Thunderstorm Wind in Bay County, Michigan

A local newspaper reported that a coal stacker at the Karn-Weadock power plant was destroyed after being toppled by thunderstorm winds. A plant spokesman estimated wind gusts at 80 MPH. Total damages were estimated at roughly $1.5M.

The first major severe weather event of the season resulted in widespread reports of wind damage and large hail. This event can be best described as having two parts. The first round of severe storms occurred well in advance of the actual cold front. One batch formed southwest of the Metro-Detroit area, and another formed in the Saginaw valley and thumb regions. A strong supercell moved across Huron County, producing 70 MPH wind gusts and baseball sized hail. A second and final round of storms developed along the cold front with a squall line actually moving from the southwest to the northeast. The squall line raced across the region and produced wind gusts in the 60-70 mph range. Numerous reports of wind damage were received in a swath stretching from a Jackson/Adrian line, northeast to a Flint/Imlay City line.