Hail — Ionia, Michigan

2011-04-26 · near Cooks Corners, Ionia, Michigan

Event narrative

Trained spotters reported that a severe thunderstorm produced hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter on the northeast side of Belding. The swath was up to one mile wide and was part of the swath that began in extreme northeast Ottawa County based on correlation with spotter reports and radar hail products.

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 → (43.0830, -85.3200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 287820. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.