Tornado warning issued for Washtenaw County, part of Lenawee County
Update: Thunderstorms move through Washtenaw County, hitting Ypsilanti Township the hardest
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for northeastern Washtenaw County until 2:45 p.m.
At 2:26 p.m., Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado six miles north of Ann Arbor, moving east at 35 mph.
The storm was expected to impact mainly rural areas of northeastern Washtenaw County, including Salem Township.
At 2:40 p.m., the weather service said the storm has moved out of the warned area but small hail, gusty winds and heavy rain are still possible with additional thunderstorms.
The storms have been accompanied by heavy rain and hail across the area. High winds and lightning also were reported.
The weather service urged people to take cover and move away from windows.
According to the weather service, the storms are associated with a warm front lifting northeast through the afternoon. Additional storms are developing in advance of a cold front by early evening.
In recent weeks, the region has seen a series of severe storms and tornadoes.
Two tornadoes touched down during storms Wednesday night, one south of Saline and one south of Milan. No serious damage was caused.
A tornado touched down in Dundee in early June, resulting in significant damage.
Comments
Galluper
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 8:33 p.m.
Residents in the New Boston area might disagree with the posters who say the tornado warning was unnecessary.
jcj
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 4:47 p.m.
@RobRoy I could not have said it better! Whats the big deal? If anyone doesn't think its necessary go about your business and ignore it! If people would learn to check the radar on weather underground they could have a pretty good handle on where the dangerous storms are and where they are likely to go. As for crying wolf. As soon as the weather service WAITS to confirm a tornado it is going to be TOO late for someone!
Maple
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 4:15 p.m.
As a former resident of Tornado Alley I am constantly frustrated by the over-zealous tornado warnings and lack of information here. I was flabbergasted when my NOAA weather radio alarmed at 1:25 today to tell me that there was a tornado warning and that "this dangerous storm" would be in Pittsfield Twp (where I live) at ***2:45***. A tornado warning was issued for ME for a storm that won't even reach me for over an hour?! That IS ridiculous. That WILL cause people to not take tornado warnings seriously. Add to that the lack of good radar coverage here. Back in Tornado Alley I was able to turn on the TV and see live radar coverage that included markers indicating where exactly in the storm rotation was detected, and where the path of that specific part of the storm was. Tornado warnings were targeted not to whole counties but to the specific parts of counties in the path of said rotation. I can't even find that information on the internet here, so I'm reduced to looking at the radar to determine of the part of storms tornados tend to occur is near my home or not. Obviously the NWS cannot wait until a tornado or even a funnel cloud has been spotted to issue a tornado warning. That would be too late.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.
What's become apparent is that Tornado Warning no longer means that a tornado has been spotted. It's now like a slightly stronger Tornado Watch. This isn't A2.com's fault, it's the National Weather Service. But people *will* take these warnings less seriously soon enough. I was watching the World Cup today, and the idiot weather bunny on WXYZ broke into the telecast three times. He had this fancy map that he could swish around - the labels were so small and he had all sort of lines drawn on it. I had no idea what he was showing, and I know a good amount about weather. He could have shown more clearly and more intelligibly what was going on in one-tenth the time. We're far too caught up in this insane rush to protect everyone from everything. And, like advertising, it soon reaches a point where it no longer grabs our attention. Maybe A2.com can break away from the hype and stick with the old Tornado Watch/Severe Thunderstorm Warning for this exact scenario.
mrk
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 2:53 p.m.
Reminder: tornadoes did touch down during the past two storms this summer, albeit not in the City of Ann Arbor. There was a major touch down today in New Boston (a family member witnessed it), and it sounds like also in Livonia -- close enough for me to be willing to head down to my basement. Today the weather was just fine until just before the storms hit -- that's why we need those warning sirens. People could easily be out and about and get hit -- the sirens allow them to seek cover. Although it does sometimes seem unnecessary to issue it for the entire county for hours... when we do have the technology now to see exactly when those storms are going to hit. I still say better safe than sorry.
thehawk
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 2:09 p.m.
@Marshall: you must have missed the mesocyclones popping up on radar as the storm approached and passed A2. This was no mere thunderstorm, and was worth watching for tornadoes since the conditions were certainly right for them.
burgundy
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 2:06 p.m.
I'm in Scio Twp. and I got rain and a few rumbles. Warning unnecessary.
RobRoy
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:58 p.m.
Seriously folks, chill out. Id rather be safe than sorry. I used to live on the east coast and have been through a couple of nasty hurricanes and tornados. Id rather be warned than not be regarding any dangerous weather. If you want to disregard a warning, its a free country and you are free to do so at your own peril. Everyone doesnt own a television..some folks arent couch potatoes and are outside when weather like this develops....the sirens are for them. Consider yourselves fortunate and stop the complaining.
M.
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:47 p.m.
sh1, Rice - Not that many years ago it seemed we received a Tornado Watch when we had a storm capable of producing a tornado, and a Tornado Warning when we had funnel clouds actually forming into a tornado. Recently I noticed Tornado Warnings being issued for storms capable of producing tornadoes at NIGHT, which is understandable given their reason that it's hard to see one at night. Why is a tornado watch not sufficient enough now during daylight hours? It DOES make me take warnings less seriously when we're receiving this many - are they going to come up with a new level of warning and sirens for an actual tornado touchdown?
actionjackson
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:37 p.m.
Ever hear the story of the boy that cried WOLF! I'm sure not too many folks take cover anymore when the sirens sound. This last one (today) was hardly a bit of heavy haze with very little danger to anything.
Adam Dickson
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.
Sometimes I think all these tornado warnings are overblown (ha!) but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Ricebrnr
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:27 p.m.
Unfortunately Tornado warnigns are like earthquake warnings. As with everything those who are "inconvenienced" by such warnings are also usually the first and loudest to complain when no or too little warning is given. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Motto works for so many things. 1*
arborlib
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:26 p.m.
Not one drop of rain here in Scio Township.
David Cahill
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:25 p.m.
totaling less than 1/4 inch) and one nearby lightning flash here on Broadway.
David Cahill
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:24 p.m.
There were a few minutes of heavy rain (totaling less than 1/
sh1
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:23 p.m.
I wonder if the rush to call possible tornadoes a "warning" will cause people to take all warnings less seriously.
Marshall Applewhite
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:15 p.m.
There was no storm rotation whatsoever. This "Tornado Warning" was entirely unnecessary.
Alan Benard
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 1:10 p.m.
Thanks, Susan. Excellent resource.
Susan Montgomery
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 12:52 p.m.
Reminder, sheriff, police and fire scanner - http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?feedId=3913
Susan Montgomery
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 12:49 p.m.
Update: Statement as of 1:48 PM EDT on June 27, 2010... A Tornado Warning remains in effect for Washtenaw County until 245 PM EDT... At 144 PM EDT... National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado. This dangerous storm was located near Saline... moving northeast at 30 mph. This dangerous storm will be near... Pittsfield Township around 200 PM EDT. Ann Arbor and Barton Hills around 205 PM EDT. Ypsilanti around 210 PM EDT. Dixboro around 215 PM EDT. Salem around 225 PM EDT. The warning includes areas surrounding these locations... Willis... Dixboro... Ypsilanti... Whitmore Lake... Saline... Salem... Manchester... Dexter... Chelsea... Ann Arbor... A second storm was located near Chelsea moving northeast at 30 mph. This storm will be moving into northern Washtenaw County by 152 PM. Precautionary/preparedness actions... Take cover now. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a Mobile home... a vehicle or outdoors... move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.