Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Detroit, MI

March 15, 2012Washtenaw County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2012, 5:28 PM EDT for Washtenaw County, Michigan. It was in force for 62 min. 11 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
Mar 15, 2012, 5:28 PM EDT (21:28 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2012, 6:30 PM EDT
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Washtenaw County, MI

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 57 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:31 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
Mar 15, 5:30 PM EDTHAIL 11 Wsw Whitmore Lake, MI
Mar 15, 5:40 PM EDTHAIL 1.752 Ne Dexter, MI
Mar 15, 5:40 PM EDTTORNADO2 Ne Dexter, MIMULTIPLE REPORTS OF TORNADO ON THE GROUND WITH DAMAGE TO TREES, POWERLINES, AND A SHED
Mar 15, 5:42 PM EDTHAIL 1.256 W Ann Arbor, MI
Mar 15, 6:00 PM EDTHAIL 1.5Dexter, MI
Mar 15, 6:10 PM EDTHAIL 0.75Ann Arbor, MI
Mar 15, 6:20 PM EDTHAIL 11 W Ann Arbor, MI
Mar 15, 6:20 PM EDTHAIL 1Ann Arbor, MI
Mar 15, 6:20 PM EDTHAIL 22 S Ann Arbor, MI
Mar 15, 6:25 PM EDTHAIL 0.88Ann Arbor, MI
Mar 15, 6:30 PM EDTHAIL 1Ann Arbor, 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
Mar 15, 4:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 61 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 2012-03-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2007 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 2012-03-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 78 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
2007 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-65 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
802 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
78 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
66 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
WFUS53 KDTX 152128
TORDTX
MIC161-152230-
/O.NEW.KDTX.TO.W.0004.120315T2128Z-120315T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
528 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DETROIT/PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WASHTENAW COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN...

* UNTIL 630 PM EDT

* AT 526 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD
  NEAR DEXTER. A TORNADO MAY DEVELOP AT ANY TIME. DOPPLER RADAR
  SHOWED THIS DANGEROUS STORM MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  HUDSON MILLS METROPARK AROUND 535 PM EDT.
  DEXTER AROUND 540 PM EDT.
  DELHI MILLS AROUND 555 PM EDT.
  BARTON HILLS AROUND 605 PM EDT.
  ANN ARBOR AROUND 615 PM EDT.
  DIXBORO AROUND 625 PM EDT.

THE WARNING INCLUDES AREAS SURROUNDING THESE LOCATIONS...
  WILLIS...             DIXBORO...            YPSILANTI...
  SALINE...             SALEM...              MILAN...
  DEXTER...             ANN ARBOR...

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 4208 8380 4232 8400 4242 8398 4243 8355
      4209 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 301DEG 13KT 4237 8392

$$

SC/KURIMSKI
4 follow-up statements
997 
WWUS53 KDTX 152135
SVSDTX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
535 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

MIC161-152230-
/O.CON.KDTX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120315T2230Z/
WASHTENAW MI-
535 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WASHTENAW COUNTY UNTIL 630
PM EDT...

AT 531 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DEXTER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

TRAINED SPOTTERS CONFIRMED A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTH OF 
DEXTER. 

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DEXTER AROUND 540 PM EDT.
  DELHI MILLS AROUND 555 PM EDT.
  BARTON HILLS AROUND 600 PM EDT.
  ANN ARBOR AROUND 615 PM EDT.
  DIXBORO AROUND 625 PM EDT.
  YPSILANTI AND PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP AROUND 630 PM EDT.

THE WARNING INCLUDES AREAS SURROUNDING THESE LOCATIONS...
  WILLIS...             DIXBORO...            YPSILANTI...
  SALINE...             SALEM...              MILAN...
  DEXTER...             ANN ARBOR...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. 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 4208 8380 4232 8400 4242 8398 4243 8355
      4209 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 301DEG 13KT 4236 8389

$$

KURIMSKI
818 
WWUS53 KDTX 152155
SVSDTX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
555 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

MIC161-152230-
/O.CON.KDTX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120315T2230Z/
WASHTENAW MI-
555 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WASHTENAW COUNTY UNTIL 630
PM EDT...

AT 552 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DEXTER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DELHI MILLS AROUND 600 PM EDT.
  BARTON HILLS AROUND 605 PM EDT.
  ANN ARBOR AROUND 620 PM EDT.
  DIXBORO AROUND 625 PM EDT.
  PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP AND SALINE AROUND 630 PM EDT.

THE WARNING INCLUDES AREAS SURROUNDING THESE LOCATIONS...
  WILLIS...             DIXBORO...            YPSILANTI...
  SALINE...             SALEM...              MILAN...
  DEXTER...             ANN ARBOR...

A SECOND STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR THE WEST SIDE OF ANN ARBOR NEAR 
INTERSTATE 94 MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS 
REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE A 
TORNADO AT ANY TIME.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. 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 4208 8380 4232 8400 4242 8398 4243 8355
      4209 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 313DEG 13KT 4232 8386

$$

KURIMSKI
086 
WWUS53 KDTX 152217 CCA
SVSDTX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
605 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

MIC161-152230-
/O.COR.KDTX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120315T2230Z/
WASHTENAW MI-
605 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WASHTENAW COUNTY UNTIL 630
PM EDT...

AT 603 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF DEXTER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20
MPH. RECENT RADAR TRENDS SHOW ROTATION STRENGTHENING WITH THIS
STORM. A TORNADO COULD DEVELOP AT ANY TIME.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...HAIL OVER 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER HAS BEEN
REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  ANN ARBOR AROUND 615 PM EDT.
  SALINE AROUND 620 PM EDT.
  PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP AROUND 625 PM EDT.
  MILAN AROUND 630 PM EDT.

THE WARNING INCLUDES AREAS SURROUNDING THESE LOCATIONS...
  WILLIS...             DIXBORO...            YPSILANTI...
  SALINE...             SALEM...              MILAN...
  DEXTER...             ANN ARBOR...

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 4208 8380 4232 8400 4242 8398 4243 8355
      4209 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 312DEG 18KT 4225 8384

$$

KURIMSKI
422 
WWUS53 KDTX 152205 RRA
SVSDTX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
605 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

MIC161-152230-
/O.CON.KDTX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120315T2230Z/
WASHTENAW MI-
605 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WASHTENAW COUNTY UNTIL 630
PM EDT...

AT 603 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF ANN ARBOR...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 
MPH. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF A 
TORNADO...THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING A TORNADO AND COULD 
PRODUCE ADDITIONAL TORNADOES AS IT TRACKS THROUGH WASHTENAW COUNTY.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  SALINE AROUND 615 PM EDT.
  PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP AROUND 620 PM EDT.
  MILAN AND WHITTAKER AROUND 630 PM EDT.

THE WARNING INCLUDES AREAS SURROUNDING THESE LOCATIONS...
  WILLIS...             DIXBORO...            YPSILANTI...
  SALINE...             SALEM...              MILAN...
  DEXTER...             ANN ARBOR...

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 4208 8380 4232 8400 4242 8398 4243 8355
      4209 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 325DEG 20KT 4224 8382

$$

KURIMSKI

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 10:35 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX55 min
Mar 15, 10:55 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXMacomb, Wayne30 min
Mar 15, 12:56 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX94 min
Mar 15, 1:56 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX64 min
Mar 15, 3:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXHuron72 min
Mar 15, 3:06 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX105 min
Mar 15, 3:24 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX2 hr
Mar 15, 3:28 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX92 min
Mar 15, 3:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXBay59 min
Mar 15, 4:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXHuron48 min
Mar 15, 4:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLivingston81 min
Mar 15, 4:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXGenesee, Saginaw30 min
Mar 15, 4:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXBay77 min
Mar 15, 4:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLenawee84 min
Mar 15, 4:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXGenesee, Tuscola95 min
Mar 15, 4:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXShiawassee55 min
Mar 15, 4:53 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX97 min
Mar 15, 4:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXWashtenaw93 min
Mar 15, 5:07 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXLivingston, Washtenaw53 min
Mar 15, 5:28 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX92 min
Mar 15, 5:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXMonroe87 min
Mar 15, 5:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLapeer, Tuscola83 min
Mar 15, 5:45 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXMonroe16 min
Mar 15, 6:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXGenesee, Tuscola29 min
Mar 15, 6:22 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX113 min
Mar 15, 6:28 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXWashtenaw47 min
Mar 15, 6:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLenawee42 min
Mar 15, 6:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXTuscola56 min
Mar 15, 6:44 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXLapeer34 min
Mar 15, 6:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXOakland29 min
Mar 15, 6:51 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningDTXWashtenaw3 hr
Mar 15, 6:57 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX93 min
Mar 15, 6:58 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXLenawee, Monroe47 min
Mar 15, 7:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXWayne25 min
Mar 15, 7:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXHuron, Sanilac54 min
Mar 15, 7:12 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX2 hr
Mar 15, 7:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLapeer73 min
Mar 15, 7:19 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningDTXGenesee, Lapeer, Tuscola5 hr
Mar 15, 7:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXBay16 min
Mar 15, 7:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXMonroe52 min
Mar 15, 7:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLapeer47 min
Mar 15, 7:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXLenawee44 min

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.