Lake Superior, 2012

Marine Hail in Lake Superior, May 20, 2012

May 20, 2012 · NWS MQT · 7 events in 6 counties and zones

The passage of a strong cold front produced severe thunderstorms over nearshore portions of Lake Superior on the afternoon of the 20th.

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
7

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 MQT wrote it up.

The passage of a strong cold front produced severe thunderstorms over nearshore portions of Lake Superior on the afternoon of the 20th.

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 Marquette, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 20, 6:30 AM EST, 5 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 6:30 AM EST, 5 hours 45 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 3:11 AM EST, 9 hours 4 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, May 20, 11:35 AM EST, 40 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 20, 12:00 PM EST, 15 minutes before
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The radar

The Marquette radar (KMQT), 116 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 marine hail, 3 marine thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Marine Hail, Ontonagon to Upper Entrance of Portage Canal Mi

When
May 20, 12:15 PM EST to 12:18 PM EST
Where
Ontonagon to Upper Entrance of Portage Canal Mi forecast zone, 3.03 mi NE of Beacon Hill
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
47.154, -88.767

There was a report of one inch hail near Redridge.

Marine Hail, Point Isabelle to Lower Entrance of Portage Canal Mi

When
May 20, 3:12 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
Where
Point Isabelle to Lower Entrance of Portage Canal Mi forecast zone, 0.84 mi SW of Keweenaw Lower Entrance Light
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.960, -88.440

The spotter near Chassell measured 0.75 inch diameter hail at 15:10 EST.

Marine Hail, Portage Lake to Huron Is Mi to Lower Entrance of Portage Canal to Huron Is Inc Keweenaw and Huron Bays

When
May 20, 3:12 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
Where
Portage Lake to Huron Is Mi to Lower Entrance of Portage Canal to Huron Is Inc Keweenaw and Huron Bays forecast zone, 1.02 mi SW of Keweenaw Lower Entrance Light
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.960, -88.445

The spotter near Chassell measured 0.75 inch diameter hail at 15:10 EST.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind, Huron Islands to Marquette Mi

When
May 20, 4:50 PM EST to 6:20 PM EST
Where
Huron Islands to Marquette Mi forecast zone, Granite Island Light
Measured
66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.720, -87.410

The observing station at Granite Island Light measured maximum wind gusts of 66 knots during the passage of severe thunderstorms.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind, Manitou Island to Marquette Mi Beyond 5nm From Shore

When
May 20, 4:50 PM EST to 6:20 PM EST
Where
Manitou Island to Marquette Mi Beyond 5nm From Shore forecast zone, 11.76 mi N of Marquette
Measured
66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.720, -87.410

The observing station at Granite Island Light measured maximum wind gusts of 66 knots during the passage of severe thunderstorms.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind, Huron Islands to Marquette Mi

When
May 20, 5:28 PM EST to 5:40 PM EST
Where
Huron Islands to Marquette Mi forecast zone, Big Bay Point Light
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.840, -87.680

The observing station at the Big Bay Lighthouse measured thunderstorm wind gusts to near 40 knots.

Marine Hail, Marquette to Munising Mi

When
May 20, 6:21 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Marquette to Munising Mi forecast zone, 1.09 mi SSW of Shot Point
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.496, -87.179

The spotter near Shot Point measured 0.75 inch diameter hail.

What these are

Marine Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger over water.
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

More

Every storm in Lake Superior in 2012Every state in 2012This 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: 379591, 379592, 379593, 395903, 395904, 395908, 379594.