A powerful low pressure system and cold front sweeping across Lake Superior caused extensive wind damage at several locations along Lake Superior on the 3rd.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS MQT wrote it up.
A powerful low pressure system and cold front sweeping across Lake Superior caused extensive wind damage at several locations along Lake Superior on the 3rd.
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 Marquette, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 3, 12:00 PM EST, 3 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
100 PM EDT FRI SEP 3 2010
.UPDATE...
HEADLINES AND FORECASTS WERE UPDATED TO REFLECT INCREASED WINDS.
FORECAST MODELS AND CURRENT OBSERVATIONS SUPPORTED INCREASING WINDS
AS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR STRENGTHENS.
WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO PICK UP AS A TROUGH PASSES OVER LAKE
SUPERIOR...BRINGING STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS BEHIND THE TROUGH.
&&
.SYNOPSIS...
00Z RAOBS AND THE LATEST WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOW A MID-UPR
LEVEL LOW RAPIDLY DEEPENING OVER NW LAKE SUPERIOR AS A BROAD TROF
BEGINS TO ENCOMPASS MUCH OF THE UPPER GREAT LAKES. 5H HEIGHT FALLS
OF 140-170M OVER THE UPPER GREAT LAKES WERE INDICATED BY THE 00Z
RAOBS AND MODEL DATA IN ASSOC WITH THE DEEPENING STORM SYSTEM.
A SHORTWAVE AND ASSOC 100+ KT 3H JET MAX MOVING UP THE EAST SIDE OF
THE MID-UPR LVL TROF PUSHED ACROSS UPPER MI LAST EVENING INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HRS. THIS SHORTWAVE AND ASSOC SFC COLD FRONT BROUGHT AN
AREA OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE CWA BUT THESE
SHOWERS HAVE NOW EXITED EAST OF THE CWA. LAKE EFFECT RAIN SHOWERS
ARE BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO INTO WRN COUNTIES ERLY THIS MORNING AS
COLD ADVECTION KICKS IN BEHIND THE SYSTEM OVER WRN LAKE SUPERIOR.
THESE LAKE EFFECT SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD INTO NORTH CENTRAL
AND ERN COUNTIES LATER TODAY AS A SECONDARY TROUGH AND COLD FRONT
SHIFT WINDS TO THE N-NW.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
FCST CONCERNS FOCUS ON DEEPENING SYSTEM OVER NRN LAKE SUPERIOR AND
THE ASSOC LAKE EFFECT RAIN SHOWERS GENERATED TODAY AND CONTINUING
INTO SAT. THERE IS ALSO A LIKELIHOOD FOR STRONG NW WINDS ALONG LAKE
SUPERIOR THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY OVER THE KEWEENAW
PENINSULA AND ALGER COUNTY.
MODELS HAVE COME INTO PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT ON STRENGTH AND EASTWARD
MOVEMENT OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND TIMING OF SECONDARY COLD
FRONT AND ASSOC STRONG COLD ADVECTION BEHIND IT. THE SECONDARY COLD
FRONT MOVES INTO THE WRN COUNTIES BY 18Z AND THEN MOVES ACROSS MUCH
OF THE REST OF THE CWA BY 00Z SAT AS WINDS SHIFT FROM W TO N-NW.
MODELS SHOW 850 MB TEMPS DROPPING TO 0-2C BY 00Z SAT BEHIND THE
FRONT WHICH WILL SUSTAIN LAKE EFFECT/LAKE ENHANCED RAIN SHOWERS THIS
AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY ACROSS THE NRN TIER OF THE CWA. HAVE
BUMPED UP POPS TO HIGH CATEGORICAL OVER MUCH OF THE NRN TIER
COUNTIES TODAY...ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS FAVORED BY A NW-N WIN FLOW.
THE STRONG COLD ADVECTION COMBINED WITH A DEVELOPING STRONG
RISE-FALL PRESSURE COUPLET MOVING OVER THE AREA AND UP TO 45 KT
WINDS WITHIN MIXED LAYER OF FCST SOUNDING SHOULD RESULT IN WIND
ADVISORY CRITERIA WINDS GUSTING TO 50-55 MPH OVER THE KEWEENAW
PENINSULA THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AND OVER ALGER COUNTY LATE
THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. DECIDED TO STAY JUST BELOW HIGH WIND
WARNING CRITERIA AS THE ABSENCE OF GOOD MID-LVL DRYING/SUBSIDENCE
WILL NOT REALLY HELP DOWNWARD MOMENTUM TRANSPORT. HIGH GALES ARE
EXPECTED OVER LAKE SUPERIOR WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR STORM FORCE GUSTS
TO 50 KT OVER THE ERN 2/3 OF THE LAKE LATE TODAY INTO THIS EVENING.
OBVIOUSLY WITH THE STRONG N-NW EXPECTED...THERE WILL BE A HIGH RISK
FOR RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE LAKE SUPERIOR SHORE TODAY INTO THE
WEEKEND. MAX TEMPS TODAY WILL STRUGGLE TO REACH THE MID 50S TO LOWER
60S JUST CLIMBING ONLY A FEW DEGREES FROM OVERNIGHT LOWS.
WINDS WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF BLO ADVISORY CRITERIA FROM THE WEST
LATE TONIGHT AS THE LOW BEGINS TO PULL EASTWARD. CYCLONIC N-NW FLOW
AND 850 TEMPS CONTINUING FROM 0-2C WILL SUSTAIN LAKE EFFECT RAIN
SHOWERS ACROSS MUCH OF THE NRN TIER COUNTIES TONIGHT. WEAKLY
CYCLONIC NW FLOW AND 850 MB TEMPS STILL FROM 0-2C WILL SUPPORT LAKE
EFFECT RAIN SHOWERS AGAIN OVER THE NRN TIER COUNTIES ON SATURDAY
WITH THE BEST CHC OVER THE ERN COUNTIES GIVEN LONGER FETCH ACROSS
THE LAKE. ANY LINGERING SHOWERS OVER ERN COUNTIES SHOULD FINALLY
TAPER OFF OR END LATE SAT NIGHT OR SUN MORNING AS RIDGING AND
INCREASED DRYING/SUBSIDENCE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST.
MAX TEMPS OF MID 50S TO LOWER 60S ON SATURDAY SHOULD REBOUND INTO
THE MID TO UPPER 60S BY SUNDAY UNDER INCREASED SUNSHINE AND
SUBSIDENCE/WARMING.
&&
.AVIATION /FOR THE 06Z TAFS/...
TOUGH FORECAST FOR THIS ISSUANCE AS OBS ARE BOUNCING AROUND WITH
SHOWERS AND LOW CIGS OR LOW VIS AROUND IN THE SHOWERS AT BOTH SITES.
MVFR CIGS SHOULD REDEVELOP AS COLDER AIR ENTERS INTO THE CWA LATE
TONIGHT AND LAKE EFFECT CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION COME IN. IN THE
MEANTIME...OBS WILL CONTINUE TO BOUNCE AROUND EARLY THIS MORNING
WITH CONVECTIVE WEATHER STILL IN THE AREA TEMPORARILY. COLD
ADVECTION BEHIND LOW PRESSURE DEEPENING NORTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR LATE
TONIGHT AND FRIDAY WILL RESULT IN SOME LAKE EFFECT RAIN SHOWERS AT
KCMX AND LOWER MVFR CONDITIONS THROUGH FRI EVENING. EXPECT DRY
CONDITIONS AT KSAW OVERNIGHT THROUGH FRI ALTHOUGH MVFR CIGS SHOULD
LINGER FRIDAY. SOME SHOWERS COULD EVEN COME BACK INTO KSAW LATE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN WRAPAROUND MOISTURE.
&&
.MARINE /FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE/...
LOW PRESSURE OVER LAKE SUPERIOR WILL SHIFT EAST OF THE LAKE THIS
EVENING. EXPECT HIGH GALE FORCE WINDS...TO 45 KNOTS AT TIMES...TO
OCCUR IN THE WAKE OF THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. SOME STORM FORCE
GUSTS TO 50 KT ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND ERN LAKE
SUPERIOR THIS AFTN INTO THIS EVENING. GALE FORCE WINDS WILL SUBSIDE
SATURDAY NIGHT AS THE LOW CONTINUES FURTHER EAST TOWARD THE CANADIAN
MARITIMES. BY THIS TIME...THE LOW WILL CONSOLIDATE WITH THE REMNANTS
OF HURRICANE EARL AND LINGER OVER THE NORTHERN CANADIAN MARITIME
INTO SUNDAY. A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE UPPER GREAT
LAKES SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...ALLOWING WINDS TO DECREASE.
&&
.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UPPER MICHIGAN...
WIND ADVISORY FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 2 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR
MIZ001-003.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR
MIZ006.
LAKE SUPERIOR...
GALE WARNING FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 2 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR
LSZ249>251-266-267.
GALE WARNING FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR
LSZ246>248-265.
GALE WARNING FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR
LSZ243>245-264.
GALE WARNING UNTIL 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ SATURDAY FOR LSZ162-
240>242-263.
LAKE MICHIGAN...
GALE WARNING FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR
LMZ221-248-250.
&&
UPDATE...TITUS
SYNOPSIS...VOSS
DISCUSSION...VOSS
AVIATION...PEARSON
MARINE...PEARSONHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI 533 AM EDT FRI SEP 3 2010 MIZ002-004-007-009>014-084-085-041200- ONTONAGON-BARAGA-LUCE-GOGEBIC-IRON-DICKINSON-MENOMINEE-DELTA- SOUTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT-SOUTHERN HOUGHTON-NORTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- 533 AM EDT FRI SEP 3 2010 /433 AM CDT FRI SEP 3 2010/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. MIZ001-003-005-006-041200- KEWEENAW-NORTHERN HOUGHTON-MARQUETTE-ALGER- 533 AM EDT FRI SEP 3 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST AS HIGH AS 55 MPH THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS KEWEENAW AND ALGER COUNTIES. SEE THE LATEST NON- PRECIPITATION WEATHER STATEMENT FOR DETAILS. DUE TO WAVE HEIGHTS APPROACHING 20 FEET TONIGHT...SOME BEACH EROSION AND COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE FROM MARQUETTE EASTWARD. THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF DEADLY RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE BEACHES OF MARQUETTE AND ALGER COUNTIES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY DUE TO WAVE HEIGHTS APPROACHING 20 FEET SATURDAY MORNING...SOME BEACH EROSION AND COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE FROM MARQUETTE EASTWARD. THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF DEADLY RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE BEACHES OF MARQUETTE AND ALGER COUNTIES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-041200- LAKE SUPERIOR WEST OF A LINE FROM SAXON HARBOR WI TO GRAND PORTAGE MN BEYOND 5NM-SAXON HARBOR WI TO BLACK RIVER MI- BLACK RIVER TO ONTONAGON MI- ONTONAGON TO UPPER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL MI- UPPER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL TO EAGLE RIVER MI- EAGLE RIVER TO MANITOU ISLAND MI- MANITOU ISLAND TO POINT ISABELLE MI- POINT ISABELLE TO LOWER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL MI- LOWER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL TO HURON ISLANDS MI INCLUDING KEWEENAW AND HURON BAYS-HURON ISLANDS TO MARQUETTE MI- MARQUETTE TO MUNISING MI-MUNISING TO GRAND MARAIS MI- GRAND MARAIS TO WHITEFISH POINT MI- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM SAXON HARBOR WI TO UPPER ENTRANCE TO PORTAGE CANAL MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER INCLUDING ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM UPPER ENTRANCE TO PORTAGE CANAL TO MANITOU ISLAND MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER- LAKE SUPERIOR WEST OF LINE FROM MANITOU ISLAND TO MARQUETTE MI BEYOND 5NM FROM SHORE- LAKE SUPERIOR EAST OF A LINE FROM MANITOU ISLAND TO MARQUETTE MI AND WEST OF A LINE FROM GRAND MARAIS MI TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER BEYOND 5NM FROM SHORE- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM GRAND MARAIS MI TO WHITEFISH POINT MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER- 533 AM EDT FRI SEP 3 2010 /433 AM CDT FRI SEP 3 2010/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR...CENTRAL LAKE SUPERIOR AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NORTHWEST GALES TO 45 KNOTS WILL DEVELOP TODAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. A FEW STORM FORCE GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. SEE THE LATEST MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NORTHWEST GALES TO 45 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE EAST HALF THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. A FEW STORM FORCE GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE MORNING. SEE THE LATEST MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILS. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. LMZ221-248-250-041200- GREEN BAY NORTH OF LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-SEUL CHOIX POINT TO POINT DETOUR MI- 5NM EAST OF A LINE FROM FAIRPORT MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE- 533 AM EDT FRI SEP 3 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN LAKE LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NORTHWEST GALES TO 35 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED. SEE THE LATEST MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. PEARSON
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
355 PM EDT FRI SEP 03 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0324 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 SW ROCK HARBOR 48.11N 88.54W
09/03/2010 M65 MPH KEWEENAW MI MESONET
OBSERVED BY THE OJIBWAY RAWS STATION ON ISLE ROYALE
&&
TITUSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds knocked down numerous trees throughout the county. Two campers in the Copper Harbor area sustained damage from downed trees.
Numerous large trees were knocked down in the Big Bay area. Some of the trees were up to 20 inches in diameter. Trees were also knocked in Presque Isle Park in Marquette.
Fallen trees knocked down power lines in downtown Munising. Wind gusts over 60 mph were reported in Grand Marais.
Strong winds knocked down approximately 50 large trees at Muskallonge State Park on the evening of the 3rd and forced the evacuation of 343 people to Tahquamenon Area Schools in Newberry or to local motels. Trees fell on campers and blocked roads forcing park officials to close the park at 930 pm that evening. Campers were allowed to return to the park on the afternoon of the 4th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, September 2010
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: 259939, 259941, 259943, 259944.