A line of storms tracked across northern Michigan the night of May 25-26, producing a swath of 40+ mph wind gusts over the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Huron.
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 APX wrote it up.
A line of storms tracked across northern Michigan the night of May 25-26, producing a swath of 40+ mph wind gusts over the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Huron.
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 Gaylord, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 25, 8:54 PM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
954 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
.UPDATE...
Issued at 954 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
Upstream squall line extends from central upper MI to central WI,
moving ene-ward. It had been a pretty quiet evening here in
northern MI (outside of fire wx concerns), but deep convection is
starting to bubble up from near the Dunes to the Straits and far
se Chippewa Co. Surface temps are already starting to cool, and
MlCape pretty much does not exist here (120j/kg of MlCape off the
observed 00Z APX sounding, and that number is shrinking with
time). MuCape values are more in the 500-750j/kg level, and
higher west than east thanks to higher moisture values.
Pops have been boosted greatly over northern sections over the
next few hours. Though instability will wane with eastward extent,
this MCS has more than enough momentum to carry across eastern
upper MI/Straits area. Feel like Special Marine Warnings are
considerably more likely than Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, but
with a pocket of near-svr winds reported from the ESC area
recently, SVRs may still be in the picture.
The most widespread convection will ease into northern lower MI
after midnight. By then, instability will waned further, and it's
difficult to see a particularly high svr threat. It's been a while
since there's been a land-based warning in WI with this activity.
&&
.NEAR TERM...(Through Tonight)
Issued at 1258 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
...Mild, with a chance for showers and thunderstorms tonight...
High impact weather potential: Perhaps an isolated severe
thunderstorm or two tonight.
Pattern synopsis and forecast:
Mid level heights beginning to fall across the region in response to
strong shortwave trough digging rapidly east across southern
Manitoba. Low pressure running just ahead of this wave across
northern Ontario, with a maturing cold front extending south from it
into the central Plains...and its attendant warm front working its
way north out of eastern upper Michigan. Our area is firmly in the
warm sector as a result, as evident by temperatures punching up into
the 70s and 80s and surface dewpoints in the 60s. Despite these warm
and humid conditions, area remains largely dry, save for a few
passing showers crossing eastern upper Michigan at times.
Upstream shortwave trough will continue to move east, reaching Lake
Superior by sunrise Wednesday. Attendant cold front will race east
in response, crossing northern Michigan late tonight into Wednesday
morning.
Primary forecast concerns/challenges:
Shower and thunderstorm evolution as well as addressing the
potential for any severe weather.
Details:
Expect showers and thunderstorms to increase in both areal coverage
and intensity across Wisconsin this afternoon as approaching front
works on 1000+ joules/kg of mixed layer cape within a 40+ knot deep
layer shear environment. Expect this instability/enhanced shear
plume to work east this evening, with the instability portioning
waning considerably as the diurnal contribution is lost. At least a
broken line of shower and storms will move into and work there way
across the area tonight, with focus for better shower coverage
steadily drifting shifting south into southern lower Michigan where
upper jet support becomes better focused. Definitely not sold on
overall coverage of showers, and very possible some areas experience
little to no rain at all. As for any severe threat, northwest half
of the area remains in marginal risk for severe storms into this
evening...per latest SPC Day One Convective outlook. Steady decay of
instability plume sure argues against any organized severe weather,
but suppose an isolated severe storm or two remains possible given
increasing deep layer shear. Of more certainty is the temperatures
tonight, with lows remaining several degrees above normal...only
dropping into the 50s and lower 60s.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Wednesday through Friday)
Issued at 343 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
...Turning Much Cooler...
High impact weather: Frost possible Wednesday night.
Primary forecast concerns/challenges: Frost potential Wednesday
night.
The surface cold front will continue to head off to our southeast
Wednesday taking any showers along with it (lingering chances across
southeast counties in the morning). Strong cold air advection behind
the front will advect in cooler and less humid conditions along with
gusty northwest winds and clearing skies. High pressure then builds
in from the northwest Wednesday night into Thursday morning. This
airmass will be unseasonably chilly with frost possible Wednesday
night. Low pressure moves by to our south later Thursday into early
Friday. Much if not all of the rain associated with this system
looks like it will remain to our south but far southern counties
(along and south of M-55) could see a few rain showers. Clouds from
this system will lower chances for frost Thursday night but it can't
be totally ruled out. Clearing out again for Friday as ridging
builds in from the west. Temperatures Wednesday are actually
expected to fall off through the day from the 60s and 70s to the 50s
and 60s. Highs Thursday and Friday only ranging from the mid 50s to
the low 60s. Lows Wednesday night in the mid 30 to low 40s then the
upper 30s to low 40s Thursday night.
.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 343 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
...Cold Nights Giving Way to Warmer Days...
High impact weather potential: More Frost Possible Friday and
Saturday nights.
Unseasonably cool temperatures will eventually give way to more
typical readings over the holiday weekend into early next week.
Another decent chance for frost Friday and Saturday nights with a
hard freeze even possible in some spots Friday night. Meanwhile,
high pressure will lead to mainly rain free conditions. A weak upper
level trough early next week will lead to a slight chance for
showers but that may be overly pessimistic.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening)
Issued at 731 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
Scattered SHRA/a few TSRA, mainly overnight.
A cold front will cross northern lower MI very late tonight into
Wed morning. VFR conditions presently, and those will remain the
most common conditions thru the forecast. However, sct showers and
a few t-storms are expected after midnight. Brief but considerable
restrictions are possible. Drying out Wednesday.
Gusty sw winds will veer nw by Wednesday.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 1258 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
Gusty southwest winds ahead of an approaching cold front will bring
small craft advisory conditions to our nearshore waters tonight.
Winds become northwest and remain gusty on Wednesday, once again
producing small craft conditions on several of our nearshore waters.
A few showers and thunderstorms are possible tonight, with any
storms capable of producing brief periods of gusty winds.
&&
.APX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...NONE.
LH...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 11 PM EDT Wednesday for LHZ345>349.
LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 11 PM EDT Wednesday for LMZ323-341-
342-344>346.
LS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 11 PM EDT Wednesday for LSZ321-322.
&&
UPDATE...JZ
NEAR TERM...MB
SHORT TERM...AS
LONG TERM...AS
AVIATION...JZ
MARINE...MBHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Gaylord MI 317 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021 MIZ016>018-020>036-041-042-086>088-095>099-261200- Emmet-Cheboygan-Presque Isle-Leelanau-Antrim-Otsego-Montmorency- Alpena-Benzie-Grand Traverse-Kalkaska-Crawford-Oscoda-Alcona- Manistee-Wexford-Missaukee-Roscommon-Ogemaw-Iosco-Gladwin-Arenac- Western Chippewa-Central Chippewa-Southeast Chippewa- Western Mackinac-Eastern Mackinac- Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island- Beaver Island and surrounding islands-Charlevoix- 317 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for Eastern Upper Michigan and Northern Lower Michigan. .DAY ONE...Through tonight. Thunderstorms are possible later this afternoon into tonight across the outlook area. There is a marginal risk for severe storms into this evening...mainly for eastern upper and northwest lower Michigan. Damaging winds and large hail are the primary threats with any severe storms that occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Areas of frost are possible Wednesday night, Friday night, and Saturday night, with potential for freezing conditions in some of our typical colder locations Friday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. For more information visit http://weather.gov/gaylord. LHZ345>349-LMZ323-341-342-344>346-LSZ321-322-261200- Straits of Mackinac within 5 nm of Mackinac Bridge including Mackinac Island-St Ignace to False Detour Channel- 5NM East of Mackinac Bridge to Presque Isle Light MI including Bois Blanc Island- Presque Isle Light to Sturgeon Pt MI Including Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary-Sturgeon Pt to Alabaster MI- Grand Traverse Bay south of a line Grand Traverse Light to Norwood MI-Seul Choix Point to 5NM West of Mackinac Bridge- Norwood MI to 5NM West of Mackinac Bridge including Little Traverse Bay-Sleeping Bear Point to Grand Traverse Light MI- Point Betsie to Sleeping Bear Point MI- Manistee to Point Betsie MI- Whitefish Bay (U.S. Portion)/Whitefish Point to Point Iroquois MI- St. Marys River Point Iroquois to E. Potagannissing Bay- 317 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for the northern Michigan nearshore waters of Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. .DAY ONE...Through tonight. Thunderstorms are possible later this afternoon into tonight across the outlook area. There is a marginal risk for severe storms into this evening...mainly for eastern upper and northwest lower Michigan...including the surrounding nearshore waters. Damaging winds and large hail are the primary threats with any severe storms that occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. For more information visit http://weather.gov/gaylord.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
659 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0636 PM NON-TSTM WND GST MACKINAW CITY 45.78N 84.73W
05/25/2021 M39 MPH CHEBOYGAN MI BUOY
BUOY STATION MACM4 MACKINAW CITY, MI.
&&
JZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
814 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0755 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 S SAULT STE. MARIE 46.47N 84.37W
05/25/2021 M39 MPH CHIPPEWA MI AWOS
AWOS STATION KANJ SAULT STE MARIE -
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
&&
JZSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
1044 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
MIZ021-099-260315-
Antrim-Charlevoix-
1044 PM EDT Tue May 25 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN ANTRIM AND WESTERN
CHARLEVOIX COUNTIES...
At 1043 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Northport, or
near Grand Traverse Light, moving east at 45 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
This storm will be near...
Torch Lake and Norwood around 1055 PM EDT.
Central Lake around 1100 PM EDT.
Ellsworth around 1105 PM EDT.
East Jordan and Ironton around 1110 PM EDT.
Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Young State Park and Horton Bay around
1115 PM EDT.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 4522 8550 4519 8544 4524 8543 4534 8507
4528 8497 4511 8489 4501 8554 4504 8543
4511 8543 4510 8552 4504 8552 4500 8560
4506 8556 4513 8562 4514 8556 4517 8554
4517 8563 4515 8565 4517 8567
TIME...MOT...LOC 0243Z 252DEG 41KT 4511 8553
JZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
1048 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1033 PM TSTM WND GST 1 NNE LELAND 45.02N 85.76W
05/25/2021 M43 MPH LMZ344 MI MESONET
MESONET STATION XLEL LELAND HARBOR.
&&
JZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
1115 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1111 PM HAIL CHARLEVOIX 45.32N 85.26W
05/25/2021 E0.50 INCH CHARLEVOIX MI PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: HALF-INCH (0.50 IN.).
&&
JZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
1123 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1115 PM TSTM WND GST 1 SSW CHARLEVOIX 45.30N 85.27W
05/25/2021 M40 MPH CHARLEVOIX MI AWOS
AWOS STATION KCVX CHARLEVOIX - MUNICIPAL
ARPT.
&&
JSLThe NCL Michigan radar (KAPX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:25 UTC.
2 marine thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Lake Huron in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather history
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: 962974, 962975.