July 7 Severe Thunderstorm Winds

July 7, 2017 severe thunderstorm wind gusts

Storm Damage

Radar Images

Preliminary Storm Reports

Damage and Wind Summary

Numerous trees and power lines fell between 2:45 and 4:45 AM Friday, July 7, in a 100-mile long and 30-mile wide swath from Grand Haven to northwest of Jackson. Evidence from damage patterns, storm evolution, and radar data point toward a straight-line wind event, with mainly EF-0 level wind speeds (up to 85 mph).

Wind Speeds:

Grand Haven (Ottawa County): Hard-hit by very strong winds coming off Lake Michigan. A man was killed when a large tree fell through his house in Grand Haven. A wind gust of 91 mph was recorded on the north Grand Haven breakwater. An unverified gust of at least 88 mph and possibly as high as 103 mph was recorded by a home weather station in the South Highland area, north of Rosy Mound. Wind gusts can be locally stronger over the near-frictionless surface of Lake Michigan and where winds are channeled through gaps in the dunes.
Ottawa and Kent Counties: Based on damage, radar data, and anemometer readings, wind gusts likely ranged between 60 and 80 mph across much of the area. A gust to 88 mph was recorded on a rooftop at Grand Valley State University in Allendale (wind speeds can be higher well above the ground). Gerald R. Ford International Airport recorded a wind gust of 59 mph, and a gust to 60 mph was recorded at Memorial Field in East Grand Rapids.
Barry and Eaton Counties, (Hastings, Charlotte, and surrounding areas): Wind speeds likely ranged between 50 and 70 mph across a majority of the counties, but a couple isolated swaths of wind over 70 mph may have occurred. Wind speeds gradually diminished below severe levels (less than 60 mph) in Calhoun, Ingham, and Jackson counties, but some tree damage and power outages did occur in those areas.

The left half of the radar image shows reflectivity, which roughly equates to rainfall intensity. The right half of the radar images show base radial velocity, which shows winds toward (green/blue) or away (red/orange) from the radar site in Grand Rapids. The radar beam height over Grand Haven is a little over 2,000 feet above ground.

Click for an animated loop (2.7 MB) from 1:30 AM to 5 AM with half-hour time steps.

2:41 AM:

2:49 AM:

3:10 AM:

3:40 AM:

4:08 AM:

The following is a list of storm reports that were gathered during and shortly after the storm event. Due to the large amount of damage received, this is not an all-inclusive list of all damage locations.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
1059 AM EDT FRI JUL 7 2017

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

1240 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 WNW LUDINGTON         44.00N 86.60W
07/07/2017  M34 MPH          LMZ868             MI   BUOY             

            BUOY STATION 45024, LUDINGTON BUOY. 

0130 AM     MARINE TSTM WIND 8 NNW LUDINGTON         44.05N 86.51W
07/07/2017  M42 MPH          MASON              MI   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION BSBM4, BIG SABLE POINT. 

0140 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 WNW LUDINGTON         44.00N 86.60W
07/07/2017  M38 MPH          LMZ868             MI   BUOY             

            BUOY STATION 45024, LUDINGTON BUOY. 

0230 AM     MARINE TSTM WIND 5 SW WHITEHALL          43.37N 86.42W
07/07/2017  M37 MPH          MUSKEGON           MI   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION D2963, WHITEHALL LIGHTHOUSE. 

0236 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WSW NORTON SHORES     43.15N 86.27W
07/07/2017                   MUSKEGON           MI   PUBLIC           

            THUNDERSTORMS WINDS BROKE A HEALTHY MAPLE 
            TREE OFF ITS TRUNK. THE TREE WAS HEALTHY. 
            ALSO POWER LINES DOWN AT PORTER RD. AND LAKE 
            HARBOR ROAD. 

0240 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 NW ROOSEVELT PARK     43.23N 86.33W
07/07/2017  M61 MPH          MUSKEGON           MI   MESONET          

            MUSKEGON GLERL. 

0240 AM     TSTM WND GST     6 W ROOSEVELT PARK      43.20N 86.40W
07/07/2017  M45 MPH          LMZ847             MI   BUOY             

            BUOY STATION 45161, MUSKEGON BUOY. 

0247 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 NE NORTON SHORES      43.17N 86.24W
07/07/2017  M44 MPH          MUSKEGON           MI   ASOS             

            ASOS STATION MKG, MUSKEGON COUNTY AIRPORT. 

0250 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 SSW GRAND HAVEN       43.03N 86.24W
07/07/2017  M88 MPH          OTTAWA             MI   MESONET          

            GUST TO 80 MPH AT 247 AM, AND GUST TO 88 AT 
            250 AM. MAY HAVE REACHED 103 MPH BEFORE 
            STATION STOPPED REPORTING. SOUTH HIGHLAND 
            ASSOCIATION PERSONAL WEATHER STATION 
            KMIGRAND77 ON THE LAKEFRONT DUNES. 

0250 AM     TSTM WND DMG     GRAND HAVEN             43.06N 86.22W
07/07/2017                   OTTAWA             MI   911 CALL CENTER  

            MULTIPLE TREES DOWN IN THE AREA, SOME ON 
            HOMES AND SOME OVER ROADS. POWER LINES ARE 
            ALSO DOWN. 

0250 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WSW GRAND HAVEN       43.05N 86.24W
07/07/2017                   OTTAWA             MI   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            *** 1 FATAL *** 
            LARGE TREE FELL ON A HOME. 72 YEAR OLD MAN 
            WAS KILLED. TIME ESTIMATED. 

0251 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 NW GRAND HAVEN        43.08N 86.25W
07/07/2017  M47 MPH          OTTAWA             MI   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION E1833, 1 NW GRAND HAVEN. 

0252 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 W GRAND HAVEN         43.06N 86.26W
07/07/2017  M91 MPH          LMZ846             MI   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION XGHL, 1 W GRAND HAVEN. 

0252 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 WSW NORTON SHORES     43.16N 86.27W
07/07/2017  M44 MPH          MUSKEGON           MI   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION AT191, 1 WSW NORTON SHORES. 

0253 AM     TSTM WND DMG     GRAND HAVEN             43.06N 86.22W
07/07/2017                   OTTAWA             MI   PUBLIC           

            TREES REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN BLOWN DOWN BY 
            THUNDERSTORM WINDS ONTO HOMES IN GRAND 
            HAVEN. 

0300 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 S HOLLAND             42.74N 86.11W
07/07/2017  M46 MPH          ALLEGAN            MI   ASOS             

            ASOS STATION BIV, W MICH REGIONAL ARPT. 

0306 AM     TSTM WND GST     MACATAWA                42.77N 86.21W
07/07/2017  M53 MPH          OTTAWA             MI   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION HLNM4, HOLLAND HARBOR. 

0310 AM     TSTM WND DMG     HUDSONVILLE             42.86N 85.86W
07/07/2017                   OTTAWA             MI   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN, SOME ROADS ARE 
            BLOCKED. 

0315 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 SW GRAND VALLEY       42.96N 85.89W
07/07/2017  M88 MPH          OTTAWA             MI   PUBLIC           

            REPORTED AT GRAND VALLEY STATE 
            UNIV-ALLENDALE. 

0315 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W GRANDVILLE          42.90N 85.78W
07/07/2017                   OTTAWA             MI   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 

            3 LARGE TREES ARE BLOCKING THE ROAD ON 
            KENOWA AVENUE, SOUTH OF 36TH STREET. KENOWA 
            AVENUE IS CLOSED OFF IN THAT SECTION. 

0317 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 W GRANDVILLE          42.90N 85.78W
07/07/2017  M54 MPH          KENT               MI   MESONET          

            WIND GUSTED TO 54 MPH AT GRANDVILLE. 

0318 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSW GRANDVILLE        42.88N 85.76W
07/07/2017                   KENT               MI   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 

            TREES AND POWER LINES HAVE BEEN BLOWN DOWN 
            AROUND THE RIVERTOWN CROSSINGS MALL. SOME 
            ROADS ARE BLOCKED. REPORTED AT RIVERTOWN 
            PARKWAY AND WILSON AVENUE, GRANDVILLE 
            MICHIGAN. 

0320 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 W PORT SHELDON        42.90N 86.30W
07/07/2017  M45 MPH          LMZ874             MI   BUOY             

            BUOY STATION 45029, PORT SHELDON BUOY. 

0324 AM     TSTM WND GST     EAST GRAND RAPIDS       42.95N 85.61W
07/07/2017  M60 MPH          KENT               MI   PUBLIC           

            REPORTED AT MEMORIAL FEILD, GRAND RAPIDS MI. 

0325 AM     HAIL             MARNE                   43.04N 85.83W
07/07/2017  E0.88 INCH       OTTAWA             MI   TRAINED SPOTTER  



0326 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 SW GRAND RAPIDS       42.95N 85.68W
07/07/2017  E60 MPH          KENT               MI   PUBLIC           

            PEA SIZE BUT NO TREES REPORTED DOWN. 

0329 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 SE WALKER             42.98N 85.74W
07/07/2017  M65 MPH          KENT               MI   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            REPORTED AT COLINDALE GRAND RAPIDS. 

0329 AM     HAIL             1 SE WALKER             42.98N 85.74W
07/07/2017  E0.50 INCH       KENT               MI   PUBLIC           



0329 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S ALLENDALE           42.98N 85.95W
07/07/2017                   OTTAWA             MI   PUBLIC           

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. 

0330 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 SSW JAMESTOWN         42.80N 85.86W
07/07/2017  M44 MPH          OTTAWA             MI   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION E0177, 2 SSW JAMESTOWN. 

0331 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 ENE KENTWOOD          42.89N 85.54W
07/07/2017  M59 MPH          KENT               MI   ASOS             

            ASOS STATION GRR, GERALD R FORD INTL. 

0335 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MIDDLEVILLE             42.71N 85.47W
07/07/2017                   BARRY              MI   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY. 

0340 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CALEDONIA               42.80N 85.51W
07/07/2017                   KENT               MI   911 CALL CENTER  

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS KENT 
            COUNTY. SOME TREES ON HOMES. 

0402 AM     HAIL             BELLEVUE                42.44N 85.02W
07/07/2017  E0.50 INCH       EATON              MI   TRAINED SPOTTER  



0406 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 WNW BATTLE CREEK      42.31N 85.25W
07/07/2017  M40 MPH          CALHOUN            MI   ASOS             

            ASOS STATION BTL, W K KELLOGG AIRPORT. 

0412 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 NE PORTAGE            42.23N 85.55W
07/07/2017  M52 MPH          KALAMAZOO          MI   ASOS             

            ASOS STATION AZO, KZOO/BATTLE CREEK INTL 
            AIRPORT. 

0412 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 ENE CHARLOTTE         42.57N 84.81W
07/07/2017  M43 MPH          EATON              MI   AWOS             

            AWOS STATION FPK, CHARLOTTE FITCH BEACH 
            ARPT. 

0420 AM     TSTM WND DMG     EATON RAPIDS            42.51N 84.65W
07/07/2017                   EATON              MI   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TREES DOWN IN EATON RAPIDS. NUMEROUS POWER 
            OUTAGES IN EATON COUNTY. 

0428 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE DIMONDALE         42.64N 84.60W
07/07/2017                   EATON              MI   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS HAVE BLOWN DOWN 
            SEVERAL TREES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HOLT NEAR 
            WAVERLY ROAD. 

0445 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 WNW JACKSON           42.26N 84.46W
07/07/2017  M46 MPH          JACKSON            MI   ASOS             

            ASOS STATION JXN, JACKSON COUNTY-REYNOLDS 
            FIELD AIRPORT. 

0630 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NE SARANAC            42.96N 85.17W
07/07/2017  M1.14 INCH       IONIA              MI   COCORAHS         

            24 HOUR TOTAL. COCORAHS STATION MI-IN-1, 2 
            NE SARANAC. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 W DEWITT              42.83N 84.60W
07/07/2017  M1.61 INCH       CLINTON            MI   COCORAHS         

            24 HOUR TOTAL. COCORAHS STATION MI-CT-3, 1 W 
            DEWITT. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 S DANSVILLE           42.53N 84.31W
07/07/2017  M1.48 INCH       INGHAM             MI   COCORAHS         

            24 HOUR TOTAL. COCORAHS STATION MI-IH-27, 1 
            S DANSVILLE. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       4 NNW DANSVILLE         42.61N 84.34W
07/07/2017  M1.33 INCH       INGHAM             MI   COCORAHS         

            24 HOUR TOTAL. COCORAHS STATION MI-IH-34, 4 
            NNW DANSVILLE. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 ESE LOWELL            42.92N 85.32W
07/07/2017  M1.11 INCH       KENT               MI   COCORAHS         

            24 HOUR TOTAL. COCORAHS STATION MI-KN-11, 1 
            ESE LOWELL. 

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 WSW WEBBERVILLE       42.66N 84.22W
07/07/2017  M1.42 INCH       INGHAM             MI   COCORAHS         

            24 HOUR TOTAL. COCORAHS STATION MI-IH-32, 1 
            WSW WEBBERVILLE. 


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