Michigan, 1998

Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, September 7 to 26, 1998

September 7 to 26, 1998 · NWS GRR · 10 events in 9 counties and zones

The supercell of the moring of September 26th produced hail and wind damage across the northern tier of the GRR CWA. Emergency Manager of Clare County estimates 200 to 500 k dollars damage with hail to softball size.

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
$305,000
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 GRR wrote it up.

The supercell of the moring of September 26th produced hail and wind damage across the northern tier of the GRR CWA. Emergency Manager of Clare County estimates 200 to 500 k dollars damage with hail to softball size. Skylights were wiped out with automobile and other structural and roof and antenna damage noted.

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:36 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Van Buren

When
September 7, 12:35 AM EST to 1:20 AM EST
Where
Van Buren County, Hartford to Lawton
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
42.200, -86.170

Isolated pulse severe thunderstorms producing winds in excess of 60 mph downing large trees in Hartford and Porter townships

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
September 7, 2:50 AM EST to 3:15 AM EST
Where
Jackson County, Napoleon
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.170, -84.250

Large trees down 3-4 NW Napolean at 0250 and 0315 and 4 w Brooklyn at 0310.

Thunderstorm Wind, Isabella

When
September 20, 3:45 PM EST
Where
Isabella County, Mt Pleasant
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
43.600, -84.770

Wind Damage to trees and utility poles

Thunderstorm Wind, Clare

When
September 20, 4:25 PM EST
Where
Clare County, Harrison
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.020, -84.800

Wind Damage to homes and trees 4 NE Harrrison.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kalamazoo

When
September 20, 4:40 PM EST to 4:50 PM EST
Where
Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
42.280, -85.570

Treees Knocked down from 2 miles west of Kalamazoo through downtown..

Thunderstorm Wind, Barry

When
September 20, 5:35 PM EST
Where
Barry County, Hastings
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
42.650, -85.280

Large Tree down 5 miles south of Hastings.

Hail, Mason

When
September 26, 3:15 AM EST
Where
Mason County, Ludington
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.950, -86.450

1 inch hail produced by Supercell moving east at 35 mph.

Hail, Lake

When
September 26, 4:20 AM EST
Where
Lake County, Wolf Lake
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.030, -85.850

3/4" hail produced by supercell moving east.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osceola

When
September 26, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Osceola County, Marion
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.100, -85.150

Wind damage to large trees.

Hail, Clare

When
September 26, 5:30 AM EST to 5:50 AM EST
Where
Clare County, Leota to Harrison
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$300,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.130, -84.880

1.75 to 3 inch hail damaged buildings and vehicles damage amount is unknown.

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, September 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: 5675603, 5675604, 5675606, 5675607, 5675608, 5675609, 5675610, 5675611, 5675612, 5675613.