Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Gaylord, MI

May 3, 2012Arenac County, Gladwin County, Michigan

NWS Gaylord, MI issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2012, 3:56 PM EDT for Arenac County, Gladwin County, Michigan. It was in force for 49 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 3, 2012, 3:56 PM EDT (19:56 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2012, 4:45 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Gaylord, MI
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Arenac County, MI, Gladwin County, MI

The radar

The NCL Michigan radar (KAPX), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:59 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
May 3, 4:37 PM EDTHAIL 0.7Standish, MI
May 3, 4:37 PM EDTHAIL 13 S Standish, MI

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 3, 12:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 148 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 2012-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1476 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 2012-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 212 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1476 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-58 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
948 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
212 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
233 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

397 
WFUS53 KAPX 031956
TORAPX
MIC011-051-032045-
/O.NEW.KAPX.TO.W.0003.120503T1956Z-120503T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
356 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GAYLORD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  ARENAC COUNTY IN NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN...
  GLADWIN COUNTY IN NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN...

* UNTIL 445 PM EDT

* AT 355 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR GLADWIN...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GLADWIN...ALGER...STERLING...STANDISH...AU GRES...WINEGARS...WOODEN
  SHOE VILLAGE...MAPLE RIDGE...OMER...TWINING AND TURNER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 4387 8461 4401 8461 4416 8416 4416 8356
      4404 8357 4405 8364 4398 8368 4399 8373
      4398 8376 4398 8383 4393 8388 4391 8405
      4399 8405 4399 8416 4390 8416
TIME...MOT...LOC 1956Z 254DEG 36KT 4394 8451

$$


ARNOTT
3 follow-up statements
666 
WWUS34 KAPX 032004
SVSAPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
404 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

MIC011-051-032045-
/O.CON.KAPX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120503T2045Z/
ARENAC MI-GLADWIN MI-
404 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GLADWIN AND ARENAC
COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...

AT 359 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BEAVERTON...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF GLADWIN...
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ALGER...STERLING...STANDISH...AU GRES...WINEGARS...WOODEN SHOE
  VILLAGE...OMER...TWINING...MAPLE RIDGE AND TURNER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 4388 8453 4392 8453 4416 8416 4416 8356
      4404 8357 4405 8364 4398 8368 4399 8373
      4398 8376 4398 8383 4393 8388 4391 8405
      4399 8405 4399 8416 4390 8416
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 252DEG 36KT 4390 8444
WIND...HAIL <50MPH <.50IN

$$


ARNOTT
129 
WWUS34 KAPX 032021
SVSAPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
421 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

MIC011-051-032045-
/O.CON.KAPX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120503T2045Z/
ARENAC MI-GLADWIN MI-
421 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL GLADWIN AND
ARENAC COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...

AT 418 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF STERLING...MOVING EAST AT 40
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  STERLING...STANDISH...AU GRES...MAPLE RIDGE...OMER...TWINING AND
  TURNER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 4388 8449 4393 8438 4401 8419 4416 8404
      4416 8356 4404 8357 4405 8364 4398 8368
      4399 8373 4398 8376 4398 8383 4393 8388
      4391 8405 4399 8405 4399 8416 4390 8416
TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 252DEG 36KT 4400 8407
WIND...HAIL <50MPH <.50IN

$$
664 
WWUS34 KAPX 032030
SVSAPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
430 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

MIC011-051-032045-
/O.CON.KAPX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120503T2045Z/
ARENAC MI-GLADWIN MI-
430 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL GLADWIN AND
SOUTHERN ARENAC COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...

AT 427 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR STERLING...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  AU GRES AND OMER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 4390 8416 4389 8434 4401 8417 4408 8379
      4412 8356 4404 8357 4405 8364 4398 8368
      4399 8373 4398 8376 4398 8383 4393 8388
      4391 8405 4399 8405 4399 8416
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 252DEG 36KT 4402 8396
WIND...HAIL <50MPH <.50IN

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 4:04 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXMissaukee, Wexford29 min
May 3, 4:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningAPXManistee, Missaukee, Wexford6 hr
May 3, 4:51 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXCrawford, Missaukee, Roscommon24 min
May 3, 6:52 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXArenac, Gladwin, Iosco, Ogemaw, Roscommon68 min
May 3, 7:18 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAPX117 min
May 3, 11:37 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAPX98 min
May 3, 11:47 AM EDTRiver Flood WatchAPXArenac11 hr
May 3, 12:30 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAPX71 min
May 3, 12:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAPXBenzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee, Wexford55 min
May 3, 1:21 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAPX39 min
May 3, 3:18 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAPX102 min
May 3, 4:16 PM EDTTornado WarningAPXGladwin32 min
May 3, 4:56 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAPX55 min
May 3, 5:09 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningAPXArenac40 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes in 2012

Sources

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