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Strong storms were making their way across southeast Michigan Tuesday evening, hours after two tornadoes touched down elsewhere in the state. The weather prompted a ground stop at Detroit Metro Airport and a delay of the Tigers game at Comerica Park.
At 5:25 p.m., the NWS issued a special weather statement advising that strong thunderstorms were moving into southeast Michigan.
The storms may bring pea-sized hail and winds in excess of 40 mph to parts of Sanilac, Lapeer, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties. The statement expired at 6:45 p.m. though separate statements remained in effect for Wayne and Huron counties through 7:15 p.m.
High winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Some minor damage is possible, NWS said. People outdoors were advised to seek shelter in a building.
The severe weather caused a ground stop to be issued for flights headed to Detroit Metro Airport. The start of the Tigers-Minnesota Twins game also was delayed.
The ground stop was issued at 5:15 p.m. and remains in effect until 7:45 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Flights were delayed an average of 47 minutes and a maximum of 81 minutes.
Earlier in the day, two tornadoes touched down in Michigan, one of which damaged dozens of homes, the NWS confirmed.
At about 1:14 p.m., the first twister touched down, just north of the community of Freeland, about 13 miles northwest of the city of Saginaw, NWS said in a preliminary local storm report.
The agency said 30-40 homes sustained damage to roofing and siding and numerous campers in the Freeland area were overturned.
Five minutes later and about 42 miles away, a second tornado touched down in a farm field about 3 miles northeast of Montrose, in Genesee County, an NWS meteorologist said. There were no reports of damage from that twister.
There were no injuries associated with either tornado, NWS said.
The tornadoes came as Metro Detroit braced for several more rounds of rain and thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday amid conditions warm enough to spark a heat advisory for the region, according to the National Weather Service.
NWS also forecasts the week finishing with higher-than-normal temperatures and sunny skies.
The weather service issued a heat advisory Tuesday for Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
Heat index values up to 100 degrees were expected as humidity rises.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” NWS officials said in the notice. “Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
The advisory also urged residents to take extra precautions when outside to prevent heat-related illness.
“Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing,” officials said. “Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
Tornado warning, possible sighting
NWS also issued a tornado warning for central Wayne County until 3 p.m. Tuesday but canceled it well short of that time.
“At 220 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Romulus, moving northeast at 20 mph,” the notice said. “…Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.”
At 2:47 p.m., the weather service issued an alert to say, “The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.”
Elsewhere on Tuesday, social media reports said a tornado may have touched down in Eaton County. The county is located near Lansing.
“Oneida Township storage barn was destroyed around 10:15 a.m.,” former state Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “Possibly a small tornado. Neighbors saw swirling in the sky!”
The township is about 3.5 miles from Grand Ledge.
The National Weather Service’s Grand Rapids office had not issued any information about the incident by Tuesday afternoon.
Storms arrive
NWS officials said the total rain amounts in the area Tuesday were expected to range from a quarter of an inch to more than 2 inches in some places.
The agency warned of isolated flash flooding, especially in urban and other flood-prone areas.
So far this month, Detroit has received .17 of an inch of rainfall, down .66 of an inch from normal, according to the weather service’s preliminary data for June. The report also said this month is the 24th driest June on record.
Meanwhile, the agency projected Detroit’s high temperature on Tuesday could top 85. The city’s average monthly high temperature in June is 79.7.
Metro Detroit’s forecast for Wednesday and Thursday calls for heat and humidity, the National Weather Service said. High temperatures in the area are expected to range from the upper 80s to the lower 90s.
“Highs in the low 90s combined with humid conditions bring heat indices to near 100 degrees,” NWS officials said Tuesday.
There’s also the chance for afternoon and overnight thunderstorms on both days, according to the NWS.
The risk for severe weather on Wednesday night is marginal as thunderstorms track from the upper Midwest into Lower Michigan, the agency said.
“There is uncertainty as to whether these storms will hold together by the time they reach Southeast Michigan,” the agency said. “If storms can maintain (their) strength, then they may produce damaging winds of up to 60 mph and large hail up to an inch in size.”
The high temperature on Wednesday is expected to hit 93, according to the NWS. The hottest June 10 in Detroit on record was in 1911 with 95, the agency’s data said.
NWS officials said severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday evening and overnight as a cold front tracks across the region.
Detroit’s high temperature on Thursday could reach 94, according to the NWS forecast. The city’s hottest June 11 on record was in 1933 with 97, the data said.
Things cool down a bit and skies clear up by the end of the week, the NWS predicts.
The forecast calls for a chance of showers before 8 a.m. on Friday. After the rain, the skies should turn mostly sunny, and Detroit’s high temperature should reach 87, NWS said.
Saturday in Detroit should be sunny with a high near 86.
Extended Detroit forecast
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy; high 93, low 72.
Thursday: Showers likely; high 94, low 70.
Friday: Mostly sunny; high 87, low 63.
Saturday: Sunny; high 86, low 62.
Sunday: Mostly sunny; high 80, low 58.
Monday: Mostly sunny, high 75.
Source: National Weather Service
@CharlesERamirez
