8/24/07 NOW: MO/IL/IN/OH/MI/KS/OK

[Robert Dewey]

Things blowing up quite nicely from MI through IL. Winds across southeast MI are backed to the SSE, producing 0-3km helicities around 200-300m2/s2. However, with the linear nature of the storms I expect mostly a damaging wind threat, with isolated spin-ups (the majority of MI TORs come from linear storm structures, I believe).

With nice clearing ahead of the line, I expect instability to actually increase slightly as higher T's increase, with Td's largely in the low 70's. Looks like the southeastern portion of MI will experience a more widespread threat than was seen yesterday.

 

[Chris Vagasky]

I'm really liking the velocity signatures of these storms in SE Michigan. They are really spinning up. I'd expect to see something out of the storm that just passed through Owosso.

 

[Mike Kovalchick]

Local Lansing TV reports that a home has been swept clean off it's foundation due to a tornado near Vermontville just to the WSW of Lansing. Looks to be EF-3 or 4 damage.

Edit: Potterville High School opened to take in displaced families due to tornado damage in the Vermontville area. At least 12 homes completely destroyed. http://www.wilx.com/

 

[Aric Cylkowski]

I was up in the Clio area and unintentionally ended up on a chase while going up to cash a check at the bank. Despite heavy rain and frequent lightning, I was able to see far south for a time and thought I saw a funnel forming further south into the Flint Metro Area. However, it was quickly obscured by the torrential rain that hit and I subsequently ended my impromptu "chase".

I-475 north of I-69 was flooded in spots along the slow lane and sometimes completely across the freeway. Flooding continued into the Flint and Burton road networks while emergency vehicles started rolling out enmass. I had to duck into a college parking garage to weather the storm and watched it head on out.

While I didn't see much, I am fairly impressed with this system and how severe it was compared to most of this year's "major" events in MI. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta pry my fingers off of the steering wheel cover ;D.