Forecast calls for heat index to soar to 100 degrees - and a possible derecho
Update at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday: Ann Arbor likely to see 2 storm systems today; derecho possible, forecasters say
Forecasters say Wednesday could see some unpredictable and potentially dangerous weather, with heat indexes expected to rise to 100 degrees and the possibility of a derecho.
That's right, a derecho - a widespread and long lived windstorm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous outlook for the region - including Washtenaw County - warning that two storm systems could be headed this way.
Residents of Dundee are still cleaning up from a tornado that struck there earlier this month.
AP photo
Senior meteorologist Phil Kurimski of the National Weather Service at White Lake Township said it's hard to predict what may happen Wednesday, and part of that depends on whether we see storms tonight.
But, he said, the potential is there for a damaging windstorm, tornadoes, flooding and extreme heat.
"There's a lot of uncertainly, and we're just starting to see storms pop up in Nebraska," Kurimski said at 7 p.m. "The main threat is the wind - either straight line or tornadoes."
And if storms move through tonight and Wednesday, flooding is possible, he said.
Wednesday's temperatures are expected to rise into the low 90s, with the heat index up to 100 degrees in Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe and Lenawee counties. People are urged to take precautions so they don't become dehydrated or suffer heat stroke.
The possible severe weather comes on the heels of storms Friday night that caused a fatal car crash and several house fires. And earlier this month, Dundee was hit with a tornado.
Have we seen more severe storm activity than usual so far this season?
Not necessarily, Kurimski said, but it may seem that way because last year was so quiet on the storm front.
"Last year was very quiet, very inactive," Kurimski said.
The Washtenaw County Emergency Operations Center and local police agencies are keeping their eyes on the forecast for Wednesday and preparing to respond as needed, officials said.
Kurimski said it should become clearer by Wednesday morning whether the region will see severe storms.
"Everything is still unfolding," he said.
Comments
AlphaAlpha
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 7:14 p.m.
Nice link - thanks. It seems likely that this derecho listed in your link: Western Wisconsin Derecho July 15, 1980 [late in the evening] was the same storm AA experienced early the next day.
tcormie
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 10:40 a.m.
Some rather interesting stats http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_derecho_events
Elaine F. Owsley
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 7:13 a.m.
Our daughter was being married on our property in 1980 and the neighbor's huge willow twisted out of the ground and all over the place during the storm. He was so nice - he worked like a beaver to get it all cleaned up before the wedding. Our younger daughter was at home and woke to see the green sky and remembered things I had told her about them. She raced around to batten down the hatches and except for a couple of garbage cans, everything was ok at our place. My parents grew up in Oklahoma, and I heard about green sky all my life.
Susan Montgomery
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 6:07 a.m.
Thanks!
Susan Montgomery
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 5:16 a.m.
So... Any updates?
J. Sorensen
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 4 a.m.
"Worry is a thought from Satin and God has him beat down. Pray for everyone to be under Gods care and they will be protected don't let Satin rule your life. " Satin ruin my life? But it's such a nice soft alternative to silk, and less expensive..... Fabric haters!
michiganpoorboy
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 2:45 a.m.
Whats all the worry? Worry is a thought from Satin and God has him beat down. Pray for everyone to be under Gods care and they will be protected don't let Satin rule your life.
Wystan Stevens
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 12:42 a.m.
Re: the July 16, 1980 storm. Thanks to the GOP convention in Detroit, all hotel rooms were requisitioned in Ann Arbor. That meant that, for the first and only time, the Ann Arbor Art Fairs had to be rescheduled. What a lucky accident! Had the fairs been held at their usual time, the hurricane-force gale on the first day would instantly have moved all of the tents and art works to Ypsilanti instead -- perhaps depositing the entire show in Riverside Park!
Speechless
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 10:28 p.m.
July 16, 1980: That morning's fusillade of rain, hail and near-hurricane winds delivered a true omen from nature, one of great literal and symbolic force portending the years ahead. It left West Park partly deforested. Later on that day, Ronald Reagan was officially nominated for President at the Republican National Convention just down the road in Detroit. The green sky provided a nice touch acknowledging Reagan's part-Irish ancestry. After leaving A2, the storm raced along I-94 at well over the speed limit, dropped a tornado downriver, and arrived downtown. Once there, as I was told later by an office worker, its extreme winds toppled a large billboard near Jefferson and Woodward that exclaimed, "Welcome Republicans!" So, that was a derecho? This term, I believe, can mean "(legal) right," "straight (direction)" or "right (side of)" in Spanish. Meanwhile, la derecha can refer to right-wing politics.
Rod Johnson
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 10:22 p.m.
I remember that 1980 storm! There was a little freshly-planted plum tree in front of my house on Olivia, and I stood in the front door and watched it being tugged out of the earth. So I went out like an idiot in the rain and held it upright. It was like getting hit in the face with bucket after bucket of water. But that tree is still there today.
silo
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 10:04 p.m.
There is a warning on University of Michigan Department of Public Safety (DPS) web site: http://police.umich.edu/?posting_id=131... "FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER FORECAST CENTER: Several clusters of severe thunderstorms are possible Wednesday at 6am through the next night. Damaging winds are the main threat with these storms. In addition, an increasing risk for tornadoes exists. Any of the stronger storms could contain frequent lightning and where the storms persist, locally excessive rain could fall. Exactly when and where the storms impact is uncertain at this time. Stay tuned to local TV and weather reports for updates and be prepared to take cover immediately."
xmo
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 9:42 p.m.
Where's ALGORE? and the Global warming crowd? It's about time we had some warming!
treetowntenor
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 9:37 p.m.
There was another derecho on May 31, 1998, which I remember. Washtenaw County got the southern end of it; there was more damage to the north. The Detroit Weather Service office has a nice write-up about it: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/may31.php Make sure your NOAA weather radio and flashlights have fresh batteries. If you have a radio scanner that covers VHF, you can tune it to 145.150 MHz and listen to real-time Skywarn storm spotter reports. The Washtenaw County Emergency Management Division has a web page with information about Skywarn and basic storm information (watch vs. warning, storm preparedness, and so forth): http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/emergency_management/em_severe.html
arborlib
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 9:22 p.m.
Oh great. DTE, please be ready.
sbbuilder
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 9:09 p.m.
What a morning that was, back in 1980. We were preparing to set out for the days work (student painters) when the storm struck. Couldn't see more than a few yards. The green sky was surrealistic. Afterwards, huge trees were downed everywhere, tearing up sidewalks and pulling down power lines. You couldn't drive anywhere for all the branches and trees down. But the sky! It was like looking up from the deep end of a swimming pool.
David Cahill
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 8:46 p.m.
A derecho, eh? What about a rain of toads? The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse galloping through the heavens?
breadman
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 8:41 p.m.
Oh! how well I remember the July 1980 storm! Just had Mother & Fathers 25th anniversary. My fridge was plug full of left over food. The sky turned green and the only window that did not get wet in storms, sure got a wash that morning and my sprinkler did not know what way to spray. And out came the chain saws and dusted off the old, got ready for new. So Mom and Dad will be married 55 years this year and still kicking. But no party this year! restaurant is cheaper!!!
81wolverine
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 8:35 p.m.
SalineFan: Cool website video. That explains a lot. But, I've never heard of a derecho before, and I follow the weather a lot. We'll see what turns up tomorrow. Hope we don't see any power outages.
AlphaAlpha
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
Wednesday morning, shortly after 9am, July 16, 1980, derecho. Green sky. 80+ mph winds.
Greggy_D
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 7:57 p.m.
As I type this, the closest major storm cells are over Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. They probably will not be here until late tomorrow morning or afternoon.
SalineFan
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.
Just found a great link that explains this further... http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/?n=multimediabriefing Worried mom with kid at camp. :)
SalineFan
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.
OK.. should I be worried about this or does this happen all the time and we don't know about it? If I look at weather.com or even weather.gov there are no watches or warnings...(I did find the Harzardous Outlook link you show) does a Hazardous Outlook only mean a very small chance?