Michigan, 1998

Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, May 29, 1998

May 29, 1998 · NWS DTX · 10 events in 6 counties and zones

A weak cold front was oriented west to east across northern lower Michigan. A mesoscale convective system developed over the upper Mississippi Valley on the 28th, and stayed just south of the front as it crossed lower Michigan from west to east during the early morning hours of the 29th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$5,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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 DTX wrote it up.

A weak cold front was oriented west to east across northern lower Michigan. A mesoscale convective system developed over the upper Mississippi Valley on the 28th, and stayed just south of the front as it crossed lower Michigan from west to east during the early morning hours of the 29th. Pockets of wind damage were associated with these storms in the Saginaw Valley and Thumb areas.Most of the wind damage was composed of downed trees and power lines. The most notable exception to this was a thunderstorm in northwest Tuscola County. This storm destroyed a large barn just northwest of Fairgrove. A spotter in nearby Akron estimated wind gusts of 80 mph.The next most potent storm of the morning struck southeast Tuscola County and southwest Sanilac County. The only severe hail that morning came from this storm near the Tuscola-Sanilac county line. A National Weather Service employee estimated 70 mph winds near Marlette, with significant tree damage.

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When
May 29, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Saginaw County, Chesaning
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
43.180, -84.120

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When
May 29, 2:15 AM EST
Where
Saginaw County, Birch Run
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
43.250, -83.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When
May 29, 2:25 AM EST to 2:35 AM EST
Where
Genesee County, Flushing to Mt Morris
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
43.070, -83.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When
May 29, 2:30 AM EST
Where
Saginaw County, Saginaw
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
43.420, -83.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Bay

When
May 29, 2:37 AM EST
Where
Bay County, 5 mi E of Bay City
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
43.600, -83.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscola

When
May 29, 2:45 AM EST
Where
Tuscola County, Fairgrove to 2 mi of Akron
Measured
69 kt (79 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
43.530, -83.580

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When
May 29, 2:45 AM EST
Where
Genesee County, Otisville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
43.170, -83.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Lapeer

When
May 29, 2:52 AM EST
Where
Lapeer County, North Branch to Clifford
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
43.230, -83.200

Hail, Tuscola

When
May 29, 3:08 AM EST
Where
Tuscola County, 4 mi SE of Kingston
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
43.380, -83.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Sanilac

When
May 29, 3:18 AM EST
Where
Sanilac County, Marlette
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
43.330, -83.080

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

More

Every storm in Michigan in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, May 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: 5641571, 5641572, 5641579, 5641573, 5641574, 5641577, 5641580, 5641575, 5641578, 5641576.