Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, July 8, 1997

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, July 8, 1997
Start: 1997-07-08T13:00
End: 1997-07-08T18:30
Location: Michigan

July 8, 1997 · NWS GRR · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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: 1
Property damage: $15,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:52 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Ionia

When: July 8, 1:00 PM EST
Where: Ionia County, Lake Odessa
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 42.945, -85.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 15-year-old boy was struck by lightning around 2 PM EDT Tuesday, July 8, 1997, behind the rectory of St. Edward Catholic Church in Lake Odessa. Luke Stebbins was taken to Pennock Hospital in Hastings by rescue personnel, where doctors were able to resuscitate him. Lake Odessa Police Chief John Shaw said Stebbins suffered a heart attack and some swelling of the brain when he was struck. The boy was transferred to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids later that evening in critical condition. On July 23rd, he was transferred to Mary Freebed Hospital for rehabilitation.

Hail, Jackson

When: July 8, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Jackson County, Hanover
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 42.100, -84.550

Jackson Central Dispatch relayed reports from Hanover Township fire officials of nickel-sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: July 8, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Jackson County, Hanover
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 42.100, -84.550

Jackson Central Dispatch reported trees uprooted along Fowler Road in Hanover Township. Local fire officials estimated winds gusted to 50 mph in the thunderstorm.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hillsdale

When: July 8, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Hillsdale County, Osseo
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 41.880, -84.530

Hillsdale County Emergency Operations reported trees and electrical wires downed 3 miles southeast of Hillsdale near Osseo and Pleasant Lake, in Jefferson Township. Power was cut for approximately 400 Consumers Energy customers.

What these are

Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Michigan in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, July 1997

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: 5617662, 5617660, 5617663, 5617661.