August 24, 2023 Evening Tornadoes & Severe Weather Event

Tornado Information

Tornado 1 - Ingham/Livingston County Ingham & Livingston Counties NOTE: Tornado started in the Grand Rapids County Warning Area (CWA) in Ingham County as an EF-2 and tracked into the Detroit/Pontiac CWA in Livingston County as an EF-1 before dissipating.  This tornado will go down in the records as an EF-2 with a 12 mile path length. NWS Grand Rapids Office event summary can be found here. Livingston County Portion   Date August 24, 2023 Time (Local) 9:40 PM EDT - 9:42 PM EDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 90 mph Path Length 1.3 miles Max Width 150 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The strong tornado over northeast Ingham county weakened and moved into Livingston county south of North Cedar Road and close to the West Branch Red Cedar River by Wallace Road. Trees and tree limbs were uprooted and blown down with estimated winds up to 90 mph as the tornado tracked east. The tornado weakened further and dissipated along Van Buren Road and west of North Nicholson Road.   Track Map     Radar Velocity Image at 9:41 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red) is indicative of rotation within the storm.

Tornado 2 - Canton, MI Wayne County Date August 24, 2023 Time (Local) 10:19 PM - 10:21 PM EDT EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 80 mph Path Length 1.7 miles Max Width 200 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The weak tornado touched down just northwest of Pheasant Run Golf course and tracked southeast. Dozens of trees were downed and uprooted. The tornado continued southeast, tracking across Summit Parkway and Canton Center Road, bringing down large limbs in the process. As the tornado reached Sheldon Road, trees were sheared and hardwood tree fell onto a house. The tornado dissipated just north of the Lower River Rouge.     Track Map     Radar Velocity Image at 10:21 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red) is indicative of rotation within the storm.

Tornado 3 - Belleville, MI Wayne County Date August 24, 2023 Time (Local) 10:23 PM - 10:26 PM EDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 90 mph Path Length 3 miles Max Width 200 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The weak tornado touched near or just south of the Wagner Homestead Farm with mainly leaf and twigs blown down. The tornado tracked southeast and crossed Elwell road near Belmont drive. Trees were downed and uprooted. The tornado hit the Mobile Manor Trail Park. A tree was broken in half with uprooted softwoods noted. More significant tree damage was noted as the tornado approached Martinsville Road, generally tracking close to the Hubbard Drain. Trees down and siding peeled off some homes, along with a large tree limb down on a home. The tornado appeared to have dissipated in between Pebblebrook Drive and Fret Road.   Track Map     Radar Velocity Image at 10:26 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red) is indicative of rotation within the storm (black circle).

Tornado 4 - Newport, MI Monroe County Date August 24, 2023 Time (Local) 10:38 PM - 10:43 PM EDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100 mph Path Length 4.88 miles Max Width 200 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The weak tornado touched down in a farm field in Ash Township north of Newport Road and half a mile west of North Telegraph Road. The tornado tracked southeast and hit Frenchtown Villa Mobile Home Park where the bulk of the damage occurred on the north side of the park. Roofs were torn off and a manufactured home was flipped over. Other damage included shingle and roof damage on the northeast side of the park. The tornado continued to track southeast and crossed over I-75 by the Meijer Distribution Center where large tree limbs were downed to the east of the center. As the tornado continued southeast, several large tree limbs were downed with leaning power poles noted. The tornado dissipated in a farm field about half a mile east of North Dixie Highway and south of Post Road in Frenchtown Township in Monroe County.   Track Map     Radar Velocity Image at 10:39 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red) is indicative of rotation within the storm (black circle).

Tornado 5 - South Rockwood, MI Monroe & Wayne Counties Date August 24, 2023 Time (Local) 10:39 PM - 10:45 PM EDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 105 mph Path Length 5.4 miles Max Width 200 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The weak tornado touched down on Carleton Rockwood Road, one mile east of Telegraph Road. The tornado tracked eastward across Armstrong Road where there were numerous large tree limbs down. There were multiple trees that were snapped and tops taken off, along with some house shingles partially torn off near Brandon Road. The tornado continued to track east across I-75 and South Huron River Drive where numerous large tree limbs were blown down, one of which fell on a house. There was also a roof partially torn off and garage door damaged near South Huron River Drive and North Dixie Highway. The tornado then crossed over the Lake Erie Metropark Golf Course with multiple large tree limbs downed before ending at the Detroit River.   Track Map     Radar Velocity Image at 10:42 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red) is indicative of rotation within the storm (black circle).

Tornado 6 - Gibraltar, MI Wayne County Date August 24, 2023 Time (Local) 10:43 PM - 10:45 PM EDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 90 mph Path Length 1.4 miles Max Width 300 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The weak tornado touched down to the southwest of Gibraltar Road and West Jefferson Avenue in the Brownstown Creek area. The tornado traveled southeast across West Jefferson Avenue and south Gibraltar Road where multiple trees were topped, large tree limbs snapped and uprooted trees. The tornado crossed the northern portion of Edmond Island before continuing southeast to Horse Island where it eventually dissipated. Damage across the islands included large tree limbs downed, snapped trees, and a large tree downed on a trailer.   Track Map     Radar Velocity Image at 10:44 PM EDT Inbound velocities (green) located next to outbound velocities (red) is indicative of rotation within the storm.

        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 Gibraltar, MI Credit: Nicole Hansen	Tornado Damage in Gibraltar, MI Credit: Brittany Cogar	Tornado Damage in Gibraltar, MI Credit: Brittany Cogar

Tornado Damage in Rockwood, MI Credit: Nicole Hansen	Tornado Damage in Brownstown Charter Township, MI Credit: Nicole Hansen

Media news articles on the event:

• Detroit News: 7 Michigan Tornadoes Confirmed, 2 Dead
• Detroit Free Press: 7 Tornadoes strike in 1 night, the most ever during August in Michigan
• WDIV: 7 tornadoes touched down in Michigan: Here's where, when
• WXYZ: Metro Detroit communities cleaning up after tornadoes touch down

Radar

Storm Reports

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
744 AM EDT Sat Aug 26 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1117 AM     Rain             Westland                42.32N  83.38W
08/24/2023  M2.14 inch       Wayne              MI   Trained Spotter

            24 hour rainfall total.

0940 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SW Fowlerville        42.62N  84.13W
08/24/2023                   Livingston         MI   NWS Storm Survey

            Many trees snapped and uprooted due to straight line
            winds from Wallace Road to Cedar Road, along and north
            of West Van Orgen Rd. Estimated wind speeds up to 90
            mph.

0940 PM     Tornado          4 WSW Fowlerville       42.64N  84.15W
08/24/2023                   Livingston         MI   NWS Storm Survey

            An EF-2 tornado over northeast Ingham county weakened
            and tracked into Livingston county near Fowlerville,
            producing EF-1 damage, with winds up to 90 MPH. Storm
            track length in Livingston county was 1.3 miles.

0941 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Fenton                  42.80N  83.71W
08/24/2023                   Genesee            MI   Emergency Mngr

            Near Fenton Rd and North Long Lake Rd, 6 inch diameter
            tree branches down in the road.

0944 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NW Fowlerville        42.69N  84.11W
08/24/2023                   Livingston         MI   Public

            Public reports multiple 6 to 12 inch diameter limbs
            down south of Fowlerville at Nicholson Road between
            Grand River and Van Orden via social media.

0945 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Howell                  42.61N  83.94W
08/24/2023                   Livingston         MI   Law Enforcement

            Trees and power lines were reported down across the
            county.

0945 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Argentine               42.79N  83.83W
08/24/2023                   Genesee            MI   Trained Spotter

            Trees reported down in multiple spots in Argentine.

0946 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 E Conway Township     42.73N  84.06W
08/24/2023                   Livingston         MI   NWS Storm Survey

            Numerous trees and tree limbs downed from wet
            microburst. Estimated winds of 65 mph.

1000 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NNW Green Oak         42.54N  83.72W
08/24/2023                   Livingston         MI   Public

            Trees reported down at Pleasant Valley and Spencer
            Roads

1005 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     N Green Oak             42.49N  83.70W
08/24/2023                   Livingston         MI   Emergency Mngr

            Trees reported down across Green Oak Township.

1007 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WSW Novi              42.47N  83.51W
08/24/2023                   Oakland            MI   Trained Spotter

            Spotter reports healthy 8 inch limb down in backyard.
            Numerous smaller limbs down around neighborhood.

1010 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Ann Arbor          42.29N  83.75W
08/24/2023                   Washtenaw          MI   Trained Spotter

            Spotter reported large trees down on cars, streets
            impassable around Hiscock St and Daniel St.

1010 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NE Charing Cross      42.59N  83.19W
08/24/2023                   Oakland            MI   Public

            1 foot diameter tree reported down.

1015 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Salem                   42.41N  83.58W
08/24/2023                   Washtenaw          MI   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Trees and power lines reported down across Salem

1019 PM     Tornado          1 SW Canton             42.30N  83.50W
08/24/2023                   Wayne              MI   NWS Storm Survey

            Confirmed EF-0 tornado in Canton producing winds up to
            80 mph. Path length was 1.7 miles.

1020 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SE Clarenceville      42.43N  83.30W
08/24/2023                   Wayne              MI   Public

            Social media photos of large tree branches down at 7
            mile and Beech.

1020 PM     Flood            1 NNE Milton            42.70N  82.81W
08/24/2023                   Macomb             MI   Trained Spotter

            Spotter reports Gratiot Ave between 24 mile and 26 mile
            road is impassable. At least 2 vehicles stranded with
            estimated one foot of water covering roadway.

1020 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SE Canton             42.30N  83.47W
08/24/2023                   Wayne              MI   Public

            25 foot pine tree was uprooted and landed on neighbor`s
            roof in neighborhood near Sheldon Rd and Palmer Rd.

1020 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Tecumseh           42.02N  83.96W
08/24/2023                   Lenawee            MI   Trained Spotter

            Large tree blown onto road.

1021 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ENE Clinton           42.59N  82.91W
08/24/2023                   Macomb             MI   911 Call Center

            Dispatch reports trees and power lines down across the
            county. Numerous reports came from around Clinton
            Township.

1022 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 W Plymouth            42.36N  83.52W
08/24/2023                   Wayne              MI   Trained Spotter

            Multiple trees uprooted, shingles off roofs.

1023 PM     Tornado          Edgewater Heights       42.20N  83.51W
08/24/2023                   Wayne              MI   NWS Storm Survey

            Confirmed EF-1 tornado in Belleville, with maximum
            winds of 90 mph and a path length of 3 miles.

1024 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Tecumseh                42.01N  83.94W
08/24/2023                   Lenawee            MI   Public

            Social media photos received of large downed limb.
            Public described tree as being cracked in half.

1029 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Grosse Pointe Shores    42.43N  82.87W
08/24/2023  M59 mph          LCZ460             MI   Mesonet

            Measured at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

1030 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Detroit                 42.33N  83.05W
08/24/2023  E70 mph          Wayne              MI   Trained Spotter

            Reported on the west side of Detroit, near the
            intersection of Evergreen and Joy.

1030 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SSE St. Clair Shores  42.47N  82.88W
08/24/2023  M53 mph          LCZ460             MI   Mesonet

            Measured at SCS Harbor.

1033 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 ENE Romulus           42.23N  83.33W
08/24/2023  M58 mph          Wayne              MI   ASOS

            MEASURED AT DETROIT METRO AIRPORT.

1038 PM     Tornado          2 NE Steiner            42.01N  83.36W
08/24/2023                   Monroe             MI   NWS Storm Survey

            Confirmed EF-1 tornado south of Newport with maximum
            winds of 100 mph and a path length of 4.9 miles.

1039 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 E Detroit             42.33N  82.99W
08/24/2023  M52 mph          Wayne              MI   Mesonet

            Measured at Belle Isle.

1039 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 W Woodhaven           42.14N  83.27W
08/24/2023                   Wayne              MI   Public

            Photos of Trees down sent in via Facebook.

1039 PM     Tornado          2 W South Rockwood      42.07N  83.29W
08/24/2023                   Monroe             MI   NWS Storm Survey

            Confirmed EF-1 tornado in South Rockwood with maximum
            winds of 105 mph and a path length of 5.4 miles.

1042 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Rockwood            42.06N  83.25W
08/24/2023                   Monroe             MI   Public

            Photos of large trees down sent in.

1043 PM     Tornado          1 SW Gibraltar          42.08N  83.20W
08/24/2023                   Wayne              MI   NWS Storm Survey

            Confirmed EF-1 tornado with maximum winds of 90 mph and
            a path length of 1.4 miles.

1045 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Gibraltar               42.10N  83.19W
08/24/2023                   Wayne              MI   Law Enforcement

            Numerous trees reported down across Gibraltar, mainly
            focused over the southern part of the city.

1054 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 SE Milleville Beach   42.00N  83.14W
08/24/2023  M70 mph          LEZ444             MI   Mesonet

            Measured at Detroit River Light.

1055 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 E Gibraltar           42.10N  83.16W
08/24/2023  M47 mph          Wayne              MI   Mesonet

            Measured at Grosse Ille.

1200 AM     Rain             Mount Clemens           42.60N  82.88W
08/25/2023  M2.36 inch       Macomb             MI   Co-Op Observer

            24 hour rainfall total.

0800 AM     Rain             2 SSE Andersonville     42.70N  83.47W
08/25/2023  M2.23 inch       Oakland            MI   Official NWS Obs

            24 hour rainfall total

0800 AM     Rain             2 W Waterford           42.66N  83.42W
08/25/2023  M2.41 inch       Oakland            MI   ASOS

            24 hour rainfall total.

0810 AM     Rain             Southgate               42.21N  83.19W
08/25/2023  M2.62 inch       Wayne              MI   Trained Spotter

            24 hour rainfall total

Above image depicts the local storm reports across the region for the August 24, 2023 severe weather that occurred in the evening.

National Storm Reports for August 24, 2023

Environment

An exceptionally moist and humid airmass moved into southern Lower Michigan during the afternoon of August 24th, with dew pts reaching 75 to 80 degrees by early evening (fig 17).

Precipitable water values peaked around 2.25 inches (fig 9), fortunately the system was progressive, limiting rainfall totals under 3 inches.

Extreme instability with MLcapes in excess of 4500 J/kg (fig 16)/steep mid level lapse rates around 7.5 C/KM  (fig 18) and a mid level jet (fig 8)/shortwave trough (fig 11) lead to the development of a line of thunderstorms over central and southwest Lower Michigan. A surface low (fig 1-2) tracking through the southern Lower Michigan enhanced low level shear enough to support an EF-2 tornado over northeast Ingham county which briefly tracked into Livingston county (in a weakened state).  See Figure 10: Significant Tornado Parameter which captures this location perfectly.

This system became a full-fledged complex/MCS right over southeast Lower Michigan, with a classic quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) leading to brief spin up tornadoes south of M-59. Strong straight-line winds (60-80 mph) and wet micro-bursts (see fig 12) in this scenario made it difficult to detect brief tornado spin ups as damage from right inflow jets and fast forward speed of the storms dominated the damage pattern. Officially, 6 tornadoes were verified across southeast Michigan, but there is a low chance additional brief spin-ups occurred within the line of storms.

Figure 1: Weather Prediction Center (WPC) surface map, valid 00 UTC 25 August 2023.	Figure 2: Weather Prediction Center (WPC) surface map, valid 03 UTC 25 August 2023	Figure 3: KDTX observed sounding, valid 18 UTC 24 August 2023.
Figure 4: KDTX observed sounding, valid 00 UTC 25 August 2023.	Figure 5: SPC Day 1 Outlook, valid 20 UTC 24 August 2023.	Figure 6: SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook, valid 20 UTC 24 August 2023.
Figure 7: SPC Day 1 Damaging Wind Outlook, valid 20 UTC 24 August 2023.	Figure 8: 0-6 km effective shear, valid 00 UTC 25 August 2023.	Figure 9: Precipitable Water with 850 MB moisture transport vectors, valid 02 UTC 25 August 2023
Figure 10: Significant Tornado Parameter, valid 00 UTC 25 August 2023.	Figure 11: SPC 700 hPa Map, valid 03 UTC 25 August 2023.	Figure 12: Microburst Composite valid 00 UTC 25 August 2023.  >= 9 infers that microbursts are "likely"
Figure 13: SPC Mesoscale Discussion #2039, August 24, 2023	Figure 14: Severe Thunderstorm Watch #656, August 24, 2023	Figure 15: SPC Mesoscale Discussion #2041, August 24, 2023
Figure 16: MLcape valid 00 UTC  August 25, 2023	Figure 17: SFC temp/dew pt/pressure valid 00 UTC August 25 2023	Figure 18: Mid level lapse rates valid 00 UTC August 25, 2023