Anniversary of the Southern Great Lakes May 31, 1998 Derecho

[mikegeukes]

Today is the anniversary of the Famous May 31, 1998 derecho.

I remember this day, I was next to Lake Michigan, in the early morning
hours, could not see much, since it was dark. Recorded a 92 mph wind
gust, then my anemometer blew off the roof of my truck. The winds
gusted much more after that. Still will never know, how high the winds
got at my location.

Just to the north of my location at Grand Haven, Spring Lake area
the NWS estimated wind gusts to 130 mph.

Also, I had a pop-up camper destroyed from the derecho.

Some links to visit:

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/casepages/may30-311998page.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late-May_1998_Tornadutbreak_and_Derecho

Map of the winds in my area of Ottawa and Kent County:
http://www.spc.ncep.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/images/1998may30-31/1998may31mimap550.jpg

Radar Loop of the Derecho in Michigan:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:May_1998_Derecho_Radar_Loop.gif

NWS Detroit write up:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/may31.php

Back to hibernating.
Mike

 

[Brian Russ]

I remember this day well. I knew after the Spencer tornado the day before that system would be heading for us in the northeast. I felt it in my bones and had trouble sleeping the night before. I remember waking up that Sunday morning in anticipation. I don't think we got it that bad locally here in upstate NY,but I remember talk of the Derecho coming through.

Of course that was just a minor precursor to what would come later in the afternoon. It was the only time I think the SPC issued a high risk and public PDS statements for practically all of New York state. You could tell the minute you walked outside something was just not right with the atmosphere. It was probably the only time I remember for the first time finally knowing what people felt on those days out on the plains and mid west.

The most memorable event later that day was the F3 tornado that struck Mechanicville N.Y. in the Albany area.
Looking at the Wiki page I had no idea just how incredible that Derecho was! It had everything 'including the kitchen sink' It's no wonder it was considered the most violent thunderstorm on earth that day.

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/bgm/WeatherEvents/Severe/may311998/

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/aly/Past/1998/may31a/may31.htm