Lightning — Kalamazoo, Michigan

2011-04-26 · near Oakwood, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Event narrative

Nine people were injured when lightning struck a soccer field in Portage at Westfield Park. The injured were a mix of adults and students who ranged in age from 12 to 41. Seven people were transported to area hospitals and two sought treatment on their own. One man who was injured most seriously went into cardiac arrest before being treated and released from Bronson hospital in Kalamazoo.

Wider weather episode

Severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and evening hours of April 26 as an upper level trough and cold front approached our region. Several low topped supercells developed and produced numerous reports of large hail up to around two inches in diameter. In addition a damage survey team from the NWS Grand Rapids office determined that damage caused near Burnips in Allegan County was due to an EF-0 tornado with top winds near 85 mph that damaged buildings at the Deboer Turkey Farm and trailers around the area. In Portage, nine people were injured by a lightning strike.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.2300, -85.6300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 287812. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.