Michigan, 1998

Damaging Winds and Waterspout in Michigan, June 27, 1998

June 27, 1998 · NWS GRR · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

A line of thunderstorms moved across Lake Michigan and onshore from Oceana County south to near Benton Harbor during the early morning hours of Saturday, June 27th. Wind gusts to 62 mph were reported in Muskegon and power lines were downed in and around the city.

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$3,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GRR wrote it up.

A line of thunderstorms moved across Lake Michigan and onshore from Oceana County south to near Benton Harbor during the early morning hours of Saturday, June 27th. Wind gusts to 62 mph were reported in Muskegon and power lines were downed in and around the city. A waterspout was reported just offshore South Haven, but dissipated before moving onshore. The majority of the reports from the area indicated wind gusts to 40 mph with brief heavy rainfall. Unconfirmed funnel cloud reports came in from Allegan and Kalamazoo Counties, however no damage was reported in either county.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 waterspout. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskegon

When
June 27, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Muskegon County, Muskegon
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.230, -86.230

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskegon

When
June 27, 6:10 AM EST
Where
Muskegon County, Muskegon
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.230, -86.230

A trained weather spotter reported a 60 mph wind gust at 7:00 am EDT, then a 62 mph wind gust at 7:10 am EDT, as measured by his local anemometer.

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskegon

When
June 27, 6:10 AM EST
Where
Muskegon County, Muskegon
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.230, -86.230

Muskegon County Central Dispatch reported power lines were downed at scattered locations across the cities of Muskegon and Norton Shores.

Waterspout, Van Buren

When
June 27, 6:47 AM EST
Where
Van Buren County, South Haven
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.285, -86.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Michigan State Police Post in South Haven reported a waterspout just offshore South Haven over Lake Michigan. The waterspout was short-lived as it moved south and dissipated before moving onshore. No injuries or damage was reported.

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.
Waterspout
A tornado over water. One that moves ashore is filed as a tornado from the coastline on.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Michigan in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, June 1998

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: 5657580, 5657581, 5657582, 5657583.