15 tornadoes touched down in Michigan in June, just short of a record month
Michigan experienced a near record-breaking month for tornadoes this year, with 15 in the month of June, data from the National Weather Service released Tuesday shows.
That's two tornadoes short of the June record, which dates back to 1973.
A tornado touched down here in Monroe County last week. Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service
In total, Michigan has seen 16 tornadoes in 2010. Southeast Michigan has been hit with eight tornadoes this month.
On average, Southeast Michigan sees about 5.5 tornadoes annually, and Michigan averages about 15 tornadoes per year, the weather service data indicates. The data goes back to 1950.
Several of those tornadoes have touched down in Washtenaw County or not far south in Monroe County.
The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touched down - one south of Saline and one south of Milan - on the evening of June 23. Neither caused much damage.
A more serious tornado touched down in Dundee in the early hours of June 6, causing significant damage.
On Sunday, a tornado warning was issued for Washtenaw County for more than an hour in the afternoon, but the storms didn't produce a tornado here.
The storms did produce two significant tornadoes elsewhere. One tore through an RV campground in St. Clair County, killing one person and injuring four others. The other touched down in New Boston in Wayne County, causing damage there.
TORNADOES IN MICHIGAN
Most tornadoes in June for the state:
- 17: 1973
- 15: 1992 and 2010
- 12: 1953
Most tornadoes in June for Southeast Michigan:
- 17: 1973
- 9: 1953
- 8: 2010
Most tornadoes in any month for Southeast Michigan:
- 17: June 1973
- 14: May 2004
- 13: July 1997 (all on a single day)
- 9: June 1953
- 8: May 1956 (all on a single day), July 1974 and June 2010
Statewide, weather service data shows a high of 17 tornadoes in June 1973, followed by 15 in 1992 and 2010, and 12 in 1953.
The most tornadoes on a single day? That was July 2, 1997, when Michigan saw 16 tornadoes, of which 13 were in Southeast Michigan. The tornadoes occurred in Saginaw, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, the weather service said.
In addition, the thunderstorms produced straight line winds of up to 100 mph, which also caused extensive damage. The tornadoes and storms were blamed for seven deaths and $135 million in damage, the weather service said.
In Washtenaw County, a tornado caused damage in Salem Township on Aug. 24, 2007, according to the county's Emergency Management Division. It had winds of up to 70 mph, spanned three miles and damaged trees and roofs.
No severe weather is in the local forecast in the coming days. A National Weather Service meteorologist at the White Lake Township station said the next chance for thunderstorms is next Tuesday or Wednesday.
Today's forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s.
Comments
a2miguy
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 4:42 p.m.
I'm confused. The article says: Last year, the state also saw 15 tornadoes in the month of June. But the inset, Tornadoes in Michigan, says 15 in 1992 and 2010.
Deb
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 2:57 p.m.
I clearly remember when I first moved here in 1979/80 and thinking, "What kind of state have I moved to with weather like this?!?" This year reminds me of then, exactly.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 1:27 p.m.
technically a funnel cloud cannot be called a tornado until "touched down". otherwise it's just a funnel cloud