Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, July 3, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, July 3, 2012
Start: 2012-07-03T04:05
End: 2012-07-03T11:05
Location: Michigan

July 3, 2012 · NWS DTX · 14 events in 4 counties and zones

A few severe thunderstorms developed during the morning hours.

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: 14

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.

A few severe thunderstorms developed during the morning hours.

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 3, 2:50 AM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 2:50 AM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
350 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

.SHORT TERM...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SOUTHEAST LOWER MI NOW FIRMLY POSITIONED ON THE EDGE OF THE WELL
DEFINED DEEP MOISTURE/INSTABILITY GRADIENT...WITH HIGH END DEWPOINTS
/UPPER 60S-LOWER 70S/ NOW ESTABLISHED JUST UPSTREAM.  STEADY
MOISTURE/THETA-E ADVECTION WILL COMMENCE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY
WITHIN A DEEPENING LOW LEVEL SOUTHWEST FLOW.  THIS PROCESS ALREADY
NOTED VIA THE BLOSSOMING SCATTERED CONVECTION NOW FILLING IN THROUGH
NORTH-CENTRAL LOWER.  AT THE SAME...SOUTHERN EXTENSION OF A
STRONG/CONVECTIVELY ENHANCED SHORTWAVE CURRENTLY ANCHORING A MCS
OVER NORTHEAST WISCONSIN/LAKE MICHIGAN WILL LOCK ONTO THE BETTER
MOISTURE FIELD AND WORK INTO THE LOWER PENINSULA THROUGH THE DAY.
THE POTENTIAL CERTAINLY EXISTS FOR THIS WAVE AND/OR ASSOCIATED
OUTFLOW/MCV TO INITIATE AN EXPANDING CORRIDOR OF CONVECTION THIS
MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON...PERHAPS ENHANCED VIA THE BROADER ASCENT
OWED TO ONGOING MOIST/WARM AIR ADVECTION ALONG A PASSING WARM
FRONTAL ZONE.  THIS CONVECTION WOULD THEN TEND TO FILL
EAST/SOUTHEAST DOWN THE GROWING INSTABILITY FIELD (MLCAPE IN EXCESS
OF 2000 J/KG) ALIGNED ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE AFTERNOON.  GIVEN
A BACKGROUND NORTHWEST WIND FIELD CARRYING 30 TO 35 KNOTS OF DEEP
LAYER SHEAR...CONDITIONS LOOK FAVORABLE FOR AN ORGANIZED SEVERE
WEATHER THREAT TODAY.

A VIRTUAL CARBON COPY NOTED IN THE SUB-850MB THERMAL FIELDS
TODAY...WITH THE MAIN ADJUSTMENT BEING THE INCREASE IN BOUNDARY
LAYER MOISTURE.  THIS WILL PROVIDE AN INCREMENTAL ADJUSTMENT UPWARD
IN HUMIDITY LEVELS THIS AFTERNOON.  THE PROSPECTS OF CONVECTION...AS
WELL AS SOME CIRRUS BLOWOFF LEFT FROM THE NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY
UPSTREAM...COULD PRESENT SOME ISSUES IN ACHIEVING A FULL CYCLE OF
MAX HEATING.  GIVEN CURRENT TRENDS...THIS SEEMS MORE LIKELY
TOWARD THE NORTH.  BARRING AN EARLIER DISRUPTION IN THE DIURNAL
HEATING CYCLE...ONCE AGAIN LOOKING AT HIGHS IN THE 90 TO 95
RANGE...WARMEST SOUTH.  THIS WOULD PLACE HEAT INDICES INTO THE UPPER
90S/NEAR 100 RANGE AS FAR NORTH AS THE I-69 CORRIDOR...SUPPORTIVE OF
A HEAT ADVISORY HEADLINE TODAY.

&&

.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

MAIN STORY THROUGH THIS WEEK WILL BE HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS. A
EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY (4TH OF JULY)
THROUGH FRIDAY FOR FAR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN.

CONVECTIVE FORECAST BECOMES VERY UNCERTAIN BY WEDNESDAY. MODELS
NEVER REALLY SHOW A STRONG THERMAL BOUNDARY DROPPING THROUGH THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF LOWER MICHIGAN TONIGHT OR WEDNESDAY...HINTING THAT
THE COLD FRONT NOW OVER NORTHERN MINNESOTA WILL WASH OUT AS IT MOVES
SOUTHEAST. LOOKING AT MODEL WIND FIELDS...AND ESPECIALLY
THETA-E...IT IS CLEAR THAT A BOUNDARY BETWEEN AIRMASSES WILL DROP
SOUTH ACROSS LOWER MICHIGAN ON WEDNESDAY (4TH OF JULY)...BUT HOW
MUCH CONVECTION THIS MAY TRIGGER IS UNCERTAIN. NAM/GFS HAVE A NICE
THETA-E RIDGE OVER MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN TODAY/TONIGHT...AND SHOW
IT CASCADING DOWN ACROSS MICHIGAN TOMORROW RESULTING IN STRONG LOW
AND MID LEVEL THETA-E ADVECTION. NAM ALSO SHOWS A WEAK SURFACE
TROUGH CROSSING DOWN THROUGH THE AREA...WITH AN ASSOCIATED WIND
SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST. AHEAD OF THIS BOUNDARY...INSTABILITY WILL
BUILD OVER THE AREA THROUGHOUT THE DAY...HOWEVER GFS AND NAM DIFFER
BY QUITE A BIT WITH HOW STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES BECOME (5-6 VS
7-8 C/KM). HIGH DEWPOINTS AND HOT TEMPERATURES SHOULD ALLOW SB CAPE
VALUES TO BUILD TO AROUND 3000 J/KG...WITH NAM/GFS SOUNDINGS
BECOMING EITHER UNCAPPED (NAM) OR VERY NEARLY UNCAPPED (GFS) BY
AFTERNOON. OTHER POTENTIAL SOURCES OF LIFT COULD INCLUDE UPPER
SHORTWAVES FROM UPSTREAM THAT CONTINUE TO PASS THROUGH THE LOWER
GREAT LAKES...AND LAKE BREEZE BOUNDARIES. DEEP MOISTURE IS NOT
EXPECTED TO BE IN PLACE...WITH A LAYER OF DRY AIR AT THE MID-LEVELS
EXPECTED TO PRECEDE THE STRONG THETA-E SURGE IN THE LOWER LEVELS.
THIS DRY LAYER MAY LIMIT TSTORM POTENTIAL AND COVERAGE...BUT ALSO
INCREASE BUOYANCY. HAVE CONTINUED TO CARRY CHANCE POPS...AND WILL
CONTINUE TO MENTION SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER
OUTLOOK GIVEN HIGH CAPE VALUES.

UNCERTAIN CONVECTIVE FORECAST DIRECTLY AFFECTS CONFIDENCE WITH
TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY. ANY CONVECTIVE DEBRIS FROM
UPSTREAM IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER MAY FIRE OVERHEAD COULD POTENTIALLY
BRING IN ENOUGH CLOUDS TO LIMIT TEMPERATURES. ON THE OTHER
HAND...TEMPERATURES COULD REACH 100 DEGREES OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF
OF THE FORECAST AREA. ASSUMING PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES...CURRENT
FORECAST WITH TEMPERATURES SOLIDLY IN THE 90S AND DEWPOINTS IN AT
LEAST THE UPPER 60S WOULD NECESSITATE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS AND/OR
HEAT ADVISORIES FOR THE AREA.

UPPER RIDGE WILL RE-AMPLIFY OVER THE CENTRAL U.S. AND GREAT LAKES
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...BRINGING QUIET WEATHER TO THE AREA.
BOTH TEMPERATURES AND DEWPOINTS LOOK TO FALL SLIGHTLY ON THURSDAY
BEFORE BOTH HEAT AND HUMIDITY INCREASE AGAIN FOR FRIDAY.

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE RIDING ACROSS NORTHERN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC
WILL FLATTEN THE RIDGE OVER THE GREAT LAKES FRIDAY INTO
SATURDAY...AND SEND A COLD FRONT DOWN ACROSS THE AREA. THIS WILL
BRING ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND TSTORMS LATE FRIDAY INTO
SATURDAY.

NORTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL DEVELOP OVER MICHIGAN FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY
AS BROAD TROUGHING SETTLES DOWN INTO THE REGION. THIS WILL BRING
RELATIVELY QUIET WEATHER...IN ADDITION TO COOLER TEMPERATURES AND
MUCH LOWER DEWPOINTS.

&&

.MARINE...

WEAK PRESSURE GRADIENT AND STABLE LOW LEVEL PROFILES WILL CONTINUE
TO PROMOTE LIGHT WINDS AND LOW WAVES THROUGH THE WEEK.  A WARM FRONT
LIFTING THROUGH THE REGION WILL BRING A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS
THROUGH TONIGHT.

&&

.AVIATION...ISSUED 1211 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

//DISCUSSION...

A LARGE THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN
SHOULD STAY NORTH OF THE TAF SITES THROUGH THE MORNING
HOURS...KEEPING VFR CONDITIONS IN PLACE OVER THE TAF SITES. HOWEVER
CIRRUS BLOWOFF FROM UPSTREAM CONVECTION WILL CAUSE A HIGH BASED
CLOUD DECK. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON AS A
WARM FRONT TRACKS THROUGH SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN DURING PEAK HEATING.
ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IN OVERALL COVERAGE AND TIMING IS STILL RATHER
LOW...WILL CONTINUE THE PROB30 GROUP DURING THE BEST WINDOW OF 16Z
TO 20Z. OUTSIDE OF ANY THUNDERSTORMS...VFR CONDITATIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO PREVAIL WITH WINDS REMAINING LIGHT SOUTHERLY.

//DTW THRESHOLD THREATS...

* LOW CONFIDENCE THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT KDTW AFTER 16Z.

&&

.DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...HEAT ADVISORY...MIZ069-MIZ070-MIZ075-MIZ076-MIZ082-MIZ083...FROM
     NOON TUESDAY TO 8 AM WEDNESDAY.

     EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH...MIZ069-MIZ070-MIZ075-MIZ076-MIZ082-
     MIZ083...FROM 8 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT SATURDAY.

     HEAT ADVISORY...MIZ060-MIZ061-MIZ062-MIZ063-MIZ068...FROM NOON
     TUESDAY TO 8 PM TUESDAY.

LAKE HURON...NONE.

LAKE ST CLAIR...NONE.
MI WATERS OF LAKE ERIE...NONE.

&&

SHORT TERM...MR
LONG TERM....HLO
MARINE.......MR
AVIATION.....KURIMSKI

YOU CAN OBTAIN YOUR LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS ONLINE
AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DETROIT (ALL LOWER CASE).

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 3:22 AM EST, 43 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
422 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

MIZ063-069-070-075-076-082-083-040900-
ST. CLAIR-OAKLAND-MACOMB-WASHTENAW-WAYNE-LENAWEE-MONROE-
422 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE SEE THE
LATEST HEAT ADVISORY STATEMENT FOR DETAILS.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A
SLIGHT CHANCE THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN
THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND
HAIL TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. STORM MOTION WILL BE WEST TO EAST
AROUND 25 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
EVENING. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGER IMMEDIATELY.
SPOTTER ACTIVIATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

MIZ060>062-068-040900-
SHIAWASSEE-GENESEE-LAPEER-LIVINGSTON-
422 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST HEAT
ADVISORY STATEMENT FOR DETAILS.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A
SLIGHT CHANCE THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN
THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND
HAIL TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. STORM MOTION WILL BE WEST TO EAST
AROUND 25 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
EVENING. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE.

ADDITIONAL HEAT ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED LATER THIS WEEK...ESPECIALLY
ON WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE AGAIN POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGER IMMEDIATELY.
SPOTTER ACTIVIATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

MIZ047>049-053>055-040900-
MIDLAND-BAY-HURON-SAGINAW-TUSCOLA-SANILAC-
422 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A
SLIGHT CHANCE THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN
THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND
HAIL TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. STORM MOTION WILL BE WEST TO EAST
AROUND 25 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
EVENING. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE.

HEAT ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED LATER THIS WEEK...ESPECIALLY ON
WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGER IMMEDIATELY.
SPOTTER ACTIVIATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

LCZ422-423-460-LEZ444-LHZ361>363-421-422-441>443-462>464-040900-
ST. CLAIR RIVER-DETROIT RIVER-LAKE ST. CLAIR-
MICHIGAN WATERS OF LAKE ERIE FROM DETROIT RIVER TO NORTH CAPE MI-
LAKE HURON FROM 5NM EAST OF MACKINAC BRIDGE TO PRESQUE ISLE LT
BEYOND 5 NM OFF SHORE-
LAKE HURON FROM PRESQUE ISLE LIGHT TO STURGEON POINT MI BEYOND 5NM
OFF SHORE-
LAKE HURON FROM STURGEON POINT TO ALABASTER MI BEYOND 5NM OFF SHORE-
OUTER SAGINAW BAY SW OF ALABASTER TO PORT AUSTIN MI TO INNER SAGINAW
BAY-INNER SAGINAW BAY SW OF POINT AU GRES TO BAY PORT MI-
PORT AUSTIN TO HARBOR BEACH MI-HARBOR BEACH TO PORT SANILAC MI-
PORT SANILAC TO PORT HURON MI-
LAKE HURON FROM PORT AUSTIN TO HARBOR BEACH BEYOND 5NM OFF SHORE-
LAKE HURON FROM HARBOR BEACH TO PORT SANILAC BEYOND 5NM OFF SHORE-
LAKE HURON FROM PORT SANILAC TO PORT HURON BEYOND 5NM OFF SHORE-
422 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE ERIE...LAKE
HURON AND LAKE ST CLAIR.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A
SLIGHT CHANCE THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN
THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS AND
HAIL TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. STORM MOTION WILL BE WEST TO EAST
AROUND 20 KNOTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
EVENING. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGER IMMEDIATELY.
SPOTTER ACTIVIATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

HLO

YOU CAN OBTAIN YOUR LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS ONLINE
AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DETROIT (ALL LOWER CASE).

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 3:45 AM EST, 20 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
445 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

MIZ047-053-030945-
MIDLAND-SAGINAW-
445 AM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

AT 441 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN
AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 15 MILES WEST OF ST. CHARLES...MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MARION SPRINGS...     FENMORE...            LAPORTE...
  HEMLOCK...            BRANT...              NELSON...
  FREELAND...           SWAN CREEK...         GARFIELD...
  ST. CHARLES...        OAKLEY...             SWAN CREEK...
  SHIELDS...            CHESANING...
  SHIAWASSEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE...

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL BRANCHES TO BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOOSE
OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS
TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS
PASSED.

MR

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:05 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When: July 3, 4:05 AM EST
Where: Saginaw County, 0.69 mi N of Marion Spgs
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 43.240, -84.330

A large tree was reported down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When: July 3, 4:45 AM EST
Where: Saginaw County, 2.46 mi ENE of Layton Corners
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.190, -83.933

Trees and a utility pole were blown down.

Hail, Genesee

When: July 3, 4:57 AM EST
Where: Genesee County, 1.01 mi E of (Fnt)bishop Arpt Fli
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.970, -83.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When: July 3, 4:57 AM EST
Where: Genesee County, 2.52 mi E of Flint Daltons Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.050, -83.730

Eight inch diameter trees reported down.

Hail, Genesee

When: July 3, 5:01 AM EST
Where: Genesee County, 2.05 mi NW of Grand Blanc
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 42.940, -83.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When: July 3, 5:01 AM EST
Where: Genesee County, 2.05 mi NW of Grand Blanc
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 42.940, -83.650

A spotter estimated a 70 mph thunderstorm wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When: July 3, 5:02 AM EST
Where: Genesee County, 2.02 mi E of (Fnt)bishop Arpt Fli
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.970, -83.710

Hail, Oakland

When: July 3, 5:40 AM EST
Where: Oakland County, Oxford
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.820, -83.270

Thunderstorm Wind, Oakland

When: July 3, 5:40 AM EST
Where: Oakland County, Oxford
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.820, -83.270

Large trees were reported blown down.

Lightning, Macomb

When: July 3, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Macomb County, 0.71 mi ESE of Waldenburg
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 42.667, -82.917

Lightning struck a home and caused a fire in the attic.

Lightning, Macomb

When: July 3, 9:01 AM EST
Where: Macomb County, 1.14 mi ESE of Waldenburg
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 42.666, -82.908

Lightning struck a home and caused a fire in the attic.

Lightning, Macomb

When: July 3, 9:02 AM EST
Where: Macomb County, 1.82 mi SSE of Waldenburg
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 42.645, -82.917

Lightning struck a home and caused a fire in the attic.

Hail, Macomb

When: July 3, 9:05 AM EST
Where: Macomb County, 0.86 mi SE of Cady
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.540, -82.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Saginaw

When: July 3, 11:05 AM EST
Where: Saginaw County, 1.22 mi NE of Merrill
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.410, -84.310

Numerous trees and branches reported down.

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, July 2012

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: 401191, 401189, 401185, 401190, 401186, 401195, 401196, 401199, 401200, 401210, 401212, 401213, 401187, 401193.