Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, July 22, 2002

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, July 22, 2002
Start: 2002-07-22T09:52
End: 2002-07-22T18:50
Location: Michigan

July 22, 2002 · NWS DTX · 36 events in 12 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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: 3
Property damage: $397,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 36

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.

Thunderstorms developed in a very warm and humid airmass ahead of an approaching cold front. Thunderstorms developed during the late morning hours around Adrian and then quickly moved northeast and affected the metro Detroit region. These storms dissipated early in the afternoon. However storms redeveloped across western and central Lower Michigan by mid afternoon. These storms then moved into eastern Michigan. The storms continued through the afternoon and much of the evening hours. Severe wind gusts were associated with many of these storms. The most widespread thunderstorm activity occurred across Washtenaw and Wayne counties where thunderstorms repeatedly move through during much of the day. Thousands of power outages were reported throughout eastern Michigan.

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 Jul 22, 2:20 AM EST, 7 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 22, 2:20 AM EST, 7 hours 32 minutes before

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
320 PM EDT SUN JUL 21 2002

...SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TODAY...

CONVECTION CONTINUES TO SLOWLY DIMINISH ACROSS WI AND THE DEBRIS
CLOUD WAS STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT INTO THE CWA. SOME ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED ACROSS SOUTHWEST LOWER MI...NORTHWEST
INDIANA...AND SOUTHERN LAKE MI EARLY...BUT JUST SOME AC LEFT FROM
THAT AT 07Z. LOCAL CONVECTIVE INITIATION MODEL PICKED UP ON THE
ISOLATED CONVECTION AND DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING NEW DEVELOPING AFTER
07Z. THEREFORE...EXPECT THE REST OF THE MORNING TO BE DRY.

MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT WITH THE OVERALL PATTERN...AND PASSAGE OF
THE COLD FRONT. THE ETA IS THE QUICKEST WITH THE COLD
FRONT...THROUGH THE CWA BY 03Z...AND THE NGM IS THE SLOWEST. WILL
GO WITH MORE OF THE COMPROMISE OF THE AVN WHICH WOULD BRING THE
FRONT THROUGH THE CWA AROUND MIDNIGHT.

MAIN CONCERN WILL BE THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. ALL OF THE FEATURES APPEAR TO BE IN PLACE...GOOD UPPER
DIVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIGHT REAR ENTRANCE REGION OF THE 125
KT JET...50H WINDS INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 KNOTS WHILE 80H WINDS WILL
BE AROUND 30 KTS.  THERE WILL ALSO BE GOOD CONVERGENCE ALONG THE
FRONT AT THE SURFACE TO 80H. RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT THERE WILL BE A
RIBBON OF HIGH THETA-E AIR AT 80H.  MID LEVEL DRY PUNCHES IN BEHIND
THE FRONT AS WELL. THEN COMBINE THAT WITH CAPES EXPECTED TO REACH TO
NEAR 3000 J/KG THIS AFTERNOON WITH TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 90S AND
DEW POINTS AS HIGH AS THE MID 70S. THIS COULD SET UP TO BE THE MOST
NUMEROUS SEVERE WEATHER EVENT THIS YEAR...GIVEN THE LIGHT SEVERE
SEASON SO FAR. GIVEN ALL OF THESE FACTORS...WILL WORD POSSIBLE
SEVERE STORMS IN THE ZONES. MAIN THREAT WILL BE WIND DAMAGE...BUT
WITH THE HIGH CAPES COULD GET AN UPDRAFT OR TWO TO PRODUCE MARGINAL
SEVERE HAIL.

CONVECTIVE INITIATION MODEL SUGGEST THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING NEAR
THE FRONT AROUND 16Z FROM JUST EAST OF THE BRIDGE TO GAYLORD TO MKG.
THEN STORMS SHOULD MOVE NORTHEAST ALONG THE FRONT...WITH THE SLOW
PROPAGATION SOUTHEAST AS THE FRONT MOVES TOWARD THE CWA. STORMS
SHOULD APPROACH THE TRI CITES AROUND 18Z...BUT MAY NOT REACH DETROIT
UNTIL CLOSER 00Z.

WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY HEAT ADVISORY TODAY. TEMPS AROUND 94 WITH DEW
POINTS AROUND 74 DOES GIVE A HEAT INDEX OF 105...BUT THIS SHOULD BE
THE PEAK CONDITIONS FOR METRO DETROIT. GIVEN THE POTENTIAL OF
CLOUDS...BOTH DEBRIS AND CU FORMING THIS MORNING...MIGHT BE A
STRUGGLE TO REACH MID 90S FOR MORE THAN A HOUR.

BEHIND THE FRONT...THERE WILL BE SOME MOISTURE AT 80H AND BELOW.
EXPECT SKIES TO CLEAR ABOUT 6 HOURS AFTER THE FROPA. THIS WILL LEAD
TO CLEARING SKIES LATE TONIGHT FOR THE TRI CITIES AND THUMB...AROUND
DAYBREAK FOR FNT...AND DURING TUESDAY MORNING FOR METRO DETROIT.
AFTER THAT...DRY AIR TAKES HOLD AND WILL BE IN FOR A SUNNY TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...CLEAR SKIES TUESDAY NIGHT AND MOSTLY SUNNY ON WEDNESDAY.

WILL GO TOWARD THE HIGHER ETA MOS FOR HIGHS TODAY...GIVEN SOME
DECENT SUN AND 80H TEMPS OF +20 TO +21C. THEN ALL THE NUMBERS ARE
CLOSE FOR TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...AND DID NOT DIFFER FROM
THEM.

.DTX...NONE.

RBP

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:52 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

28 thunderstorm wind, 5 lightning, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lenawee

When: July 22, 9:52 AM EST
Where: Lenawee County, Adrian
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.900, -84.033

Thunderstorm Wind, Lenawee

When: July 22, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Lenawee County, Adrian
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 41.900, -84.033

The city of Adrian parks and recreation reported 6 to 12 inch diameter tree limbs blown down in thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: July 22, 10:30 AM EST
Where: Monroe County, 4 mi NW of Dundee
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.983, -83.700

A spotter reported several 8 to 12 inch diameter tree limbs blown down.

Lightning, Lenawee

When: July 22, 10:30 AM EST
Where: Lenawee County, 3 mi N of Britton
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 41.895, -84.066 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A newspaper reported that lightning struck a home in Macon Township and set it on fire, causing considerable damage.

Lightning, Lenawee

When: July 22, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Lenawee County, 1 mi N of Adrian
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 41.895, -84.066 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A newspaper reported that lightning struck a home and set it on fire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: July 22, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, Grosse Pt Woods
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.433, -82.917

Trained spotters reported 16 inch diameter tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Macomb

When: July 22, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Macomb County, St Clair Shrs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.483, -82.867

Law enforcement reported 10 inch diameter tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Macomb

When: July 22, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Macomb County, 2 mi SW of Mt Clemens
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.567, -82.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: July 22, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, Grosse Pt Woods
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.433, -82.917

Thunderstorm Wind, Lenawee

When: July 22, 12:15 PM EST
Where: Lenawee County, 2 mi E of Fairfield
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.817, -84.000

Law enforcement reported numerous large trees down.

Lightning, Lapeer

When: July 22, 3:35 PM EST
Where: Lapeer County, Lapeer
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A newspaper reported that three people were struck by lightning while walking toward a dumpster in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Witnesses claim that lightning ricocheted off the dumpster and hit the three people (2 men and one woman). They were all taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: July 22, 3:50 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, Manchester
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.150, -84.033

Emergency management reported 9 inch diameter tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: July 22, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, Manchester
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.150, -84.033

Emergency management reported 7 inch diameter tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When: July 22, 4:15 PM EST
Where: Saginaw County, Chesaning
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 43.183, -84.117

Saginaw County Central Dispatch reported several large trees blown down.

Hail, Tuscola

When: July 22, 4:15 PM EST
Where: Tuscola County, Reese
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.450, -83.700

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: July 22, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, Saline
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 42.167, -83.767

A newspaper reported that 5 utility poles were blown down in thunderstorm winds along US-12 in Saline. Three of the poles came down onto moving cars. No injuries were reported.

Lightning, Washtenaw

When: July 22, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, Saline
Property damage: $127,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 42.253, -83.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A newspaper reported that a lightning strike traveled through the ductwork of four furnaces in the same neighborhood. This started a fire in the basement of each home. Three of the homes suffered only minor damage, but the fire got into the drywall of the fourth home and caused more substantial damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Livingston

When: July 22, 4:45 PM EST
Where: Livingston County, Howell
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.600, -83.933

Livingston County Central Dispatch reported several trees blown down onto power lines.

Hail, Washtenaw

When: July 22, 4:49 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.283, -83.733

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: July 22, 4:50 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, 5 mi W of Westland
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 42.317, -83.400

The media reported damage to a garage and car from thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: July 22, 4:51 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, Garden City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 42.317, -83.333

A newspaper reported that a large tree blew over onto a car in thunderstorm winds. The paper also reported numerous tree limbs and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sanilac

When: July 22, 4:52 PM EST
Where: Sanilac County, Peck
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.250, -82.817

Sanilac County Central Dispatch reported several large trees down and blocking a road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscola

When: July 22, 4:52 PM EST
Where: Tuscola County, Kingston
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.417, -83.183

Trained spotters reported several trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscola

When: July 22, 4:52 PM EST
Where: Tuscola County, 1 mi N of Kingston
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.433, -83.183

Tuscola County Central Dispatch reported several large trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oakland

When: July 22, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Oakland County, 3 mi NE of Farmington
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.500, -83.333

Trained spotters reported 10 inch diameter tree limbs blown down at Thirteen Mile and Middlebelt Roads in Farmington Hills.

Thunderstorm Wind, Livingston

When: July 22, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Livingston County, Howell
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 42.600, -83.933

The newspaper reported that thunderstorm winds uprooted an 80 foot willow tree.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oakland

When: July 22, 5:27 PM EST
Where: Oakland County, 4 mi E of Holly
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.800, -83.533

Trained spotters reported numerous large tree limbs blown down at Dixie HIghway and Grange Hall Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oakland

When: July 22, 5:27 PM EST
Where: Oakland County, Rose Center
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.733, -83.617

Trained spotters reported several large tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: July 22, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, 1 mi S of Northville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 42.417, -83.483

The Northville Township fire department reported an 18 inch diameter tree blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: July 22, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, Livonia
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.383, -83.367

Law enforcement reported several large trees blown down.

Lightning, Lapeer

When: July 22, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Lapeer County, 2 mi SW of Imlay City
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A newspaper reported that a house was struck by lightning and caught fire. The damage was reportedly confined to one bedroom and its contents.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lapeer

When: July 22, 5:35 PM EST
Where: Lapeer County, Almont
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.917, -83.033

Law enforcement reported several large tree branches blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: July 22, 6:00 PM EST
Where: St. Clair County, Algonac
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 42.617, -82.533

A newspaper reported that several trees and power lines were blown down in thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: July 22, 6:00 PM EST
Where: St. Clair County, Marine City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 42.717, -82.483

A newspaper reported that several trees and power lines were blown down in thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: July 22, 6:15 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, Ypsilanti
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 42.233, -83.617

The general public reported several large trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: July 22, 6:50 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, Westland
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.317, -83.300

Trained spotters reported power lines and utility poles blown down at Wayne and Cherry Hill roads. A newspaper also reported that a large tree had fallen onto a house near Cherry Hill and Carlson roads. Only minor damage was reported.

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Michigan in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, July 2002

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: 5303715, 5303716, 5303879, 5303889, 5303888, 5303717, 5303718, 5303880, 5303881, 5303719, 5303882, 5303789, 5303790, 5303791, 5303792, 5303885, 5303890, 5303793, 5303794, 5303805, 5303884, 5303795, 5303796, 5303797, 5303798, 5303807, 5303799, 5303800, 5303803, 5303804, 5303883, 5303801, 5303886, 5303887, 5303806, 5303802.