Overview
An active severe weather season for Southeast Michigan continued on July 24, 2021 with another round of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Thunderstorms initially developed mid-afternoon just south of Cadillac and tracked southeastward into the Tri-Cities and Metro Detroit regions through the evening. Storms began as a broken line and strengthened quickly as they moved into a region of favorable dynamics and ample instability. Embedded rotation within this line produced three confirmed tornadoes in White Lake, Armada, and Clayton Township. Numerous reports of straight-line wind damage, namely power outages and tree damage, were also observed with many of these reports coming from western Oakland County. As the line of storms tracked south of I-94, the tornado threat diminished; although bowing segments embedded within the line continued to produce damaging wind gusts. In addition to wind damage, most areas observed 1-2 inches (with locally higher amounts) of rainfall which led to flash flooding in some low-lying and flood-prone areas.
Tornado Information
Tornado 1 - Port Austin, MI
Track Map
*Tornado track map in progress*
Radar Velocity Image at 4:36 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red)
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Tornado 2 - Clayton Township, MI
Track Map
Radar Velocity Image at 7:55 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red)
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Tornado 3 - White Lake Township, MI
Track Map
Radar Velocity Image at 7:55 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red)
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Tornado 4 - Armada, MI
Track Map
Radar Velocity Image at 7:55 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red)
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The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
Photos & Local Media Coverage
Tornado Damage in Armada Credit: Matheu Morrison |
Tornado Damage in Armada Credit: Matheu Morrison |
Tornado Damage in Clayton Twp Credit: Ron Hilliard (NBC 25/FOX 66) |
Tornado Damage in Clayton Twp Credit: Ron Hilliard (NBC 25/FOX 66) |
Tornado Damage in White Lake Credit: Nick Dewhirst |
Tornado Damage in White Lake Credit: Nick Dewhirst |
Wind Damage in Madison Heights Credit: Robyn Anderson |
Wind Damage in Walled Lake Credit: Cody Reynolds |
Wind Damage in Waterford Credit: Scott Craig |
**Additional photos to be added
Radar
Radar Image Courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet
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Storm Reports
Public Information Statement...Storm Totals National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI 222 PM EDT Sun Jul 25 2021 STORM TOTAL HEAVY RAIN REPORTS Location Precip Duration (Inches) (Hours) Lat Lon ...Bay County... 3 E Kawkawlin M 1.64 24 43.65N 83.90W ...Genesee County... 4 N Burton M 1.24 24 43.05N 83.62W 1 N Swartz Creek M 1.85 24 42.98N 83.83W 5 SW Flint M 2.24 24 42.97N 83.75W 3 SE Grand Blanc M 2.41 24 42.89N 83.59W ...Lapeer County... 6 ENE Columbiaville M 1.30 24 43.18N 83.30W 1 W Lapeer M 2.07 24 43.05N 83.35W ...Lenawee County... 1 WNW Blissfield M 1.27 24 41.84N 83.88W 3 SW Adrian M 1.30 24 41.87N 84.08W Morenci M 1.78 24 41.72N 84.22W ...Livingston County... 2 S Argentine M 1.35 24 42.77N 83.83W ...Macomb County... 1 NW Grosse Pointe Shor M 1.26 24 42.46N 82.89W 1 NW Grosse Pointe Shor M 1.26 24 42.46N 82.89W 3 NW Mount Clemens M 1.45 24 42.62N 82.92W 2 N Saint Clair Shores M 1.50 24 42.53N 82.88W 3 N Utica M 1.58 24 42.67N 83.03W 2 SSE Utica M 1.71 24 42.61N 83.01W 1 N Fraser M 2.13 24 42.56N 82.95W 4 NNW Richmond M 2.81 24 42.86N 82.78W ...Midland County... 1 SE Midland M 1.35 24 43.62N 84.22W Midland M 1.35 24 43.62N 84.23W 4 W Midland M 1.73 24 43.63N 84.32W Midland M 1.81 36 43.62N 84.23W ...Monroe County... 3 S Monroe M 1.18 24 41.87N 83.38W 2 NW Monroe M 1.94 24 41.93N 83.42W 2 W Stony Point M 3.04 24 41.94N 83.32W ...Oakland County... 1 NW Ferndale M 1.43 24 42.47N 83.15W 5 NNW Novi M 1.59 24 42.54N 83.52W 4 E White Lake M 1.75 24 42.65N 83.43W Farmington M 1.83 24 42.46N 83.38W 2 S Ortonville M 1.88 24 42.82N 83.44W 2 NNE Birmingham M 2.06 24 42.57N 83.20W 1 WSW Orchard Lake M 2.43 24 42.58N 83.39W Bloomfield Hills M 2.44 24 42.58N 83.25W 1 NE Clarkston M 2.53 24 42.75N 83.40W 3 SSE Fenton M 2.66 24 42.77N 83.69W ...Saginaw County... 3 SSW Nelson M 1.14 24 43.30N 84.25W Freeland M 1.40 24 43.52N 84.12W 5 S Auburn M 1.52 24 43.53N 84.08W Chesaning M 1.70 24 43.18N 84.12W Saginaw M 1.73 24 43.42N 83.95W 8 NW Saginaw M 1.96 24 43.50N 84.06W 1 SE Frankenmuth M 2.28 24 43.32N 83.73W ...Shiawassee County... Owosso M 1.39 24 43.00N 84.18W ...Tuscola County... Caro M 1.48 24 43.49N 83.40W Cass City M 1.71 24 43.60N 83.18W ...Washtenaw County... 4 SW Saline M 1.15 24 42.13N 83.84W Milan E 1.60 24 42.09N 83.68W ...Wayne County... 6 ENE Detroit M 1.33 24 42.41N 83.01W 3 NE Dearborn M 1.42 24 42.35N 83.17W Dearborn M 1.42 24 42.31N 83.21W 2 NE Livonia M 1.53 24 42.42N 83.34W 2 NNE Riverview M 1.69 24 42.20N 83.17W Wyandotte M 1.69 24 42.21N 83.16W 4 S Redford M 1.76 24 42.34N 83.30W 3 WSW Dearborn M 2.18 24 42.29N 83.26W 1 SE Southwest Detroit M 2.73 24 42.32N 83.09W M = Measured E = Estimated
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI 1144 AM EDT MON JUL 26 2021 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO REPORT SUMMARY... ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0403 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE BOMBAY 43.78N 84.23W 07/24/2021 MIDLAND MI 911 CALL CENTER MULTIPLE REPORTS OF DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. 0407 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 N MIDLAND 43.68N 84.24W 07/24/2021 MIDLAND MI 911 CALL CENTER REPORTS OF SEVERAL TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN IN LARKIN TWP. 0417 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W LINWOOD 43.74N 83.99W 07/24/2021 BAY MI 911 CALL CENTER REPORT OF A TREE DOWN ON ANDERSON RD AND MACKINAW RD. 0425 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 WSW MIDLAND 43.62N 84.24W 07/24/2021 MIDLAND MI 911 CALL CENTER REPORTS OF SEVERAL TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN. 0434 PM TORNADO 1 SSE PORT AUSTIN 44.03N 82.99W 07/24/2021 HURON MI TRAINED SPOTTER SEVERAL REPORTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO OF TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR PORT AUSTIN. 0436 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 W AUBURN 43.61N 84.18W 07/24/2021 MIDLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER LARGE TREE LIMB SNAPPED REPORTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO. 0445 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SW FREELAND 43.48N 84.18W 07/24/2021 SAGINAW MI PUBLIC 12 TO 14 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN. RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO. 0455 PM TSTM WND GST 5 S AUBURN 43.53N 84.08W 07/24/2021 M55 MPH SAGINAW MI ASOS MEASURED AT MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. 0509 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 1 S SAGINAW 43.41N 83.95W 07/24/2021 SAGINAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS FUNNEL CLOUD 1 MILE SOUTH OF SAGINAW. 0514 PM TSTM WND DMG SAGINAW 43.42N 83.95W 07/24/2021 SAGINAW MI 911 CALL CENTER DISPATCH REPORTS SEVERAL LARGE TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES DOWN IN THE CITY OF SAGINAW. 0540 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SSE CASS CITY 43.57N 83.15W 07/24/2021 TUSCOLA MI 911 CALL CENTER DISPATCH REPORTS TREE DOWN ON KELLY AND ENGLEHART RD. 0540 PM TSTM WND GST 1 NW FRANKENMUTH 43.34N 83.75W 07/24/2021 M50 MPH SAGINAW MI MESONET MEASUED VIA FRANKENMUTH MESONET. 0545 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 E FRANKENMUTH 43.32N 83.66W 07/24/2021 TUSCOLA MI 911 CALL CENTER DISPATCH REPORTS DOWNED WIRES AT ORMES AND BRAY RD. 0620 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 S FLUSHING 43.02N 83.84W 07/24/2021 GENESEE MI TRAINED SPOTTER FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED NEAR FLUSHING BY TRAINED SPOTTER. 0622 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 S FLUSHING 43.02N 83.83W 07/24/2021 GENESEE MI FIRE DEPT/RESCUE REPORT OF A DESTROYED BARN VIA PHOTO ON CALKINS AND MORRISH RD. 0623 PM TORNADO 5 S FLUSHING 43.00N 83.83W 07/24/2021 GENESEE MI BROADCAST MEDIA SIDING AND ROOF OF RESIDENTIAL HOME TORN OFF. PHOTOS SENT VIA TWITTER. 0624 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 S FLUSHING 43.00N 83.83W 07/24/2021 GENESEE MI FIRE DEPT/RESCUE REPORT OF MULTIPLE TREES DOWN AND BUILDING DAMAGE. 0627 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 S FLUSHING 43.00N 83.83W 07/24/2021 GENESEE MI TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS OF SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN NEAR M-21 AND MORRISH ROAD. 0752 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SW CLARKSTON 42.70N 83.49W 07/24/2021 OAKLAND MI PUBLIC NUMEROUS TREES REPORTED DOWN ACROSS INDIAN SPRINGS METROPARK. 0754 PM TORNADO 1 NNE WHITE LAKE 42.67N 83.50W 07/24/2021 OAKLAND MI NWS STORM SURVEY *** 1 INJ *** EF-1 TORNADO CONFIRMED VIA NWS STORM SURVEY. WINDS ESTIMATED TO 100 MPH, WITH PATH WIDTH OF 400 YARDS AND PATH LENGTH OF 1.8 MILES. TORNADO WAS ON GROUND FROM 754 PM EDT TO 757 PM EDT. 0801 PM TORNADO 1 NNE ARMADA 42.85N 82.88W 07/24/2021 MACOMB MI PUBLIC MULTIPLE TREES SNAPPED OR SHEARED OFF AND POWERLINES DOWN OVER ROAD ON INTERSECTION OF ARMADA CENTER AND SPENCER RD. PHOTOS SENT VIA TWITTER. 0802 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SSW CLARKSTON 42.69N 83.43W 07/24/2021 OAKLAND MI NWS EMPLOYEE SEVERAL TREES DOWN OVER MACEDAY LAKE ROAD. LARGE TREE ALSO FELL ONTO A HOME LESS THAN A MILE EAST OF WILLIAMS LAKE ROAD MARKET ON WILLIAMS LAKE ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0811 PM TSTM WND GST 5 S CLARKSTON 42.66N 83.41W 07/24/2021 M60 MPH OAKLAND MI ASOS MEASURED BY PTK ASOS. 0812 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 N NOVI 42.55N 83.48W 07/24/2021 OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS OF LARGE OAK TREES DOWN ON RESIDENTIAL HOMES. 0819 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 N NOVI 42.54N 83.48W 07/24/2021 OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS OF MULTIPLE TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN NEAR SOUTH COMMERCE AND WOLVERINE LAKE. 0819 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WNW WEST BLOOMFIELD 42.58N 83.41W 07/24/2021 M65 MPH OAKLAND MI MESONET MEASURED VIA WEST BLOOMFIELD MESONET. 0833 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SW SOUTHFIELD 42.46N 83.28W 07/24/2021 OAKLAND MI PUBLIC LARGE TREE LIMB DOWN NEAR 9 MILE AND TELEGRAPH RD. PHOTO RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 0843 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 W WARREN 42.48N 83.10W 07/24/2021 OAKLAND MI PUBLIC DAMAGE TO A GAS STATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF W LINCOLN AVE AND AND JOHN R.ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0855 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 NNW MILAN 42.16N 83.74W 07/24/2021 WASHTENAW MI PUBLIC LARGE TREE LIMB DOWN ACROSS ROAD NEAR MOON RD AND WEST WILLIS RD. REPORTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO. 0913 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 WNW FLAT ROCK 42.14N 83.37W 07/24/2021 WAYNE MI PUBLIC NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREE DAMAGE AT THE WILLOW METROPARK GOLF COURSE. && $$
Above image depicts the local storm reports across the region for the July 24, 2021 severe weather. Heavy rainfall reports not shown. |
National Storm Reports for July 24, 2021 |
Environment
The environmental setup on the morning of July 24, 2021 had several processes in motion that led to widespread severe weather during the afternoon and evening periods. A warm front tied to southern Ontario surface low pressure was moving across Southeast Michigan from west to east Saturday morning ushering in a much more humid airmass. This would become an important factor in developing robust instability later in the day as surface dewpoints climbed into the low-mid 70s. Meanwhile, a ridge-running upper level shortwave trough was transiting along the US/Canada border, tilting into Lower Michigan within the mid to low levels. This supported upper level divergence and synoptic scale ascent while advecting low-mid level moisture to help saturate the column.
Fully entrenched within the warm sector, a special 18Z (2 PM EDT) balloon launch was performed to sample the atmosphere ahead of the strengthening lines of organized thunderstorms that were dropping southeast from the US-10 and M-55 corridors. The radiosonde data revealed an uncapped and unstable atmosphere with abundant moisture. The precipitable water value of 1.76 inches was well above the 90th percentile for sounding climatology with impressive surface-based instability (SBCAPE) of 3005 J/kg. Likewise, the measured kinematics revealed ample bulk shear (0-6 km) of 33 knots and very strong effective shear (EBWD) of 48 knots. There was also evidence of potential rotation in the lowest levels with computed 0-1 km storm-relative helicity (SRH) of 143 m2/s2 and slightly backed surface flow. Combined with very low lifted condensation levels (LCLs) in the 500-750 m AGL range (which lowered further during the evening), a favorable environment for spin-up tornadoes was revealed even as squall line and multicellular convective modes were dominant.
Strong to severe thunderstorm activity began around 4 PM along a well organized squall line moving southeast along I-75. By this time, low-level lapse rates (0-3 km) were pushing upwards of 6.5-7.0 C/km with +40 knots of effective shear and MLCAPEs peaking near 2000 J/kg across Metro Detroit. The broad coverage of this high-end parameter space helped maintain the forward speed and intensity of the main line causing it to broaden upon merging with a trailing line by the time it reached the M-59 corridor (around 00Z) where the seasonably strong cold front tied to the aforementioned low caught up. It was within the three hour window (6-9 PM EDT) when peak heating phased with the elevated shortwave (and frontogenesis) that the 0-1 km SRH values maximized across lower Southeast Michigan (100-250 m2/s2) with three tornadoes forming along the line. Accordingly, archived SPC mesoanalysis reveals composite Significant Tornado Parameter (effective-layer STP) values in the 1-2 range, absent of convective inhibition energy (MLCIN). Additionally, earlier in the day, a more isolated multicell storm moved across Outer Saginaw Bay producing a waterspout that eventually moved inland to become a tornado. This area was where early SRH was maximized, coincident with the best upper level support from the passing wave aloft.
With the large convective depths and previously mentioned high moisture/PWATs, the environment allowed thunderstorms to become efficient rainmakers. In many cases, southern portions of the warning area received only 60 minutes of rainfall, but rates were on the order of 1-2 inches, exhausting already strained stormwater management resources.
Click on the images below to see them expanded.
Figure 1: Weather Prediction Center (WPC) surface map, valid 1800 UTC 24 July 2021. | Figure 2: Weather Prediction Center (WPC) surface map, valid 0000 UTC 25 July 2021. | Figure 3: KDTX observed sounding, valid 12 UTC 24 July 2021. |
Figure 4: KDTX observed sounding, valid 18 UTC 24 July 2021. | Figure 5: SPC Day 1 Outlook, valid 13 UTC 24 July 2021. | Figure 6: SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook, valid 13 UTC 24 July 2021. |
Figure 7: Mixed-layer CAPE, valid 18 UTC 24 July 2021 | Figure 8: 0-6 km effective shear, valid 21 UTC 24 July 2021 | Figure 9: Lifted Condensation Level Height, valid 00 UTC 25 July 2021 |
Figure 10: Significant Tornado Parameter, valid 23 UTC 24 July 2021 | Figure 11: SPC 700 hPa Map, valid 16 UTC 24 July 2021. | Figure 12: SPC 300 hPa Map, valid 18 UTC 24 July 2021. |