A thunderstorm over Fort Gratroit moved into southern Lake Huron, producing a wind gust to 39 mph.
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The episode as NWS DTX wrote it up.
A thunderstorm over Fort Gratroit moved into southern Lake Huron, producing a wind gust to 39 mph.
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 Sep 11, 3:00 PM EST, 3 hours 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
400 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013
.SHORT TERM...THROUGH TONIGHT
WEAK COLD FRONT NOW LIES OVER CENTRAL MICHIGAN PER LATEST SURFACE
ANALYSIS. THIS SHOULD LIMIT SHOWER/TSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS
AFTERNOON/EVENING ACROSS THE SAGINAW VALLEY AND NORTHERN THUMB...AND
POPS THERE WERE KEPT VERY LOW. 19Z SPC MESOANALYSIS SHOWS THE BEST
INSTABILITY CURRENTLY LIES FROM THE FLINT AREA SOUTHWARD...EVEN
SHOWING AN UNCAPPED ENVIRONMENT OVER THIS AREA. 18Z DTX RAOB SHOWED
A WEAK CAP REMAINING HOWEVER NEAR 850 MB (-11 J/KG)...AND CLOUDS AT
THE OFFICE ARE HAVING TROUBLE DEVELOPING VERTICALLY AT
1930Z...SUPPORTING THE IDEA THAT AT LEAST A WEAK CAP REMAINED NORTH
AND WEST OF DTX. FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST WHERE SURFACE TEMPERATURES
ARE WARMER...SATELLITE IMAGERY HAS SHOWN A MORE ROBUST DEVELOPMENT
OF THE CU FIELD...AND RADAR HAS SHOWN A FEW WEAK CELLS STARTING TO
FORM. THIS IS THE AREA...ROUGHLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM PORT HURON TO
WHERE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE THE GREATEST AS THE FRONT
SLOWLY SAGS SOUTH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...AND WHERE SEVERE
POTENTIAL STILL LOOKS THE BEST. BIGGEST SEVERE THREAT WOULD BE
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH GIVEN INVERTED-V LOOK TO
SOUNDINGS...UNIDIRECTIONAL WIND PROFILES...AND MODEST CAPE VALUES
AROUND 2000 J/KG. LOCALIZED FLOODING MAY ALSO BE A THREAT IF
MULTIPLE STORMS AFFECT THE SAME AREA. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF VERY
HEAVY RAINFALL AS PW VALUES AHEAD OF THE FRONT ARE EXPECTED TO POOL
TO OVER 1.75 INCHES.
THETA-E RIDGE OVER THE AREA WILL GET SHUNTED SOUTHWARD TONIGHT AS
UPPER TROUGHING OVER MANITOBA PUSHES INTO THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN
GREAT LAKES. THIS WILL HELP THE FRONT CLEAR THE AREA AND END THE
THREAT FOR LINGERING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH
TONIGHT. HIGHER DEWPOINTS AND LINGERING CLOUD COVER WILL MAKE FOR
ONE MORE MILD NIGHT...ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF M-59. LOWS TONIGHT SHOULD
RANGE BETWEEN 60 AND 70.
&&
.LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
LONGWAVE PATTERN BECOMING QUITE ENERGETIC WITH MUCH OF THE ENERGY
AND RESULTING WAVES WILL REMAIN OVER CANADA...ALTHOUGH A COUPLE
STRONGER TROUGHS WILL DIG INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION. MEANWHILE THE
PERSISTENT RIDGE OVER THE WEST COAST WILL TRY TO RELEASE AND SLOWLY
TRACK EASTWARD BUT THE PAIR OF TROUGHS WILL SLOW IT PROGRESS THROUGH
THE WEEKEND. THE GREAT LAKES IS PLACED IN THE TRANSITION ZONE
BETWEEN THE RIDGE AND DIGGING TROUGH BUT THE THOUGH WILL PREVAIL
INTO NEXT WEEK KEEPING THE AREA BELOW NORMAL IN TERMS OF TEMPS BUT
MOSTLY DRY.
ZOOMING OUT AND LOOKING AT THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE...THE COLDEST
AIRMASS WILL BE OVER NE CANADA FOR THE END OF THE WEEK. AS THE
TROUGH DIGS INTO THE GREAT LAKES...THIS AIRMASS WILL BRUSH BY SE MI.
IMPRESSIVE CAA PATTERN WILL SET UP WITH MODELS INDICATING 500MB
HEIGHTS AROUND 560 DAM AND 850MB TEMPS DOWN TO -1C MOVING OVER THE
REGION THURSDAY NIGHT. -6C IS NOT FAR AWAY JUST NORTH OF LAKE HURON.
THIS WILL DROP MINS INTO THE 40S THURSDAY NIGHT. THE COLD NORTHERLY
FLOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY AS SFC HIGH PRESSURE MOVING INTO
THE REGION KEEPS A TIGHT GRADIENT SET UP OVER THE STATE. ALTHOUGH
MIDLEVEL HEIGHTS WILL STEADY AND TRY TO START INCREASING THROUGH THE
DAY...THE COLD AIR IN THE LOW LEVELS WILL KEEP IS MUCH COLDER THEN
THEN WE HAVE SEEN IN A WHILE WITH HIGHS STRUGGLING TO REACH 60.
HELPING KEEP THINGS COOL WILL BE A LAKE EFFECT STRATUS DECK THAT
FORMS AND BLANKETS MUCH OF SE MI...ESPECIALLY OVER THE THUMB. DELTA
T/S WILL BE PLENTY TO PRODUCE SHOWERS OVER SOUTHERN LAKE HURON WHICH
MAY DRIFT INLAND WITH THE N/NE FLOW. EVENTUALLY THE DRY HIGH
PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PUSH FAR ENOUGH EAST TO DISRUPT THE FAVORABLE
FETCH AND SCOUR OUT THE CLOUDS. THIS CLEARING TREND AND DRY AIR WILL
PRODUCE FAVORABLE RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS FRIDAY NIGHT AND
SATURDAY MORNING. MODEL GUIDANCE IS ADVERTISING TEMPS INTO THE
MID/UPPER 30 FOR MOST LOCATIONS...EXCLUDING THE DETROIT METRO AREA
AND LOCATIONS ALONG THE SHORELINE. THIS MAY LEAD TO THE FIRST FROST
HEADLINE OF THE SEASON FOR THE SAGINAW VALLEY INTO THE THUMB.
THINGS WILL QUIET DOWN FOR THE WEEKEND WITH A SLOW WARMING TREND AS
THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE INCHES CLOSER TO SE MI AND WINDS BECOME MORE
WESTERLY...BUT TEMPS WILL STILL STRUGGLE TO REACH 70. THE NEXT
FEATURE OF NOTE WILL BE ANOTHER COLD FRONT DROPPING THROUGH THE
STATE ON SUNDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL BRING A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TO
THE AREA. IN ADDITION...IT WILL KNOCK THE RIDGE BACK TO THE SW
TEMPORARILY PREVENTING ANY NOTABLE WARMUP.
&&
.MARINE...
A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO SAG SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES THROUGH TONIGHT. THIS WILL PROVIDE A CHANCE
OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM SOUTHERN LAKE HURON SOUTHWARD...WITH BETTER
COVERAGE AND A CHANCE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS OVER LAKE ST CLAIR
AND WESTERN LAKE ERIE. A SECOND AND STRONGER COLD FRONT WILL BEGIN
TO DROP ACROSS LAKE HURON LATE TONIGHT...AND CONTINUE SOUTH ACROSS
THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA ON THURSDAY. THE AIRMASS BEHIND THE FRONT
WILL BE MUCH COOLER AND WILL BOOST INSTABILITY OVER THE WARMER
WATERS OF LAKE HURON...LEADING TO GUSTY WINDS AND INCREASED WAVES.
COLDER AIR WILL CONTINUE TO POUR INTO THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT AND
FRIDAY...SUSTAINING GUSTY WINDS AND LARGE WAVES THROUGH FRIDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...ISSUED 129 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013
//DISCUSSION...
A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL DROP ACROSS SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN THIS AFTERNOON
AND INTO THIS EVENING. INSTABILITY WILL INCREASE IN ADVANCE OF THE
FRONT...ESPECIALLY FROM FNT SOUTHWARD. THIS WILL ALLOW SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF AND ALONG THE FRONT...ALTHOUGH
COVERAGE AND LOCATION OF INITIATION OF ARE SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN RIGHT
NOW DUE A CAP (WARM LAYER) IN THE ATMOSPHERE. STORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO
FIRE WHEN THIS CAP ERODES...WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO OCCUR BETWEEN 18Z
AND 20Z PER LATEST FORECAST MODEL DATA. THE BEST CHANCE FOR
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE AFTER 20Z. THUNDERSTORMS FROM FNT SOUTH MAY
BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE. BEHIND THE FRONT...NORTHWEST WINDS WILL
GUST BETWEEN 20 AND 25 KNOTS THURSDAY AFTERNOON. DRIER AIR WORKING
INTO THE AREA MAY KEEP CLOUD DECK BELOW 5000 FEET
SCATTERED...HOWEVER WILL WATCH POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL MOISTURE
STREAMING OFF THE GREAT LAKES TO FORM A BKN DECK (PARTICULARLY EARLY
IN THE DAY).
FOR DTW...MORE ORGANIZED LARGE SCALE FORCING DURING THE EVENING
SUGGESTS A FAIRLY GOOD CHANCE FOR WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS AT METRO LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING.
WHILE THERE WILL BE A GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ANYTIME AFTER
18Z...THE BEST POTENTIAL WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL AFTER 21Z.
//DTW THRESHOLD THREATS...
* MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* LOW CONFIDENCE WITH CEILINGS BELOW 5000 FEET THURSDAY MORNING.
&&
.DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...HEAT ADVISORY...MIZ069-MIZ070-MIZ076...UNTIL 10 PM WEDNESDAY.
LAKE HURON...
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WATERS FROM PORT AUSTIN TO PORT
HURON INCLUDING OUTER SAGINAW BAY...FROM 4 PM THURSDAY TO 2 AM
SATURDAY.
LAKE ST CLAIR...NONE.
MI WATERS OF LAKE ERIE...NONE.
&&
SHORT TERM...HLO
LONG TERM....DRK
MARINE.......HLO
AVIATION.....HLO
YOU CAN OBTAIN YOUR LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS ONLINE
AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DETROIT (ALL LOWER CASE).HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI 422 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013 MIZ060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-122030- SHIAWASSEE-GENESEE-LAPEER-ST. CLAIR-LIVINGSTON-OAKLAND-MACOMB- WASHTENAW-WAYNE-LENAWEE-MONROE- 422 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE THESE STORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. THUNDERSTORM MOTION WILL BE TO THE EAST AT 35 TO 40 MPH. A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE DETROIT METROPOLITAN AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST FORECAST FOR MORE DETAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS IMMEDIATELY. SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING. LCZ422-423-460-LEZ444-LHZ361>363-421-422-441>443-462>464-122030- 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 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE ERIE...LAKE HURON AND LAKE ST CLAIR. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT FROM SOUTHERN LAKE HURON SOUTHWARD. STORMS OVER LAKE ST CLAIR AND WESTERN LAKE ERIE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE...WITH THE GREATEST THREAT BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS. STORM MOTION WILL BE TO THE EAST AT 35 KNOTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LAKE HURON NEARSHORE WATERS INCLUDING OUTER SAGINAW BAY THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. AN ADDITIONAL SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED FOR INNER SAGINAW BAY THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS IMMEDIATELY. SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING. MIZ047>049-053>055-122030- MIDLAND-BAY-HURON-SAGINAW-TUSCOLA-SANILAC- 422 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. WHILE THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN SOUTH OF THE AREA...WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AND SMALL HAIL WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE. THUNDERSTORM MOTION WILL BE TO THE EAST AT AROUND 35 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. HLO YOU CAN OBTAIN YOUR LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS ONLINE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DETROIT (ALL LOWER CASE).
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
644 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM TSTM WND DMG PONTIAC 42.65N 83.29W
09/11/2013 OAKLAND MI 911 CALL CENTER
UTILITY POLE DOWN AT WOODWARD AND RAPID.
0605 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SSE OXFORD 42.77N 83.21W
09/11/2013 OAKLAND MI 911 CALL CENTER
TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR
0611 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SSE LAKEVILLE 42.78N 83.14W
09/11/2013 OAKLAND MI 911 CALL CENTER
TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0615 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 E OXFORD 42.83N 83.14W
09/11/2013 OAKLAND MI 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN AT ROCHESTER AND LAKEVILLE SOUTH OF LEONARD.
TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0630 PM TSTM WND DMG COMMERCE 42.59N 83.49W
09/11/2013 OAKLAND MI 911 CALL CENTER
TREES AND WIRES DOWN IN COMMERCE TOWNSHIP - TIME
ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
THOMPSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
650 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N COMMERCE 42.62N 83.49W
09/11/2013 OAKLAND MI AMATEUR RADIO
3 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN/ HEAVY RAIN...1 INCH. TIME IS
RADAR INDICATED.
&&
THOMPSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
652 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0623 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E ROCHESTER 42.68N 83.08W
09/11/2013 MACOMB MI TRAINED SPOTTER
12 INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS DOWN ON 24 MILE BETWEEN
SHELBY AND DEQUINDRE ROADS. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
&&
KURIMSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
658 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0655 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 WNW LIVONIA 42.43N 83.47W
09/11/2013 WAYNE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
POWERLINES DOWN
&&
THOMPSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
701 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0655 PM TSTM WND GST LIVONIA 42.40N 83.37W
09/11/2013 E50 MPH WAYNE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
1 TO 2 INCH DIAMETER TREE BRANCHES DOWN.
&&
KURIMSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
707 PM EDT WED SEP 11 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM TSTM WND DMG FARMINGTON 42.46N 83.38W
09/11/2013 OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
BILLBOARD REPORTED DOWN
&&
THOMPSONThe Detroit radar (KDTX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:11 UTC.
1 marine thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Lake Huron in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather history
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: 473535.