An upper disturbance moving through an unstable air mass spawned thunderstorms which produced two tornadoes near Republic in western Marquette County on the afternoon of the 24th.
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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.
An upper disturbance moving through an unstable air mass spawned thunderstorms which produced two tornadoes near Republic in western Marquette County on the afternoon of the 24th.
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 May 24, 12:33 PM EST, 44 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Marquette MI 133 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 517 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 WV imagery and RAP analysis indicated sw mid/upper level flow into the the upper MS valley and Upper Michigan between a ridge over the central Great Lakes and a broad trough over the wrn CONUS. although the axis of higher moisture has gradually moved east into the CWA with dewpoints into the upper 50s over the west, dewpoints remained in the mid 40s central. Areas of showers and a few tsra over MN, western Lake superior and northern WI into west Upper Michigan supported by weak shortwaves have gradually weakened with overnight cooling. Today, The models suggest suggest that a shortwave trough over northwest MN lifting into NW Ontario aided by flow off of Lake Superior will drag a weak front into Upper Michigan. Ahead of the front, expect enough heating despite thickening cloud cover to push temps into the mid and upper 70s resulting in MLCAPE values into the 500-1000 J/Kg range this afternoon. sct/nmrs showers over the west should gradually expand into the central and CWA this afternoon and evening with tsra coverage increasing this afternoon, especially over the se half. A weak shortwave moving NE from IA may also aid in shra/tsra development. sfc-6km shear near 40 knots could support some stronger storms and an isolated svr storm could not be ruled out, but with only marginal instability, expect the tsra to remain below svr limits. Tonight, Expect the shra/tsra to gradually shift to shift to the south of the cwa and weaken during the evening as the weak front moves through and daytime heating subsides with the pcpn ending by 03z-06z. Look for min temps from the upper 40s north to lower 50s south with lingering low clouds and some patchy fog possible. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 336 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 Challenging forecast in the long term as almost every period will see chances for convection sparked by multiple shortwaves ejecting out of the upper trough over the western CONUS. As is expected in this scenario, models disagree and have worse than normal continuity. Leaned heavily on consensus blends given limited confidence in any one model. No chances for severe weather can be pinpointed at this time. Wed morning starts the long term in a quiet way as ridging is overhead. Convection may move in along all or a portion of the WI border in the afternoon or evening depending on shortwave timing/track and resulting convective trends. After Wed just stuck with the blends given aforementioned limited confidence. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 132 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 As a weak front moves through the sites this afternoon, some sct showers are expected that tend to diminish at CMX/IWD late in the afternoon. Although VFR conditions will prevail ahead of the cold fnt, the arrival of a shallow moist airmass in its wake will cause some low clouds and MVFR/IFR cigs following its passage at least for a time. By tonight, lifr conditions will develop at all taf sites as low level moisture remains trapped at the sfc. This will burn off during Wed morning at all sites and CMX and IWD will go vfr while SAW goes to mvfr. && .MARINE...(For the 4 AM Lake Superior forecast issuance) Issued at 517 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 Winds will diminish today and become northeast as a weak front moves through. A period of NE winds of 20 to 25 knots over the western lake is possible Wednesday as low pressure develops over the plains and moves to the Upper MS valley. Otherwise, expect winds at or below 20 knots through the forecast period. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Upper Michigan... None. Lake Superior... None. Lake Michigan... None. && SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...Titus AVIATION...07 MARINE...JLB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI 433 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 MIZ001>007-009>014-084-085-250845- KEWEENAW-ONTONAGON-NORTHERN HOUGHTON-BARAGA-MARQUETTE-ALGER-LUCE- GOGEBIC-IRON-DICKINSON-MENOMINEE-DELTA-SOUTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- SOUTHERN HOUGHTON-NORTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- 433 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 /333 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY. SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG WITH WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-250845- 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- 433 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 /333 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR...CENTRAL LAKE SUPERIOR AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY. WIDESPREAD FOG IS EXPECTED ACROSS WEST AND CENTRAL LAKE SUPERIOR TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. LMZ221-248-250-250845- 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- 433 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. TITUS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
1239 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016
MIZ002-241715-
ONTONAGON MI-
1239 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2016
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
AT 1236 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES NORTHWEST OF BERGLAND...OR 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ONTONAGON...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BERGLAND...ROCKLAND...BRUCE CROSSING...NORTHERN LAKE GOGEBIC...NORWICH...
VICTORIA DAM...WHITE PINE...EWEN...MERRIWEATHER AND CLARK LAKE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO
LOCALIZED FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER ON ROAD WAYS.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 4687 8916 4653 8901 4650 8941 4650 8971
4651 8974 4659 8974 4659 8983 4666 8987
4671 8986
TIME...MOT...LOC 1636Z 244DEG 35KT 4669 8967
KECThe Marquette radar (KMQT), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:17 UTC.
2 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter south of Sidnaw reported numerous large trees snapped or uprooted.
The survey team observed several snapped or uprooted white pine trees over a foot in diameter just west-northwest of Republic.
The survey team observed numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along the path of the tornado. There were also trees knocked down on a cabin along with damage to a chimney. A trampoline and lawn furniture were also damaged at another residence.
There was nickel-sized hail reported at Caspian.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Michigan, 2016Warnings in Michigan, May 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: 633823, 633727, 633730, 633821.