Severe weather threat ends in Metro Detroit: What we're tracking next

Written by: William R. Deedler, Atmospheric condition Historian
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac, MI
August 18th, 2004
Originally written September, 1999

At start glance, when 1 reads that headline, one might say, "What? Hurricanes here in the Great Lakes?? No manner!" Of course you'd be right, no actual hurricane has e'er been observed in Michigan under the truthful definition of a hurricane. The definition of a hurricane, according to the Glossary of Weather condition and Climate edited by Ira W. Geer, is equally follows: "A severe tropical whirlwind with maximum ane-minute sustained surface wind speed greater than 64 knots (74 mph) in the North Atlantic Ocean, Carribean Body of water, Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern Due north Pacific off the westward declension of United mexican states to the International Dateline. Due west of the Dateline they are known as typhoons." Furthermore, the definition of a tropical cyclone is every bit follows: "A generic term for a nonfrontal synoptic-scale cyclone originating over the tropical or subtropical waters with organized convection and a definite cyclonic surface current of air circulation." Conspicuously, neither definition applies in the Great Lakes area, although remnants of hurricanes that have become extratropical (loses its tropical characteristics) occasionally do make their fashion into the Peachy Lakes region.

Scanning over lxxx years (since 1921) worth of hurricane track information suggests that remnants of a hurricane or tropical tempest make their manner into the Peachy Lakes region on an boilerplate of twice a decade, especially the southern Great Lakes surface area (run across Table-1). As well, in the majority of instances, by the time they visit this region they have diminished to an area of rain with perchance some squally winds. In that location have been a few instances, along the way, however, that exercise bear mentioning, and ONE STORM in particular that screams for attention!

Tabular array - 1

REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORMS THAT HAVE AFFECTED THE GREAT LAKES AND SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN (SINCE 1921)
DATE (Storm'south life cycle)		DETROIT RAINFALL/DATES (Inches)	MAXIMUM Air current (mph)
	ten/16-19 1923	.55 - 10/18	SE - 22
	seven/20-viii/two 1926	one.11 - 8/1	E - 25
	eight/27-9/3 1932	two.95 - 9/3-4	NE - 21
	9/ten-22 1938	.23 - ix/21-22	SW - xx
	9/sixteen-25 1941	Trace - 9/25	SW - 52 *
	9/1-6 1948	.82 - 9/vi-8	N - 25
	9/27-10/6 1949	1.30 - 10/6-7	SW - 21
Connie -	8/one-8/14 1955	.69 - 8/thirteen-14	Due west - 20
TD ** -	half dozen/22-6/28 1960	.31 - 6/28	SW - 23
Carla -	9/3-9/15 1961	.13 - 6/xiv	Westward - 29
Processed -	6/22-26 1968	2.55 - 6/24-26	NE - thirty
Hugo -	9/x-24 1989	Trace - nine/22-23	NW - 38
Opal -	9/27-10/6 1995	ane.41 - 10/5-6	North - 38
Fran -	8/23-9/8 1996	.99 - nine/vii	NW - 25
Isabel -	nine/6-9/19 2003	0.25 - 9/18-19 #	Westward - 33
* denotes officially at Detroit Metropolis Airport, but gusts were clocked upwards to 75 mph across the Metro Detroit expanse. ** TD - Tropical Storm # Upwardly to 2.fifty" reported along the St. Clair River

Commencement off, under the "mention" category in 1932 (well earlier hurricanes were named), a hurricane that developed in the Carribean on August 27th, tracked northwest into the Gulf of Mexico, then generally north, across Alabama, eastern Arkansas, southeast Missouri, into southern Illinois and and so from there, headed northeast across Indiana into Southeast Lower Michigan. The storm approached Southeast Lower Michigan tardily on September third. A lite to moderate northeast wind proceeded the storm on the second and 3rd averaging around 11 mph with gusts into the lower 20s, hardly anything noteworthy wind-wise. The storm did even so, pass correct over Detroit, causing the barometric pressure level to fall from effectually 30.xx inches early the 2d to around 29.60 late on the 3rd. Rain began to fall lightly only steadily early on in the forenoon on the tertiary, but from mid afternoon into the evening, moderate to heavy rain roughshod and by midnight, over ii and a half (2.55) inches was dumped on the Detroit surface area. Shut to an additional half inch or so of rain was added to that on the 4th for a full of nearly three inches.

Another "mentionable" was odd from the kickoff because of its timing, occurring very early in the season during tardily June of 1968 (only ane other June arrangement was found since 1921 to have afflicted the Slap-up Lakes: the weak remnants of a tropical storm that moved from the Gulf of United mexican states to almost Chicago, June 22-28th, 1960). On June 22, 1968, Tropical Storm Candy formed off the declension of eastern Mexico and and so headed due north into southeast Texas, just north of Corpus Christi. She so weakened, headed north-northeast through eastern Texas and Oklahoma, primal Missouri and Illinois, so she pivoted on a more than easterly track across northern Indiana into extreme northwest Ohio, over Toledo. Candy began to influence Southeast Lower Michigan'due south weather condition on the morn of the 25th. A about steady rain, interspersed with a few thunderstorms, connected through the day and evening, depositing nigh two and a quarter (2.17) inches. More scattered, lighter showers fell on the 26th, adding some other .38 to give a grand total of 2.55. Through information technology all, an east to northeast wind blew averaging 10 to 14 mph with gusts into the 20 to thirty mph range.

A more than recent storm (and concluding nether the mentionable category) was adequately impressive equally it wound its way north out of the Gulf of Mexico, through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and into Northern Ohio. She was known as Hurricane Opal and had a 10-day life span from September 27th to October 6th, 1995. On the evening of October 5th at 8pm, the remnants of Opal were located over the eastern Great Lakes. What was left of the "eye", or middle of the storm, was well indicated on the NWS Doppler radar in White Lake (DTX). The radar showed the "eye" over Sandusky, Ohio moving north out over western Lake Erie. Light to moderate pelting, with isolated areas of heavy rain, extended from Southeast Lower Michigan due east across Southwest Ontario and Northeast Ohio. Spotty light pelting first made an appearance in Southeast Lower Michigan earlier in the day, during the forenoon hours. During the afternoon, steadier rainfall developed with the heaviest rain (.54) falling betwixt 5pm and 7pm. The rain ended just after midnight with a total of 1.41 inches falling from the tempest. With the approach of the storm on the fifth, a mostly north wind picked up and averaged ovr 15 mph with gusts up into the 30s (tiptop current of air gust was 38 mph)

The most recent Hurricane remnants to bear on the surface area was Isabel, which moved rapidly through the Eastern Great Lakes on September 18-19th, 2003. Rainfall from the organisation was quite variable ranging from just a trace over far western areas of Southeast Michigan, to as much as ii 1/2 inches at local spots along the St. Clair River.

The Astonishing Storm of September 25th, 1941

Earlier, I mentioned "one storm that screams for attending", but maybe "howls" would be more appropriate. Before researching this projection, I expected to find the above instance scenarios, but non the post-obit...

A tropical storm formed in mid September over the eastern Gulf of United mexican states (off the coast of Florida) on September 17th, 1941. Information technology pushed west across the Gulf, stopping only to make a loop in its track, well due south of New Orleans. Past this time it was a hurricane, intensifying briefly to a category #three storm (111-130 mph wind) offshore equally it took aim on eastern Texas. The hurricane made landfall on the 23rd virtually Freeport, Texas with an estimated wind of 110 mph, extremely high tides of nearly 11 feet and a barometer reading of 28.31 inches (959 MB). Further to the northeast, a ship just offshore of Texas Urban center recorded a everyman pressure of 28.66 inches and winds of 83 mph. Other wind gusts were estimated near 100 mph at several locations well-nigh the hurricane's center along the Texas Gulf Declension. The hurricane quickly weakened to a category #1 (74-95 mph) as it made landfall and past the time the storm pushed on due north to Houston, current of air gusts had already dropped to 75 mph. Four lives were lost from the storm in Texas and property damage was estimated at $6.5 million (1941 dollars).

The storm continued to roar on its northward path through Texas and by 7 am on the 24th, information technology was located near the city of Tyler, over extreme northeast Texas. From this betoken on, the tempest's last 36 hours or and so actually grabs ones interest for peculiarity as it tracked through the Mississippi Valley and on into the Dandy Lakes. From 7AM on the 24th to 7am the 25th, the storm shot northeast from Tyler to most Battle Creek, Michigan, covering close to 1000 miles in 24 hours! Thus, the forward motion of the remnants of the hurricane averaged 40 to 45 mph equally it approached Southern Lower Michigan. Equally the tempest tracked into the Great Lakes, information technology merged with a fairly strong cold front end that pushed across the upper Midwest into the Lakes. The combination of the strong push of cool fall air, potent upper level dynamics and the remnants of the hurricane created quite a storm (not unlike the more common intense late fall cyclones that are seen in the Great Lakes). In addition, the track and speed of our "hurricane" brings to listen that of the "Panhandle Depression" type of low pressure system in the winter. While the speed of the organization was fairly quick, it'due south non uncommon for hurricanes to accelerate northeast every bit they become extratropical and become "picked up" past the mid-latitude upper winds or jet stream. Nonetheless, what was really unusual and noteworthy was the surface current of air that accompanied the storm as it moved through the Great Lakes. Past the fourth dimension hurricanes brand it this far northward, they ordinarily have blown themselves out, at to the lowest degree to the extent that surface winds are only gusting to, at best, thirty or xl mph. Note the following, taken from the Detroit weather records on September 25th, 1941:

Windstorm: An intense tropical whirlwind moving up from the Gulf thru eastern Texas (causing groovy damage in Texas), along the Missip. Valley and thence Newd across Ill & Mich, passing W & NW of Detroit with gale force winds and gusts to 65 mph from x:18 AM - ii:thirty PM & gusts to 75 mph 12:thirty PM - ii:00 PM (see envelope back of book for newspaper clippings).

Most of the in a higher place noted news clippings show widespread wind damage to trees and ability lines that would be commonplace in severe thunderstorms or a derecho. A derecho is a widespread windstorm consisting of a circuitous of thunderstorms that develop into a long-lived squall line. Simply there too were some unusual or freakish happenings (as the Detroit Costless Press deemed them) too. The following is taken September 26th, 1941, the day afterward, from the Detroit Gratuitous Printing about the storm:

"River goes dry out"

There were many freakish effects of the wind, including baring of the Detroit River "middle grounds" off Belle Isle when water was backed into Lake St. Clair. The southwest gale literally blew the water out of The Detroit River, reducing its level by three feet, and leaving hundreds of pleasure craft high and dry on the muddy bottom. Several yachts broke their mooring or were heeled over at the Detroit Yacht Club. Another odd effect was the noticeable swaying of Downtown skyscrapers as the full force of the gale struck. Office employees who left tall downtown skyscrapers, were later reassured by engineers.

The Gratis Printing goes on to say that "shortly later apex, the current of air blew steadily at 56 miles an hour, but a times gusts reached hurricane velocity of 75 miles an 60 minutes." Dozens of people were injured past falling glass from windows blown out or droppings tossed by the wind. One adult female was literally diddled into a fire hydrant, suffering a possible skull fracture. Other reports of scattered damage to homes and businesses beyond the region were mentioned in the article. In addition, the fierce current of air churned upward giant waves on the Lakes, including Lake Huron into the St. Clair River where two barges were blown ashore from of the aircraft channel, even later dropping their heaviest anchors. In Southeast Lower Michigan, Tempest Warnings were posted on Lakes Huron, Erie and St Clair at 10:thirty, the morn of the 25th. Downed telephone lines caused a disruption of service and communication across the Keen Lakes and elsewhere. The "dying" hurricane left a trail of impairment from Texas clear up into the Great Lakes and Canada. The air current of the storm was equated to an intense autumn low pressure arrangement that hitting the area on Nov 29th, 1919 in which the current of air blew 67 mph in Detroit and to the "Black Friday" storm in Nov of 1913.

The fact that the hurricane, afterwards weakening and becoming extratropical, traveled over a thousand miles and still was able to maintain that much wind is extraordinary in itself. Every bit the tempest moved into Southern Lower Michigan, its middle tracked northeast across Battle Creek, Lansing, Saginaw and and then out over Lake Huron and into Ontario. Judging by the lowest pressure readings at Detroit (29.25 inches) and Flint (29.17 inches), where the wind gusted to 69 mph, its cardinal pressure was estimated to around 29.10 inches (about 985 MB). Quite impressive for the remnants of a "dying" hurricane in the Peachy Lakes in September. In fact, this is the second lowest pressure reading ever recorded in Detroit during the month of September (the first being 29.21 inches on Sep 29th, 1966, during the passage of an intense early autumn low force per unit area system).

One can simply make a random gauge every bit to the chances of another hurricane-force wind storm, from remnants of an actual hurricane, hitting the Great Lakes again. Since information technology was the merely one of its kind in the record books at Detroit since records began in 1870, information technology may take several 100 years before another similar storm affects the region!

Hurroncane

One concluding, extremely interesting "hurricane" that affected the Great Lakes must be mentioned to make this article complete. While this storm was not from remnants of a tropical system, its development over Lake Huron had many uncanny likenesses to tropical systems...

The first likeness was its timing, forming over the Bully Lakes right at the pinnacle of the typical hurricane season, September 11-15th, 1996. What started as a typical core-cold 500 MB low pressure level organization evolved into a warm-core arrangement as information technology settled over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, in particular, Lake Huron. The low pressure arrangement actually had moved past Lake Huron but then retrograded, or was "drawn back", to the relatively warm waters of Lake Huron. (Similar to the tropics, the Neat Lakes ordinarily reach their warmest water temperatures late August into mid September.) The tempest then deepened and intensified at the lower levels of the temper compared to aloft, typical of a warm-cadre low. It is believed that the warm waters of Lake Huron and associated low level instability over the lake were, to a big extent, the major contributing factors in this storm'due south evolution. The storm went on to form a wide cyclonic apportionment, including the "screw bands and eye", typically seen in hurricanes! At one signal, the cyclone produced tropical storm force winds (39 - 73 mph) and some of the spiral bands even had rainfall exceeding 10 cm (better than iv inches), causing some flooding.

On satellite, the storm looked very much like the archetype hurricane picture:

This "Hurroncane" reached its maximum intensity during the day on September 14th, when a central pressure level of 29.34 inches (993 MB) was recorded in the tardily morn by a Lake Huron buoy that fortunately was positioned, at ane betoken, in the "eye". By 2 PM, that "eye" measured close to xx miles across and had a ring of alpine convective clouds surrounding it, strongly resembling that of an "eye wall". The convective showers encircled the "centre" well out over 300 miles. As the "eye" moved to the southwest (retrograded), over the same buoy, the surface current of air backed from w at close to 35 mph to the southeast, and then macerated to near 10 mph. After, the "eye" continued to track to the southwest, abroad from the beacon, and the surface wind backed further to the northeast, and briefly attained tropical storm force. A similar scenario simply with varying wind speeds, would also exist expected at the ocean'southward surface if a tropical system retrograded from northeast to the southwest overhead. In add-on, the air temperature rose from 13°C (55°F) in the spiral shower bands, to near 18°C (64°F), which was likewise the lake temperature, in the clearing in a higher place the "heart". The storm weakened overnight equally the lake temperature dropped 5°C (9°F). The lower water temperature helped profoundly in weakening the storm every bit a result of the lower latent oestrus supply.

For additional information on hurricanes, check in with the National Hurricane Eye.

Background on "Hurroncane" was provided by a paper entitled "Hurricane Huron" by Mr. Todd Miner of Pennsylvania State University along with Dr. Peter Sousounis, Dr. Greg Isle of man and Mr. James Wallman of the University of Michigan. In addition, I wish to thank Ms Emily Grover, a senior meteorology student at the Academy of Michigan, for providing surface maps of the September 1941 storm.

Source: https://www.weather.gov/dtx/dtxcane

Posted by: bauerwone1985.blogspot.com

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