Alert archive / Michigan / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1995

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 2, NWS Grand Rapids, MI

April 18, 1995Clinton County, Michigan

NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 18, 1995, 9:45 PM EDT for Clinton County, Michigan. It was in force for 15 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 18, 1995, 9:45 PM EDT (01:45 UTC)
Expired
Apr 18, 1995, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
15 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Area
Whole counties

County Clinton County, MI

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 99 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 KLAN 190145
SVRLAN
MIC037-190215-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI
945 PM EDT TUE APR 18 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LANSING HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1015 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN CENTRAL MICHIGAN
 
   ...EASTERN CLINTON COUNTY
 
AT 942 PM EDT...CLINTON COUNTY DISPATCH REPORTED TREE DAMAGE IN THE
VICINITY OF WESTPHALIA OR 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF LANSING. WIND GUSTS OF
50 MILES PER HOUR WERE OBSERVED AT CAPITAL CITY AIRPORT IN LANSING WITH
THESE STORMS. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MILES PER HOUR AND
WILL AFFECT ST JOHNS...ELSIE...SHERPARDVILLE...AND BATH BETWEEN 945 AND
1015 PM.
 
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
 
 
STARR
&

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, 6:52 PM EDT, 2 hours 53 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, 2 hours 3 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, 1 hour 41 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
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 8:59 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
MIZ046-052-059-066-067-073-074-080-081-190235-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LANSING MI
859 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 855 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM GRAYLING IN NORTHERN
LOWER MICHIGAN SOUTHWARD TO BATTLE CREEK...AND INTO NORTH CENTRAL
INDIANA. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. THE
STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED IN CENTRAL ISABELLA COUNTY NEAR MOUNT
PLEASANT. PEA SIZED HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WERE REPORTED WITH THIS STORM
AT 850 PM. THIS STORM WILL MOVE OUT OF ISABELLA COUNTY 915 PM.

ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE BATTLE CREEK
VICINITY BY 945 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
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 9:10 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
MIZ032-038-039-190200-

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

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NEWAYGO...MECOSTA...LAKE...
AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 1 AM EDT...

AT 855 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH
WEST CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE FOUND EAST OF
M66. THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO BE THROUGHOUT THE AREA THROUGH
MIDNIGHT. MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WAS NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL AREA LIKELY WITH
THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE
IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.

SC
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 9:10 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
MIZ051-057-058-065-072-190210-

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

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN
SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN... KENT... MONTCALM... IONIA... BARRY... AND
KALAMAZOO. SOME COMMUNITIES INCLUDED ARE GRAND RAPIDS... EDMORE...
SARANAC... MIDDLEVILLE.. AND COMSTOCK.

AT 905 PM EDT... WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A 20 MILE WIDE BAND OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS FROM 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF GRAND RAPIDS TO NEAR
KALAMAZOO. THE BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES PER
HOUR... AND SHOULD APPROACH THE LANSING AREA BY 1000 PM. NO SEVERE
WEATHER REPORTS HAD BEEN REVEIVED BY THE GRAND RAPIDS NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE AS OF 900 PM... BUT PERSONS IN THE MENTIONED COUNTIES
SHOULD STAY ALERT FOR THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
OR TORNADOES FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING.

CARS ARE EASILY TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT
IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO... LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG
BUILDING. IF NO STRUCTURE IS NEARBY... SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR
LOW SPOT.
ERF

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 18, 8:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRVan Buren35 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.