Record highs in the lower 70s gave way to several thunderstorms which produced wind damage as a strong cold front track through Southeast Michigan.
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 DTX wrote it up.
Record highs in the lower 70s gave way to several thunderstorms which produced wind damage as a strong cold front track through Southeast Michigan.
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 Nov 18, 6:26 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
626 PM EST Fri Nov 18 2016
.AVIATION...
Strong cold front on track to sweep across SE Michigan early
tonight. Solid corridor of pre-frontal convection immediately
upstream still governs attention for the prospects of seeing a brief
pop of stronger gusts in advance of the actual front this evening.
Will continue to monitor trends, as model guidance holds steadfast
in allowing this line to quickly diminish with time as it enters the
region. Outside of this, looking for a period of rain with falling
cigs to accompany the frontal passage 03-07z. Wind shift to
southwest with renewed gustiness /mainly 20 to 25 kts/ anticipated
during the early morning as cold air surges in. Cold cyclonic flow
takes hold on Saturday, resulting in a high shower coverage and
strengthening westerly flow. Higher intensity showers likely
resulting in intermittent transitions from rain to snow showers
during the daylight period, with a greater potential for prevailing
light snow showers beyond 21z. Westerly wind gust potential
maximized late Saturday into Saturday night, where gusts into the 30
knot reach will be common.
For DTW...Closely monitoring trends on incoming convective line just
upstream. Near term model guidance still suggesting this line with
weaken considerably over the next 1-2 hours, with the greater pre-
frontal wind potential holding west and north. Ceilings will fall
below 5000 ft with this moisture, with an accompanying disruption in
visibility should heavier showers move directly overhead. Frontal
passage timed 06-07z, wind shift from south to southwest with an
increase in gustiness again during this time.
//DTW Threshold Probabilities...
* High in ceiling below 5000 ft through Saturday.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION...
Issued at 305 PM EST Fri Nov 18 2016
DISCUSSION...
Record high temperatures attained as the CWA remained firmly
entrenched in a well-mixed and sunny warm sector for the balance of
the day. Visible satellite and radar mosaic indicates a solid line
of lower clouds and disorganized showers organized a cold front and
co-located low-level jet presently positioned along a line from
roughly Little Rock to Saint Louis to Chicago. The low will continue
to lift north with the better dynamic forcing, but the cold front
will plow through the area from west to east between 03-07z this
evening. Lack of dynamic support notwithstanding, the front is still
a significant feature from a mass adjustment/momentum perspective.
Temperatures well into the 60s ahead of the front will fall into the
30s in most areas by sunrise Saturday and will be accompanied by
gusty winds around 25 knots. Fropa itself is likely to contain a pop
of winds to 30 knots given strong mechanical and thermal mixing
evidenced by model cross sections through the nose of the front.
Cyclone will be occluded by Saturday morning as the upper low
settles over the northern Great Lakes. Cold conveyor is progged to
aggressively wrap around the cyclone at this time, creating a sharp
surface trough and density gradient through the lower atmosphere as
the surface low sits over Lake Superior. Would not be surprised to
see some additional deepening at the triple point given the robust
diabatic lake response. The suite of high res guidance, and even the
NAM12 and GFS, all indicate a sharp kink in the isobars as 272-276K
isentropic descent ramps up considerably and the surface low takes
on a more mesoscale appearance. Most wind effects will be over Lake
Huron, but a wind advisory for the exposed shores of Huron County
may still be needed as a result.
Well-mixed cold airmass will sweep across Lower MI as this feature
pivots south and east. 0-1km theta-e lapse rates falling to -10C/km
will ignite the lake response reinforcing any existing stratus and
sending waves of lake effect rain and snow showers across SE
Michigan. Thermodynamic profile will be such that ptype will be rate-
dependent, so expect a mix of rain and snow for most areas for most
of the day. WNW flow will favor banding stretching into Lenawee and
perhaps Washtenaw County by late in the afternoon when ptype is
likely to have transitioned to all snow. As a result, added accums
up to an inch there, but suspect this will mainly be on grassy and
elevated areas. In addition, raised pops across the board as NAM12
soundings indicate deep saturation through the boundary layer and a
descending crystal growth zone likely to support widespread
afternoon/evening flurries if nothing else. High moisture quality
will tend to limit mixing efficiency, so winds over most land areas
have been reduced to around 28-30kts during Saturday afternoon.
Strong gradient and persistence of lake clouds will ensure temps
remain elevated around 30 degrees on Saturday night. CWA will be in
the grips of the thermal trough characterized by -13C H85 temps on
Sunday. Strong cyclonic gradient and lake enhancement will likely
lead to some persistence of scattered snow showers or flurries.
Forecast highs in the mid to upper 30s are on the lower end of
normal for the time of year, though it is worth mentioning that
sufficient cloud cover may cap mixing leading to highs that may only
struggle out of the 20s on Sunday aftn.
High pressure will build over the Great Lakes region on Monday
yielding a gradual reduction in winds through Tuesday. Temperatures
will remain below normal to start the week with highs staying in the
30s on Monday and near 40 on Tuesday. Low pressure in the Central
Plains on Tuesday will then track towards the Great Lakes region
midweek. While the ECMWF shows a slightly weaker, slower low
pressure than the GFS, both solutions are indicating the low will
track across Michigan on Wednesday with 850 mb temperatures
remaining above freezing over Southeast Michigan. Thus expect this
system to remain a mostly wet event. As the low occludes and moves
over Ontario, lingering clouds and showers will remain in place on
Thursday over Michigan.
MARINE...
Marginal southwest gales over central Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay
will give way to dangerous conditions Saturday afternoon into
Sunday. A strong arctic cold front will turn winds to the northwest
and will bring with it the potential for a brief hit of storm force
wind gusts followed by 36 hours of strong northwest gales. Gusts to
storms may also be possible during this time. An upgrade to a storm
warning over central Lake Huron is possible during the next 24
hours. Maximum wave heights over the open waters of southern Lake
Huron will easily exceed 20 feet Saturday night through all of
Sunday. Lakes Erie and Saint Clair will see a prolonged period of
marginal gales or near gales throughout this time.
&&
.DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...NONE.
Lake Huron...Gale Warning from 1 AM Saturday to 4 AM EST Monday FOR LHZ362-363-
421-422-441-462.
Gale Warning from 7 AM Saturday to 11 PM EST Sunday FOR LHZ361.
Gale Warning from 7 AM Saturday to 4 AM EST Monday FOR LHZ442-443-
463-464.
Lake St Clair...Gale Warning from 7 AM Saturday to 11 PM EST Sunday FOR LCZ460.
Michigan waters of Lake Erie...Gale Warning from 7 AM Saturday to 11 PM EST Sunday FOR LEZ444.
&&
AVIATION.....MR
DISCUSSION...JVC/JD
MARINE.......DRC
You can obtain your latest National Weather Service forecasts online
at www.weather.gov/detroit.HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI 136 PM EST FRI NOV 18 2016 MIZ047-048-053-055-060>063-068>070-076-083-191845- MIDLAND-BAY-SAGINAW-SANILAC-SHIAWASSEE-GENESEE-LAPEER-ST. CLAIR- LIVINGSTON-OAKLAND-MACOMB-WAYNE-MONROE- 136 PM EST FRI NOV 18 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. LCZ460-LEZ444-LHZ361>363-421-422-441>443-462>464-191845- 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- 136 PM EST FRI NOV 18 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE ERIE...LAKE HURON AND LAKE ST CLAIR. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT GALE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT. SEE THE FORECAST FOR DETAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY GALE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT. A STORM WARNING MAY BE NEEDED. SEE THE FORECAST FOR DETAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. MIZ049-054-191845- HURON-TUSCOLA- 136 PM EST FRI NOV 18 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WINDS MAY GUST IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY SATURDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SHORELINE. A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. MIZ075-082-191845- WASHTENAW-LENAWEE- 136 PM EST FRI NOV 18 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY UP TO ONE INCH OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE ON GRASSY AREAS ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. YOU CAN OBTAIN YOUR LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS ONLINE AT WWW,WEATHER.GOV/DETROIT. JVC
The Detroit radar (KDTX), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:30 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Widespread reports of tree damage across Washtenaw County.
Several trees and tree limbs reported down.
A few downed pine trees.
Numerous reports of trees down between Brighton and Howell.
Trees and power lines reported throughout the city.
Roof blown off Vic Bond Sales.
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, November 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: 664574, 664578, 664579, 664575, 664576, 664580, 664577.