Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, July 20, 1994

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, July 20, 1994
Start: 1994-07-20T03:00
End: 1994-07-20T21:22
Location: Michigan

July 20, 1994 · 43 events in 25 counties and zones

40 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 43 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $81,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 43

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

40 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskegon

When: July 20, 3:00 AM EST to 3:15 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Montague to Countywide
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees and power lines were reported down accompanied by an observed gust to 51 knots. Extremely rapid lightning frequently lighted the entire sky. A dog was killed by a lightning stroke.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oceana

When: July 20, 3:35 AM EST
Where: Oceana County, New Era
Coordinates: 43.682, -86.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees were reported down throughout the village.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newaygo

When: July 20, 3:59 AM EST
Where: Newaygo County, Fremont
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.554, -85.801 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down throughout the county. Minor structural damage was also observed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newaygo

When: July 20, 4:08 AM EST
Where: Newaygo County, Bitely
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 43.554, -85.801 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down throughout the county. Minor structural damage was also observed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Isabella

When: July 20, 4:30 AM EST
Where: Isabella County, Weidman to Mop
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates: 43.641, -84.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Reported by spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newaygo

When: July 20, 4:32 AM EST
Where: Newaygo County, Newaygo
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 43.554, -85.801 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down throughout the county. Minor structural damage was also observed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montcalm

When: July 20, 4:45 AM EST
Where: Montcalm County, Greenville
Coordinates: 43.311, -85.152 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several large limbs and one large tree were blown down at Baldwin Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecosta

When: July 20, 4:48 AM EST
Where: Mecosta County, Big Rapids
Coordinates: 43.641, -85.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees and power lines were downed by the wind. Torrential rain caused creeks and small streams to rise to near bankfull in the eastern half of the county.

Hail, Midland

When: July 20, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Midland County, Ionia to Coleman
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 43.647, -84.388 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees were knocked down in the communities of Coleman and Sanford.

Thunderstorm Wind, Midland

When: July 20, 5:13 AM EST
Where: Midland County to Sanford
Coordinates: 43.647, -84.388 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees were knocked down in the communities of Coleman and Sanford.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clinton

When: July 20, 5:20 AM EST
Where: Clinton County, Watertown Twp to Lan
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 42.944, -84.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees down. One farm had several outbuildings and a 120 foot tall grain elevator damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Shiawassee

When: July 20, 6:10 AM EST
Where: Shiawassee County, Owosso
Coordinates: 42.954, -84.147 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Shiawassee County Sheriff's department reported numerous large limbs down from strong thunderstorm winds.

Hail, Allegan

When: July 20, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Allegan County, Port Austin
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 42.518, -85.910 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allegan

When: July 20, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Allegan County, Allegan
Coordinates: 42.518, -85.910 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Van Buren

When: July 20, 6:05 PM EST
Where: Van Buren County, Bloomingdale
Coordinates: 42.285, -86.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Barry

When: July 20, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Barry County, Hastings
Coordinates: 42.595, -85.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clinton

When: July 20, 6:50 PM EST
Where: Clinton County, St. Johns to Lan
Coordinates: 42.944, -84.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees reported down one mile north of St. Johns at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Kinley Road.

Hail, Kalamazoo

When: July 20, 6:55 PM EST
Where: Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 42.245, -85.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several 12 to 18-inch diameter trees were blown down in a heavily wooded area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kalamazoo

When: July 20, 6:55 PM EST
Where: Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo
Coordinates: 42.245, -85.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several 12 to 18-inch diameter trees were blown down in a heavily wooded area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kent

When: July 20, 6:55 PM EST
Where: Kent County, Caledonia
Coordinates: 43.032, -85.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lenawee

When: July 20, 7:10 PM EST
Where: Lenawee County, Hudson
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 41.895, -84.066 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported widespread wind damage with large branches down and work sheds blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa

When: July 20, 7:18 PM EST
Where: Ottawa County, Jamestown
Coordinates: 43.003, -86.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Livingston

When: July 20, 7:29 PM EST
Where: Livingston County, Fowlerville
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 42.603, -83.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sheriff Department reported a tree blown onto a house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kent

When: July 20, 7:30 PM EST
Where: Kent County, Grand Rapids
Coordinates: 43.032, -85.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees and power lines were blown down in the northwest part of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa

When: July 20, 7:30 PM EST
Where: Ottawa County, Holland
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 43.003, -86.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large tree was uprooted, and the wall of a building under construction was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ingham

When: July 20, 7:47 PM EST
Where: Ingham County, Stockbridge to Lan
Coordinates: 42.597, -84.373 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees and power lines blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lenawee

When: July 20, 7:50 PM EST
Where: Lenawee County, Rome Center
Coordinates: 41.895, -84.066 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported numerous trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When: July 20, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Genesee County, Montrose
Coordinates: 43.022, -83.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm wind gusts downed trees and peeled some siding off a home in Montrose. Lightning struck a 60 by 140 feet barn, two miles southeast of Grand Blanc, resulting in a blaze that destroyed the entire structure. The one horse that was an inhabitant of the barn, was rescued from the fire. The barn was one of the largest in Genesee County, and was valued at $30,000.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ionia

When: July 20, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Ionia County
Coordinates: 42.945, -85.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees were blown down throughout the county as thunderstorms moved through between 2000 EST and 2030 EST. Some of the trees blocked roads.

Thunderstorm Wind, Livingston

When: July 20, 8:05 PM EST
Where: Livingston County, Howell
Coordinates: 42.603, -83.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sheriff Department reported numerous trees blown down in the city, some onto houses.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ingham

When: July 20, 8:13 PM EST
Where: Ingham County, Near Dansville to Lan
Coordinates: 42.597, -84.373 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large trees blown down along Meridian Road, two miles west of Dansville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: July 20, 8:20 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County to Ann Arbor
Coordinates: 42.253, -83.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported trees down blocking roads near intersection of Interstae 94 and State Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kent

When: July 20, 8:25 PM EST
Where: Kent County, Grand Rapids
Coordinates: 43.032, -85.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees and power lines were blown down on the northeast side of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When: July 20, 8:30 PM EST
Where: Genesee County, Fenton
Coordinates: 43.022, -83.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous large tree limbs were knocked down at various locations in the community of Fenton. In Goodrich, numerous trees, power lines, phone lines, and cable lines were blown down. A large tree was blown onto a dog house at a residence, crushing it, and a large tree fell across M-15. At Shinanguag Lake, just south of Goodrich, numerous large trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscola

When: July 20, 8:30 PM EST
Where: Tuscola County, Unionville
Coordinates: 43.491, -83.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous large trees were downed in Unionville. Numerous two to three-inch diameter trees were blown down three miles east of Kingston.

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When: July 20, 8:40 PM EST
Where: Genesee County, Goodrich
Coordinates: 43.022, -83.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When: July 20, 8:45 PM EST
Where: Saginaw County, Arthur
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 43.335, -84.053 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter estimated a thunderstorm wind gusts to 60 mph just north of Arthur.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscola

When: July 20, 8:45 PM EST
Where: Tuscola County, Kingston
Coordinates: 43.491, -83.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous large trees were downed in Unionville. Numerous two to three-inch diameter trees were blown down three miles east of Kingston.

Thunderstorm Wind, Huron

When: July 20, 8:50 PM EST to 9:10 PM EST
Where: Huron County
Coordinates: 43.910, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county sheriff's department reported numerous trees down from thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lapeer

When: July 20, 9:00 PM EST
Where: Lapeer County, Hadley
Coordinates: 43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Power lines were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lapeer

When: July 20, 9:00 PM EST
Where: Lapeer County, Lapeer
Coordinates: 43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Power lines were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscola

When: July 20, 9:00 PM EST
Where: Tuscola County, Gagetown
Coordinates: 43.491, -83.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three large trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lapeer

When: July 20, 9:22 PM EST
Where: Lapeer County, Lapeer
Coordinates: 43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large tree was blown down across an intersection.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Michigan in 1994 Every state in 1994 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, July 1994

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10331685, 10331470, 10331177, 10331178, 10329318, 10331179, 10331642, 10328969, 10328982, 10328983, 10329375, 10331482, 10328917, 10328918, 10331530, 10329057, 10329376, 10329388, 10329389, 10329524, 10329142, 10331571, 10329411, 10328948, 10331572, 10329135, 10329143, 10328947, 10329193, 10329412, 10329136, 10331556, 10328949, 10328976, 10331506, 10329016, 10331435, 10331520, 10329084, 10329088, and more.