Flash Flooding and Hail in Michigan, May 15 to 17, 2001

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Michigan, May 15 to 17, 2001
Start: 2001-05-15T00:00
End: 2001-05-17T09:00
Location: Michigan

May 15 to 17, 2001 · NWS GRR · 60 events in 18 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 48 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3.5 million
Crop damage: $2.4 million
Events: 60

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 during the morning hours of the 15th, producing several reports of large hail and high winds. It was also a record rainfall event for the Grand Rapids area, and 4 to 5 inches of rain fell in less than 6 hours across much of southwestern and south central lower Michigan. Three quarters inch hail was reported at Blue Lake Township (Muskegon county) by area law enforcement at 1:07 a.m. EDT. One inch hail was reported by spotters at Duck Lake (Muskegon county) at 1:27 a.m, and in Parchment (Kalamazoo county) at 1:34 a.m. At 1:40 a.m., a 58 mph wind gust was reported by spotters, who also reported that two to three inch tree limbs were blown down at the intersection of 120th street and Crocker road. 4 to 5 inches of rain was reported in a very short period of time at Silver Lake in Oceana county at 1:40 a.m., which produced localized flooding. Tree damage resulting from gusty winds was reported by local media in Muskegon (Muskegon county) at 2:00 a.m. 1.5 inch hail was reported by local media in Climax (Kalamazoo county) at 2:12 a.m. At 3 a.m., three quarters inch hail was reported by law enforcement at Blue Lake township (Muskegon county). A tree was downed at the intersection of 68th and Leonard streets, reported by area law enforcement in Marne (Ottawa county) at 3:53 a.m.One inch hail was reported by local media at Blue Lake township (Muskegon county) at 4:12 a.m. Small tree limbs were downed in Marne (Ottawa county) at 4:12 a.m. One inch hail was reported by spotters in Whitehall (Muskegon county) at 4:30 a.m. Trees were blown down onto 12th street in Kalamazoo county between 8:04 and 8:19 a.m, as reported by area law enforcement. Flash flooding became the primary weather problem. Flash flooding occurred across much of Kent, Oceana and Muskegon counties, where many primary and secondary roads as well as basements of homes were flooded. In Kentwood (Kent county), a car became trapped in rising water under a bridge at the intersection of 36th street and Patterson road. Grand Rapids (Kent county) set a 24 hour record rainfall for the date, where 4.15 inches fell. 1.75 inches of rain in Lansing (Ingham county) was also a new 24 hour record rainfall for the date. Up to 8 inches of rain fell in Oceana county, and up to 6 inches of rain fell in Muskegon county. Additional flash flooding and flooding took place across Mason, Newaygo, Ottawa, Barry, Calhoun, Ingham, Osceola, Clinton, Gratiot, Montcalm, Mecosta, Isabella, Clare and Eaton counties. There were numerous reports received of flooded roads, basements, and flooding of small creeks and streams. Fortunately, however, the flash flooding and flooding did not cause any fatalities.

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 Grand Rapids, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 14, 9:42 PM EST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 14, 9:42 PM EST, 2 hours 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
1042 PM EDT MON MAY 14 2001

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD BY MIDNIGHT...

THE QUESTIONS FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS ARE WILL THE CONVECTION BE
SEVERE?  SECOND... WILL THERE BE ENOUGH RAINFALL FOR FLASH FLOOD
WARNING OR AT LEAST AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY?

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINING OVER
THE EXTREME WESTERN COUNTIES OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN SINCE 22Z
HAVE BEEN ON 850 WARM FRONT.  THAT IS... WERE THE GRADIENT IS WITH
THE 850 LI'S GO FROM POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE AND WHERE THE DIFFERENTIAL
THTE GOES FROM POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE.  IT IS ALSO WERE THE BEST 850
TO 700 MB FRONTOGENESIS HAS BEEN.  THE RUC SHOWS THE LOW LEVEL JET
HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THAT AREA THIS EVENING.  THE SFC WARM FRONT HAS
BEEN NEARLY STATIONARY NEAR THE MISSOURI RIVER SINCE 21Z.

OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS THE LOW LEVEL JET IS GOING TO REFOCUS
FARTHER NORTH INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND INCREASE FROM AROUND 30
KNOTS TO NEAR 40 KNOTS BY 06Z.  AT THE SAME TIME...THE EXIT REGION
OF A SPEED MAX ON THE POLAR JET COMES IN PHASE WITH LOW LEVEL JET
WHILE THE 850 WARM FRONT STARTS MOVING EAST TOWARD LOWER MICHIGAN.
THAT WILL PUSH THE LI GRADIENT AREA INTO CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN JUST
AS THE BEST LIFT COMES OVER THE AREA BETWEEN 06Z AND 09Z.  SINCE
WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN IS SO DEEP INTO THE COLD AIR... THE ONLY
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WOULD BE LARGE HAIL.  SO OVER THE NEXT FEW
HOURS I WOULD EXPECT THE AREA OF CONVECTION OVER THE EXTREME WESTERN
PART OF LOWER MICHIGAN TO DEVELOP EASTWARD INTO THE JACKSON AND
LANSING AREA.

AS FOR THE FLOODING PROBLEMS... FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE FOR 3 AND 6
HOURS IS MOSTLY IN THE 2 TO 3 1/2 INCH RANGE.  SINCE THE AREA OF
CONVECTION WILL BE DEVELOPING EASTWARD AND THAT IT HAS BEEN RATHER
DRY ACROSS THE AREA UNTIL NOW... FLOODING IS NOT A BIG THREAT... BUT
CAN NOT BE DISREGARDED.  POSSIBLY AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD
ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED OF THE CONVECTION AFTER MIDNIGHT BECOMES
STRONG ENOUGH. SINCE THE AREA WILL MOVE ONLY SLOWLY TO THE EAST
WHILE THE CELLS MOVE QUICKLY TO  THE SOUTH SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE BEST
LIFT AREA OVER CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION IN THAT REGARD.

.GRR...NONE.

WDM

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 138 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

48 flash flood, 7 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Mason

When: May 15, 12:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Mason County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.956, -86.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Muskegon

When: May 15, 12:07 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Countywide
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Muskegon

When: May 15, 12:27 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Countywide
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kalamazoo

When: May 15, 12:34 AM EST
Where: Kalamazoo County, Parchment
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.245, -85.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskegon

When: May 15, 12:40 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Countywide
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Oceana

When: May 15, 12:40 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Oceana County, Countywide
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.682, -86.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskegon

When: May 15, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Muskegon
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kalamazoo

When: May 15, 1:12 AM EST
Where: Kalamazoo County, Climax
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 42.245, -85.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Muskegon

When: May 15, 1:45 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Muskegon
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Muskegon

When: May 15, 2:00 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Countywide
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Kent

When: May 15, 2:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Kent County, Kentwood
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 43.032, -85.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Newaygo

When: May 15, 2:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Newaygo County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.554, -85.801 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Ottawa

When: May 15, 2:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Ottawa County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.003, -86.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa

When: May 15, 2:53 AM EST
Where: Ottawa County, Marne
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.003, -86.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Muskegon

When: May 15, 3:12 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Countywide
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa

When: May 15, 3:12 AM EST
Where: Ottawa County, Marne
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 43.003, -86.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Muskegon

When: May 15, 3:30 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Whitehall
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Barry

When: May 15, 4:15 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Barry County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.595, -85.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Calhoun

When: May 15, 4:15 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Calhoun County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.247, -85.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Oceana

When: May 15, 8:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Oceana County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.682, -86.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Muskegon

When: May 15, 8:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Mason

When: May 15, 8:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Mason County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.956, -86.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Newaygo

When: May 15, 8:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Newaygo County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.554, -85.801 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Ottawa

When: May 15, 8:00 AM EST to May 16, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Ottawa County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.003, -86.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Barry

When: May 15, 8:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Barry County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.595, -85.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Calhoun

When: May 15, 8:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Calhoun County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.283, -85.567

Flash Flood, Ingham

When: May 15, 4:45 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Ingham County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.300, -86.117

Flash Flood, Osceola

When: May 15, 4:45 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Osceola County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.300, -86.117

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: May 15, 4:45 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Clinton County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.233, -85.333

Flash Flood, Gratiot

When: May 15, 4:45 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Gratiot County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.033, -85.833

Flash Flood, Montcalm

When: May 15, 4:45 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Montcalm County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.400, -86.350

Flash Flood, Mecosta

When: May 15, 4:45 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Mecosta County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.641, -85.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Isabella

When: May 15, 4:45 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Isabella County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.641, -84.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Clare

When: May 15, 4:45 PM EST to May 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Clare County, Countywide
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.988, -84.848 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: May 15, 11:45 PM EST to May 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Clinton County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.944, -84.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Gratiot

When: May 15, 11:45 PM EST to May 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Gratiot County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.300, -86.117

Flash Flood, Montcalm

When: May 15, 11:45 PM EST to May 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Montcalm County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.311, -85.152 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Mecosta

When: May 15, 11:45 PM EST to May 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Mecosta County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.641, -85.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Isabella

When: May 15, 11:45 PM EST to May 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Isabella County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.641, -84.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Osceola

When: May 16, 12:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Osceola County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.990, -85.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Ingham

When: May 16, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Ingham County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.300, -86.117

Flash Flood, Oceana

When: May 16, 1:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Oceana County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.682, -86.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Muskegon

When: May 16, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Mason

When: May 16, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Mason County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.956, -86.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Newaygo

When: May 16, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Newaygo County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.554, -85.801 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Barry

When: May 16, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Barry County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.595, -85.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Ingham

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to May 17, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Ingham County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.317, -85.550

Flash Flood, Osceola

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Osceola County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.233, -86.233

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Clinton County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.300, -86.117

Flash Flood, Gratiot

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to May 17, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Gratiot County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.033, -85.833

Flash Flood, Montcalm

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to May 17, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Montcalm County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.311, -85.152 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Mecosta

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Mecosta County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.641, -85.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Isabella

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to May 17, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Isabella County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.641, -84.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Clare

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Clare County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.988, -84.848 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Eaton

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Eaton County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.596, -84.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Muskegon

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Muskegon County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Mason

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Mason County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.956, -86.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Newaygo

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to May 17, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Newaygo County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 43.554, -85.801 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Barry

When: May 16, 3:00 AM EST to May 17, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Barry County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 42.595, -85.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Kalamazoo

When: May 16, 7:04 AM EST to 7:19 AM EST
Where: Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.245, -85.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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

Every storm in Michigan in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, May 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: 5252165, 5252146, 5252147, 5252148, 5252149, 5252150, 5252151, 5252152, 5252153, 5252154, 5252159, 5252169, 5252173, 5252155, 5252156, 5252157, 5252158, 5252175, 5252179, 5252160, 5252162, 5252166, 5252170, 5252174, 5252176, 5252180, 5250866, 5250869, 5250872, 5250875, 5250878, 5250881, 5250884, 5250887, 5250873, 5250876, 5250879, 5250882, 5250885, 5250870, and more.