Alert archive / Michigan / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1995

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 1, NWS Grand Rapids, MI

April 18, 1995Van Buren County, Michigan

NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 18, 1995, 8:20 PM EDT for Van Buren County, Michigan. It was in force for 35 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 18, 1995, 8:20 PM EDT (00:20 UTC)
Expired
Apr 18, 1995, 8:55 PM EDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Area
Whole counties

County Van Buren County, MI

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 241 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 1995-04-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 181 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 1995-04-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 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
181 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-110 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
780 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
75 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
150 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KGRR 190023
SVRGRR
MIC159-190100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
820 PM EDT TUE APR 18 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
 
   ...VAN BUREN COUNTY
 
AT 818 PM EDT... THE VAN BUREN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT REPORTED HAIL
NEAR KEELER IN SOUTHWEST VAN BUREN COUNTY. RADAR INDICATED THAT THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT PRODUCED THE HAIL WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH AND SHOULD REACH PAW PAW AND MATTAWAN BY 850 PM.
 
PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. PERSONS IN THE WARNED AREA
SHOULD GET INTO A REINFORCED SHELTER AND PREPARE FOR DAMAGING
WINDS... LARGE HAIL AND DEADLY LIGHTNING.
ERF

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, Apr 18, 5:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 54 minutes before
MIZ032-038-039-182225-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MUSKEGON    MI
521 PM EDT TUE APR 18 1995

AT 515 EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHING FROM OCEANA COUNTY NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH
KALKASKA COUNTY...OR FROM 20 MILES NORTH OF MUSKEGON TO 15 MILES EAST
OF TRAVERSE CITY.  THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS WAS LOCATED OVER
CENTRAL LAKE COUNTY. HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG...GUSTY WINDS CAN BE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THE ENTIRE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTDOORS THIS EVENING...CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION AND KEEP A WEATHER EYE ON THE SKY.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTN.ING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
SMALL HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.

STAY TUNED TO WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION
FOR THE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER
SITUATION.

CZYZYK
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 6:48 PM EDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before
MIZ059-066-067-073-074-080-081-190020-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI
648 PM EDT TUE APR 18 1995

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER
MICHIGAN UNTIL 100 AM EDT...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COUNTIES OF CLINTON...EATON...
INGHAM...CALHOUN...JACKSON...BRANCH...HILLSDALE UNTIL 100 AM EDT. THIS
INCLUDES THE COMMUNTIES OF ST JOHNS...LANSING...JACKSON... AND BATTLE
CREEK.

AT 640 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS
AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
MOVE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN AFTER 730 PM.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS RAND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

STARR
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 6:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
MIZ051-057-058-065-072-182350-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
648 PM EDT TUE APR 18 1995

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PART OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL
100 AM EDT...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PART OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL
100 AM EDT. INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE THE COUNTIES OF KENT... BARRY...
KALAMAZOO... MONTCALM... AND IONIA.

AT 645 PM EDT... WEATHER RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OVER LAKE MICHIGAN... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THESE STORMS SHOULD
REACH THE LAKESHORE COUNTIES BETWEEN NEW BUFFALO AND GRAND HAVEN BY 700
PM. THE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AFTER MOVING INLAND...
REACHING GRAND RAPIDS AND KALAMAbZOO BY 800 PM.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE... FIND SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT... SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT... DITCH OR
LOW SPOT. LIE FLAT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
ERF
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 7:42 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
MIZ051-056>058-064-065-071-072-190040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
740 PM EDT TUE APR 18 1995

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PART OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL 100 AM EDT...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE COUNTIES OF KENT...
MONTCALM... IONIA... BARRY... AND KALAMAZOO IN SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL 100 AM EDT. SOME COMMUNITIES INCLUDED ARE GRAND RAPIDS...
IONIA... STANTON... HASTINGS... AND KALAMAZOO.

AT 740 PM EDT... WEATHER RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG THE LAKE SHORE OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN... MOVING NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH. THESE STORMS SHOULD REACH GRAND RAPIDS AND KALAMAZOO BY 800 PM.
ANOTHER STORM WAS NEAR BELDING... 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF GRAND RAPIDS...
AND SHOULD REACH THE VICINITY OF VICKERYVILLE BY 810 PM.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO... THE SAFEST PLACE IN A HOME
OR BUSINESS IS AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. AVOID
WIND6OWS.
ERF
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 8:04 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
MIZ046-052-059-066-067-073-074-080-081-190140-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI
804 PM EDT TUE APR 18 1995

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL 100 AM EDT...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN
UNTIL 100 AM EDT INCLUDING ISABELLA...GRATIOT...CLINTON...EATON...
INGHAM...CALHOUN...BRANCH...HILLSDALE...AND JACKSON COUNTIES. THIS
INCLUDES THE CITIES OF MOUNT PLEASANT...ALMA...ST JOHNS...LANSING...
JACKSON...AND BATTLE CREEK.

AT 800 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM TRAVERSE CITY SOUTH THROUGH GRAND
RAPIDS TO SOUTH BEND INDIANA. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55
MILES PER HOUR. ONE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE INTO NORTHWEST
GRATIOT COUNTY BY 815 PM. MORE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE BATTLE
CREEK AND COLDWATER AREAS AFTER 830 PM.

THESE STORMS COULD CONTAIN LARGE HAIL...WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60
MPH...AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

STARR

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 18, 9:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRClinton15 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Michigan, 1995Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1995

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.