Damaging Wind in Michigan, July 7, 1996

A cold front passed through southeast Michigan late in the afternoon on the 7th. Severe thunderstorms developed along the front, producing 3/4 inch diameter hail in a few places from southern Genesee county into northern Oakland county. The heaviest damage began as the storms reached central Oakland county. Wind gusts to 55 knots flipped airplanes at the Oakland county airport west of Pontiac, and blew down several trees in a path from Waterford southeast across Pontiac. The damage increased as the storm continued to the southeast across Macomb county, where over 500 home owners filed insurance claims with AAA Michigan, and at least 900 claimes were received by State Farm Insurance. The core of strongest winds tracked from northwest to southeast across the towns of Sterling Heights, Fraser, Roseville and Saint Clair Shores. Roofs were torn off of several buildings, and many large trees were blown down. The roof was torn off of an elementary school in Roseville, and a parked tractor trailer was overturned at the Macomb Mall. One women was injured when she was hit by a falling tree. Approximately 62,000 people in Oakland and Macomb counties were left without power.