MSU Extension Emergency Management

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Thunderstorms In Michigan

Severe thunderstorms are storms accompanied by strong wind, lightning, heavy rain, and sometimes hail or tornadoes. These storms are possible at anytime in Michigan; however, most occur from May through September.

Thunderstorms occur when the right conditions are present. This is when a layer of warm moist air meets a layer of cool dry air. This forms thunderhead clouds which are also known as Cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds are enormous and contain a large amount of energy and water.

Hazards of Thunderstorms

There are four main hazards that can occur during thunderstorms. These hazards are hail, lightning, tornadoes, and severe winds. Hail usually falls around the middle of the storm along with the heaviest rain. Hail stones can come in many sizes. Hail is usually pea to golf ball size, but it has been known to get as large as a baseball. Hail is formed when strong winds carry the rain above the freezing level. Eventually the hail gets to the point where it's too heavy for the wind to support and so it falls to the Earth. When the hail falls it causes damage to crops, automobiles, homes, wildlife, and can injure people.

Lightning is a random occurrence of a thunderstorm's high level of energy. An intense electric field is present inside of a thunderstorm. When the force of the positive and negative energy inside the storm becomes great enough, lighting occurs. When this occurs it can heat the air around it to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. On average, lighting kills and injures more people a year then tornadoes and hurricanes.

Thunderstorms are also often accompanied by severe winds. These winds can cause a tremendous amount of damage. This damage includes deaths, injuries, and millions of dollars in damage to property and crops. Severe winds have velocities of 58 miles, or greater.

Tornadoes are the last of the four hazards that can occur during a thunderstorm. These often occur within Michigan during spring and summer. Michigan is at the northeastern edge of the primary tornado belt. Most tornado damage occurs from the high winds that accompany them.

Thunderstorm History

In July of 2000, thunderstorms in Algonac County produced hail that was the size of baseballs, and caused 125,000 dollars worth of damage.

In Detroit, in May of 2000, lighting struck a terminal under construction at Detroit's Metropolitan Airport. When this occurred nine workers were injured and two of them required hospitalization. In 2001, strong winds occurred throughout Southern Lower Michigan; some of the worst occurred in Lansing. The reported speeds of the wind were estimated as high as 120 miles an hour.

Below is a list of links that provide information on thunderstorms and safety issues related to said storms.