Michigan, 1998

Tornadoes and Hail in Michigan, May 31, 1998

May 31, 1998 · NWS APX · 34 events in 17 counties and zones

27 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 2 hail, 1 lightning, 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
34

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 national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 2 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kalkaska

When
May 31, 3:44 AM EST
Where
Kalkaska County, Kalkaska
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
44.730, -85.170

Thunderstorm Wind, Missaukee

When
May 31, 3:45 AM EST
Where
Missaukee County, Mc Bain
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
44.200, -85.220

Strong straight-line thunderstorm winds toppled two silos.

Thunderstorm Wind, Manistee

When
May 31, 3:47 AM EST
Where
Manistee County, Manistee
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.250, -86.320

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous powerlines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grand Traverse

When
May 31, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Grand Traverse County, Traverse City
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.770, -85.620

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wexford

When
May 31, 4:15 AM EST
Where
Wexford County, Mesick
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.400, -85.700

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines. Some trees were toppled onto homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wexford

When
May 31, 4:15 AM EST
Where
Wexford County, Harrietta
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.300, -85.700

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous powerlines and large trees. Some trees were toppled onto homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kalkaska

When
May 31, 4:24 AM EST
Where
Kalkaska County, Kalkaska
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.730, -85.170

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kalkaska

When
May 31, 4:25 AM EST
Where
Kalkaska County, 2 mi N of Kalkaska
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Coordinates
44.770, -85.170

Strong straight-line thunderstorm winds tore the roof off a building.

Thunderstorm Wind, Missaukee

When
May 31, 4:25 AM EST
Where
Missaukee County, Jennings
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.330, -85.280

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and tore 8 - 9" diameter branches off of others.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kalkaska

When
May 31, 4:26 AM EST
Where
Kalkaska County, 5 mi NE of Kalkaska
Measured
78 kt (90 mph)
Coordinates
44.780, -85.100

Strong thunderstorm wind gusts to 90 mph tore the roof off one home and toppled trees onto several others.

Thunderstorm Wind, Missaukee

When
May 31, 4:30 AM EST
Where
Missaukee County, Lake City
Measured
78 kt (90 mph)
Coordinates
44.330, -85.220

Strong straight-line thunderstorm winds up to 90 mph damaged 3 homes and destroyed several barns and sheds.

Tornado, Missaukee

When
May 31, 4:30 AM EST
Where
Missaukee County, 5 mi SE of Lake City
Rating
F0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
100 yd
Coordinates
44.280, -85.150

A tornado on the ground for around 500 yards snapped off numerous trees about 5 feet above the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Otsego

When
May 31, 4:30 AM EST
Where
Otsego County, Gaylord
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.030, -84.680

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines.

Lightning, Otsego

When
May 31, 4:30 AM EST
Where
Otsego County, Gaylord
Coordinates
45.021, -84.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning strikes started 2 house fires.

Tornado, Antrim

When
May 31, 4:35 AM EST
Where
Antrim County, Torch Lake
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
45.070, -85.370

The brief tornado touchdown did little damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When
May 31, 4:47 AM EST
Where
Crawford County, Frederic
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.780, -84.730

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines.

Tornado, Kalkaska

When
May 31, 4:50 AM EST
Where
Kalkaska County, Kalkaska to 2 mi NE of Kalkaska
Rating
F1
Path length
7 mi
Path width
100 yd
Coordinates
44.750, -85.200

A tornado intermittently on the ground for around 7 miles destroyed one mobile home and damaged 2 others. The combination of tornadic and straight-line winds also downed numerous trees.

Hail, Crawford

When
May 31, 4:50 AM EST
Where
Crawford County, 10 mi SE of Grayling
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.570, -84.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Roscommon

When
May 31, 4:54 AM EST
Where
Roscommon County, Houghton Lake
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
44.300, -84.750

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees. Some trees were toppled onto homes.

Tornado, Crawford

When
May 31, 4:55 AM EST
Where
Crawford County, 10 mi N of Grayling
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
44.820, -84.700

The brief tornado touchdown heavilly damaged 1 home.

Hail, Roscommon

When
May 31, 4:59 AM EST
Where
Roscommon County, 2 mi NW of Roscommon
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.520, -84.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Oscoda

When
May 31, 5:05 AM EST
Where
Oscoda County, 3 mi NE of Luzerne
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.650, -84.220

Strong thunderstorm winds downed several trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When
May 31, 5:05 AM EST
Where
Crawford County, 10 mi SE of Grayling
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
44.570, -84.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Montmorency

When
May 31, 5:07 AM EST
Where
Montmorency County, Atlanta
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.000, -84.150

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oscoda

When
May 31, 5:10 AM EST
Where
Oscoda County, Luzerne
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
44.620, -84.270

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oscoda

When
May 31, 5:10 AM EST
Where
Oscoda County, Mio
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.650, -84.130

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gladwin

When
May 31, 5:10 AM EST
Where
Gladwin County, 10 mi SE of Gladwin
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
43.880, -84.330

Strong thunderstorm winds up to 70 mph toppled a tower and numerous trees of up to 18 - 20" in diameter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gladwin

When
May 31, 5:15 AM EST
Where
Gladwin County, 6 mi N of Gladwin
Measured
78 kt (90 mph)
Coordinates
44.070, -84.480

Strong straight-line thunderstorm winds destroyed a barn and house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ogemaw

When
May 31, 5:20 AM EST
Where
Ogemaw County, West Branch
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.280, -84.220

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oscoda

When
May 31, 5:20 AM EST
Where
Oscoda County, Mio
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
44.650, -84.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Alcona

When
May 31, 5:27 AM EST
Where
Alcona County, Curran
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Coordinates
44.720, -83.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Arenac

When
May 31, 5:30 AM EST
Where
Arenac County, Standish
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
43.980, -83.970

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines countywide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iosco

When
May 31, 5:33 AM EST
Where
Iosco County, East Tawas
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.280, -83.480

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines countywide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Alpena

When
May 31, 5:35 AM EST
Where
Alpena County, Alpena
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.070, -83.450

Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and powerlines countywide.

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.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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.

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 historyThe tornado archive for Michigan, 1998Warnings 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: 5647486, 5647487, 5645758, 5645759, 5645760, 5645761, 5645762, 5645763, 5645765, 5645764, 5645766, 5645767, 5645768, 5645769, 5645770, 5645771, 5645772, 5645773, 5645862, 5645863, 5645864, 5645865, 5645866, 5645867, 5645868, 5645869, 5645870, 5645871, 5645872, 5645873, 5645874, 5645875, 5645876, 5645877.