Severe thunderstorms produced several reports of damaging wind gusts across portions of Oceana, Newaygo and Muskegon counties on July 30th.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 GRR wrote it up.
Severe thunderstorms produced several reports of damaging wind gusts across portions of Oceana, Newaygo and Muskegon counties on July 30th.
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 Grand Rapids, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 30, 8:53 PM EST, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
953 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
.SYNOPSIS...
ISSUED AT 345 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP SOUTHEAST THROUGH MICHIGAN TONIGHT...
BRINGING SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF
THE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE WEST OF HIGHWAY 131.
RAIN WILL END TUESDAY MORNING AS THE FRONT DEPARTS... WITH
DECREASING CLOUDS FOLLOWING. STRONG NORTH WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT
WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS SWIMMING AND BOATING CONDITIONS ON LAKE
MICHIGAN FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL PROVIDE DRY AND PLEASANT WEATHER ON WEDNESDAY...
THEN ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL BRING A THREAT OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY.
&&
.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 953 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
RADAR IS CURRENTLY LIT UP FROM THE BRIDGE SOUTHWEST TO NEAR
MANITOWOC. NEW ECHOS WERE FORMING SW OF MANITOWOC ACROSS CENTRAL
WISCONSIN AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. LATEST HRRR BRINGS A BROKEN LINE
OF STORMS ACROSS THE CWA LATE TONIGHT. SHEAR VALUES ARE
CONSIDERABLY LESS ACROSS LOWER MI THAN ACROSS WISCONSIN. THINKING
THAT CHCS OF SVR STORMS ARE DIMINISHING BASED ON TIME OF DAY AND
MODEL PROGS OF SHEAR BUT A STRONG STORM OR TWO IS CERTAINLY
POSSIBLE. TWEAKED POPS TO REFLECT A BIT SLOWER TIMING THROUGH THE
CWA.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 345 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
THE MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH NOW OVER THE LAKE SUPERIOR REGION
WILL DIG SEWD TONIGHT. HEIGHT FALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AMPLIFYING
WAVE AND LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SFC COLD FRONT
WILL SET OFF A SCT-BKN LINE OF CONVECTION TO OUR NW OVER WI LATE
THIS AFTERNOON. THIS ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO EASILY SURVIVE THE TREK
ACROSS LAKE MI THIS EVENING AS AXIS OF INSTABILITY WITH MUCAPES
AROUND 2000 J/KG LEANS INTO WRN LWR MI AHEAD OF THE FRONT. LAKE MI
ACTUALLY MAY ALSO PROVIDE SOME BOOST GIVEN THE VERY WARM WATER TEMPS
AND ADDED SOURCE OF MOISTURE. HAVE RAISED POPS TO LIKELY OVER MUCH
OF THE CWFA TONIGHT.
SOME WIND DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WITH ANY ORGANIZED/BOWING LINES OF
CONVECTION TONIGHT. ALL THE JUICY DETAILS RELATED TO SEVERE WX
POTENTIAL CAN BE FOUND IN THE SPC DAY1 OTLK AS WELL AS ANY MESOSCALE
DISCUSSIONS FOR OUR AREA.
BELIEVE MOST OF THE CONVECTION WILL EXIT TO THE SOUTHEAST ON TUESDAY
MORNING. HOWEVER IT IS POSSIBLE SOME ENHANCEMENT AND/OR NEW
DEVELOPMENT WILL TAKE PLACE NEAR JXN IN THE LATE MORNING PRIOR TO
THE FRONT FULLY EXITING TO THE SE.
.LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY)
ISSUED AT 345 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
THE FOCUS OF THE LONG TERM WILL BE ON TWO SYSTEMS THAT WILL BE
MOVING THROUGH THE AREA. NO MAJOR CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO THE FCST AS
THE MODELS HAVE BEEN FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH DECENT RUN TO RUN
CONTINUITY.
UPPER NW FLOW EXPECTED TO BE ALOFT MOST OF THIS WEEK WILL HOLD ON
FOR ONE MORE DAY ON THU/THU NIGHT AS A SOMEWHAT DISORGANIZED SHORT
WAVE MOVES THROUGH JUST NORTH OF THE AREA. THIS WAVE WILL HELP TO
PUSH A COLD FRONT SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA. MOST OF THE DYNAMICS WILL
REMAIN JUST NORTH OF THE AREA WITH THIS WAVE. THE FRONT WILL BE
WEAKENING AS IT PUSHES SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA. H850 TEMPS AROUND 20C
WILL HELP TEMPS WARM TO AROUND 90 THU AFTERNOON.
THE NW UPPER FLOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FLATTENING OUT SOME THEN ON
FRI. THIS OCCURS AS THE STRONG WAVE THAT COMES FROM ITS CURRENT
POSITION ACROSS THE NRN PACIFIC TRANSLATES INTO THE AREA FOR NEXT
WEEKEND. MODELS ARE STARTING TO INDICATE THAT A WAVE MAY RIDE ALONG
THE STALLING OUT FRONT TO OUR SOUTH ON FRI. IF IT STALLS OUT A
LITTLE FURTHER NORTH...FRI MAY END UP A BIT MORE WET THAN CURRENTLY
INDICATED.
MODELS HAVE BEEN INDICATING THAT SAT AND SAT NIGHT COULD BE A
SOMEWHAT WET PERIOD AND POTENTIALLY ACTIVE AS THE STRONG WAVE/LOW
WILL BEGIN MOVING INTO THE AREA. STRONG FORCING AHEAD OF IT...ALONG
WITH A MOISTURE FEED FROM THE GULF WILL HELP TO BRING A GOOD CHC OF
PCPN TO THE AREA. THE NEW 12Z EURO JUST COMING IN IS NOW SLOWING THE
SYSTEM UP A BIT...SO WE WILL NEED TO WATCH THAT TREND.
WE SHOULD CLEAR OUT RATHER WELL AND COOL OFF A BIT BEHIND THE
SAT/SAT NIGHT SYSTEM AS A NICE CANADIAN AIR MASS ADVECTS IN. THIS
WILL DOMINATE THE WEATHER FOR THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY EVENING)
ISSUED AT 804 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS EXTENDS FROM THE EASTERN UPPER
PENINSULA SOUTHEAST TO NEAR GREEN BAY. THE MAIN POINT OF CONTENTION
WITH THIS SET OF TAFS IS WHAT THIS LINE DOES AT IT WORKS ITS WAY
SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 12 HOURS.
HAVE BROUGHT PREVAILING THUNDERSTORMS INTO THE WESTERN TAF SITES
OF KMKG...KGRR AND KAZO BETWEEN 03Z AND 08Z. INLAND TAF SITES ARE
A BIT TRICKIER AND DECIDED TO JUST USE VCTS WORDING AT THIS POINT.
HAVE KEPT CEILINGS VFR THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH MVFR VSBY/S IN
THE WESTERN SITES AS STORMS MOVE THROUGH.
SHOWERS AND STORMS SHOULD MOVE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE TAF SITES
THROUGH THE COURSE OF TUESDAY MORNING BETWEEN 12Z AND 16Z.
&&
.MARINE...
ISSUED AT 345 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
WILL ISSUE A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
INCREASING NORTH FLOW AND COLD ADVECTION OVER VERY WARM LAKE WATERS
IS BOUND TO KICK UP THE LAKE TO ADVISORY LEVELS.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
ISSUED AT 345 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
RAIN AMOUNTS WITH THE FRONT TONIGHT SHOULD BE GENERALLY ONE QUARTER
TO ONE HALF INCH. HOWEVER SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS NEAR ONE INCH
ARE CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. WHILE LOCALIZED NUISANCE FLOODING IS
POSSIBLE IN URBAN AREAS IF/WHERE HEAVY DOWNPOURS OCCUR... WE REALLY
NEED THIS RAIN FOR DROUGHT RELIEF.
&&
.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT FOR MIZ037-043-050-056-064-071.
LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR
LMZ844>849.
&&
UPDATE...93
SYNOPSIS...MEADE
SHORT TERM...MEADE
LONG TERM...NJJ
AVIATION...DUKE
HYDROLOGY...MEADE
MARINE...MEADEHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI 500 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012 MIZ037>040-043>046-050>052-056>059-064>067-071>074-312100- MASON-LAKE-OSCEOLA-CLARE-OCEANA-NEWAYGO-MECOSTA-ISABELLA-MUSKEGON- MONTCALM-GRATIOT-OTTAWA-KENT-IONIA-CLINTON-ALLEGAN-BARRY-EATON- INGHAM-VAN BUREN-KALAMAZOO-CALHOUN-JACKSON- 500 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS TONIGHT... PRIMARILY WEST OF HIGHWAY 131 INCLUDING LUDINGTON... MUSKEGON... AND HOLLAND. THE PRIMARY THREATS ARE WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND HAIL UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THE MAIN TIME FRAME OF CONCERN IS 9 PM TO 2 AM. NUMEROUS STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN A LINE OVER WISCONSIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO LAKE MICHIGAN AND WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY. SOME STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 8 PM TONIGHT... ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES WEST OF HIGHWAY 131. LMZ844>849-312100- ST JOSEPH TO SOUTH HAVEN MI-SOUTH HAVEN TO HOLLAND MI- HOLLAND TO GRAND HAVEN MI-GRAND HAVEN TO WHITEHALL MI- WHITEHALL TO PENTWATER MI-PENTWATER TO MANISTEE MI- 500 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS TONIGHT ACROSS THE ENTIRE NEARSHORE WATERS. THE PRIMARY THREATS ARE WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND HAIL UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THE MAIN TIME FRAME OF CONCERN IS 9 PM TO 2 AM. NUMEROUS STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN A LINE OVER WISCONSIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO LAKE MICHIGAN AND WESTERN LOWER MICHIGAN THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR SMALLER WATERCRAFT AND SWIMMERS. THESE HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT BEFORE IMPROVING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 8 PM TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
1032 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
MIZ037-310330-
MASON-
1032 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
AT 1027 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUDINGTON...MOVING EAST AT
35 MPH.
PENNY SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS GREATER TO NEAR 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BIG SABLE POINT... HAMLIN LAKE...
LUDINGTON STATE PARK...
LAKE MICHIGAN RECREATION AREA... LUDINGTON...
VICTORY TWP... SUMMIT TWP... SCOTTVILLE...
FREESOIL... CUSTER... FOUNTAIN...
MEADE TWP... WALHALLA... LOGAN TWP...
BRANCH...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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.
&&
LAT...LON 4409 8650 4412 8644 4418 8639 4417 8604
4382 8604 4382 8643 4382 8644 4397 8647
4403 8652 4406 8652
TIME...MOT...LOC 0231Z 289DEG 29KT 4411 8661
DUKEThe Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:11 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down near Walkerville.
About a hundred trees were blown down northeast of a line from Hesperia to Newaygo.
There were numerous reports of trees blown down in and near Hesperia.
Numerous reports of trees and power lines down in White Cloud and Newaygo.
Trees and power lines were blown down in Cedar Creek township.
Large Tree Fell on a House. Several Other Large Trees nearby were blow over.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Newaygo | 2012-07-31 | Male | Permanent Home | Direct | |
| Thunderstorm Wind, Newaygo | 2012-07-31 | Female | Permanent Home | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, July 2012
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: 389251, 389253, 389255, 389256, 389257, 398206.