Michigan, 1997Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Michigan, September 16 to 17, 1997
September 16 to 17, 1997 · NWS GRR · 7 events in 4 counties and zones
6 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.
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
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $55,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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.
Thunderstorm Wind, Mason
- When
- September 16, 11:15 PM EST
- Where
- Mason County, Ludington
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Coordinates
- 43.950, -86.450
A peak wind gust of 57 mph registered at the Mason County Airport just east of Ludington when a line of severe thunderstorms moved onshore around 12:15 AM EDT, Wednesday, September 17, 1997. The Mason County Road Commission reported trees and power lines were downed across the county, cutting power to 500 customers of Consumers Energy and Western Michigan Electric Cooperative. One tree, nine feet in circumference, toppled onto the roof of the Ludington Outboard Club building along the Pere Marquette Lake.
Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa
- When
- September 16, 11:30 PM EST
- Where
- Ottawa County, Spring Lake
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Coordinates
- 43.070, -86.180
Trees and power lines were downed in Spring Lake. Consumers Energy reported 300 customers in the Tri-Cities, Fruitport, and Coopersville areas lost power because of downed trees and wires.
Thunderstorm Wind, Mason
- When
- September 16, 11:45 PM EST
- Where
- Mason County, Fountain
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Coordinates
- 44.050, -86.180
Trees and power lines were downed in Fountain.
Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa
- When
- September 16, 11:45 PM EST
- Where
- Ottawa County, Nunica
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Coordinates
- 43.080, -86.070
Trees and power lines were downed in Nunica.
Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa
- When
- September 17, 12:00 AM EST
- Where
- Ottawa County, Coopersville
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Coordinates
- 43.070, -85.950
Trees and power lines were downed in Coopersville.
Flash Flood, Kent
- When
- September 17, 1:20 AM EST
- Where
- Kent County, Grand Rapids
- Coordinates
- 43.032, -85.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Urban flooding in the northeast quadrant of Grand Rapids left standing water at the intersection of Plainfield Road and 4-Mile Road. Three vehicles were stranded while trying to cross the flooded intersection.
Thunderstorm Wind, Muskegon
- When
- September 17, 11:30 PM EST
- Where
- Muskegon County, Fruitport
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Coordinates
- 43.120, -86.150
Trees and power lines were downed in Fruitport.
- 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.
- Flash Flood
- Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, September 16, 1997$205,000 · 55 kt wind · 5 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Wisconsin, September 16, 1997$68,000 · 19 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Wisconsin, September 16, 1997$57,000 · 8 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Iowa, September 16, 199754 kt wind · 10 events
- Waterspouts in Florida, September 16, 19974 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, September 16, 1997$4,000 · 0.75 in hail · 4 events
- Damaging Winds in Florida, September 16, 1997$6,000 · 3 events
- Damaging Winds in Illinois, September 16, 199752 kt wind · 3 events
- High Wind in Oregon, September 16 to 17, 199761 kt wind · 2 events
- Hail in North Dakota, September 16, 19970.75 in hail · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in North Dakota, September 16, 1997$3,000 · 1 event
- High Wind in Oregon, September 16, 19971 event
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: 5616849, 5616851, 5616850, 5616852, 5616853, 5616855, 5616854.