Weekend storms follow odd path, sparing most of Washtenaw County; 99-degree record temperature recorded
A storm system that passed through southeast Michigan on Saturday night followed an unusual path, knocking out power to thousands across the region.
Wayne County residents, about 80,000 of whom lost power, were hit especially hard.
Fronts carrying storms normally pass from west to east across the state, but according to Matt Mosteiko, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, this one was different.
“It was forming along a boundary as it was moving southeast,” he said. “The trailing end of the front was slowing up as the further north part was accelerating.”
The front started moving southward across the state, but curled back up to the east, sparing Washtenaw and Lenawee counties, but hitting Wayne and Macomb county residents hard.
The storm generated wind gusts up to 64 miles per hour, 1.75 inch-thick hail, and a flash flood in Wayne County, according to a weather service storm summary.
The Ann Arbor airport registered only .2 inches of rain on Saturday night, but DTW experienced a record-breaking 1.56 inches rainfall during the storms. It was the highest recorded rainfall ever for July 2 at the site, and that wasn’t the only record set at Detroit Metro Airport.
The 99-degree temperature recorded Saturday also set a July record for the airport, eclipsing the previous record of 98 degrees, set in 1911.
The past month has been hot for the entire region, according to Mosteiko.
“We were 1.6 degrees above normal for June, and that has something to do with the dryness — we had a very dry June,” he said. “The drier you are the higher the temperature will get, if you have higher humidity then (they) won’t usually reach as high.”
Stay up to date with your local weather at AnnArbor.com's weather page.
Ben Freed is a summer intern at AnnArbor.com. You can reach him by email at benfreed@annarbor.com or by phone at (734)-623-4674. Follow him on Twitter @BFreedInA2.
Comments
Ann English
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:12 a.m.
I'm sure that the Monroe County residents are glad this storm spared them, too, remembering the tornadoes that hit them last summer.
Ann English
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:08 a.m.
The effect of that storm created the effect of the NORTHERN sky being the brightest at sunset; the only other time I've seen light in the northern sky was an appearance of the Aurora Borealis, well after sundown.
jellyfish
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.
I was at the Salute to America fireworks at Greenfield Village last night. We could see the storm rolling in, but hoped it would miss us. None of us could recall the forecast calling for such a severe storm. About 10 minutes before the rain fell, the orchestra was cleared from the stage. People with special needs were given the option to pick up a quick ride back to the lot. We basically had to decide then to pack it in or try to make our way to the historic buildings (but were told there wasn't room enough for the thousands in attendance). Well, no sooner did we fold up the first chair but the sky opened up. Most people had no choice but to crouch low, cringing while the lightening flashed, holding umbrellas and chairs in front of us because the rain and hail were blowing horizontally. After only a few minutes we all looked like we'd showered in our clothes. It was unbelievable! I thought for sure there was a tornado somewhere in that in that storm, especially given the color of the sky later in the evening. We may have missed out on the fireworks, but we certainly had an exciting time!
Milton Shift
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
Nature's fireworks are the best.
sig.melvin
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
The radar on TV channel showed the storms comming from southnorth - to southeast in michigan> the sky was yellow at times and bloodred after the storm..
L. C. Burgundy
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 7:55 p.m.
The south side, and especially southeast side, of Ann Arbor got it pretty good. There was a band of storms that formed and extended all across mid-southern Washtenaw county. Also, the records on Weather Underground report 0.43 inches of rain fell at KARB on 7/2, not 0.2.
grimmk
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 7:10 p.m.
That was an insane storm. The clouds were huge and puffy. The sky turned like an orange/red glow to it with the setting sun. I thought for sure we'd get a tornado. So glad we didn't.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 5:56 p.m.
I don't remember the last time I've seen the sky so red!
Milton Shift
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
Is god trying to starve us out? We need the rain!