Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Detroit, MI

March 15, 2012Lapeer County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2012, 6:44 PM EDT for Lapeer County, Michigan. It was in force for 34 min. 3 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, 6:44 PM EDT (22:44 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2012, 7:18 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Lapeer County, MI

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:45 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, 6:49 PM EDTTORNADO3 Ssw Columbiaville, MIA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM DAMAGE SURVEY CONFIRMED A TORNADO IN LAPEER COUNTY. THE TORNADO WAS RATED AN EF2...WITH MAXIUMUM WIND SPEEDS OF 125 MPH. THE ESTIMATED PATH LENGTH OF THE TORNADO IS 4.5 MILES WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 400 YARDS. DAMAGE PRIMARLY C
Mar 15, 6:53 PM EDTTORNADO3 S Columbiaville, MINUMEROUS REPORTS OF A TORNADO WITH DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWERLINES
Mar 15, 6:57 PM EDTHAIL 1.53 Ese Columbiaville, 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, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 50 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°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.

261 
WFUS53 KDTX 152244
TORDTX
MIC087-152330-
/O.NEW.KDTX.TO.W.0007.120315T2244Z-120315T2330Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DETROIT/PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL LAPEER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN...

* UNTIL 730 PM EDT

* AT 641 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR COLUMBIAVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  COLUMBIAVILLE AROUND 650 PM EDT.

THE WARNING INCLUDES AREAS SURROUNDING THESE LOCATIONS...
  OTTER LAKE...         COLUMBIAVILLE...

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 4305 8330 4308 8346 4318 8347 4323 8346
      4323 8335 4325 8335 4324 8323
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 284DEG 11KT 4314 8343

$$

BT
3 follow-up statements
849 
WWUS53 KDTX 152255
SVSDTX

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

MIC087-152330-
/O.CON.KDTX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120315T2330Z/
LAPEER MI-
655 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL LAPEER COUNTY
UNTIL 730 PM EDT...

AT 649 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR COLUMBIAVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL AFFECT RURAL AREAS SOUTHEAST OF COLUMBIAVILLE.

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 4305 8330 4308 8346 4318 8347 4323 8346
      4323 8335 4325 8335 4324 8323
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 291DEG 11KT 4312 8340

$$

BT
964 
WWUS53 KDTX 152308
SVSDTX

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

MIC087-152330-
/O.CON.KDTX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120315T2330Z/
LAPEER MI-
708 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL LAPEER COUNTY
UNTIL 730 PM EDT...

AT 705 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF COLUMBIAVILLE...MOVING 
EAST AT 15 MPH.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL AFFECT MAINLY RURAL AREAS SOUTHEAST OF 
COLUMBIAVILLE. 

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 4305 8330 4308 8346 4318 8347 4323 8346
      4323 8335 4325 8335 4324 8323
TIME...MOT...LOC 2307Z 291DEG 11KT 4310 8335

$$

BT
359 
WWUS53 KDTX 152318
SVSDTX

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

MIC087-152328-
/O.CAN.KDTX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120315T2330Z/
LAPEER MI-
718 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL LAPEER COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND MOVED OUT OF
THE WARNED AREA.

ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...AND A SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM.

LAT...LON 4305 8330 4308 8346 4318 8347 4323 8346
      4323 8335 4325 8335 4324 8323
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 291DEG 11KT 4309 8331

$$

BT

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, 5:28 PM EDTTornado WarningDTXWashtenaw62 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, 6:45 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.