Marine Thunderstorm Wind in Lake Michigan, May 15, 2012

Name: Marine Thunderstorm Wind in Lake Michigan, May 15, 2012
Start: 2012-05-15T17:45
End: 2012-05-15T17:45
Location: Lake Michigan

May 15, 2012 · NWS MKX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Scattered thunderstorms developing during the late afternoon along a cold front which briefly affected portions of the near shore waters of Lake Michigan.

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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 MKX wrote it up.

Scattered thunderstorms developing during the late afternoon along a cold front which briefly affected portions of the near shore waters of Lake 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 Milwaukee, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 15, 1:52 PM CST, 3 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 15, 1:52 PM CST, 3 hours 53 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 15, 1:57 PM CST, 3 hours 48 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 15, 4:34 PM CST, 1 hour 11 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 15, 4:39 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 15, 4:51 PM CST, 54 minutes before

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Local storm report, May 15, 4:57 PM CST, 48 minutes before

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Local storm report, May 15, 5:39 PM CST, 6 minutes before

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Local storm report, May 15, 5:43 PM CST, 2 minutes before

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The radar

The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 marine thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind, North Pt Lt to Wind Pt Wi

When: May 15, 5:45 PM CST
Where: North Pt Lt to Wind Pt Wi forecast zone, 3.49 mi SE of North Point Lthouse
Measured: 34 kt (39 mph) measured gust
Reported by: C-MAN Station
Coordinates: 43.046, -87.879

What these are

Marine Thunderstorm Wind: Thunderstorm winds of 34 knots or more over coastal or lake waters.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Lake Michigan in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 370665.