11 replies to this topic

[M4dRefluX]

This was a derecho that swept through Southern MI in the early afternoon, Ohio, and PA for the rest of the evening. It packed hurricane force winds, and tons, and tons of hail.

Quote

Just received a report of 95 mph wind gusts in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This is an extremely dangerous situation for southeast lower Michigan and into northwest Ohio where derecho wind gusts of 80-120 mph are expected.

Source: An old thread at EasternUSWx about the event

For any of you that remember this storm, it was possibly the most powerful storm that I've witnessed, and the only storm I can remember that was characterized by a green sky. I was just a high school freshman then, and it came just after we were let out of school that afternoon. I remember getting off the bus, seeing a green sky, and running home with quarter-sized hail bouncing on top of my head. It hailed so much that the ground was white. The winds were at least hurricane force, I never seen so many trees down. And possibly part of the most active year that Michigan has seen in recent history. I have yet to witness a year that trumps 2004 here.

SPC Severe Weather Event

[OHweather]

I remember that...trees down all over the place and hail covering the ground. Didn't quite see quarters here but tons of pea to dime sized hail whipped by winds that gusted over 50MPH for about 10 minutes after the initial, and likely hurricane force, gust of wind. Was likely the most intense storm that my back yard has seen in my lifetime, although an F2 tornado in November of 2001 came close.

[M4dRefluX]

OHweather, on 19 February 2012 - 11:43 AM, said:

I remember that...trees down all over the place and hail covering the ground. Didn't quite see quarters here but tons of pea to dime sized hail whipped by winds that gusted over 50MPH for about 10 minutes after the initial, and likely hurricane force, gust of wind. Was likely the most intense storm that my back yard has seen in my lifetime, although an F2 tornado in November of 2001 came close.

I dug up old radar scans for your neck of the woods.

[Stebo48858]

i remember this event very well, I was living at my grandparents at the time and my dad woke me up right before it hit, as I was on midnights at the time. I remember the sky being pitch black then turning this very dark green shade. When it hit the winds were easily over 70mph on Harsens Island (where my grandparents live). Certainly one to remember.

[weatherpsycho]

Ugg I remember this one. I was on vacation (out west CA/AZ) at the time of this storm.

[Hoosier]

I remember this event. It was part of a very active finish to the month of May across the central US (4 high risk days from May 22-30)

[hm8]

Would have loved to be in AA for this one

 storm.png   835.27K   3 downloads

[MichiganLion]

That Friday was a good one (I was in Shelby Township, Macomb County this afternoon). I would not personally call it the most powerful storm I've witnessed in Southeast Michigan (1995 & 1998 derechoes, July 2 1997) ... but it definitely ranks up there. Admittedly, the two tiers of Michigan counties to the South took it worse on May 21 2004 vs. the Macomb/Oakland/Livingston County tier.

It definitely caught me by surprise ..... it was actually somewhat cool (temps in the mid-60s), non-humid (dewpoints in the low-50s) and overcast before the event ..... much different weather versus what preceded the July 1995 & May 1998 derechoes.

[SpartyOn]

The shelf cloud associated was sick. I remember the sky turned green and the winds just freaking howled. One of the few times I was concerned in a thunderstorm. I was in Yipsilanti during the event.

[AppsRunner]

Was still pretty good here, probably the most hail I've seen in one storm... but not the best severe storm here. What I find interesting about this is that most of the damaging winds occurred north or along the warm front which as roughly on the OH/MI border at the time or just slightly north.

[M4dRefluX]

Hoosier, on 19 February 2012 - 12:54 PM, said:

I remember this event. It was part of a very active finish to the month of May across the central US (4 high risk days from May 22-30)

It was definitely an eventful month.

Detroit DTX said:

Never in the history of climate records for Detroit has a May been this stormy or wet across the Metro Detroit area. In addition to this climate write-up, a Public Information Statement regarding the rain, storms, flooding and severe weather warnings can be found at: http://weather.gov/dtx/may2004.php.

......

TOTAL DAYS WITH THUNDERSTORMS IN MAY BREAKS MAY'S OLD RECORD AND TIES FIRST PLACE FOR ANY MONTH (AND ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD)

Numerous thunderstorms during the month brought the amount of thunderstorm days to 14. This blew away the old record of thunderstorm days for the month of May which was 11 and set way back again in the 19th century /1896/. The 14 days of storms that occurred this May also tied June of 1892 and July 1902.

Source

[nwohweather]

Ahh I remember this storm. I was in 6th grade at the time and boy was there hail and a lot of wind. First time I remember Forbes putting us in his white "greatest risk" area