Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Michigan, May 29, 2011

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Michigan, May 29, 2011
Start: 2011-05-29T15:00
End: 2011-05-29T15:33
Location: Michigan

May 29, 2011 · NWS IWX · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

A warm front worked north into portions of far southern lower Michigan during the late morning hours. A line of severe thunderstorms developed in eastern Iowa and moved rapidly east into Indiana.

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: $50,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 IWX wrote it up.

A warm front worked north into portions of far southern lower Michigan during the late morning hours. A line of severe thunderstorms developed in eastern Iowa and moved rapidly east into Indiana. Initially the storms were sub severe as they moved across Lake Michigan but quickly organized and became severe as they entered St. Joseph county. An area of wind damage occurred across St. Joseph county with a brief tornado touched down in Coldwater in Branch county.

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 Northern Indiana wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 29, 1:53 PM EST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 29, 1:53 PM EST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
253 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

.SHORT TERM...
TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT.

...DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT INTO EARLY EVENING...

WATCH BEING ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE CWA AS OF WRITING THIS. WELL
ESTABLISHED BOW ECHO RACING ACROSS ILLINOIS AT 50 KTS. THIS SHOULD
MOVE INTO FAR WESTERN AREAS OF THE CWA BETWEEN 230 AND 330 PM EDT.
WARM FRONT HAS WORKED WELL INTO THE CWA...ALLOWING FOR UNSTABLE
CONDITIONS AND LITTLE CAP AS MAIN EML AREA REMAINS JUST TO THE
SOUTH. WHILE GREATEST THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS ISOLATED
TORNADOES...BOTH ON THE LEADING EDGE AND IN ANY DISCRETE
CELLS...WILL BE POSSIBLE. FOR MORE DETAILS ON MESOSCALE SETUP REFER
TO PRODUCTS FROM SPC.

IN TERMS OF HYDRO...FFG VALUES ARE RATHER LOW AND GROUND STILL VERY
SATURATED IN MOST AREAS. WHILE NOT EVERY AREA HAS A DISTINCT THREAT
FOR FLASH FLOOD CONCERNS...SEE NO REASON TO HOLD BACK. WILL ISSUE
WATCH THROUGH 0Z MONDAY FOR NOW BUT MAY NEED TO EXTEND LATER.

LINE SHOULD MOVE THROUGH RAPIDLY BUT LARGE AREA OF STRATIFORM PRECIP
IN ITS WAKE WILL KEEP RAIN LINGERING THROUGH 00Z. FOR NOW HAVE LEFT
SLGT CHC POPS IN FAR NORTH AFTER 00Z BUT MAY NEED TWEAKING LATER.

MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT WILL BE HOT AND HUMID WITH A WELL CAPPED
ENVIRONMENT. TEMPS SHOULD MAKE IT TO 90 OR ABOVE IN MOST LOCATIONS
WITH HEAT INDICES IN THE MIDDLE TO MAYBE UPPER 90S. HWO HAS THINGS
HANDLED FOR NOW.

&&

.LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

CONCERNS FOR THE EXTENDED FORECAST WILL CENTER ON CONVECTIVE
POTENTIAL TUESDAY...AND THEN TIMING THE MODERATING TEMPERATURE TREND
FOR THE MIDDLE TO LATE WEEK.

UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM ACROSS WESTERN CONUS WILL TRACK INTO WESTERN
ONTARIO LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...THIS WILL DRAG A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE
MID AND UPPER MS RVR VALLEY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO
90 DEGREES AND SLIGHTLY COOLER MID LEVELS BY TUESDAY WILL RESULT IN
EROSION OF CAP THAT WILL BE IN PLACE MONDAY. GREATEST THREAT STILL
APPEARS TO HOLD OFF UNTIL THE TUESDAY NIGHT PERIOD WHEN SFC FRONT
APPROACHES...ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE SHOULD BE RELATIVELY
WEAK GIVEN STRONGER FORCING WELL TO THE NORTH. EXPECTATION IS FOR
GREATEST THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING WEST OF THE AREA ON
TUESDAY...AND THEN POSSIBLY AFFECTING NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE AREA
LATE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. SOME SEVERE THREAT WILL EXIST
ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE FAR NORTH AND NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE
FORECAST AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. FRONT NOT
EXPECTED TO MAKE MUCH SOUTHWARD PROGRESS GIVEN STRONGER MID/UPPER
FORCING TRACKING ACROSS SOUTHERN CANADA. THE MAJOR CHANGE TO THIS
FORECAST WAS TO ADD CHANCE POPS FOR THURSDAY AS LOW LEVEL WARM FRONT
IS EXPECTED TO SURGE BACK NORTHWARD...AND INCREASE HIGH TEMPERATURES
FOR THE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY PERIOD WITH TREND IN LATEST GFS
SUGGESTING WARM AIR RETURN A BIT SOONER THAN PREVIOUS INDICATIONS.

NEXT WEEKEND SHOULD FEATURE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS...POSSIBLY PUSHING 90
AGAIN NEXT WEEKEND IF THE GFS IS CORRECT. VERY DIFFICULT AT THIS
TIME TO TRY AND INSERT POPS GIVEN TREND IN MEDIUM RANGE MODELS FOR A
MORE STOUT MID/UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IN PLACE. CANNOT DISCOUNT
POSSIBILITY OF A FEW BOUTS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DURING THIS
PERIOD AS WEAK BACKDOOR COOL FRONTS COULD PUSH ACROSS GREAT LAKES
REGION...BUT CONFIDENCE TO INCLUDE IS TOO LOW AT THIS TIME.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING FOR
     INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034.

MI...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR MIZ077>081.

OH...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR OHZ001-002-004-
     005-015-016-024-025.

LM...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LMZ043-046.

&&

SHORT TERM...FISHER
LONG TERM...MARSILI
AVIATION...FISHER

Hazardous weather outlook, May 29, 1:42 PM EST, 1 hour 18 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
242 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-004-005-
015-016-024-025-301845-
LA PORTE-ST. JOSEPH IN-ELKHART-LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-NOBLE-DE KALB-STARKE-
PULASKI-MARSHALL-FULTON IN-KOSCIUSKO-WHITLEY-ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-
MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD-JAY-BERRIEN-
CASS MI-ST. JOSEPH MI-BRANCH-HILLSDALE-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-DEFIANCE-
HENRY-PAULDING-PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MICHIGAN CITY...LA PORTE...SOUTH BEND...
MISHAWAKA...ELKHART...GOSHEN...LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...ANGOLA...
KENDALLVILLE...LIGONIER...AUBURN...GARRETT...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...
WINAMAC...FRANCESVILLE...PLYMOUTH...BREMEN...ROCHESTER...WARSAW...
WINONA LAKE...COLUMBIA CITY...SOUTH WHITLEY...FORT WAYNE...
MONTICELLO...BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT...PERU...WABASH...
NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...DECATUR...
BERNE...MARION...HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...NILES...
BENTON HARBOR...ST. JOSEPH...BUCHANAN...DOWAGIAC...CASSOPOLIS...
STURGIS...THREE RIVERS...COLDWATER...HILLSDALE...BRYAN...WAUSEON...
ARCHBOLD...DEFIANCE...NAPOLEON...PAULDING...ANTWERP...OTTAWA...
PANDORA...VAN WERT...DELPHOS...LIMA
242 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011 /142 PM CDT SUN MAY 29 2011/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OHIO...
SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHERN INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. DAMAGING
WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH ARE THE GREATEST THREAT...HAIL TO ONE INCH IN
DIAMETER IS ALSO POSSIBLE. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL RATES MAY LEAD TO
FLOODING OF STREETS AND UNDERPASSES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. SOME
STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL...TUESDAY AFTERNOON INTO TUESDAY EVENING.

HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING
HEAT INDICES TO RISE INTO THE LOWER AND MIDDLE 90S.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR
CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX

LMZ043-046-301845-
NEW BUFFALO MI TO ST JOSEPH MI-MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI-
242 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF
SOUTHEASTERN LAKE MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. WIND
GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS AND LARGE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
STRONGEST STORMS. EXPECT LOCALLY HIGH WAVES IN AND NEAR STORMS.
FOG WILL ALSO LIMIT VISIBILITY TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. SOME
STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE AND PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS AND
LARGE HAIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON INTO TUESDAY EVENING.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR
CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX/?N=MARINE

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 29, 2:40 PM EST, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
340 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0333 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N LAKEVILLE           41.55N  86.27W
05/29/2011                   ST. JOSEPH         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN AT US 31 AND NEW ROAD. ONE TREE BLOCKING
            ROAD

&&

EVENT NUMBER IWX1100942

CEO

Local storm report, May 29, 2:41 PM EST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
341 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0325 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PLYMOUTH                41.34N  86.31W
05/29/2011                   MARSHALL           IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN IN THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH

&&

EVENT NUMBER IWX1100943

CEO

Local storm report, May 29, 2:46 PM EST, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
346 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0338 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     S MISHAWAKA             41.66N  86.16W
05/29/2011                   ST. JOSEPH         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER IWX1100945

CEO

Local storm report, May 29, 2:56 PM EST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
356 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0337 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 S BREMEN              41.42N  86.15W
05/29/2011                   MARSHALL           IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ON FIR RD AND 6TH ROAD

&&

EVENT NUMBER IWX1100946

CEO

Special weather statement, May 29, 2:57 PM EST, 3 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
357 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

INZ008-015>018-022>025-292030-
ALLEN IN-CASS IN-FULTON IN-HUNTINGTON IN-KOSCIUSKO IN-MIAMI IN-NOBLE
IN-WABASH IN-WHITLEY IN-
357 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD EASTERN CASS...NORTHERN
MIAMI...NORTHERN WABASH...SOUTHERN KOSCIUSKO AND EASTERN FULTON
COUNTIES IN NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA...AND NORTHERN HUNTINGTON...
WHITLEY...WESTERN ALLEN AND EXTREME SOUTHERN NOBLE COUNTIES IN
NORTHEAST INDIANA...

AT 355 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTH OF
WARSAW TO AKRON TO MEXICO...MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

UP TO DIME SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  NORTH MANCHESTER...
  HUNTINGTON...
  TRI-LAKES AND COLUMBIA CITY...
  PIERCETON...
  ANDREWS...
  SOUTH WHITLEY...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHERN INDIANA AND SOUTHERN MICHIGAN AND NORTHWESTERN OHIO.

LAT...LON 4077 8621 4103 8614 4130 8594 4127 8526
      4093 8532 4092 8534 4086 8535
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 247DEG 54KT 4136 8577 4108 8600
          4090 8605

Local storm report, May 29, 2:58 PM EST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
358 PM EDT SUN MAY 29 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0335 PM     TSTM WND DMG     N BREMEN                41.45N  86.15W
05/29/2011                   MARSHALL           IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN IN THE 1800 BLOCK OF US 6

&&

EVENT NUMBER IWX1100947

CEO

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When: May 29, 3:00 PM EST to 3:01 PM EST
Where: Cass County, 4.07 mi SSE of Marcellus to 4.53 mi SE of Marcellus
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.975, -85.790

A survey of damage indicated the start of a roughly one mile wide swath of wind damage across northeastern Cass county. Numerous trees were damaged as a result of a concentrated burst of wind that continued into St. Joseph county in Michigan. Winds were likely in the 70 to 75 mph range as the line of storms moved into St. Joseph county.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Joseph

When: May 29, 3:01 PM EST to 3:14 PM EST
Where: St. Joseph County, 3.99 mi SSW of Howardsville to 1.22 mi NE of Parkville
Measured: 85 kt (98 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.981, -85.761

A survey of damage indicated the start of a roughly one mile wide swath of wind damage that started in northeastern Cass county and continued into St. Joseph county. The swath of wind occurred mainly across a heavily wooded portion of the county, resulting in hundreds of trees being snapped or uprooted. In addition, power poles and lines in the area suffered extensive damage. Wind speeds were estimated to be in the 90 to 100 mph range based on the degree of damage and radar evidence.

Tornado, St. Joseph

When: May 29, 3:10 PM EST to 3:12 PM EST
Where: St. Joseph County, 0.61 mi SSW of Moore Park to 1.74 mi WNW of Parkville
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.85 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 42.012, -85.636

A survey of extensive tree damage was performed in northwestern St. Joseph county. While the majority of the damage was a result of straight-line winds, damage patterns indicate that a circulation briefly formed and touched down. The circulation touched down just west of Moore Park and moved rapidly northeast, dissipating near the intersection of Marcellus and Hutchinson Road.

Tornado, Branch

When: May 29, 3:32 PM EST to 3:33 PM EST
Where: Branch County, 1.78 mi SE of Coldwater to 1.99 mi SE of Coldwater
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.33 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.931, -84.977

A survey of damage was conducted in the Coldwater area. The damage found was consistent with a brief tornado touchdown within an area of wind damage around the touchdown location. The circulation touched down near U.S. 12 and Interstate 69, at 364 South Michigan Avenue. Major roof damage to a storage facility occurred, along with substantial tree damage. The garage door on the east side of a house was blown in just south of Woodward Drive. The tornado passed across Interstate 69 depositing debris on portions of the Interstate, causing brief lane closures. The damage was consistent with an EF1 with winds of around 90 mph.

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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Michigan in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Michigan, 2011 Warnings in Michigan, May 2011

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: 318138, 318139, 311171, 294738.