Thunderstorm Wind — Ottawa, Michigan

1998-05-31 · near Grand Haven, Ottawa, Michigan

Event narrative

Michigan State Police EMD's Damage and Injury Assessment Report indicated $4,195,604 in public damage costs, 17 homes destroyed, 827 homes damaged, 8 businesses destroyed, and 129 businesses damaged. Total private damage costs were estimated at $25.0 Million in the city of Grand Haven and Grand Haven Township, $5.1 Million in the village of Spring Lake, $130,000 in Park Township, $182,900 in the city of Zeeland, and approximately $20,000 in Holland. Damage and losses were concentrated in the city of Grand Haven, the village of Spring Lake, and the townships of Grand Haven (northern portion), Spring Lake, Crockery, Polkton, Wright, Park, Holland Charter, Zeeland, and Jamestown. Private damage costs were not available from other cities and townships within the county. The Mill Point Condominiums along the Grand River in Spring Lake sustained major damage and approximately 50% of the units were destroyed. Numerous campers, trailers, and RV's were overturned at Grand Haven State Park along the Lake Michigan shoreline. One fatality was reported. A male utility worker (age not reported) was killed while attempting to repair storm-damaged electrical lines. Twenty injuries occurred. Crop damage was estimated at around $10.0 Million in the fruit belt (to apple, cherry, and peach trees) in the northern part of the county. Severe tree damage occurred in Grand Haven State Park. Ottawa County declared a local state of emergency and was granted a Governor's disaster declaration to activate state assistance for the county. A Michigan National Guard team was deployed to the village of Spring Lake to assist the local jurisdiction with debris removal and cleanup operations.On June 24th, President Clinton granted a Major Disaster Declaration for Ottawa County, making federal disaster assistance available.

Wider weather episode

Damage surveys conducted by the National Weather Service Office in Grand Rapids, MI, in addition to trained spotter reports, local media meteorologist input, emergency management officials, and a review of National Weather Service Doppler Radar, indicate the widespread and severe damage which occurred with the fast-moving line of thunderstorms during the early morning hours of Sunday, May 31st, was caused primarily by strong straight-line winds and isolated wet microburst winds. This particular derecho formed in South Dakota on the evening of Saturday, May 30th, and raced eastward at 70 mph across Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, before striking Michigan's Lower Peninsula around 4:30 am EDT Sunday morning, May 31st. The derecho event produced widespread 60 to 90 mph wind gusts, which caused extensive tree and structural damage and left over 861,000 homes and businesses without electricity across Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Consumers Energy reported the derecho event was the most destructive weather event in its history, leaving over 600,000 of its customers without power (Consumers Energy is the largest utility company in western and mid Lower Michigan). There were 4 storm-related fatalities reported in the state and 146 injuries (mostly minor). Statewide, approximately 250 homes were destroyed, 12,250 homes damaged, 34 businesses destroyed, and 829 businesses damaged. Damage estimates across the above listed counties totaled over $166 Million. NWS Storm Damage Field Studies suggested highest wind gusts in wet microbursts reached 120 to 130 mph in Spring Lake (Ottawa County) and Walker (Kent County), 100 mph in portions of Montcalm County (including Cody Lake and Stanton), 90 mph in Rockford (Kent County) and Zeeland (Ottawa County), and 80 mph in Big Rapids (Mecosta County), Ludington (Mason County), Sparta (Kent County), and northern Osceola County. On June 24th, President Clinton declared 13 Michigan counties federal disaster areas, including the following 10 from the NWSO Grand Rapids County Warning Area: Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Kent, Mason, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa. It took up to 10 days to fully restore power to certain areas including the City of Walker and portions of Montcalm and Gratiot Counties.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5655110. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.