Damaging Winds in Michigan, April 23, 2001

Name: Damaging Winds in Michigan, April 23, 2001
Start: 2001-04-23T16:05
End: 2001-04-23T18:34
Location: Michigan

April 23, 2001 · NWS DTX · 13 events in 10 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved northeast across the northern Great Lakes. The low pushed a cold front into southeast Michigan in the evening.

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: $78,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 strong low pressure system moved northeast across the northern Great Lakes. The low pushed a cold front into southeast Michigan in the evening. Thunderstorms ignited ahead of the cold front, and several became severe, producing sporadic wind damage.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Detroit, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 23, 2:12 PM EST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 23, 2:12 PM EST, 1 hour 53 minutes before

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
312 PM EDT MON APR 23 2001

PAIR OF COLD FRONTS TO PASS THRU THE AREA TONIGHT/EARLY TUESDAY...
PROVIDING A BRIEF RETURN TO MORE NORMAL TEMPS. BY FAR THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT WX IN THIS FORECAST WL OCCUR IN THE NEXT 6-10 HOURS...AS
WE DEAL WITH THE CONVECTION AND HIGH WIND THREATS AHEAD OF/WITH THE
FIRST FROPA.

LEADING COLD FRONT WAS CROSSING WI THIS AFTERNOON...AND WL CROSS THE
CWA DURING THE MID TO LATE EVENING HOURS. SHRA/TSRA WL CONTINUE
UNTIL THEN. INSTABILITY IS SOMEWHAT LACKING...AS THE AIR MASS IS NOT
TRULY JUICY (DEW POINTS AROUND 60). CAPES ARE PUSHING TO AROUND 1K
J/KG...WITH TSRA ERUPTING ON THE LEADING EDGE OF COOLER AIR ALOFT.
WITH 50KT WINDS ONLY A FEW THOUSAND FEET OFF THE GROUND THIS
EVENING...WIND DAMAGE IS THE BIGGEST SVR THREAT. SREH 0-3KM VALUES
200-250 RANGE...SUPPORTIVE OF SUPERCELLS...THOUGH THERE MAY ACTUALLY
BE TOO MUCH SHEAR FOR THE INSTABLILTY AVAILABLE TO ALLOW UPDRAFTS TO
PERSIST AND HOLD TOGETHER. NONETHELESS...LARGE HAIL IS ALSO A THREAT
IF SUPERCELL DYNAMICS COME INTO PLAY.

DRY AIR POISED TO SWEEP IN BEHIND THE FRONT TONIGHT...WHILE MOISTURE
POOLS FURTHER NORTH AND WEST ALONG A SECONDARY COLD FRONT AND IN THE
THE COLD CONVEYER BELT. WIND GUSTS TO 40MPH HAVE BEEN NOTED WITH
FROPA IN NW IL/SE IOWA...AS QUICK SHOT OF DESCENT BRINGS STRONGER
GUSTS DOWN. OUR GRADIENT SHOULD NOT BE QUITE AS TIGHT...AND DIURNAL
MIXING WL HAVE CEASED...SO THINK A FEW GUSTS TO 35-40MPH WL COVER
THINGS. THE NRN ZONES WL GET GRAZED BY THE TAIL END OF THE DEEPER
MOISTURE AROUND 12Z TUESDAY...AND KEEP A CHANCE OF LATE NIGHT/EARLY
MORNING SHRA UP THAT WAY.

OTHERWISE...TUESDAY WL BE BREEZY BUT DRY. LINGERING LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE AND INVERSION HEIGHTS UP TO 6K FEET WL SUPPORT DECENT
AMOUNT OF CU/STRATOCU DEVELOPMENT. WITH 850MB TEMPS DROPPING INTO
THE -3/-5 RANGE...HARD TO SEE US PUSHING 60 LIKE FWC INDICATES...AND
WL KEEP MAX TEMPS NO HIGHER THAN THE MID 50S.

LOSS OF HEATING WL CLEAR US OUT QUICKLY TUE NIGHT...AND RIDGE AXIS
BUILDING INTO FAR SRN MI WL GIVE TEMPS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO CRATER.
FOR ONCE...ETA 2M TEMPS ARE MUCH WARMER THAN OTHER GUIDANCE...AND AS
USUAL ETA 2M TEMPS LOOK WRONG. TEMPS WL RANGE FROM AROUND 30...TO
THE MIDDLE 30S IN DETROIT (RECORD LOWS ARE IN THE MIDDLE 20S).
THROUGH WE HAVE NOT YET REVVED UP THE FROST/FREEZE PROGRAM THIS
SPRING...ANY TENDER VEGETATION OUT THERE COULD HAVE A ROUGH GO OF IT
TUE NIGHT.

MOISTURE INCREASES RAPIDLY WED MORNING AS SHORTWAVE DROPPING DOWN IN
NW FLOW ENCOUNTERS WAA REGIME ON BACK SIDE OF RIDGE. THAT SAID...
ACTUAL OMEGA IS DIFFICULT TO FIND...IN FACT DOWNWARD MOTION SEEMS TO
BE THE RULE OF THE DAY. DRY AIR BELOW 850MB WL ALSO PROVE A
CHALLENGE TO OVERCOME. WL JUST MENTION SPRINKLES. AGAIN WL GO AT OR
BELOW FWC GUIDANCE...CLOSER TO MAV...AS SOME WAA IS COMPENSATED BY
LOTS OF CLOUDS.

EXTENDED...LONGWAVE TROF OVER THE ERN US WL MOVE OUT TO SEA EARLY IN
THE EXTENDED. WITH ITS DEPARTURE...500MB PATTERN TAKES ON A MID/LATE
SUMMERTIME LOOK. UPPER RIDGING TAKES HOLD OVER MOST OF THE NATION...
WITH THE BULK OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY PASSING WELL TO OUR NORTH ACROSS
CANADA. A SYSTEM TO THE NORTH LOOKS TO DROP A COLD FRONT ON US
FRI...WHICH STALLS AND THEN RETURNS NORTH LATE SATURDAY OR SUNDAY.
HOWEVER...SURFACE RIDGE AXIS ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE GULF COAST WL
CUT OFF ANY MOISTURE INFLOW FROM THAT REGION. INSTEAD...WE WL TAP A
WEST TEXAS AIRMASS DURING OUR PERIODS OF WAA...SHARPLY LIMITING
MOISTURE AVAILABILITY. WL KEEP A SHRA MENTION FRI AFTERNOON...AS
FRONT DROPS INTO CWA DURING MAX HEATING. WL GO DRY AND WARM FOR THE
REST OF THE EXTENDED.

.DTX...GALE WARNING...TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING...LAKE HURON.

ZOLTOWSKI

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 11:20 AM EST, 4 hours 45 minutes before

MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-241200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
1220 PM EDT MON APR 23 2001

...SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN...

DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS IMMEDIATELY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE SOME MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE
MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS GUSTS TO 60 MPH.  HAIL UP TO THREE
QUARTER INCHES IN DIAMETER WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE. THE BEST CHANCE FOR
ANY SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE MOSTLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 69 FROM FLINT
TO PORT HURON. SPOTTER MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 3 PM.

A COLD FRONT ACROSS WESTERN WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS WILL MOVE EAST
INTO WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN THIS EVENING AND THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN
MICHIGAN BY MIDNIGHT. A SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BAND OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP A HEAD OF THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
WESTERN MICHIGAN AND INDIANA.  THE LINE ITSELF WILL MOVE TO THE EAST
AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHILE THE INDIVIDUALLY THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE
MOVE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 50 MPH.  THE SAGINAW VALLEY EXPECT THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY BETWEEN 2 AND 5 PM...WITH THE REST OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN MAINLY
BETWEEN 4 AND 8 PM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET...
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.,

DRC

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 11:27 AM EST, 4 hours 38 minutes before

MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-241200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
1220 PM EDT SUN APR 22 2001

...SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN...

DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS IMMEDIATELY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE SOME MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE
MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS GUSTS TO 60 MPH.  HAIL UP TO THREE
QUARTER INCHES IN DIAMETER WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE. THE BEST CHANCE FOR
ANY SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE MOSTLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 69 FROM FLINT
TO PORT HURON. SPOTTER MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 3 PM.

A COLD FRONT ACROSS WESTERN WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS WILL MOVE EAST
INTO WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN THIS EVENING AND THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN
MICHIGAN BY MIDNIGHT. A SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BAND OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP A HEAD OF THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
WESTERN MICHIGAN AND INDIANA.  THE LINE ITSELF WILL MOVE TO THE EAST
AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHILE THE INDIVIDUALLY THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE
MOVE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 50 MPH.  THE SAGINAW VALLEY EXPECT THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY BETWEEN 2 AND 5 PM...WITH THE REST OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN MAINLY
BETWEEN 4 AND 8 PM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET...
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

DRC

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 11:35 AM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes before

MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-241200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
1235 PM EDT MON APR 23 2001

...SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN...

DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS IMMEDIATELY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE SOME MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE
MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS GUSTS TO 60 MPH.  HAIL UP TO THREE
QUARTER INCHES IN DIAMETER WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE. THE BEST CHANCE FOR
ANY SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE MOSTLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 69 FROM FLINT
TO PORT HURON. SPOTTER MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 3 PM.

A COLD FRONT ACROSS WESTERN WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS WILL MOVE EAST
INTO WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN THIS EVENING AND THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN
MICHIGAN BY MIDNIGHT. A SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BAND OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP A HEAD OF THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
WESTERN MICHIGAN AND INDIANA.  THE LINE ITSELF WILL MOVE TO THE EAST
AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHILE THE INDIVIDUALLY THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE
MOVE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 50 MPH.  THE SAGINAW VALLEY CAN EXPECT
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY BETWEEN 2 AND 6 PM...WITH THE REST OF
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN MAINLY BETWEEN 4 AND 8 PM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET...
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

DRC

CORRECTION TO VERSION ISSUED

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 1:24 PM EST, 2 hours 41 minutes before

MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-241200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN...RETRANSMISSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
1235 PM EDT MON APR 23 2001

...SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN...

DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS IMMEDIATELY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE SOME MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE
MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS GUSTS TO 60 MPH.  HAIL UP TO THREE
QUARTER INCHES IN DIAMETER WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE. THE BEST CHANCE
FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE MOSTLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 69 FROM
FLINT TO PORT HURON. SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 3 PM.

A COLD FRONT ACROSS WESTERN WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS WILL MOVE EAST
INTO WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN THIS EVENING AND THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN
MICHIGAN BY MIDNIGHT. A SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BAND OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP A HEAD OF THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
WESTERN MICHIGAN AND INDIANA.  THE LINE ITSELF WILL MOVE TO THE EAST
AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHILE THE INDIVIDUALLY THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE
MOVE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 50 MPH.  THE SAGINAW VALLEY CAN EXPECT
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY BETWEEN 2 AND 6 PM...WITH THE REST OF
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN MAINLY BETWEEN 4 AND 8 PM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET...
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

DRC

CORRECTION TO VERSION ISSUED

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 3:35 PM EST, 30 minutes before

MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-240200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
435 PM EDT MON APR 23 2001

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 180 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST...

DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS IMMEDIATELY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS EVENING ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHEAST LOWER
MICHIGAN.  SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE MAIN THREAT
BEING DAMAGING WINDS GUSTS TO 60 MPH.  HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTER
INCHES IN DIAMETER IS ALSO POSSIBLE. SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 180 COVERS ALL THE COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST
LOWER MICHIGAN.  SOME CITIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE MIDLAND...
SAGINAW...FLINT...BAD AXE...PORT HURON...AND THE DETROIT
METROPOLITAN AREA.

A COLD FRONT ACROSS EASTERN WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS WILL MOVE THROUGH
SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN AROUND MIDNIGHT.  A BAND OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS HAS FORMED AHEAD OF THIS FRONT AND WILL PASS THROUGH
THE AREA THIS EVENING.  THE LINE ITSELF WILL MOVE TO THE EAST AT
ABOUT 30 MPH WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE
MOVE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 50 MPH.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET...
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

DRC

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:04 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Shiawassee

When: April 23, 4:05 PM EST
Where: Shiawassee County, Owosso
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.000, -84.167

Trees and power lines were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When: April 23, 4:10 PM EST
Where: Saginaw County, Saginaw
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.417, -83.967

Trees were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When: April 23, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Genesee County, Flint
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.033, -83.683

A spotter measured a 61 mph wind gust at Atherton and Fenton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscola

When: April 23, 4:40 PM EST
Where: Tuscola County, Vassar
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.367, -83.583

Shingles were torn off a barn roof.

Thunderstorm Wind, Huron

When: April 23, 5:10 PM EST
Where: Huron County, Bad Axe
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 43.800, -83.000

A large Big Boy sign was toppled.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: April 23, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.283, -83.733

A tree and several large limbs were downed onto State Street, landing on two cars.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: April 23, 5:49 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, Willow Run Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.233, -83.533

60 mph gust was measured at Willow Run Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: April 23, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, 2 mi NW of Salem
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.417, -83.600

A mobile home was overturned.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oakland

When: April 23, 6:05 PM EST
Where: Oakland County, 5 mi W of Pontiac
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 42.633, -83.367

Trees limbs were downed, fencing destroyed, and windows of a home were damaged near Elizabeth Lake and Cooley Lake in Waterford.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: April 23, 6:06 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, Redford
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.417, -83.283

A spotter in Redford measured a 65 mph gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oakland

When: April 23, 6:15 PM EST
Where: Oakland County, Rochester Hills
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.683, -83.133

A carport was destroyed, and power lines were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Macomb

When: April 23, 6:25 PM EST
Where: Macomb County, Washington
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.717, -83.033

Power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Midland

When: April 23, 6:34 PM EST
Where: Midland County, Coleman
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.750, -84.583

A garage door and some windows were blown out of an EMS center.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Michigan in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, April 2001

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: 5241126, 5241127, 5241128, 5241129, 5241138, 5241132, 5241134, 5241133, 5241130, 5241135, 5241131, 5241136, 5241137.