Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Michigan, May 13, 2014

Name: Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Michigan, May 13, 2014
Start: 2014-05-13T13:12
End: 2014-05-13T15:30
Location: Michigan

May 13, 2014 · NWS DTX · 23 events in 11 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front on the afternoon of May 13, 2014. Storms raced east across most of Southeast Lower Michigan, causing a broad area of damage.

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: $234,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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.

Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front on the afternoon of May 13, 2014. Storms raced east across most of Southeast Lower Michigan, causing a broad area of damage. Several trees and power lines were downed, along with reports of wind gust measurements ranging from 50 to 60 mph.

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 May 13, 12:40 PM EST, 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 12:40 PM EST, 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
140 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

.AVIATION...

//DISCUSSION...

EXISTING UNSTABLE PRE-FRONTAL ENVIRONMENT WILL SUPPORT SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.  LATEST RADAR
TRENDS CONTINUE TO INDICATE AN INITIAL PERIOD OF CONVECTION
IMPACTING MBS AND FNT AT THE START OF THE PERIOD...WITH ADDITIONAL
DEVELOPMENT EXPANDING INTO PTK/DTW 20-21Z. CLUSTERS OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE SOUTHERN TERMINALS WELL INTO
THE EVENING. PERSISTENT MID LEVEL FRONTAL FORCING AND MOIST
CONDITIONS WILL THEN SUPPORT AN EXPANDING STRATUS DECK WITH
ADDITIONAL SHOWERS TONIGHT. POTENTIAL DOES EXIST FOR PERIOD OF IFR
DURING THIS TIME.

FOR DTW...CURRENT TRENDS UPSTREAM CONTINUE TO INDICATE THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL CENTER BETWEEN 21Z AND 00Z.  WIND
SHIFT WITH THE COLD FRONT AROUND 02Z.

//DTW THRESHOLD THREATS...

* LOW CONFIDENCE IN CEILINGS BELOW 5000 FT THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH
CONFIDENCE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT.

* MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN THUNDERSTORMS IMPACTING THE AIRPORT THIS
EVENING.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...ISSUED 1053 AM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

UPDATE...

RECENT PRESENTATION OF WATER VAPOR/VISIBLE IMAGERY AND TRENDS IN
OBSERVATIONS LEAVE EXPECTATIONS LARGELY UNCHANGED FOR A WINDOW FROM
MID AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONGER
CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT.  IN FACT...SOME LONGER RESIDENCE TIME OF
NEARLY FULL INSOLATION SOUTHEAST OF AN OWOSSO TO BAD AXE LINE
NETTING A PROGRESSIVE SURFACE TEMPERATURE RESPONSE.  UPDATE ALREADY
OUT TO ADDRESS THIS WITH READINGS NOW EXPECTED TO LAND SOLIDLY IN
THE LOWER AND MIDDLE 80S THROUGHOUT THIS CORRIDOR.  MODIFIED PARCEL
TAKEN WITH A T/TD OF 83/67 YIELDS SBCAPE ON THE ORDER OF
1500-1800 J/KG BY 18-20Z.  UNDER THE BACKGROUND OF THIS MODIFYING
THERMODYNAMIC PROFILE...ENVIRONMENT CERTAINLY LOOKING SUPPORTIVE OF
MORE SUBSTANTIVE UPDRAFT STRENGTH.  RECENT RUC ANALYSIS PAIRED WITH
WATER VAPOR AND LATEST HI RES SOLUTIONS SUGGEST CONVECTIVE
INITIATION WILL TEND TO ANCHOR ON SOME COMBINATION OF AN INBOUND
REMNANT MCV/PERTURBATION NOW EJECTING NORTHEAST OUT OF THE ARKANSAS/
MISSOURI BOOTHEEL AND A LEAD PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH AXIS. THE TROUGH
MAY BE HELPING SUSTAIN THE LIGHT RETURNS AND CLOUD DEBRIS
CURRENTLY STREAMING FROM SOUTHWEST LOWER MI INTO THE TRI-CITIES
AT THE MOMENT. THE DEEP LAYER LARGELY UNIDIRECTIONAL WIND FIELD
WILL BE IMPROVING WITH TIME...A NOTED UPTICK WITHIN THE 800-700 MB
LAYER BY LATE AFTERNOON SEEMINGLY SUPPLYING ADEQUATE ENOUGH SHEAR
TO SUSTAIN ORGANIZED STRUCTURES WITHIN THIS MODULATING PRE-FRONTAL
WARM SECTOR. THIS CONTINUES TO POINT TOWARD AT THE VERY LEAST A
MARGINAL RISK FOR STRONG WIND GUSTS...WITH A PLAUSIBLE SCENARIO
FOR A GREATER COVERAGE IN LIGHT OF ERODING CONCERNS OVER POTENTIAL
BOUNDARY LAYER HEATING. HEAVY RAINFALL ALSO A POTENTIAL ISSUE
GIVEN THE ELEVATED PWAT VALUES...PARTICULARLY HEADING INTO THE
EVENING AS THE FORWARD PROPAGATION OF THE INBOUND FRONTAL SLOPE
SLOWS WITH TIME.

PREV DISCUSSION...ISSUED 331 AM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

SHORT TERM...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AS OF 07Z...THE SURFACE WARM FRONT APPEARS TO HAVE CLEARED THE TRI
CITIES AND BAD AXE AND IS NOW HUGGING THE LAKE HURON
SHORELINE...WHERE THE MARINE LAYER HAS PROVEN A FORMIDABLE OBSTACLE
IN THE NORTHEAST PROGRESS OF THIS FRONT. SFC LOW PRESSURE CENTERED
OVER FAR WRN LAKE SUPERIOR WILL LIFT INTO NORTHERN ONTARIO TODAY IN
ADVANCE OF A MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE NOW LIFTING UP THROUGH MINNESOTA.
DESPITE THE STEADY STATE NATURE OF THE LONG WAVE TOUGH OVER THE
PLAINS AND MID LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE NORTHERN LAKES...THE SFC COLD
FRONT /NOW EXTENDING ACROSS CNTL WI AND WRN IL/ WILL BE DRIVEN
ACROSS SE MI BETWEEN 21Z AND 02Z THIS EVENING AS THE SFC LOW LIFTS
NORTH. STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL S-SW FLOW IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT
WILL HOLD THE WARM FRONT NORTH OF THE AREA...POSSIBLY PUSHING IT
OFFSHORE OF THE THUMB.

EXTENSIVE PREFRONTAL THUNDERSTORMS YESTERDAY HAVE LED TO NUMEROUS
CONVECTIVELY INDUCED MID LEVEL SHORT WAVES. A PAIR OF THESE MCVS NOW
STRETCHING FROM IL TO CNTRL LAKE MI WILL TRACK ACROSS WRN AND CNRL
LOWER MI THIS MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. ENHANCED LIFT ASSOCIATED
WITH THESE FEATURES WILL LIKELY ALLOW SOME CONVECTION TO PECULATE
WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE SFC COLD FRONT. SOME OF THIS CONVECTION MAY
INFILTRATE AT LEAST THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA
THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. WITH SE MI FIRMLY WITHIN THE WARM
SECTOR...TEMPS SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM RISING WELL INTO THE 70S TODAY
/PERHAPS SOME LOW 80S OVER THE EAST/ EVEN WITH SOME RESIDUAL
CONVECTIVE CLOUD DEBRIS. ASSUMING AFTERNOON TEMPS REACH UPPER 70S
WITH SFC DEWPOINTS IN THE MID/UPPER 60S...SB CAPE SHOULD REACH 1500
J/KG. WITH 0-6KM BULK SHEAR AROUND 35 KNOTS...A FEW STRONG TO
POTENTIALLY SEVERE STORMS STILL LOOK POSSIBLE /STRONG WINDS BEING
THE MAIN HAZARD/. THE DEEP LAYER MOISTURE AND THUS LOW CAPE DENSITY
ALONG WITH UNCERTAINTY AS TO HOW MUCH WARMING WILL OCCUR IN THE
BOUNDARY LAYER TODAY SEEM TO BE THE MAIN LIMITING FACTORS FOR THE
INCLUSION OF SE MI IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME.

GIVEN THE RATHER GOOD DENSITY GRADIENT ALONG THE SFC COLD
FRONT...LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE SHOULD STILL PROVE EFFICIENT IN
PROVIDING A GENEROUS COVERAGE OF CONVECTION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. WITH PRECIP WATER AROUND 1.6 INCHES AND FAIRLY HIGH DEEP
LAYER MEAN RH...THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
FAIRLY INTENSE RAINFALL RATES. THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE SFC COLD
FRONT DUE TO THE MEAN DEEP LAYER FLOW NEARLY PARALLELING THE FRONT
COULD AGAIN POSE SOME LOCALIZED HIGH RAINFALL AMOUNTS AND FLOODING.
WHILE THE SFC FRONT AND INSTABILITY WILL SLIDE EAST OF THE AREA BY
03Z...GOOD FGEN WITHIN THE 925-850MB LAYER AND AMPLE DEEP LAYER POST
FRONTAL MOISTURE SHOULD SUSTAIN SHOWERS OVER MUCH OF THE AREA WELL
INTO THE NIGHT.

LONG TERM...

THE LONGWAVE NORTH AMERICAN TROUGH CENTERED JUST EAST OF THE ROCKIES
WILL UNDERGO FURTHER PHASING/CONSOLATION OF UPPER LEVEL PV AS
SOUTHERN ENERGY EJECTS OUT OF THE FOUR CORNERS REGION...LEADING TO
DEEPENING AND CLOSED 500 MB LOW OVER THE MIDWEST ON THURSDAY.
ABUNDANT RESERVOIR OF MOISTURE...BOTH PACIFIED AND GULF OF MEXICO
MOISTURE OVER EASTERN MEXICO WILL BE SURGING NORTHWARD ONCE
AGAIN...ALLOWING RAIN TO DEVELOP LATE WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...PERSISTING AT LEAST INTO THURSDAY...AS DEEPENING SURFACE
LOW TRACKS FROM THE WESTERN GULF COAST STATES...NORTH/NORTHEAST
THROUGH THE CENTRAL OHIO VALLEY AND THROUGH/OR CLOSE TO SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN. PER 00Z NAM...EXCELLENT LARGE SCALE ASCENT FOR AN EXTENDED
PERIOD...COUPLED WITH THE GOOD MOISTURE (850 MB DEW PTS OF 10+
C...700 MB DEW PTS UP AROUND 2 C)...MODEST INSTABILITY (SHOWALTER
INDEX DROPPING TO ZERO OR SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE BY THURSDAY
MORNING)...WILL RESULT IN RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES...AND WIDESPREAD
RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH APPEARS POSSIBLE...WHICH WOULD LIKELY
LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FLOODING CONCERNS WITH RECENT HEAVY
RAINFALL/ALREADY SOAKED GROUND/ELEVATED RIVERS. TROUGH AXIS
POTENTIALLY GOING NEGATIVELY TILTED THURSDAY NIGHT MAY PROLONG THE
RAIN A BIT LONGER. HOWEVER...THE 00Z EURO HAS COME IN MUCH WEAKER
LOW/SOLUTION THAN ITS 12Z RUN...AND THUS SHOWS THE MAJORITY OF RAIN
OCCURRING BEFORE 12Z THURSDAY AS THE MID LEVEL DRY SLOT TAKES HOLD
ON THURSDAY.

DRYING OUT AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND...BUT COLDER TEMPERATURES
WILL BE THE WEATHER STORY...AS COLD POOL ALOFT MOVES OVER THE GREAT
LAKES REGION...AND 00Z MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW 850 MB TEMPS DIPPING
SLIGHTLY BELOW ZERO FOR FIRST HALF OF THE WEEKEND. THIS COLDER
AIRMASS WILL LEAD TO STEEP LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS...SUFFICIENT FOR CU UP AND ISOLATED-SCATTERED
SHOWERS...WITH FROST POSSIBLE AT NIGHT AS CLOUDS TEND TO DISSIPATE.

MARINE...

WARM AND MOIST AIR LIFTING OVER THE COLDER WATERS OF LAKE HURON IS
EXPECTED TO PRODUCE AREAS OF DENSE FOG TODAY...ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...AS COLD FRONT SWEEPS THROUGH THE CENTRAL
GREAT LAKES LATE TODAY. OUTSIDE OF ANY THUNDERSTORMS...WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN UNDER 20 KNOTS AS THEY GRADUALLY VEER FROM A
SOUTHERLY DIRECTION TO THE WEST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. LIGHT WINDS
ON WEDNESDAY WILL GIVE WAY TO INCREASING NORTHEAST WINDS AS A LOW
TRACKS INTO SOUTHWESTERN ONTARO. FUNNELING THROUGH SAGINAW BAY COULD
PRODUCE WIND GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 KNOTS ON THURSDAY AS COLDER AIR
FILTERS IN THE REGION.

&&

.DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...NONE.

LAKE HURON...
     DENSE FOG ADVISORY...LHZ363-LHZ421-LHZ441-LHZ442-LHZ443-LHZ462-
     LHZ463-LHZ464...UNTIL 8 AM WEDNESDAY.

     DENSE FOG ADVISORY...LHZ362...UNTIL 4 AM WEDNESDAY.

     DENSE FOG ADVISORY...LHZ361...UNTIL 11 PM TUESDAY.

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

&&

AVIATION.....MR
UPDATE.......MR
SHORT TERM...SC
LONG TERM....SF
MARINE.......SF

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

Hazardous weather outlook, May 13, 3:01 AM EST, 10 hours 11 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
401 AM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-140800-
MIDLAND-BAY-HURON-SAGINAW-TUSCOLA-SANILAC-SHIAWASSEE-GENESEE-LAPEER-
ST. CLAIR-LIVINGSTON-OAKLAND-MACOMB-WASHTENAW-WAYNE-LENAWEE-MONROE-
401 AM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY
AFTERNOON...THEN THEY WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS BY LATE AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH AND HAIL TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH
IN DIAMETER. INTENSE RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT OCCURS.
THERE IS A CHANCE OF ADDITIONAL LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS
AND FLOODING. INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST
AT 40 MPH. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP AND
REPEATEDLY MOVE OVER THE SAME AREAS. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE AREA THIS EVENING...COLLIDING WITH WARM MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR
OVER THE REGION...WHICH WILL TRIGGER NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

WIDESPREAD RAIN IS FORECAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY...
POSSIBLY AMOUNTING TO AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF RAINFALL. THIS ADDED
RAINFALL COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FLOODING CONCERNS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

LCZ422-423-460-LEZ444-LHZ361>363-421-422-441>443-462>464-140800-
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-
401 AM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR LAKE HURON TODAY AND
TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST OPEN LAKE AND NEARSHORE MARINE
FORECASTS FOR DETAILS.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...
THEN THEY WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS BY LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 35
TO 45 KNOTS AND HAIL TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER.
INTENSE RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT OCCURS. INDIVIDUAL
THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THERE IS A
CHANCE THAT THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP AND REPEATEDLY MOVE OVER
THE SAME AREAS. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS
EVENING...COLLIDING WITH WARM MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR OVER THE
REGION...WHICH WILL TRIGGER NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

SC

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 13, 10:03 AM EST, 3 hours 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
1103 AM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 AM     HEAVY RAIN       MILFORD                 42.59N 83.60W
05/13/2014  M1.71 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0500 AM     HEAVY RAIN       4 N OWOSSO              43.05N 84.18W
05/13/2014  M1.25 INCH       SHIAWASSEE         MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0600 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 S WARREN              42.46N 83.03W
05/13/2014  M3.04 INCH       MACOMB             MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0600 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SW MONROE             41.89N 83.43W
05/13/2014  M1.09 INCH       MONROE             MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0600 AM     HEAVY RAIN       NW SOUTH LYON           42.46N 83.65W
05/13/2014  M2.93 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0600 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NE CORUNNA            43.00N 84.09W
05/13/2014  M1.37 INCH       SHIAWASSEE         MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0615 AM     HEAVY RAIN       DUNDEE                  41.96N 83.66W
05/13/2014  M1.08 INCH       MONROE             MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NE WIXOM              42.53N 83.52W
05/13/2014  M1.10 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NNE DAVISBURG         42.77N 83.53W
05/13/2014  M1.33 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 N FARMINGTON HILLS    42.50N 83.38W
05/13/2014  M1.45 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 W PLYMOUTH            42.37N 83.57W
05/13/2014  M1.92 INCH       WASHTENAW          MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NNE ANN ARBOR         42.32N 83.71W
05/13/2014  M1.68 INCH       WASHTENAW          MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 WNW LIVONIA           42.41N 83.41W
05/13/2014  M1.30 INCH       WAYNE              MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NE LIVONIA            42.42N 83.34W
05/13/2014  M1.01 INCH       WAYNE              MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NW WESTLAND           42.35N 83.42W
05/13/2014  M1.22 INCH       WAYNE              MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 S LIVONIA             42.38N 83.37W
05/13/2014  M1.00 INCH       WAYNE              MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NW WHITMORE LAKE      42.44N 83.76W
05/13/2014  M2.50 INCH       LIVINGSTON         MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       4 SSE NEWPORT           41.95N 83.28W
05/13/2014  M1.18 INCH       MONROE             MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       OWOSSO                  43.00N 84.18W
05/13/2014  M1.44 INCH       SHIAWASSEE         MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NNE SWARTZ CREEK      42.99N 83.81W
05/13/2014  M1.22 INCH       GENESEE            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SE GRAND BLANC        42.90N 83.58W
05/13/2014  M2.44 INCH       GENESEE            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 E BRIGHTON            42.53N 83.75W
05/13/2014  M1.65 INCH       LIVINGSTON         MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 SSE WHITE LAKE        42.59N 83.47W
05/13/2014  M1.14 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SE NEWPORT            41.97N 83.27W
05/13/2014  M1.18 INCH       MONROE             MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 WNW FARMINGTON HILLS  42.50N 83.41W
05/13/2014  M1.87 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0725 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NNW LIVONIA           42.42N 83.39W
05/13/2014  M1.19 INCH       WAYNE              MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0730 AM     HEAVY RAIN       GOODRICH                42.92N 83.51W
05/13/2014  M1.66 INCH       GENESEE            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0730 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 WNW ANN ARBOR         42.29N 83.77W
05/13/2014  M1.69 INCH       WASHTENAW          MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0730 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 WNW DURAND            42.95N 84.10W
05/13/2014  M1.92 INCH       SHIAWASSEE         MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0730 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 WSW FENTON            42.77N 83.82W
05/13/2014  M3.10 INCH       LIVINGSTON         MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0730 AM     HEAVY RAIN       CHESANING               43.18N 84.12W
05/13/2014  M1.58 INCH       SAGINAW            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0730 AM     HEAVY RAIN       LINDEN                  42.82N 83.78W
05/13/2014  M3.51 INCH       GENESEE            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0732 AM     HEAVY RAIN       7 S FLINT               42.92N 83.69W
05/13/2014  M1.62 INCH       GENESEE            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0745 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 E WHITE LAKE          42.65N 83.49W
05/13/2014  M1.40 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       DURAND                  42.91N 83.99W
05/13/2014  M1.47 INCH       SHIAWASSEE         MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       7 W FLINT               43.02N 83.83W
05/13/2014  M1.07 INCH       GENESEE            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       4 E WHITE LAKE          42.65N 83.43W
05/13/2014  M1.09 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       4 WNW GRAND BLANC       42.95N 83.69W
05/13/2014  M1.18 INCH       GENESEE            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NW PINCKNEY           42.49N 83.99W
05/13/2014  M3.32 INCH       LIVINGSTON         MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 E PINCKNEY            42.45N 83.85W
05/13/2014  M2.43 INCH       LIVINGSTON         MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SSE FENTON            42.76N 83.69W
05/13/2014  M2.29 INCH       LIVINGSTON         MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 ESE DAVISBURG         42.75N 83.52W
05/13/2014  M1.15 INCH       OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SE DEXTER             42.31N 83.85W
05/13/2014  M1.07 INCH       WASHTENAW          MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 SSW LIVONIA           42.38N 83.38W
05/13/2014  M1.17 INCH       WAYNE              MI   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       FLINT                   43.02N 83.69W
05/13/2014  M1.19 INCH       GENESEE            MI   ASOS

            24 HOUR TOTAL AT BISHOP AIRPORT

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       ROMULUS                 42.22N 83.37W
05/13/2014  M1.12 INCH       WAYNE              MI   ASOS

            24 HOUR TOTAL AT DETROIT METRO AIRPORT

0810 AM     HEAVY RAIN       HOWELL                  42.61N 83.94W
05/13/2014  M1.77 INCH       LIVINGSTON         MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

0830 AM     HEAVY RAIN       MONROE                  41.92N 83.39W
05/13/2014  M1.18 INCH       MONROE             MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL

&&

RKULIK

Special weather statement, May 13, 12:19 PM EST, 53 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
119 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

MIZ060-131800-
SHIAWASSEE-
119 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 116 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF PERRY...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

WINDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...
BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

* THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CORUNNA AND OWOSSO BY 125 PM EDT...
  DURAND BY 130 PM EDT...
  LENNON BY 135 PM EDT...
  NEW LOTHROP BY 145 PM EDT...

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.

BEHNKE

Special weather statement, May 13, 12:24 PM EST, 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
124 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

MIZ049-131830-
HURON-
124 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 122 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BAD AXE...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

WINDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...
BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

* THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  ELKTON BY 135 PM EDT...
  BAD AXE BY 145 PM EDT...
  PORT HOPE BY 210 PM EDT...

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.

BEHNKE

Special weather statement, May 13, 12:40 PM EST, 32 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
140 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

MIZ049-131845-
HURON-
140 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

AT 134 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES WEST OF BAD AXE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

* THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  BAD AXE BY 145 PM EDT...
  KINDE BY 155 PM EDT...
  PORT HOPE BY 210 PM EDT...

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.

BEHNKE

Special weather statement, May 13, 12:48 PM EST, 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
148 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

MIZ053-054-060-061-131845-
GENESEE-SAGINAW-SHIAWASSEE-TUSCOLA-
148 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

AT 144 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FLUSHING...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

* THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CLIO AND MOUNT MORRIS BY 155 PM EDT...
  BIRCH RUN BY 200 PM EDT...
  FRANKENMUTH BY 205 PM EDT...
  MILLINGTON BY 215 PM EDT...
  VASSAR BY 220 PM EDT...
  CARO BY 235 PM EDT...

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.

BEHNKE

Special weather statement, May 13, 1:03 PM EST, 9 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
203 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

MIZ068-075-131900-
LIVINGSTON-WASHTENAW-
203 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

AT 201 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES NORTH OF
FOWLERVILLE TO MANCHESTER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

* THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  SALINE AND MILAN BY 215 PM EDT...
  DEXTER BY 220 PM EDT...
  WILLIS AND HAMBURG BY 225 PM EDT...
  DIXBORO AND YPSILANTI BY 230 PM EDT...
  SALEM BY 240 PM EDT...

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

BEHNKE

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lenawee

When: May 13, 1:12 PM EST
Where: Lenawee County, 2.95 mi SSW of Cement City
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 42.030, -84.350

Numerous trees blown down on a Church Property.

Thunderstorm Wind, Livingston

When: May 13, 1:32 PM EST
Where: Livingston County, 2.31 mi NNE of Chilson
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 42.560, -83.830

The top of a small tree was blown off.

Thunderstorm Wind, Livingston

When: May 13, 1:52 PM EST
Where: Livingston County, 1.68 mi ESE of Pinckney
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.440, -83.900

Trees and large tree limbs reported blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: May 13, 1:54 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, 2.04 mi W of Ann Arbor
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.280, -83.770

Widespread trees down, some of which fell onto homes which caused structural damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: May 13, 1:55 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, 0.86 mi NW of (Arb)ann Arbor Muni
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.230, -83.760

Three inch diameter tree limbs reported down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: May 13, 1:58 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, 1.23 mi SW of Ann Arbor
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.270, -83.750

A large tree was uprooted and fell onto detached garage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: May 13, 2:02 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, 1.02 mi E of Dixboro
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 42.320, -83.630

Numerous large trees reported down on wires.

Thunderstorm Wind, Huron

When: May 13, 2:02 PM EST
Where: Huron County, 0.69 mi N of Ulby
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.710, -82.930

Power lines were reported down.

Flash Flood, Genesee

When: May 13, 2:10 PM EST to 3:30 PM EST
Where: Genesee County, 3.12 mi WSW of Brent Creek to 1.26 mi N of Gaines Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.103, -83.927

Multiple streets were flooded, including I-75. Vehicles were stranded due to the high water. Although rainfall totals where only around 1 inch, heavy rainfall of 3 to 5 inches from the previous day set the stage for the Flash Flooding which occurred.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washtenaw

When: May 13, 2:11 PM EST
Where: Washtenaw County, 0.86 mi SE of Geddes
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.260, -83.660

A spotter estimated a 65 mph thunderstorm wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oakland

When: May 13, 2:14 PM EST
Where: Oakland County, 1.01 mi E of Oxford
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.820, -83.250

A fence was reported blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: May 13, 2:16 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, 0.51 mi E of Romulus
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.220, -83.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Oakland

When: May 13, 2:18 PM EST
Where: Oakland County, 1.47 mi NNW of Farmington
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 42.490, -83.380

Large tree was reported blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 13, 2:30 PM EST
Where: Monroe County, 2.58 mi SW of Petersburg Lada Fld
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 41.850, -83.710

Power lines reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 13, 2:32 PM EST
Where: Monroe County, 0.51 mi E of Petersburg Lada Fld
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 41.880, -83.670

Large tree and wires reported down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 13, 2:36 PM EST
Where: Monroe County, 1.54 mi E of Lulu
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 41.880, -83.590

Large tree and wires reported down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Macomb

When: May 13, 2:37 PM EST
Where: Macomb County, 2.64 mi WNW of Mt Clemens
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.590, -82.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Macomb

When: May 13, 2:38 PM EST
Where: Macomb County, 1.72 mi NE of Center Line
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.490, -83.010

Spotter estimated a 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Macomb

When: May 13, 2:38 PM EST
Where: Macomb County, 1.23 mi SE of Disco
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.670, -83.010

Two large trees reported blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sanilac

When: May 13, 2:38 PM EST
Where: Sanilac County, Melvin
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 43.180, -82.870

A power pole and wires reported down.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: May 13, 3:00 PM EST
Where: St. Clair County, 1.23 mi NW of Columbus
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 42.890, -82.670

Large tree was reported blown down on a truck.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: May 13, 3:15 PM EST to 3:17 PM EST
Where: St. Clair County, 0.65 mi N of Snyderville to 0.99 mi SE of Belle River
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 42.839, -82.669

Trees reported down, along with power outages.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: May 13, 3:21 PM EST
Where: St. Clair County, 0.86 mi SW of St Clair
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 42.820, -82.490

Multiple reports of trees and power lines 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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Michigan in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, May 2014

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: 513838, 513771, 513807, 513786, 513762, 513789, 513794, 513800, 513848, 513767, 513820, 513782, 513797, 513816, 513818, 513819, 513787, 513801, 513803, 513845, 513822, 513829, 513824.