Alert archive / Michigan / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 18, NWS Grand Rapids, MI

April 5, 2023Barry County, Michigan

NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 5, 2023, 10:54 AM EDT for Barry County, Michigan. It was in force for 34 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: Apr 5, 2023, 10:54 AM EDT (14:54 UTC)
Expired: Apr 5, 2023, 11:28 AM EDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Possible
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Barry County, MI

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 38 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:54 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 watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 5, 8:41 AM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 12:00Z, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 154 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: 279 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -278 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 865 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 57 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 486 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 421 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.1

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 Grand Rapids, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 5, 10:14 AM EDT, 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 10:14 AM EDT, 40 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
1014 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

LATEST UPDATE...
Update

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1010 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

The flood watch was allowed to expire. We did issue an areal flood
advisory for parts of the watch area and several river forecast
points are under a warning. By noon based on the latest trends it
appears the bulk of the heaviest rain will be east of the region.
We will then focus on the cold front that arrives in the afternoon
but that precipitation should last less than an hour and may very
well be scattered.

&&

.DISCUSSION...(Today through next Tuesday)
Issued at 325 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

- Severe weather potential today -

A warm front lifting north through our area early to mid morning
and a cold front approaching from the west will set the stage for
strong to severe storms today. The relatively best chance for svr
wx will come from mid to late morning through the afternoon.

There is potential for wind and hail and possibly isolated
tornadoes given a very favorable kinematic environment with
strong deep layer shear conducive to supercell formation. 00Z
HREF guidance suggests the sig tor parameter will reach 2-3
across portions of our area this aftn just ahead of the front
which is pretty significant for our area.

A fairly unidirectional wind profile with height once the warm
front lifts north of our area in conjunction with strong deep
layer shear suggests potential for splitting supercells. The warm
front should already be located from near Pentwater ese to Alma
by 12Z this morning.

How favorable the thermodynamic environment will become is more
questionable. However the 00Z HREF continues to suggest sb/mu cape
values will reach 1000-1500 j/kg ahead of the front. This is more
than sufficient for potentially robust convective development in
conjunction with favorable lift, moisture and deep layer shear.

It is a complex fcst with a possibility that extensive morning
clouds and scattered showers and storms may keep the atmosphere
fairly worked over and mitigate the svr wx threat for our area.
However current rgnl radar trends really don't support this as the
most likely outcome (although convection currently over northern
Missouri could reach our area by mid morning). Cold lake MI waters
would also cause sfc based convection to weaken considerably. All
things considered though we believe there is potential for severe
wx including an isolated tornado or two later today.

- Fair weather returns late this week -

A high pressure ridge will gradually build in from the west and
bring fair wx late this week and it will turn much cooler Thursday
and Friday. Temps will undergo a gradual moderating trend this
weekend. No significant pcpn events are expected for the upcoming
week after the rain and convection today.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning)
Issued at 745 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

Thunderstorms will bring brief IFR conditions this morning into
this afternoon. LLWS of around 50 knots between the surface and
2000 feet will persist this morning. Thunderstorms with downburst
winds over 40 knots and large hail can be expected this morning
into early afternoon. Surface winds will gust to 30 knots even
without thunderstorms today. The heavy storms will move east this
afternoon with improving conditions this evening behind the cold
front.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 325 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

Winds and waves will remain hazardous to small craft through
Thursday. In addition thunderstorms will pose a hazard to mariners
today with potential for frequent lightning, large hail, and
briefly stronger wind gusts to gale or storm force.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 325 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

Thunderstorms today could bring locally heavy rain with
precipitable water values way up to around 1.5 inches this morning.
Given antecedent saturated conditions, water will runoff into
area rivers and streams and contribute to rising water levels.

In addition, ponding of water in low lying and poor drainage
areas will occur easier than usual given saturated grounds.
Persons living along rivers or their tributaries should pay close
attention to the river forecasts over the next few days and have a
plan to respond if flood waters rise.

&&

.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...None.
LM...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for LMZ844>849.

&&

UPDATE...MJS
DISCUSSION...Laurens
AVIATION...Ostuno
HYDROLOGY...Laurens
MARINE...Laurens

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 3:47 AM EDT, 7 hours 7 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
347 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

MIZ037>040-043>046-050>052-056>059-064>067-071>074-060800-
Mason-Lake-Osceola-Clare-Oceana-Newaygo-Mecosta-Isabella-Muskegon-
Montcalm-Gratiot-Ottawa-Kent-Ionia-Clinton-Allegan-Barry-Eaton-
Ingham-Van Buren-Kalamazoo-Calhoun-Jackson-
347 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southwest Lower
Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Occasional thunderstorms are expected this morning through the
afternoon. Damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes
are possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed today.

LMZ844>849-060800-
St Joseph to South Haven MI-South Haven to Holland MI-
Holland to Grand Haven MI-Grand Haven to Whitehall MI-
Whitehall to Pentwater MI-Pentwater to Manistee MI-
347 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southwest Lower
Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Winds and waves will be hazardous to small craft today. Thunderstorms
will pose a hazard to mariners today.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Winds and waves will be hazardous to small craft Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed today.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 8:22 AM EDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
822 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

MIZ045-046-051-051315-
Montcalm MI-Isabella MI-Mecosta MI-
822 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Isabella, Mecosta and
Montcalm Counties through 915 AM EDT...

At 822 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Howard City to 8 miles north of Carson
City. Movement was northeast at 65 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Mount Pleasant...      Big Rapids...          Greenville...
Clare...               Stanton...             Howard City...
Shepherd...            Edmore...              Carson City...
Lakeview...            Morley...              Mecosta...
Rosebush...            Lake Isabella...       Canadian Lakes...
Crystal...             Sidney...              Remus...
Millbrook...           Sheridan...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4346 8484 4312 8484 4312 8531 4329 8532
      4330 8556 4382 8556 4381 8461 4347 8461
TIME...MOT...LOC 1222Z 240DEG 58KT 4342 8545 4330 8482

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

HOVING

Local storm report, Apr 5, 9:10 AM EDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
910 AM EDT WED APR 5 2023

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

0855 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 S IONIA               42.93N 85.07W
04/05/2023  M41 MPH          IONIA              MI   AWOS

            AWOS STATION KY70 IONIA COUNTY ARPT.

&&

MWS

Local storm report, Apr 5, 10:29 AM EDT, 25 minutes before

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Local storm report, Apr 5, 10:37 AM EDT, 17 minutes before

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Local storm report, Apr 5, 10:42 AM EDT, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
1042 AM EDT WED APR 5 2023

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

1000 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW REEMAN            43.45N 86.03W
04/05/2023  M49 MPH          NEWAYGO            MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MIRFW 1.4 NE BRUNSWICK
            (MAWN).

0912 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 17 W KEELER             42.12N 86.49W
04/05/2023  M49 MPH          LMZ844             MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION XSTJ ST. JOSEPH PIER.

1001 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW COMSTOCK PARK     43.01N 85.68W
04/05/2023  M46 MPH          KENT               MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION CW2389 WALKER.

1000 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST MEARS                   43.68N 86.41W
04/05/2023  M44 MPH          OCEANA             MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MIMEA MEARS (MAWN).

1000 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 E WRIGHT              43.12N 85.76W
04/05/2023  M41 MPH          KENT               MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MISPT 2.7 E WRIGHT (MAWN).

0943 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSE SPRINGFIELD       42.32N 85.23W
04/05/2023  M39 MPH          CALHOUN            MI   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KBTL BATTLE CREEK EXECUTIVE
            AIRPORT.

0846 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 E ALLEGAN             42.52N 85.77W
04/05/2023  M38 MPH          ALLEGAN            MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION DW6933 ALLEGAN.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 5, 10:45 AM EDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
1045 AM EDT WED APR 5 2023

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

0912 AM     TSTM WND GST     17 W KEELER             42.12N 86.49W
04/05/2023  M49 MPH          LMZ844             MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION XSTJ ST. JOSEPH PIER.

0759 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 ESE NORTH DORR        42.76N 85.73W
04/05/2023  M47 MPH          ALLEGAN            MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION AV010 NORTH DORR.

0955 AM     TSTM WND GST     SPARTA                  43.16N 85.71W
04/05/2023  M47 MPH          KENT               MI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1001 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 SSW COMSTOCK PARK     43.01N 85.68W
04/05/2023  M46 MPH          KENT               MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION CW2389 WALKER.

0800 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 SSW SOUTH HAVEN       42.36N 86.29W
04/05/2023  M45 MPH          VAN BUREN          MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MISHV 3.1 S SOUTH HAVEN
            (MAWN).

1000 AM     TSTM WND GST     MEARS                   43.68N 86.41W
04/05/2023  M44 MPH          OCEANA             MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MIMEA MEARS (MAWN).

0855 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 S IONIA               42.93N 85.07W
04/05/2023  M41 MPH          IONIA              MI   AWOS

            AWOS STATION KY70 IONIA COUNTY ARPT.

1000 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 E WRIGHT              43.12N 85.76W
04/05/2023  M41 MPH          KENT               MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MISPT 2.7 E WRIGHT (MAWN).

0943 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 SSE SPRINGFIELD       42.32N 85.23W
04/05/2023  M39 MPH          CALHOUN            MI   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KBTL BATTLE CREEK EXECUTIVE
            AIRPORT.

0846 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 E ALLEGAN             42.52N 85.77W
04/05/2023  M38 MPH          ALLEGAN            MI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION DW6933 ALLEGAN.

1021 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 ESE ROCKFORD          43.12N 85.50W
04/05/2023                   KENT               MI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE.

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 4, 8:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	GRR	Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia	34 min
Apr 5, 12:08 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GRR		18 min
Apr 5, 1:21 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GRR		54 min
Apr 5, 3:21 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GRR	Mason	54 min
Apr 5, 5:07 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GRR	Muskegon	23 min
Apr 5, 6:44 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GRR		61 min
Apr 5, 7:18 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Allegan, Barry, Kalamazoo, Van Buren	42 min
Apr 5, 7:29 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GRR		31 min
Apr 5, 7:46 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GRR	Ionia, Kent, Ottawa	59 min
Apr 5, 8:02 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GRR	Clinton, Gratiot	58 min
Apr 5, 8:22 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GRR	Isabella, Mecosta, Montcalm	53 min
Apr 5, 8:45 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GRR		90 min
Apr 5, 9:12 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	GRR	Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot and 7 more	6 hr
Apr 5, 9:18 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Allegan, Kalamazoo, Van Buren	57 min
Apr 5, 9:54 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Kent	42 min
Apr 5, 9:58 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Eaton	47 min
Apr 5, 10:14 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Clinton, Ingham	61 min
Apr 5, 10:17 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Ionia, Montcalm	37 min
Apr 5, 10:34 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Gratiot	41 min
Apr 5, 10:38 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Kalamazoo	52 min
Apr 5, 11:12 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Eaton	46 min
Apr 5, 11:26 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Calhoun	50 min
Apr 5, 11:37 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Ingham	53 min
Apr 5, 11:53 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GRR	Jackson	49 min
Apr 5, 11:54 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Newaygo	6 days
Apr 5, 11:54 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Newaygo	6 days
Apr 5, 11:54 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Kent	5 days
Apr 5, 11:54 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Ottawa	8 days
Apr 5, 11:54 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Ingham	34 hr
Apr 5, 12:22 PM EDT	Gale Warning	GRR		8 hr
Apr 5, 3:49 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Clinton	52 hr
Apr 5, 3:49 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Ingham	64 hr
Apr 5, 3:49 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Ionia	4 days
Apr 5, 3:49 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Kent	4 days
Apr 5, 3:49 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Kent	6 days
Apr 5, 3:49 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Kent	5 days
Apr 5, 6:02 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	GRR	Gratiot	18 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Michigan, 2023 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2023

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.