Severe thunderstorms caused damage over portions of west and north-central Upper Michigan on the evening of the 28th.
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.
Severe thunderstorms caused damage over portions of west and north-central Upper Michigan on the evening of the 28th.
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 Aug 28, 2:46 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
346 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 344 PM EDT SAT AUG 28 2021
A couple of upstream shortwaves noted on water vapor imagery which
will impact Upper Michigan's weather through Sunday. One shortwave
initiating convection over the eastern Dakotas and western MN this
morning is expected to lift ne and sharpen convergence along a pre-
frontal inverted trough stretching from the eastern Dakotas into
western Upper Mi later this afternoon. Destabilization from partial
clearing ahead of this trough with temps rising into the lower to
mid 80s over the U.P. along with theta-e advection and strengthening
deep layer shear has led to a linear MCS forming over central MN and
tracking into nw WI and possibly western Upper Mi late this
afternoon/early evening with a potential for damaging winds. A
stronger shortwave located in the lee of the Rockies/western Plains
will move through the Upper Great Lakes on Sunday pushing a cold
front through the area. There could be some scattered showers in the
morning along the cold front, but the main story will be gusty west
winds in the wake of the cold front Sun afternoon.
It's been a pretty quiet day thus far into early afternoon across
the U.P. as soundings show drying and some weak capping at the mid-
levels with shortwave ridging across the area. Partial clearing and
increasing destabilization ahead of the developing linear MCS over
central MN will likely erode any weak capping by late
afternoon/early evening. The big question is how will the linear MCS
over MN evolve and track as it heads east this afternoon and evening
and what would be the potential timing/impacts of storms into our
area later this afternoon/evening. MLCAPE values are expected to
climb to as high 2000 j/kg over interior western Upper Mi with
effective shear increasing up to 35 knots. SPC has upgraded Gogebic
into western Iron counties to an enhanced risk of severe storms
through this evening while much of the rest of western and central
Upper Mi remains under a slight risk of severe storms. Main threat
from this linear MCS will be damaging straight-line winds, although
a brief spinup of a tornado cannot be ruled out. With the pre-
frontal trough lingering over the western U.P. into late tonight, a
few of the CAMS indicate additional rounds of convection possible
into the early overnight hours before convection diminishes late.
Under plenty of clouds expect a muggy night with min temps mostly in
the mid to upper 60s.
Sunday, there could be some lingering convection over western
counties in the morning as the cold front pushes across the area. A
few of the models indicate a potential for showers and maybe some
few thunderstorms over the eastern counties with the cold fropa in
the afternoon there, but a lot of that will depend of the amount of
insolation ahead of the front in the morning which will probably be
limited by low clouds and possible fog with an onshore flow off Lake
Mi.
The big story with the cold frontal passage will be the wind as a
strong low pressure system tracking northeast through Ontario will
result in 12 hr 5h height falls of 160-180 m. Fortunately, the
isallobaric component to the wind and best pres rises along the cold
front will be oriented sw to ne into Ontario along the fcst track of
the low so this should limit any significant additional isallobaric
boost to wind gusts. Even so, mixing and downward momentum transport
off the NAM fcst soundings show a potential for advisory level wind
gusts up to 50 mph in the afternoon and early evening over the
Keweenaw Peninsula. For now, will include a mention of this in the
HWO, but would not be surprised if a NPW headline for a wind
advisory will be needed. Elsewhere, wind gusts across the U.P.
should be more in the 25-30 mph range. Highs Sunday will range from
the lower 70s west with the quicker fropa timing to mainly the lower
80s east with the later timing of the cold fropa.
.LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday)
Issued at 318 PM EDT SAT AUG 28 2021
Following the Sunday cold front's eastward exit, the region will
enter an relatively calm and dry period through at least Thursday.
High pressure building into the region and cooler north winds
will help maintain sunny to partly cloudy skies. An exception
might be Monday, where lingering low level moisture could support
low overcast skies, and perhaps some drizzle in favored NW upslope
areas. Highs looks to climb into the 70s. Lows bottom out in the
mid-40s to near 50 in the interior with high 50s to near 60 by the
lakeshores. If skies clear enough in the overnight periods, I
wouldn't be surprised if we are able to drop a little lower in the
traditional colder spots of the interior west.
As the upper level ridge axis shifts through the region Wednesday
night, precip chances increase out ahead of an approaching cold
front/occluded front from the west and warm front from the Central
Plains. By Thursday/Friday, moisture advection and increase
convergence in the vicinity of the fronts could be enough to support
shower activity.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon)
Issued at 158 PM EDT SAT AUG 28 2021
A very moist airmass remains over the area. MVFR to VFR skies will
give way to a line of showers and thunderstorms late afternoon
and evening as a cold front approaches from the west. Some of the
gusts with these thunderstorms could be strong to possibly severe,
especially at KIWD and KCMX this evening. Expect conditions to
fall back to MVFR and possibly IFR later this evening with the
onset and showers. Improvement is expected by late Sunday morning
with a cold frontal passage but west winds will be quite gusty
behind the front, especially at KCMX where gusts will be around 30
kts toward the end of the period.
&&
.MARINE...(For the 4 PM Lake Superior forecast issuance)
Issued at 344 PM EDT SAT AUG 28 2021
Winds less than 15 knots into this evening will begin to ramp out of
the south to 20-25 knots overnight as the gradient tightens with the
cold front beginning to push into the western part of the lake. In
addition to some gusty winds associated with clusters of
thunderstorms tonight winds will quickly ramp up as the surface low
lifts north of the lake on Sunday and the cold front moves across
the lake. Expect a period of west gales over western and central
Lake Superior from late Sunday morning into early evening so have
posted Gale Warnings for LSZ263-266 and adjacent nearshore zones.
Winds will quickly diminish overnight Sunday night and then remain
below 15 knots for much of the upcoming week.
&&
.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Upper Michigan...
None.
Lake Superior...
Gale Warning from 1 PM to 8 PM EDT Sunday for LSZ243>246-264>266.
Gale Warning from 11 AM EDT /10 AM CDT/ to 6 PM EDT /5 PM CDT/
Sunday for LSZ241-242-263.
Lake Michigan...
None.
&&
SHORT TERM...Voss
LONG TERM...JP
AVIATION...Voss
MARINE...VossHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Marquette MI 348 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021 MIZ001>007-009>013-084-085-292000- Keweenaw-Ontonagon-Northern Houghton-Baraga-Marquette-Alger-Luce- Gogebic-Iron-Dickinson-Menominee-Delta-Southern Houghton- Northern Schoolcraft- 348 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021 /248 PM CDT Sat Aug 28 2021/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western Upper Michigan and central Upper Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight Thunderstorms are possible tonight. A few storms could be strong to severe and produce gusty winds and heavy downpours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Strong winds will be possible on Sunday, especially across the Keweenaw Peninsula. Wind gusts as high as 50 mph will be possible and could result in downed trees and sporadic power outages. Strong winds over Lake Superior could build large waves, resulting in some minor lakeshore flooding along the western lakeshore of the Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday. Thunderstorms are possible Sunday, particularly in the east during the afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any observed hail or wind damage to the National Weather Service in Marquette. The public may also submit reports to the National Weather Service via phone, on our website, or through Facebook or Twitter using #906wx. MIZ014-292000- Southern Schoolcraft- 348 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Upper Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight Thunderstorms are possible tonight. A few storms could be strong to severe and produce gusty winds and heavy downpours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Thunderstorms are possible Sunday. There will be a high swim risk for Lake Michigan beaches of Schoolcraft County Sunday afternoon due to strong winds and large waves creating dangerous swimming conditions. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any observed hail or wind damage to the National Weather Service in Marquette. The public may also submit reports to the National Weather Service via phone, on our website, or through Facebook or Twitter using #906wx. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-292000- 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- 348 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021 /248 PM CDT Sat Aug 28 2021/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Eastern Lake Superior...Central Lake Superior and Western Lake Superior. .DAY ONE...Tonight Thunderstorms are possible tonight. A few storms may be strong to severe and produce gusty winds and heavy downpours that could quickly reduce visibility. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Thunderstorms are possible Sunday, particularly in the eastern lake. Westerly gale force gusts up to 40 knots are possible across the central portions of Lake Superior Sunday. See the latest Open Lake Forecast and Marine Weather Message for additional details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. LMZ221-248-250-292000- 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- 348 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Northern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight Thunderstorms are possible tonight. A few storms may be strong to severe and produce gusty winds and heavy downpours that could quickly reduce visibility. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Thunderstorms are possible Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. JP
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Marquette MI
436 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021
MIZ002-009-282115-
Ontonagon MI-Gogebic MI-
436 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Gogebic
and west central Ontonagon Counties through 515 PM EDT/415 PM CDT/...
At 436 PM EDT/336 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm over Bessemer, or near Ironwood, moving northeast at 35
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Wakefield around 340 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this storm include Bergland.
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.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.
&&
LAT...LON 4690 8963 4690 8961 4666 8935 4633 8990
4638 9008 4642 9016 4650 9022 4650 9027
4652 9028 4651 9032 4654 9031 4656 9034
4654 9038 4656 9042
TIME...MOT...LOC 2036Z 235DEG 32KT 4650 9006
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RJCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Marquette MI
524 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021
MIZ002-084-282215-
Ontonagon MI-Southern Houghton MI-
524 PM EDT Sat Aug 28 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Houghton and southeastern Ontonagon Counties through 615 PM EDT...
At 524 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bruce Crossing, or 21 miles south of Ontonagon, moving east at 35
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Bruce Crossing around 535 PM EDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.
&&
LAT...LON 4669 8953 4681 8886 4681 8877 4683 8876
4684 8868 4649 8868 4645 8936 4650 8937
4651 8943
TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 260DEG 32KT 4656 8931
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RJCThe Marquette radar (KMQT), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:29 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Report of a tree down along the side of Highway M-28 near Bruce Crossing. A delayed report with the time estimated from radar.
WE Energies map showed an outage affecting 69 customers east of Lake Michigamme. State Police Dispatch also reported a tree down in the area.
There was a delayed report of trees down along County Road 510, approximately one mile south of the intersection with Red Road. Time was estimated by radar.
Report of a tree down on a power line three miles northeast of Palmer. The power line was smoking, details were unknown.
Delayed report of downed trees and power outages at a cabin on Ice Lake. Time estimated from radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, August 2021
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: 978719, 978713, 978723, 978706, 978716.