Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2022

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Gaylord, MI

May 20, 2022Antrim County, Otsego County, Michigan

NWS Gaylord, MI issued this tornado warning at May 20, 2022, 3:38 PM EDT for Antrim County, Otsego County, Michigan. It was in force for 22 min. 6 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 20, 2022, 3:38 PM EDT (19:38 UTC)
Expired: May 20, 2022, 4:00 PM EDT
In force: 22 min
Issued by: NWS Gaylord, MI
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.5 in

Counties Antrim County, MI, Otsego County, MI

The radar

The NCL Michigan radar (KAPX), 18 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:40 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 20, 3:39 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ssw Elmira, MI	SCANNER REPORTS TREES DOWN ON PATERSON ROAD NEAR ALBA HWY. POSSIBLE TORNADO. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
May 20, 3:39 PM EDT	HAIL 2	Elmira, MI	FACEBOOK PHOTO OF A LARGE HAILSTONE IN ELMIRA. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
May 20, 3:45 PM EDT	HAIL 1	5 Nw Gaylord, MI	DELAYED REPORT... QUARTER SIZED HAIL 5MI NW OF GAYLORD.
May 20, 3:48 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 W Gaylord, MI	TORNADO SPOTTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF M-32 AND MURNER ROAD.
May 20, 3:49 PM EDT	HAIL 0.88	2 E Vanderbilt, MI	DELAYED REPORT OF NICKEL SIZED HAIL IN CORWITH TWP VIA FACEBOOK. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
May 20, 3:53 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 W Sparr, MI	TORNADO SPOTTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE 1 MILE E OF GAYLORD AT APPROXIMATELY 3:53PM.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 20, 1:55 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Alpena, MI (KAPX), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 182 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 82 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -240 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1211 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 121 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 195 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

069 
WFUS53 KAPX 201938
TORAPX
MIC009-137-202000-
/O.NEW.KAPX.TO.W.0001.220520T1938Z-220520T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
338 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

The National Weather Service in Gaylord has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Antrim County in northern Michigan...
  Northwestern Otsego County in northern Michigan...

* Until 400 PM EDT.
    
* At 337 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Alba, or 9 miles west of Gaylord, moving northeast
  at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Gaylord around 345 PM EDT.
  Vanderbilt and Sparr around 355 PM EDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4502 8451 4494 8492 4500 8495 4512 8476
      4512 8474 4513 8474 4519 8461
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 246DEG 47KT 4499 8485 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Cornish

3 follow-up statements

600 
WWUS53 KAPX 201940
SVSAPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
340 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

MIC009-201950-
/O.CAN.KAPX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-220520T2000Z/
Antrim MI-
340 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL ANTRIM COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for
northern Michigan.

LAT...LON 4502 8451 4497 8485 4501 8485 4508 8480
      4511 8476 4512 8474 4515 8471 4519 8461
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 246DEG 47KT 4501 8479 

$$

MIC137-202000-
/O.CON.KAPX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-220520T2000Z/
Otsego MI-
340 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN OTSEGO COUNTY...
        
At 340 PM EDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Elmira, or near
Gaylord, moving northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornado will be near...
  Gaylord around 345 PM EDT.
  Vanderbilt and Sparr around 350 PM EDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4502 8451 4497 8485 4501 8485 4508 8480
      4511 8476 4512 8474 4515 8471 4519 8461
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 246DEG 47KT 4501 8479 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Cornish

736 
WWUS53 KAPX 201946
SVSAPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
346 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

MIC137-202000-
/O.CON.KAPX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-220520T2000Z/
Otsego MI-
346 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
OTSEGO COUNTY...
        
At 345 PM EDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Gaylord, moving northeast at 50 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible.

The tornado will be near...
  Vanderbilt and Sparr around 355 PM EDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A dangerous tornado is on the ground. take immediate tornado 
precautions. this is an emergency situation.

&&

LAT...LON 4504 8453 4500 8474 4503 8477 4506 8476
      4508 8474 4514 8466 4518 8460 4513 8458
TIME...MOT...LOC 1945Z 246DEG 45KT 4503 8471 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Cornish

937 
WWUS53 KAPX 201950
SVSAPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
350 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

MIC137-202000-
/O.CON.KAPX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-220520T2000Z/
Otsego MI-
350 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
OTSEGO COUNTY...
    
At 350 PM EDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Gaylord, moving northeast at 50 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...NWS Employee spotted a tornado near Murner and M-32.

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
central Otsego County.

LAT...LON 4504 8453 4503 8465 4504 8467 4506 8467
      4508 8464 4511 8460 4513 8458
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 246DEG 45KT 4505 8464 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Cornish

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 20, 1:22 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	APX	Cheboygan	23 min
May 20, 11:51 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	APX	Chippewa	54 min
May 20, 12:22 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		53 min
May 20, 1:53 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		52 min
May 20, 2:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	APX	Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau	49 min
May 20, 2:24 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		50 min
May 20, 2:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	APX	Charlevoix	26 min
May 20, 2:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	APX	Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska	44 min
May 20, 2:47 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		58 min
May 20, 2:52 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	APX	Cheboygan, Emmet, Mackinac	53 min
May 20, 3:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	APX	Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Montmorency, Otsego	55 min
May 20, 3:28 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		42 min
May 20, 3:37 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	APX	Chippewa, Mackinac	53 min
May 20, 3:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	APX	Cheboygan, Montmorency, Presque Isle	50 min
May 20, 3:55 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	APX	Montmorency, Otsego	24 min
May 20, 4:21 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		24 min
May 20, 4:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	APX	Alpena, Presque Isle	38 min
May 20, 4:26 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		67 min
May 20, 4:36 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	APX	Presque Isle	24 min
May 20, 5:12 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		93 min
May 20, 5:37 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		38 min
May 20, 5:49 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	APX		56 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 2022 Every tornado warning in 2022 Tornadoes in 2022

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.