BEAVER TOWNSHIP -- UPDATE: Meteorologist Kevin Usealman 8:45am -
A wrap-up of yesterday's storms. So far, there has been one confirmed tornado touchdown in Bay county about 3 miles south of Crump Rd. at around 7:28pm yesterday. This tornado has not been surveyed for intensity, however it was likely an EF0 or EF1. It did some damage to property and uprooted trees in that area. The majority of yesterday's severe weather reports came from Midland and Bay county, with a handful of large hail reports in Isabella county (including golf ball sized hail). Other reports of hail of this size came in from many parts of these counties, including Pinconning where hail went through a skylight.
(Golf ball sized hail in southeastern Isabella county yesterday near Shepherd - coutesy of the Spickerman family)
Wind damage reports were sporadic but this storm did occasionally produce gusts over 60 MPH. 4 miles ESE of Bombay, in Midland county winds were measured at 71 MPH and trees were uprooted. A trained spotter also reported a funnel cloud nearby. Also 3 miles north of Auburn in Bay county, law enforcement reported trees and power lines down, and even a home with walls blown in at the intersection of Garfield and Seidlers Rd. part of the damage in Beaver township, as Janet detailed in her report. The Loons game experienced a 90 minute delay due to the tornado warning.
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(Dow Diamond during the tornado warning on Tuesday - fans and staff were moved to a safe location)
The storms remained intense as they tracked into the thumb, with a 62 MPH wind gust measured northeast of Port Austin.
(Tuesday's storms coming onshore at Caseville Beach - courtesy Mike Corkran)
For a full wrap of severe reports from the NWS from Tuesday click here and here.
A note of thanks to storm chaser/hobbyist Steve Rynbrandt who accompanied me following the storms from Lansing into Shiawassee County Tuesday night. The storms in the southern part of the area ended up being non-severe. -Meteorologist Kevin Usealman
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Another round of severe weather hit mid-Michigan residents hard, leaving a path of destruction. NBC 25's meteorologist Janet Van De Winkle and storm chasers Kim Smith and Larry Robinson were following the action from the beginning.
The chase began just west of Alma, where the storm was intersected and was noticeably gaining strength. Just after the wind picked up, heavy rain and hail followed. As the storm progressed north and east, they followed it via Skype and over the phone with chief meteorologist Mark Torregrossa.
Tornado warnings were issued by the National Weather Service and rotation within the storm was visible. Our team of storm chasers were trying to maintain a safe distance as lowering clouds were visible. The storm itself was moving at a steady pace of at least 60 miles per hour, so keeping up with it became a difficult task.
Even after following the storm half way across the state, the sight of the tornado damage was appalling. Tall, mature trees were uprooted completely, garages were blown in, and several houses had extensive structural damage.
Residents of Bay county near Nine Mile Road and Parish seemed visibly shaken, but relieved to be unharmed.
