A squall line raced across southern lower Michigan during the afternoon and evening of August 29, 2022, leaving widespread wind damage in its path. This line of storms developed ahead of a cold front and tracked into the region from the Chicago area, expanding in coverage and intensity as they encountered a warm, muggy, and unstable atmosphere over 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.
A squall line raced across southern lower Michigan during the afternoon and evening of August 29, 2022, leaving widespread wind damage in its path. This line of storms developed ahead of a cold front and tracked into the region from the Chicago area, expanding in coverage and intensity as they encountered a warm, muggy, and unstable atmosphere over Southeast Michigan. Gusts of 60 to 75 mph were responsible for damage to trees, power lines, and property and left over 375,000 customers without power. Several gustnados were reported along the leading edge of the strong gust front in Cambridge Twp, Highland Twp, Putnam/Hamburg Twp, Richmond, and Fort Gratiot, producing localized corridors of enhanced damage.
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 Aug 29, 2:26 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI 326 PM EDT Mon Aug 29 2022 .DISCUSSION... The atmosphere continues to destabilize across lower Michigan this afternoon as airmass recovers from early morning convection. This convection focused over SE lower MI where some degree of a stability shadow in the afternoon cumulus field still seems evident (but to a lesser and lesser degree each hour). A maturing MCS over northeast Illinois should continue to accelerate eastward and cross southwest lower Michigan where a rather unstable airmass is already in place. With the overall trend for further destabilization over the large portions of lower Michigan, suspect the risk for severe weather will increase in the 20z to 22z time frame. Deeper layer shear is lacking at this time over the area, but will increase gradually with time into this evening. Mesoscale influences due to an increasing cold pool should also compensate in storm organization more the MCS arrives (or as additional activity is forced by this system along trough axis extending NNE through Lake Michigan into western parts of the state). Given the mature nature of the MCS in question, suspect damaging wind gusts will be the primary severe hazard although some large hail may initially form in isolated to scattered activity that fires along trough north/in advance of this system. The eastern extent of severe weather by early/mid evening remains in question given the gradual loss of the most unstable conditions over eastern lower MI. That said, trends do seem to suggest that a line of scattered to broken storms should be able to cross the state and bring some degree of severe risk over the forecast area even if the activity is steady state to weakening by that time. This should be especially true over southern portions of the area (say from I-69 south) where destabilization will be most complete by 20z-22z to help feed the encroaching line of thunderstorms. With the evolution of current activity, it seems the most widespread convection will be focused into the early evening hours with much lower chances into the overnight period. Additional isolated to scattered showers and a few storms will be possible on Tuesday as the upper level shortwave driving this current activity actually crosses the area. Thereafter, the weather pattern quiets down considerably as high pressure builds into the Great Lakes in the wake of this passing upper trough. Temperatures will cool back to the upper 70s to lower 80s through the middle to late of the week with much lower humidity levels. Some moderation back into the mid 80s can then be expected back by this weekend, but with only modest humidity increases. && .MARINE... Unsettled weather is expected this evening and tonight with an approaching cold front. A line of storms is currently progressing across Lake Michigan with strong winds being the primary threat. Instability is slightly lower across the central Great Lakes, but should still suffice in generating strong to marginally severe thunderstorms with locally higher waves and gusts to 40 knots possible. Model consensus is not particularly strong regarding the timing of the frontal passage, but locations south of Port Hope are more likely to be impacted by these storms between 6 PM and midnight. Winds trend west-northwesterly with time Tuesday in the post-frontal environment as gradient flow strengthens into the overnight hours. Will continue to monitor the potential for Small Craft Advisory conditions near the tip of the Thumb Tuesday night. Cannot rule out a few gusts to 25 knots and occasional 4-5 foot waves. Breezy again Wednesday with a secondary wave and afternoon gusts in excess of 20 knots. High pressure then builds southeast into the Mid-Mississippi Valley for the mid-late week period presenting favorable marine conditions. && .HYDROLOGY... Showers and thunderstorms will progress through the area late this afternoon and evening with locally heavy rainfall expected given the humid environment in place. rainfall is possible as the pattern results in average rainfall in the 0.50 to 0.75 inch range with the most intense storms capable of totals of 1 inch or more in a short time period. Minor flooding of urban and other prone areas will be possible before this activity exits the region this evening. && .PREV DISCUSSION... Issued at 202 PM EDT Mon Aug 29 2022 AVIATION... Onset of daytime heating will continue to mix and scatter out the stubborn MVFR cloud deck which has held over a majority of the terminals at issuance time. Still some uncertainty as to the pace and extent in which this cloud cover dissipates, although recent upward trend in cigs supports the cloud deck becoming SCT and settling around 4 kft mid afternoon. Focus for late afternoon and evening is the evolution of upstream thunderstorm activity as it approaches the terminals. Expectation is for additional thunderstorms to develop on the northern fringe of the existing line of storms as daytime heating destabilizes the environment, and move into the airspace between approximately 21 and 03z tonight in the form of a broken line. Extent to which this line holds together overhead still carries some uncertainty given lingering cloud cover early this afternoon. That said, upstream radar and lightning trends in tandem with model guidance provide enough confidence to include TEMPO groups for thunderstorms for all terminals within the aforementioned timeframe. Cigs flirt between low VFR to high end MVFR this evening before gradual clearing trend following the passage of a cold front overnight. DTW THRESHOLD PROBABILITIES... * High for ceiling aob 5000 ft early this afternoon; medium to high mid afternoon and tonight, becoming high within any thunderstorms. * Medium to high this evening and tonight (~22-03Z), low after 03Z. && .DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...None. Lake Huron...None. Lake St Clair...None. Michigan waters of Lake Erie...None. && DISCUSSION...DG MARINE.......KK HYDROLOGY....DG AVIATION.....MV You can obtain your latest National Weather Service forecasts online at www.weather.gov/detroit.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI 344 PM EDT Mon Aug 29 2022 MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-300900- Midland-Bay-Huron-Saginaw-Tuscola-Sanilac-Shiawassee-Genesee-Lapeer- St. Clair-Livingston-Oakland-Macomb-Washtenaw-Wayne-Lenawee-Monroe- 344 PM EDT Mon Aug 29 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Michigan. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A marginal to slight risk for severe weather will exist during the late afternoon and evening hours as a line of thunderstorms moves through the region. The highest severe weather threat will occur between 4 pm and 8 pm, but may linger to 10 pm in some locations. The main hazard will be damaging wind gusts to 60 mph or more. Locally heavy rainfall is also likely. Storms will track from west to east at 45 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a chance of non-severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon, mainly north of I-69. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today and tonight. LCZ460-LEZ444-LHZ361>363-421-422-441>443-462>464-300900- 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- 344 PM EDT Mon Aug 29 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake St Clair. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A marginal risk for severe weather will exist during the late afternoon and evening hours as a line of thunderstorms moves through the region. The highest severe weather threat will occur between 5 pm and 10 pm. The main hazard will be damaging wind gusts to 50 knots or more. Storms will track from west to east at 40 knots. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a chance of non-severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon, mainly north of I-69. .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. DG
The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:32 UTC.
31 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple large trees and power lines reported down across Midland County.
Measured at Saginaw International Airport.
Large tree limbs reported down.
Several large trees blown down around Pinckney.
Numerous trees and power lines down in Cambridge Township. A home also sustained roof damage.
Trees and large limbs reported down.
Numerous trees and power lines down in and around Millington.
Measured at the National Weather Service office in White Lake.
Large tree branch and wires down.
Several large trees reported down.
Several large tree branches downed, along with a large tree snapped.
Large pine tree snapped.
Numerous large tree branches down in Marlette.
Measured gust at Willow Run Airport.
A large tree was blown down.
Measured gust at Detroit Metro Airport.
Two large tree branches reported down.
Tree branches reported down.
Several tree branches reported down.
Measured gust at Monroe Custer Airport.
Measured gust at Detroit City Airport.
A large tree branch fell onto a pickup truck cab.
Large tree branch observed down.
Multiple trees and wires down.
Large trees reported down, along with roof damage.
Numerous trees downed across Richmond.
Snapped tree branch at Carrington Golf Club.
A tree limb up to 8 inches in diameter and power line reported down, along with additional small branches.
Measured gust at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
Multiple tree branches up to 24 inches downed near Harrold Street and Eureka Road.
Numerous trees and power lines down in Algonac.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, August 2022
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: 1050904, 1050919, 1050891, 1050892, 1050916, 1050913, 1050893, 1050915, 1050894, 1050895, 1050918, 1053125, 1050896, 1050910, 1050898, 1050917, 1050899, 1053123, 1050900, 1050901, 1050902, 1050903, 1050905, 1050911, 1050906, 1050907, 1050908, 1050912, 1053122, 1050909, 1053124, 1050914.