Lake Michigan, 2016

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in Lake Michigan, August 20, 2016

August 20, 2016 · NWS MKX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A strengthening cluster of thunderstorms over far southeast Wisconsin moved across the southern near shore and open waters of Lake Michigan between Winthrop Harbor and Port Washington during the morning of August 20th, producing strong winds.

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
1

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 MKX wrote it up.

A strengthening cluster of thunderstorms over far southeast Wisconsin moved across the southern near shore and open waters of Lake Michigan between Winthrop Harbor and Port Washington during the morning of August 20th, producing strong winds.

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 Milwaukee, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 20, 2:37 AM CST, 4 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 2:37 AM CST, 4 hours 34 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 3:18 AM CST, 3 hours 53 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 20, 5:28 AM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 20, 6:02 AM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 20, 7:00 AM CST, 11 minutes before
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The radar

The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 marine thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind, Wind Pt Lt Wi to Winthrop Hbr Il

When
August 20, 7:11 AM CST
Where
Wind Pt Lt Wi to Winthrop Hbr Il forecast zone, 3.28 mi E of Racine
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
42.728, -87.736

Weatherflow mesonet weather station located at Racine Reef light measured a 56 knot wind gust as thunderstorms moved through.

What these are

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 Michigan in 2016Every state in 2016This 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: 645116.