High Wind — Berrien, Michigan

2011-09-30 · Berrien, Michigan

Event narrative

Numerous reports of large trees and tree limbs being uprooted, snapped or suffering partial damage were received across Berrien County, including Benton Harbor, St, Joseph, Bridgman, and Coloma. The largest tree was found in St. Joseph where a 120 foot oak tree was uprooted, falling onto a occupied home on the 800 block of Oakridge. Additional trees were down across the area. Power was out to over 20,000 people at one point, forcing the closure of most schools in the county. Around 8:30 am, a 53 year old Chicago man was moving between the 1st and 2nd holes on the Dunes Golf Course when a large tree fell onto him, killing him instantly.

Wider weather episode

Deep low pressure moving across the northern Great Lakes caused a pressure gradient across much of the region. Strong winds aloft were mixed down and caused pockets of wind damage, power outages and even some school closures due to the power outages. One death was reported when a tree fell onto a golfer, killing him instantly.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 338841. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.