Berrien storm history

Drownings occurred at 3 beaches along the Berrien County shoreline during the evening hours of July 30th. At the New Buffalo City Beach, a 24-year-old male from Villa Ridge, Missouri went missing near the U.S. Corp of Engineers breakwall, while doing contract work in the area, po…

A 15 year old boy was roughly 100 feet offshore from a New Buffalo public beach when he was caught in a rip current. The rip current pulled him away from shore. Lifeguards quickly noticed the problem and were able to rescue the boy and perform CPR. He has transported to a local h…

Local and Coast Guard officials reported a man drown while saving two children from the lake. Around 10:30 am, the 50 year old pediatric surgeon observed two young kayakers caught in the high waves and rip currents. He swam to them and was able to aid them. However, he was subseq…

Local officials reported the first of 2 rip current related drownings at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph when a swimmer became overcome by the high waves. The 41 year old male, from Illinois, was unconscious in 12 feet of water. Although attempts to revive him occurred, he passed a…

Southerly winds created two to four foot waves along the lake-shore areas of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. A 26 year old male jumped off the south pier at Silver Beach into Lake Michigan. Eyewitnesses reported the man jumped into the water, yelled for help and went underwater. He…

Strong northwest winds caused rough waters along southeastern Lake Michigan. Three teenagers were kayaking inside a New Buffalo break wall when they capsized as a result of waves of at least 8 to 10 feet just offshore and over 14 feet onshore. Two of the teens were recovered by l…

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, fall…

Around 4:30 pm EDT, lifeguards on the New Buffalo public beach observed two men being pulled out by an apparent rip current. One of the men was able to grab onto a swim zone buoy. However his friend, a 25 year old man from Palos Hills, Illinois, was pulled out further into the la…

Broadcast media reported a 44 year old male from Wheeling, Illinois was having trouble swimming at the beach off of Hagar Township Park. A woman with the swimmer lost sight of him and began yelling for help. Four minutes later rescuers arrived. He was in the water for approximate…

Local media reported that St. Joseph dive team and Coast Guard officials were called to Silver Beach around 5 pm EDT. A 19 year old swimmer walked to the end of the pier and jumped into the water where increasingly higher waves were observed. A combination of the strong current a…

Three gentlemen went into the water off a private beach near Bridgman with a small rubber raft. The swimmers became separated from the raft, but two managed to return to it. Witnesses observed a rip current take a 26 year old male out further into the water. Numerous agencies att…

A 9 year old boy and his father were swimming at a private beach when the rip current took both away from shore. The father was able to escape, but the boy went underwater and remained there for 20 to 25 minutes. He was rescued but attempts to revive him failed.

Coast guard officials confirmed a 26 year old male died as a result of drowning from being taken away from the shore in a rip current. The male was reported to have been underwater for around 40 minutes before being pulled from the water.

Local law enforcement officials reported a 57 year old male drowned offshore of Warren Dunes State Park during the early afternoon hours. The gentleman's wife reported that one minute he was there and the next he was gone. He was later found about 30 yards from shore by rescue pe…

Heavy lake-effect snow squalls combined with frequent wind gusts in excess of 40 mph produced blizzard conditions across Berrien County, especially during the afternoon and evening hours on December 21st. Trained spotters across the county reported between 5 and 11 inches of snow…

A favorable onshore flow across southeastern Lake Michigan, resulted in waves ranging from 2 to as much as 6 feet at times. This allowed for several occurrances of rip currents along the shores adjacent to Berrien County. While exact figures were not available, officials from Ber…

Coast Guard officials received a report of a 20 year old male caught in a rip current 100 yards off shore from Warren Dunes State Park, near Sawyer. The person was removed from the water and was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Coast Guar…

Emergency management reported a 4 foot diameter oak tree fell onto a vehicle as it was passing. The car was crushed and the 50 year old female driver was killed instantly.

A 17-year old male drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan at Warren Dunes State Park. Officials at the scene said that wave heights were up to six feet. A rip current apparently pulled him underwater.

13 year old girl drowned at Warren Dunes State Park. Police and park rangers believe girlwas caught in rip current near shore.

Law enforcement reported trees and power lines down in Berrien Springs and countywide. 7 injuries reported. Damage to the roofs of 6 buildings.

A survey of flood damage from emergency management officials reported in severe damage to a electrical substation that resulted in widespread power outages for several days. In addition a total of 108 structures suffered varying degrees of flood damage, mainly from water as high …

Extensive flooding occurred across the county with over 300 structures suffering varying degrees of damage from the flood waters. Several roads were closed across the area with some suffering partial washouts as rivers rose to record or near record levels. Initial damage estimate…

A few reports of large trees down or uprooted in Berrien County.

Many trees down in a small area near the corner of Red Arrow Highway.

The ASOS at the Benton Harbor airport (KBEH) recorded a 61 mph wind gust.

The ASOS at the Benton Harbor airport (KBEH) recorded a 72 mph wind gust.

A trained spotter reported a tree limb down.

A trained spotter reported a large, three foot diameter tree was blown down onto a house.

Local media reported several large trees down.

Local media reported large trees down.

Several large trees down in and around New Troy. Power is out.

Large pine tree fell on a garage and crushed it. The garage at the house looks like it was moved off its foundation. Siding, shingles, fascia and soffit gone off the house.

Several large trees down in and around Buchanan. Power is out.

Barn roof ripped off. Trees uprooted and some tree tops broken.

Spotter reports a tree down.

Spotter reports a tree down.

Large trees down onto a home on Marx drive.

Numerous trees down in Chikaming Township.

Numerous trees down in and around New Buffalo.

Facebook photo shows a tree down onto a home in Three Oaks.

Numerous large trees and power lines down.

Trees snapped and uprooted in Galien, MI.

Trained spotter estimated 50 mph wind gusts. Several medium and large tree limbs down in and around Watervilet. One large limb is down on power lines.