Van Buren storm history

A quarter to half an inch of freezing rain was reported across portions of Van Buren county. A firefighter in Paw Paw was electrocuted by a downed power line as a result of the ice storm and passed away.

Two people drowned in South Haven during the early afternoon as a result of rip currents and three to five foot waves.

A 7 year old boy drowned at North Beach in South Haven due to rip currents.

A 33 year old man drowned at North Beach in South Haven trying to save a boy who was drowning due to rip currents.

A 69 year old woman was killed when a tree fell on the van she was driving in two miles northeast of Bloomingdale in Van Buren county on 38 and 1/2 street near county road 380.

Trained spotters reported numerous trees and tree limbs and power lines down across mainly southern Van Buren county. Hail up to one inch in diameter was also reported. Two miles west of Lawrence there was a higher concentration of several dozen large healthy tree trunks snapped,…

Downed tree limbs and power lines and widespread power outages occurred due to wind gusts of up to around 60 mph.

Peak wind gusts in the 60 to 70 mph range resulted in numerous downed trees and limbs and power lines and widespread power outages.

Significant flooding occurred on rivers and streams across Van Buren county due to heavy rainfall from early to mid April.

Trained spotters across the far southeastern portion of Van Buren county reported hail up to one and a quarter inches in diameter and wind damage. Several trees were blown down and the large wind driven hail resulted in siding damage to homes across that area.

Wind gusts over 45 mph with sustained winds of 15 to 30 mph. Around 2 to 5 inches of snow county wide. Numerous traffic accidents and power outages occurred county wide. Travel was near impossible at times.

Between 8 and 12 inches of snow fell county wide.

Recorded wind gusts over 50mph occurred across the county for many hours. This wind combined with snow to result in dangerous travel conditions.

Large trees down throughout Paw Paw.

Large healthy tree snapped.

Several trees snapped.

At least three downed trees.

Backyard weather station reported peak wind gust of 68mph at 514pm.

Mesonet gust report.

A 74 mph peak wind gust was recorded at the South Haven regional airport. Scattered power outages were reported.

An isolated report of seven eighths inch diameter hail was received.

Law enforcement reported that several large trees and limbs were blown down near Lawrence, Decatur and Lawton.

There was an isolated report of three quarters inch hail near South Haven.

There were several reports of downed trees and limbs.

Numerous trees were blown down near Lawton.

Several trees were uprooted and snapped off near Decatur and large hail was reported as well.

Law enforcement reported that several trees were blown down.

Several trees were blown down.

A trained spotter reported one inch diameter hail as well as wind gusts estimated at up to 70 mph.

A trained spotter three miles south southwest of Lawton reported that several trees and power lines were blown down onto county road 669 just north of 79th street. Several trees and limbs were blown down onto homes and outbuildings in the area.

Three quarters inch diameter hail was reported by the public three miles southeast of Decatur.

One to two feet of snow fell from the morning of the 12th through the early morning hours of the 17th.

A greenhouse, chicken coop and farm stand along with several tree limbs were all blown down.

A trained spotter reported a funnel cloud near 92nd avenue in Lawton. No tornado was reported.

Hail up to seven eighths inch in diameter was reported.

Six inches of snow fell across far eastern Van Buren county with lesser amounts further west.

Blizzard conditions occurred due to eight to sixteen inches of snow across Van Buren county which combined with very strong winds which gusted to around 50 to 55 mph at times.

Gobles received 28 inches of snow for the duration of this winter storm event. There were several additional reports of around one to two feet of snow across portions of Van Buren county.

Seven to eight inches of lake effect snow was reported in Covert and Keeler.

Several trees were blown down in Geneva and Decatur.

An isolated severe storm near Lawrence produced one inch diameter hail and brought down a tree.

Multiple trees were blown down near Bangor.

A peak wind gust to 60 mph was reported in Decatur.

Several trees were blown down.

Eight to twelve inches of snow was reported across most of the county.