Alert archive / Michigan / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 39, NWS Detroit, MI

July 14, 1997Midland County, Saginaw County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 14, 1997, 7:05 PM EDT for Midland County, Saginaw County, Michigan. It was in force for 55 min. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 14, 1997, 7:05 PM EDT (23:05 UTC)
Expired
Jul 14, 1997, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
55 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Whole counties

Counties Midland County, MI, Saginaw County, MI

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:09 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 14, 7:30 PM EDTHail 0.75Porter, MI
Jul 14, 7:43 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 52Saginaw, MI
Jul 14, 7:45 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 52Bridgeport, MI
Jul 14, 7:54 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 52Freeland, MI

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 14, 3:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 107 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 1997-07-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1404 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 1997-07-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -73 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1404 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-69 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
903 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-73 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-47 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDTX 142305 RRA
SVRDTX
MIC111-145-150000-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION/IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
705 PM EDT MON JUL 14 1997

*   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
    MIDLAND COUNTY - SOUTHEASTERN LOWER MICHIGAN
    SAGINAW COUNTY - SOUTHEASTERN LOWER MICHIGAN

*   UNTIL 800 PM EDT
 
*   SOME AREAS AFFECTED
    MARION SPRINGS                BY 714 PM EDT
    CHESANING                     BY 729 PM EDT
    SAINT CHARLES                 BY 735 PM EDT

*   AT 701 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY
    DETROIT/PONTIAC DOPPLER RADAR 29 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SAGINAW OR 8
    MILES SOUTH OF MARION SPRINGS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

    ANOTHER GROUP OF STORMS IN NORTHEAST GRATIOT COUNTY NEAR
    BRECKENRIDGE WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL
    AFFECT POSEYVILLE BY 720 PM AND MIDLAND BY 730 PM.
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE FA
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.


GSS

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, Jul 14, 4:55 PM EDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before
MIZ047-048-053-060-142130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
445 PM EDT MON JUL 14 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #605 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR BAY...
MIDLAND...SAGINAW AND SHIAWASSEE COUNTIES...

AT 440 PM A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED SOUTHWEST
FROM ALLEGAN COUNTY...WHICH IS JUST SOUTHWEST OF GRAND RAPIDS...INTO
INDIANA.  THIS LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES
PER HOUR AND SHOULD BEGIN TO AFFECT MIDLAND...SAGINAW AND SHIAWASSEE
COUNTIES BY 630 PM AND BAY COUNTY BY 7 PM.  THERE WAS AN ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHERN MONTCALM COUNTY THAT COULD AFFECT MIDLAND
COUNTY BY 530 PM.  THIS STORM WAS NOT SEVERE AS OF 440 PM.

SOME THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING COULD PRODUCE ONE AND THREE QUARTER
INCH SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT TO FURTHER WEATHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF
NECESSARY.

DRC
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 6:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-142130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
6 PM EDT MON JUL 14 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 605 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR ALL OF
SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 555 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS FROM HOWARD CITY...WHICH IS NORTH OF GRAND RAPIDS...EAST
TO INONIA AND THEN SOUTHWEST THROUGH BATTLE CREEK AND KALAMAZOO INTO
INDIANA.  THE LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH WHILE THE
INDIVIDUAL STORMS MOVED NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THESE STORMS SHOULD REACH OWOSSO...HOWELL AND ANN ARBOR AROUND 7 PM AND
THE TRI-CITIES...FLINT...PONTIAC AND DETROIT BY 8 PM.

THESE STORMS CAN PRODUCE THREE QUARTER INCH SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO
70 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

SOME OF THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF DOWNING TREES AND POWERLINES IN
SOUTHWESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN ALONG WITH TORRENTIAL RAIN.

OTHER SCATTERED STRONG THUNDESTORMS WERE OCCURRING ACROSS THE THUMB
AREA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND WERE PRODUCING
HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR FURTHER WEATHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF
NECESSARY.

DRC
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 6:04 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-142130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
6 PM EDT MON JUL 14 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #605 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR ALL OF
SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 555 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS FROM HOWARD CITY...WHICH IS NORTH OF GRAND RAPIDS...EAST
TO INONIA AND THEN SOUTHWEST THROUGH BATTLE CREEK AND KALAMAZOO INTO
INDIANA.  THE LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH WHILE THE
INDIVIDUAL STORMS MOVED NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THESE STORMS SHOULD REACH OWOSSO...HOWELL AND ANN ARBOR AROUND 7 PM AND
THE TRI-CITIES...FLINT...PONTIAC AND DETROIT BY 8 PM.

THESE STORMS CAN PRODUCE THREE QUARTER INCH SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO
70 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

SOME OF THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF DOWNING TREES AND POWERLINES IN
SOUTHWESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN ALONG WITH TORRENTIAL RAIN.

OTHER SCATTERED STRONG THUNDESTORMS WERE OCCURRING ACROSS THE THUMB
AREA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND WERE PRODUCING
HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR FURTHER WEATHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF
NECESSARY.

DRC
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 6:11 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-142300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO EXIPRATION TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
6 PM EDT MON JUL 14 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #605 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR ALL OF
SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 555 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS FROM HOWARD CITY...WHICH IS NORTH OF GRAND RAPIDS...EAST
TO INONIA AND THEN SOUTHWEST THROUGH BATTLE CREEK AND KALAMAZOO INTO
INDIANA.  THE LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH WHILE THE
INDIVIDUAL STORMS MOVED NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THESE STORMS SHOULD REACH OWOSSO...HOWELL AND ANN ARBOR AROUND 7 PM AND
THE TRI-CITIES...FLINT...PONTIAC AND DETROIT BY 8 PM.

THESE STORMS CAN PRODUCE THREE QUARTER INCH SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO
70 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

SOME OF THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF DOWNING TREES AND POWERLINES IN
SOUTHWESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN ALONG WITH TORRENTIAL RAIN.

OTHER SCATTERED STRONG THUNDESTORMS WERE OCCURRING ACROSS THE THUMB
AREA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND WERE PRODUCING
HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR FURTHER WEATHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF
NECESSARY.

DRC
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 7:00 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-150000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
7 PM EDT MON JUL 14 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 605 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR ALL OF
SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 655 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS FROM SOUTHERN MIDLAND COUNTY SOUTHWEST TO JUST EAST OF
LANSING AND CONTINUING THROUGH JACKSON INTO NORTHEAST INDIANA. THIS
LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS
MOVED NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL REACH THE TRI-CITY AREAS...FLINT AND HOWELL BY 730 PM
...AND PONTIAC...ANN ARBOR AND ADRIAN BY 8 PM...AND THE DETROIT AREA BY
830 PM.

THESE STORMS HAVE PRODUCED DAMAGING WINDS TO 70 MPH...LARGE HAIL UP TO
ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ALONG WITH TORRENTIAL RAINS ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND
CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR FURTHER WEATHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF
NECESSARY.

DRC
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 7:04 PM EDT, 1 minute before
MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-150000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
7 PM EDT MON JUL 14 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #605 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR ALL OF
SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...

AT 655 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS FROM SOUTHERN MIDLAND COUNTY SOUTHWEST TO JUST EAST OF
LANSING AND CONTINUING THROUGH JACKSON INTO NORTHEAST INDIANA. THIS
LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS
MOVED NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL REACH THE TRI-CITY AREAS...FLINT AND HOWELL BY 730 PM
...AND PONTIAC...ANN ARBOR AND ADRIAN BY 8 PM...AND THE DETROIT AREA BY
830 PM.

THESE STORMS HAVE PRODUCED DAMAGING WINDS TO 70 MPH...LARGE HAIL UP TO
ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ALONG WITH TORRENTIAL RAINS ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND
CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR FURTHER WEATHER>
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF
NECESSARY.

DRC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 14, 6:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXShiawassee51 min
Jul 14, 7:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXBay50 min
Jul 14, 7:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXMacomb38 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Michigan, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.