Alert archive / Michigan / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 43, NWS Detroit, MI

August 11, 2017Sanilac County, Michigan

NWS Detroit, MI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 11, 2017, 3:46 PM EDT for Sanilac County, Michigan. It was in force for 37 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 11, 2017, 3:46 PM EDT (19:46 UTC)
Expired
Aug 11, 2017, 4:23 PM EDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Detroit, MI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Sanilac County, MI

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:49 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 12:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 103 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 2017-08-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 98 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 2017-08-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 143 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
98 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-101 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1246 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
143 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
153 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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.

NWS Detroit, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 11, 3:16 PM EDT, 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 11, 3:16 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
316 PM EDT Fri Aug 11 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Cold front extends from about Bad Axe southwest to Benton Harbor.
Shower and thunderstorms developed shortly afternoon in the vicinity
of the front as boundary layer capes up to 1500 joules broke the
cap.  Some storms have been strong to marginally severe with hail as
big as quarter size. Freezing levels only 12k ft with strongest
updrafts supporting up to 35k ft tops so far.  Activity
will continue into the evening before rapidly dissipating from loss
of diurnal heating.  The slow moving front will exit east shortly
after 00z supporting some shower activity into the early night far
eastern portions of the area.  The best concentration of
thundestorms will likely remain north of Detroit where 500mb cold
pool deeper and surface frontal convergence stronger. Lesser amount
of shower and thunderstorm activity is still possible Detroit on
south until around sunset.

There will be brief period of clearing behind departing front
before low clouds wrapping around departing low to the northeast
advect in bringing back mostly cloudy skies.  Broad 500mb trough
will linger over the Great Lakes Saturday aiding in a fair amount of
cu development.  A secondary cold front/surface trough will drop
southward through the Thumb in the afternoon.  This combined with a
few hundred joules of cape may produce a few showers as far south as
the northern Detroit area.  Highs Saturday will return to below
average ranging from nr 70 in the tip of the Thumb to mid 70s
elsewhere.

Weak ridging in the mid levels and surface high pressure will build
into the area Saturday night and Sunday bringing mostly clear skies
and the continued below average temps.  Decent radiational cooling
Saturday night will put lows in most locations in the low 50s with
some isolated upper 40s possible.  Sunday should be very pleasant
with plenty of sun and weak surface gradient, highs should upper 70s
to around 80 with a light wind.

A fairly quiet start for the first half of the extended forecast. A
broad surface high pressure system will continue to situate itself
across the Great Lakes Monday into early Thursday which will keep
conditions relatively dry, all while bringing a healthy amount of
sunshine to the region. A weak frontal zone poised to situate itself
across southern Michigan along with an upper-level trough with
embedded shortwaves will however bring the slight chance to see a
quick, pop-up rain shower Monday afternoon and evening. Otherwise,
better chances for rain and thunderstorms will enter Thursday into
Friday morning as an amplified ridge moves off to the east. PoP-
values will remain sub-30 percent as we lack model convergence, but
long-range models are picking up on decent forcing mechanisms
despite varying reasons. The GFS and to a lesser extent the ECMWF
push a warm front through southern Michigan throughout Thursday. The
GEM is more aggressive with a strengthening low pressure system,
which moves through southern Michigan Thursday morning into Friday
morning. High pressure is then expected to build back into the Great
Lakes by the weekend.

&&

.MARINE...

A weak low pressure system will track slowly from northern Lake
Huron into Ontario tonight. This system will pull a cold front
through the eastern lakes this evening which will continue to
produce the scattered thunderstorms. Southwesterly winds ahead of
the front will become northwest behind the cold front later this
evening and overnight. Winds across Lake Huron on Saturday will be
more north-northwesterly. A more unstable flow on Saturday should
cause gusts to increase closer to 25 knots across the Huron basin
with shoreline waves of 2 to 4 feet, just below small craft
criteria. Saturday night and Sunday will see a high pressure system
settle over the lakes for a light wind regime.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
Issued at 119 PM EDT Fri Aug 11 2017

AVIATION...

Scattered thunderstorms already developing across central MI. Expect
these to be an issue at all sites until about 00z. Trying to time to
a two or three hour window beyond a best chance window will be
difficult with this setup. A brief window of scattered clouds after
00z before low level moisture wraps back into southeast MI after
06z. Enough of a gradient and lack of surface moisture will keep
that moisture as a stratus layer with ceilings just above IFR. That
stratus will slowly lift into broken ceilings with a more diurnal
flavor on Saturday morning, but will take until after 18z to get
above 3000 feet.

For DTW...Still highlighting 21-00Z for the best chance of afternoon
convection although some isolated cells could start initiating
near the airport between 18-19Z.

//DTW THRESHOLD PROBABILITIES...

* Low for ceilings at or below 5000 feet through 06z. High for
  ceilings below 5000 feet from 06Z tonight until 18z Saturday.

* Low for thunderstorms from 18Z-00z Friday.

&&

.DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...NONE.
Lake Huron...NONE.
Lake St Clair...NONE.
Michigan waters of Lake Erie...NONE.
&&

DISCUSSION...DRC/AM
MARINE.......RBP
AVIATION.....RBP

You can obtain your latest National Weather Service forecasts online
at www.weather.gov/detroit.
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 11, 3:20 AM EDT, 12 hours 26 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
320 AM EDT Fri Aug 11 2017

MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-120730-
Midland-Bay-Huron-Saginaw-Tuscola-Sanilac-Shiawassee-Genesee-Lapeer-
St. Clair-Livingston-Oakland-Macomb-Washtenaw-Wayne-Lenawee-Monroe-
320 AM EDT Fri Aug 11 2017

This hazardous weather outlook is for southeast Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms are expected today. There is a slight chance
of severe weather with the storms this afternoon. The strongest
storms will be capable of producing wind gusts to 60 MPH and hail to
one inch in diameter as they move to the east at 35 MPH. The storms
will be triggered by the interaction of an unstable atmosphere and a
cold front. The strongest storms are expected between 2 PM and 6 PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Dispatchers...please notify your emergency managers immediately.
Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.

LCZ460-LEZ444-LHZ361>363-421-422-441>443-462>464-120730-
Lake St Clair-
Michigan Waters of Lake Erie from Detroit River to North Cape MI-
Lake Huron from 5NM east of Mackinac Bridge to Presque Isle Lt
beyond 5 NM off shore-
Lake Huron from Presque Isle Light to Sturgeon Point MI beyond 5NM
off shore-
Lake Huron from Sturgeon Point to Alabaster MI beyond 5NM off shore-
Outer Saginaw Bay SW of Alabaster to Port Austin MI to Inner Saginaw
Bay-Inner Saginaw Bay SW of Point Au Gres to Bay Port MI-
Port Austin to Harbor Beach MI-Harbor Beach to Port Sanilac MI-
Port Sanilac to Port Huron MI-
Lake Huron from Port Austin to Harbor Beach beyond 5NM Off Shore-
Lake Huron from Harbor Beach to Port Sanilac beyond 5NM Off Shore-
Lake Huron from Port Sanilac to Port Huron beyond 5NM Off Shore-
320 AM EDT Fri Aug 11 2017

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Lake Erie, Lake
Huron and Lake St Clair.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms are expected today. There is a slight chance
of severe weather with the storms this afternoon, mainly on Lake
Huron south of Port Austin and on Lakes St Clair and Erie. The
strongest storms will be capable of producing wind gusts to 50 knots
and hail to one inch in diameter as they move to the east at 30 knots.
The storms will be triggered by the interaction of an unstable
atmosphere and a cold front. The strongest storms are expected
between 2 PM and 6 PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Dispatchers...please notify your emergency managers immediately.
Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.

You can obtain your latest National Weather Service forecasts online
at www.weather.gov/detroit.

SC

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 11, 2:29 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
229 PM EDT FRI AUG 11 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0203 PM     HAIL             SANDUSKY                43.42N 82.83W
08/11/2017  E1.00 INCH       SANILAC            MI   BROADCAST MEDIA

            QUARTER SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN SANDUSKY

&&

AM
Special weather statement, Aug 11, 2:43 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
243 PM EDT FRI AUG 11 2017

MIZ061-062-111945-
Genesee MI-Lapeer MI-
243 PM EDT FRI AUG 11 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAPEER AND EAST CENTRAL GENESEE
COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...

At 243 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from Lapeer to near Goodrich. Movement was east at 25
mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Lapeer, Davison, Imlay City, Almont, Brown City, Columbiaville,
Burton, Hadley, Dryden, Metamora, Lum, Attica, Burnside, Elba,
Goodland Township, Thornville and Kings Mill.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 4290 8299 4296 8361 4314 8342 4328 8300
TIME...MOT...LOC 1843Z 270DEG 21KT 4306 8329 4297 8353

BT
Local storm report, Aug 11, 2:53 PM EDT, 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
253 PM EDT FRI AUG 11 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0223 PM     HAIL             5 S CLARKSTON           42.67N 83.41W
08/11/2017  E0.75 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   AMATEUR RADIO

            PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED

&&

AM
Special weather statement, Aug 11, 3:09 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 11, 3:16 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 11, 3:27 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 11, 1:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementDTXOakland22 min
Aug 11, 1:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXSanilac54 min
Aug 11, 2:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXMacomb, Oakland78 min
Aug 11, 2:19 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX86 min
Aug 11, 2:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementDTXLapeer62 min
Aug 11, 3:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXSanilac21 min
Aug 11, 3:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementDTXSaint Clair66 min
Aug 11, 3:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementDTXWayne59 min
Aug 11, 3:46 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX89 min
Aug 11, 4:07 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX38 min
Aug 11, 4:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementDTXOakland48 min
Aug 11, 4:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementDTXSaginaw, Tuscola53 min
Aug 11, 5:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementDTXMacomb54 min
Aug 11, 5:31 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningDTX59 min
Aug 11, 5:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementDTXMacomb65 min
Aug 11, 6:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDTXSaint Clair26 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Michigan, 2017Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2017

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.