Tornadoes · United States · Michigan · 2011

EF1 tornado, Saint Joseph County, Michigan, May 29, 2011

This EF1 tornado ran 2.9 miles across Saint Joseph County on May 29, 2011, touching down at 4:10 PM EDT and reaching 100 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. EF2111 to 135 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. EF5over 200 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
EF1
Date
May 29, 2011
Touchdown
4:10 PM EDT (20:10 UTC)
Lifted
4:12 PM EDT (20:12 UTC)
On the ground
2 minutes
Path length
2.9 miles (4.6 km)
Path width
100 yards (91 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Saint Joseph County
Touchdown point
42.012, -85.636
Lift-off point
42.025, -85.583
Record number
1105291410-01

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 17:29 UTC and running to 20:39 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
17:29 UTC20:39 UTCTornado WatchIWX
17:56 UTC22:52 UTCFlash Flood WatchIWX
20:07 UTC20:44 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWX
01:21 UTC02:39 UTCFlood WarningIWX

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 20:00 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Detroit, MI (KDTX), 12:00Z

8.2 hours before the tornado, 195 km from the path. May 29, 2011.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 2011-05-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 12 joules per kilogram, CIN -294, lifted condensation level 499 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 2011-05-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 128 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 64 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
12 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-294 J/kg
Surface CAPE
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
499 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
64 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
128 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
298 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.4
0-3 km lapse rate
2.8 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Detroit, MI (KDTX), 00:00Z

3.8 hours after it, 195 km from the path. May 30, 2011.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2011-05-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -81883, lifted condensation level 1045 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2011-05-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -103 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 52 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-81883 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1045 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-103 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-33 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
3.8 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Three Rivers (HAI), 7 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
18:16 UTC71.664.4100° 4 kt1013.5HZ
18:36 UTC71.664.490° 4 kt1013.2HZ
18:56 UTC71.664.490° 4 kt1013.5
19:16 UTC71.664.490° 3 kt1013.5
19:36 UTC71.664.4100° 3 kt1013.9HZ
19:56 UTC71.664.4150° 3 kt1013.9HZ
20:10 UTC71.666.2180° 6 kt1014.6+RA
20:45 UTC64.459320° 15 kt231014.6
21:05 UTC64.459270° 8 kt151015.2
21:25 UTC64.459340° 4 kt1014.6
21:45 UTC64.460.8100° 3 kt1014.6
22:05 UTC64.460.850° 11 kt1011.9

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 20:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
20:10 UTCFUNNEL CLOUD2 Ne KalamazooKalamazoo, MIREPORTED NEAR GULL ROAD AND RIVERVIEW
20:10 UTCTSTM WND GST 70SchoolcraftKalamazoo, MIMEASURED IN DOWNTOWN SCHOOLCRAFT.
20:10 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 N Three RiversSt. Joseph, MILARGE TREE DOWN AND ANOTHER TREE SPLIT
20:10 UTCTSTM WND DMGMoore ParkSt. Joseph, MITREES DOWN ON 6 TO 10 HOUSES. UPROOTED TREES AS WELL
20:15 UTCFUNNEL CLOUD4 Sse KalamazooKalamazoo, MIPUBLIC REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD JUST NORTH OF KALAMAZOO BATTLE CREEK AIRPORT
20:15 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 S VicksburgKalamazoo, MIMULTIPLE TREES DOWN JUST SOUTH OF VICKBURG. SILVER ST. NEAR THE COUNTY LINE IS NEARLY IMPASSABLE.
20:15 UTCTSTM WND GST 70KalamazooKalamazoo, MIMEASURED AT BRONSON HOSPITAL PARKING RAMP.
20:15 UTCTSTM WND DMGNw Three RiversSt. Joseph, MINUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
20:18 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 E VicksburgKalamazoo, MITREES ARE DOWN EAST OF VICKSBURG WITH SOME IMPACTS TO PROPERTY. REPORT FROM EMERGENCY MANAGER.
20:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 W FultonKalamazoo, MISILO...FARM...AND TREE DAMAGE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF W AVENUE AND 38TH STREET.
20:21 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 E VicksburgKalamazoo, MIMULTIPLE TREES DOWN. SNAPPED OFF AT THE BASE. REPORTED BY VICKSBURG COOP OBSERVER
20:21 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 E VicksburgKalamazoo, MILARGE GRAIN SILO DESTROYED. ROOF TAKEN OFF OF A HOG BARN.
20:23 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Sw Battle CreekCalhoun, MIMULTIPLE LARGE TREES DOWN AND BLOCKING ROADS NEAR COLUMBIA AND 28TH
20:23 UTCTSTM WND GST 581 S PortageKalamazoo, MIWIND GUST REPORTED VIA THE PUBLIC IN SOUTH PORTAGE
20:24 UTCTORNADOVicksburgKalamazoo, MIPOSSIBLE TORNADO REPORTED IN VICKSBURG NEAR SPRINKLE ROAD. REPORTED AS A FUNNEL CLOUD WHICH MAY HAVE BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN.
20:25 UTCTSTM WND GST 802 S FultonKalamazoo, MISPOTTER ESTIMATED THE WINDS OF 75-80 MPH JUST NORTH OF THE KALAMAZOO/ST. JOSEPH COUNTY LINE.
20:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Wsw Battle CreekCalhoun, MITREES ARE BLOCKING I-94 BUSINESS LOOP. LOCATION IS APPROXIMATE.
20:30 UTCFLOOD3 Wnw Battle CreekCalhoun, MISEVERAL 8 TO 10 INCH LIMBS DOWN. HUGE OAK TREE BLOWN OVER ON RIVER ROAD.
20:30 UTCTSTM WND DMGColdwaterBranch, MINUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN NORTHERN PART OF COUNTY
20:32 UTCTORNADOColdwaterBranch, MIMULTIPLE REPORTS OF DAMAGE FOR A QUARTER OF A MILE IN THE AREA OF US 12 AND I69 IN COLDWATER. ROOF OFF HOUSE AND POLE BARN. ROOF AND DOORS OFF STORAGE FACILITY. DEBRIS CROSSED I69 INTO WALMART PARKING LOT. NUMEROUS WITNE
20:35 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Sw Battle CreekCalhoun, MIESTIMATED AROUND 50 TREES DOWN NEAR THE 100 BLOCK OF SOUTH 30TH STREET IN BATTLE CREEK.
20:35 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Sw Battle CreekCalhoun, MIMULTIPLE TREES DOWN IN THE 1700 BLOCK OF WATKINS ROAD NEAR BATTLE CREEK. TREES RANGE FROM 6 INCHES TO 2 FEET IN DIAMETER.
20:35 UTCTSTM WND GST 60Battle CreekCalhoun, MIMULTIPLE REPORTS OF ESTIMATE WIND SPEEDS AROUND 60 MPH THROUGHOUT BATTLE CREEK.
20:40 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Sw Battle CreekCalhoun, MILAKEVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL NEAR COLUMBIA AND HELMER SUSTAINED DAMAGE. TREES DOWN AROUND THE AREA AS WELL.
20:40 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ese Battle CreekCalhoun, MI60 MPH ESTIMATED GUST. PEA SIZED HAIL. NUMBER OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. TREES LYING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
20:44 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Ese Battle CreekCalhoun, MITREES HAVE BEEN UPROOTED. POSSIBLE ROTATION IN THE AREA AT THE PRESENT TIME.
20:53 UTCTSTM WND GST 641 Sse MarshallCalhoun, MIMEASURED AT BROOKS FIELD IN MARSHALL.
21:10 UTCHEAVY RAIN 1.055 E PlainwellBarry, MIRAIN FELL WITHIN 50 MINS

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2011 tornado in MichiganEvery tornado in Michigan since 1950Warnings in force in Michigan nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of May 29, 2011

3 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 294:32 PM EDTEF1Branch, MI0.350$50,000
May 295:27 PM EDTEF1Ingham, MI3.3100$75,000
May 291:45 AM EDTEF1Tioga, PA2.5200$25,000

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.