1994, 6:36 AM EDT for Kent County, Ottawa County, Michigan. It was in force for 2 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 5, 1994, 6:36 AM EDT (10:36 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 5, 1994, 8:45 AM EDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Grand Rapids, MI
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Kent County, MI, Ottawa County, MI
The nearest sounding before it
Detroit, MI (KFNT), launched 00:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 201 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1468 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -6 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 920 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 130 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 217 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.1
- Supercell composite
- 7.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KGRR 051042 COR FFWGRR MIC067-081-139-051245- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WARNING...CORRECTED TIME IN TEXT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI 641 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 845 AM FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN ...IONIA COUNTY...KENT COUNTY...OTTAWA COUNTY AT 635 AM EDT... WEATHER RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING ACROSS OTTAWA... KENT... AND IONIA COUNTIES. SINCE LATE MONDAY EVENING... OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS BEEN MEASURED AT THE KENT COUNTY AIRPORT IN GRAND RAPIDS. NUMEROUS REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM AROUND THE AREA OF 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN. THE URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 845 AM DUE TO THE CONTINUING RAIN. PERSONS IN ALLEGAN AND VAN BUREN COUNTY SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WATER COVERING ROADWAYS BECAUSE OF HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS ARE IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES... DIPS... OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE ROAD. MJK
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 5, 3:18 AM EDT, 3 hours 18 minutes before
MIZ046-052-059-066-067-073-074-080-081-050800- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI 318 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 1994 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 400 AM EDT... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM FOR MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. THE WATCH AREA INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF CLINTON ...EATON...INGHAM...CALHOUN...JACKSON...BRANCH...HILLSDALE. SOME CITIES AND TOWNS INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE ST JOHNS...LANSING...BATTLE CREEK...JACKSON...COLDWATER AND HILLSDALE. GRATIOT COUNTY INCLUDING ALMA AND ITHACA ARE NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE WATCH. AT 313 AM EDT...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG...POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM SAGINAW BAY THROUGH LANSING TO KALAMAZOO. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN EASTERN INGHAM AND NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTIES. THE TOWNS OF DANSVILLE AND FITCHBURG IN INGHAM COUNTY...AND PLEASANT LAKE IN JACKSON COUNTY CAN EXPECT STRONG STORMS TO PASS OVERHEAD BETWEEN 330 AND 400 AM EDT. STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. MOVE TO THE INTERIOR OF A STURDY BUILDING AS THESE STORMS PASS OVERHEAD. REMEMBER THAT HEAVY RAINFALL CAN CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS. STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. DESROSIERS
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 3:19 AM EDT, 3 hours 17 minutes before
MIZ046-052-059-066-067-073-074-080-081-050800- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI 318 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 1994 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 400 AM EDT... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM FOR MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. THE WATCH AREA INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF CLINTON ...EATON...INGHAM...CALHOUN...JACKSON...BRANCH...HILLSDALE. SOME CITIES AND TOWNS INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE ST JOHNS...LANSING...BATTLE CREEK...JACKSON...COLDWATER AND HILLSDALE. GRATIOT COUNTY INCLUDING ALMA AND ITHACA ARE NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE WATCH. AT 313 AM EDT...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG...POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM SAGINAW BAY THROUGH LANSING TO KALAMAZOO. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN EASTERN INGHAM AND NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTIES. THE TOWNS OF DANSVILLE AND FITCHBURG IN INGHAM COUNTY...AND PLEASANT LAKE IN JACKSON COUNTY CAN EXPECT STRONG STORMS TO PASS OVERHEAD BETWEEN 330 AND 400 AM EDT. STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. MOVE TO THE INTERIOR O$F A STURDY BUILDING AS THESE STORMS PASS OVERHEAD. REMEMBER THAT HEAVY RAINFALL CAN CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS. STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. DESROSIERS
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 4:01 AM EDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
MIZ046-052-059-066-067-073-074-080-081-050830- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI 401 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 1994 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN HAS EXPIRED... THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE AREA EXPIRED AT 400 AM EDT. AT 400 AM...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM PORT HURON TO JUST SOUTHEAST OF FLINT TO NEAR JACKSON. BEHIND THE MAIN LINE OF STORMS WAS A BROAD AREA OF SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. THE LINE WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR...AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE... SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE. AVOID USING THE TELEPHONE DURING THUNDERSTORMS...EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCIES. STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND STATEMENTS. DESROSIERS
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 4:03 AM EDT, 2 hours 33 minutes before
MIZ046-052-059-066-067-073-074-080-081-050830- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI 401 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 1994 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN HAS EXPIRED... THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE AREA EXPIRED AT 400 AM EDT. AT 400 AM...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM PORT HURON TO JUST SOUTHEAST OF FLINT TO NEAR JACKSON. BEHIND THE MAIN LINE OF STORMS WAS A BROAD AREA OF SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. THE LINE WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR...AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE... SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE. AVOID USING THE TELEPHONE DURING THUNDERSTORMS...EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCIES. STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND STATEMENTS. DESROSIERS
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 4:10 AM EDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
MIZ051-056>058-064-065-071-072-050830- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI 410 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 1994 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ALL OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN... ...AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR OTTAWA... KENT... AND IONIA COUNTIES UNTIL 645 AM EDT... THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN HAS BEEN CANCELLED. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR OTTAWA... KENT... AND IONIA COUNTIES UNTIL 645 AM. AT 410 AM EDT... WEATHER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. ALTHOUGH THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAS DECREASED... HEAVY RAINFALL WILL STILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION ON SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN ROADS. BE PREPARED TO ENCOUNTER FLOODED ROADWAYS AND OVERFLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES. MJK
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 4:14 AM EDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
MIZ051-056>058-064-065-071-072-050830- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI 410 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 1994 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ALL OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN... ...AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR OTTAWA... KENT... AND IONIA COUNTIES UNTIL 645 AM EDT... THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN HAS BEEN CANCELLED. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR OTTAWA... KENT... AND IONIA COUNTIES UNTIL 645 AM. AT 410 AM EDT... WEATHER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. ALTHOUGH THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAS DECREASED... HEAVY RAI:NFALL WILL STILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION ON SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN ROADS. BE PREPARED TO ENCOUNTER FLOODED ROADWAYS AND OVERFLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES. MJK
The office that day
Everything else NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 11:50 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Montcalm | 25 min |
| Jul 5, 12:03 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Kent | 57 min |
| Jul 5, 12:12 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Ottawa | 28 min |
| Jul 5, 12:15 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Montcalm | 45 min |
| Jul 5, 12:42 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Gratiot | 48 min |
| Jul 5, 1:03 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Allegan, Barry | 52 min |
| Jul 5, 2:16 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Barry | 29 min |
| Jul 5, 2:20 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Calhoun, Eaton | 40 min |
| Jul 5, 2:30 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR | Kalamazoo | 30 min |
| Jul 5, 3:38 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GRR | Kent, Ottawa | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 3:38 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GRR | Ionia | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 6:36 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GRR | Ionia | 2 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Michigan, 1994Every flash flood warning in 1994
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.