Michigan, 1999

Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, June 11, 1999

June 11, 1999 · NWS GRR · 7 events in 6 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed across southern lower Michigan during the afternoon hours, in a very warm humid and unstable air mass out ahead of a cold front that was moving across the region. The first thunderstorms fired along a lake breeze boundary and moved slowly north.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GRR wrote it up.

Thunderstorms developed across southern lower Michigan during the afternoon hours, in a very warm humid and unstable air mass out ahead of a cold front that was moving across the region. The first thunderstorms fired along a lake breeze boundary and moved slowly north. This activity produced several reports of gusty winds that brought down trees and tree limbs. There were also a couple of reports of 3/4 inch diameter hail.

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:32 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Newaygo

When
June 11, 2:30 PM EST to 2:37 PM EST
Where
Newaygo County, White Cloud to Big Prairie
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
43.550, -85.770

0.75" diameter hail was observed in White Cloud. 8 to 10 inch diameter limbs were downed by gusty thunderstorm winds near Trumbull Corners, just to the north of Big Prairie.

Thunderstorm Wind, Van Buren

When
June 11, 2:33 PM EST
Where
Van Buren County, Decatur
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
42.120, -85.970

Trees were downed by gusty thunderstorm winds in Decatur.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kent

When
June 11, 2:35 PM EST
Where
Kent County, Rockford
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
43.120, -85.570

1 foot diameter trees were downed by gusty thunderstorm winds near Algoma, just to the northwest of Rockford.

Hail, Kalamazoo

When
June 11, 2:37 PM EST
Where
Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
42.280, -85.570

0.75" diameter hail was observed in Kalamazoo.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montcalm

When
June 11, 3:24 PM EST
Where
Montcalm County, Entrican
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
43.350, -85.150

Gusty thunderstorm winds blew down several trees in Entrican.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kent

When
June 11, 3:35 PM EST
Where
Kent County, Bowen
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
42.880, -85.630

18 inch tree limbs were downed by thunderstorm wind gusts in Bowne Center.

Thunderstorm Wind, Barry

When
June 11, 3:52 PM EST
Where
Barry County, Irving
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
42.680, -85.420

2 foot diameter trees were blown down by gusty thunderstorm winds in Irving.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Michigan in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, June 1999

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: 5708544, 5708460, 5708542, 5708543, 5708545, 5708546, 5708547.