A cold front moving through an unstable air mass produced several severe thunderstorms during the afternoon of the 17th over portions of Marquette and Baraga counties.
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 MQT wrote it up.
A cold front moving through an unstable air mass produced several severe thunderstorms during the afternoon of the 17th over portions of Marquette and Baraga counties.
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 Marquette, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 17, 3:09 PM EST, 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Marquette MI 409 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 327 AM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 Nam has a couple shortwaves in MN and another in the Dakotas this morning. The shortwave in the dakotas will head east along with shortwave in northern Manitoba which is heading southeast will influence the weather over the upper Great Lakes today. Both of these shortwaves help to dig the upper level trough into the upper Great Lakes tonight. Nam brings in some deeper moisture and 850-500 mb q-vector convergence this morning into the west and both move out of the ern cwa tonight. GFS and WCMWF show about the same thing as well. Difficult forecast in store for the area for today based on severe weather potential. Feeling is will be hard to really get instability in place as cloud cover will be pretty extensive today and thinking is the area will be on the northern side of an MCS that goes through Wisconsin. This will mean highest pops will be across the southern cwa which would also see the heaviest rain. Shear values are high enough though that severe storms cannot be ruled out if there is more sunshine than what I expect. Slight risk still seems warranted and will be highly dependent on sunshine. Could see some hail and gusty winds out of the storms especially if there is more sunshine. Will go a little more pessimistic with the cloud cover though and think cirrus anvil blowoff from the MCS going by to the south will limit sunshine and instability a bit for now. Did not make too many changes to the going forecast otherwise. Will have cwa be dry after 06z tonight. .LONG TERM...(Monday night through Sunday) Issued at 407 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 The main issues for the extended forecast will be the well above normal temperatures and humidity for the middle and end of the work week with near record highs possible on Thursday. Monday night through Tuesday night: Upper level 500mb troughing over the Lower Great Lakes will continue to slide eastward Monday evening as heights begin to rise from the west as the ridge over the Plains slide toward the area. At the surface, high pressure will be in place through most of this time period. For the most part,the high pressure/height rises sliding into the area, along with drier air, will limit any chances for showers and thunderstorms and allow for mostly clear skies. As the high slides eastward Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night, warm moist southerly flow will begin to kick in across the CWA, causing temperatures to warm to above normal for the day Tuesday. Wednesday through Thursday: The 500mb ridge axis is progged to remain over the central part of the U.S. through this time period, with the typical short waves riding around the periphery of the ridge. Timing will be everything with these waves, as far as pinning down the best chances of showers and thunderstorms, so the details will need to be ironed out as mid-week approaches. Right now it looks as if one wave would slide through the area during the day Wednesday with another wave sliding through late Wednesday night into Thursday. As is typical, models are having issues with the timing of the waves as well as the magnitude, but it does look like intermittent complexes of showers and thunderstorms will slide through the area during the aforementioned time periods. Temperatures will be hot during this time period as 850mb temperatures warm to around 20C Wednesday and 22C-25C Thursday. The big caveat for the really warm temperatures will be the timing of the shortwaves and cloud cover associated with those. If the shortwaves slide through during peak heating, this would act to suppress the temps a bit. Either way it will still be very warm and uncomfortable across the U.P. Thursday night into Friday: The GFS/EC have a cold front progged to slide south and eastward into the CWA late Thursday night into Friday as an associated shortwave slides into the area. This will provide enough lift and instability to focus showers and thunderstorms across the area during this time period. Again, confidence in exact timing is fairly low as the models are not in the best agreement that far out, but general trend will be for the ridge to flatten with this wave. At this point, have gone with a consensus of the models for this time period. Friday night through the extended: Flow is expected to be a bit more zonal across the area allowing for a more comfortable weekend across the U.P. There are some hints at a couple waves trying to slide across the area Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening, but given the timing differences and low confidence, will stick with a consensus of the models, bringing cooler temperatures and slight chances of showers and thunderstorms by late Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon) Issued at 138 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 As area of rain now impacting the E half of Upr MI shifts to the E, lingering lo clds at SAW wl tend to dspt and give way to VFR cigs. There has been more clrg over wrn Upr MI, and the aprch of a disturbance and lo pres trof wl lead to some showers/TS at IWD and CMX mid to late aftn that wl drift to the E and possibly impact SAW by 00Z. Except for a period of MVFR cigs at CMX this evng with an upslope W wind, VFR conditions should then prevail the rest of the fcst period. The only potential issue is the passage of a lo pres trof late tngt/early Mon that could lead to some lo clds/potential MVFR cigs especially at CMX with an upslope NW wind. && .MARINE...(For the 4 PM Lake Superior forecast issuance) Issued at 407 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 After a cold front passes through the Upper Great Lakes Region this evening, expect winds to increase up to 20 knots and shift to the west. By Monday morning, the front will be east of the area allowing winds to decrease. Winds are then expected to stay below 20 knots through the rest of the forecast period. Warm and humid air will flow across Lake Superior Wednesday through Friday, which will allow fog to form, locally dense at times. . && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Upper Michigan... None. Lake Superior... None. Lake Michigan... None. && SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM...KEC AVIATION...KC MARINE...KEC
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI 414 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 MIZ001>005-009>011-084-181200- KEWEENAW-ONTONAGON-NORTHERN HOUGHTON-BARAGA-MARQUETTE-GOGEBIC- IRON-DICKINSON-SOUTHERN HOUGHTON- 414 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 /314 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE STRONG. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER ARE APPRECIATED. MIZ006-007-012>014-085-181200- ALGER-LUCE-MENOMINEE-DELTA-SOUTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- NORTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- 414 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 /314 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE STRONG. THERE IS A MODERATE SWIM RISK FOR THE BEACHES ALONG THE ALGER COUNTY SHORELINE FOR MONDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-181200- LAKE SUPERIOR WEST OF A LINE FROM SAXON HARBOR WI TO GRAND PORTAGE MN BEYOND 5NM-SAXON HARBOR WI TO BLACK RIVER MI- BLACK RIVER TO ONTONAGON MI- ONTONAGON TO UPPER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL MI- UPPER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL TO EAGLE RIVER MI- EAGLE RIVER TO MANITOU ISLAND MI- MANITOU ISLAND TO POINT ISABELLE MI- POINT ISABELLE TO LOWER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL MI- LOWER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL TO HURON ISLANDS MI INCLUDING KEWEENAW AND HURON BAYS-HURON ISLANDS TO MARQUETTE MI- MARQUETTE TO MUNISING MI-MUNISING TO GRAND MARAIS MI- GRAND MARAIS TO WHITEFISH POINT MI- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM SAXON HARBOR WI TO UPPER ENTRANCE TO PORTAGE CANAL MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER INCLUDING ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM UPPER ENTRANCE TO PORTAGE CANAL TO MANITOU ISLAND MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER- LAKE SUPERIOR WEST OF LINE FROM MANITOU ISLAND TO MARQUETTE MI BEYOND 5NM FROM SHORE- LAKE SUPERIOR EAST OF A LINE FROM MANITOU ISLAND TO MARQUETTE MI AND WEST OF A LINE FROM GRAND MARAIS MI TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER BEYOND 5NM FROM SHORE- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM GRAND MARAIS MI TO WHITEFISH POINT MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER- 414 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 /314 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR...CENTRAL LAKE SUPERIOR AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR THROUGH THIS EVENING. A FEW OF THE STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE OVER WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR EARLY THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE STRONG. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. LMZ221-248-250-181200- GREEN BAY NORTH OF LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-SEUL CHOIX POINT TO POINT DETOUR MI- 5NM EAST OF A LINE FROM FAIRPORT MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE- 414 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE STRONG. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. KEC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
320 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016
MIZ002-003-084-171945-
SOUTHERN HOUGHTON MI-ONTONAGON MI-HOUGHTON MI-
320 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN ONTONAGON AND WEST
CENTRAL HOUGHTON COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
AT 319 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES NORTHEAST OF MASS CITY...OR 17 MILES EAST OF ONTONAGON...MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINONA AND TWIN LAKES.
LAT...LON 4697 8865 4685 8866 4685 8868 4676 8867
4679 8903 4688 8905
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 264DEG 25KT 4684 8895
KLUBERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI 343 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 MIZ003-004-084-172030- SOUTHERN HOUGHTON MI-HOUGHTON MI-BARAGA MI- 343 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN BARAGA AND CENTRAL HOUGHTON COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT... AT 343 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR NISULA...OR 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF BARAGA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BARAGA...KEWEENAW BAY...JACOBSVILLE...THE LOWER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL...ASSININS...TWIN LAKES...ARNHEIM...PELKIE AND TAPIOLA. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 4680 8887 4690 8887 4703 8836 4679 8845 TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 260DEG 23KT 4686 8879 KLUBER
The Marquette radar (KMQT), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:18 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
There was a report just south of Pequaming of nickel-sized hail with one or two hailstones about one inch in diameter.
Regional law enforcement dispatch reported a large poplar tree down near the intersection of Highway M-38 and Pine Creek Road. This was a delayed report.
Law enforcement reported downed trees on Froberg Road near Pelkie. Power outages were also reported in Baraga.
Regional law enforcement dispatch reported large trees down and snapped power lines near the intersection of Highway M-38 and Pelkie Road. This was a delayed report.
The observer near Pelkie observed nickel-sized hail, and measured 0.75 inches of rainfall in less than a half an hour.
Law enforcement reported downed trees and power lines on the intersection of Cooper Lake Road and Deer Lake Road northwest of Ishpeming.
The Ishpeming Township Fire Department reported several trees down on Cooper Lake Road south of the Deer Lake Road intersection. Some of the downed hardwood trees were estimated to measure between 12 and 18 inches in diameter and a few were snapped off toward the tops. The power company was on the scene to help with cleanup, and one car had a tree lying down on it. This was a delayed report.
A spotter near Ishpeming observed a funnel cloud over Bell Hospital. The funnel cloud went back up into the cloud when penny sized hail and a heavy rain were observed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, July 2016
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: 649493, 649491, 649488, 649490, 649481, 649485, 649492, 649486.