The County Press

Prepare for severe weather this spring


The first day of spring is Wednesday (March 20), and marks the beginning of seasonal warming and with it increased chances of severe thunderstorms when cooler and warmer air clash in the atmosphere.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for Lapeer County around 8 p.m. Thursday. Strong winds gusted, in particular, in Marathon Township where local firefighters and weather spotters kept on eye on the sky — but fortunately the only thing that fell from the sky was heavy rain and not combines, tanker trucks or dairy cattle like in the 1996 movie “Twister.”

While the special effects-heavy movie starring Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton remains a thriller to watch today twenty-three years after its release, the threat of thunderstorms and tornadoes are nothing to be taken lightly. With little notice, a quick moving cold front like the one that moved through Lapeer County and mid-Michigan Thursday evening can create life-threatening weather conditions.

While Lapeer County escaped serious damage, the NWS confirmed one tornado touched down in Shiawassee County on Thursday, another was unconfirmed in the county and another near Flushing in Genesee County on a day when severe thunderstorm warnings, watches, flooding, high winds and hail characterized the weather on the warmest day of the year so far.

Thursday’s severe weather came nearly seven years to the day (March 16, 2012) that a tornado hopped across Oregon Township and knocked a Carpenter Road house off its foundation and caused other sporadic damage across the area. While early, severe weather in March is not uncommon in Lapeer County and Michigan — and is good reason to pay attention to weather forecasts and to take preventative measures if conditions rapidly deteriorate.

Since 1950 when the NWS began keeping track of tornadoes in Michigan, there have been 968 twisters in the state.

The most powerful tornado ever recorded in Michigan was the Flint-Beecher Tornado on June 8, 1953, an F5 storm that packed 261-318 mph winds. The tornado ripped a 23-mile path through northern Genesee County and into Lapeer County. The tornado killed 116 people and injured 844.

Thursday’s severe weather in Lapeer County is a reason emergency management personnel invite you to join them for the 2019 Skywarn Class to be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at the PIX Theatre in Lapeer. The free class, conducted by NWS staff, is a great opportunity to become a weather spotter to assist the Weather Service and local emergency first responders or just to appreciate the beauty and power of spring-summer weather.

In Michigan, tornadoes occur most frequently from April until July. Most severe weather occurs between 3-7 p.m. According to the NWS, in Michigan the average tornado is on the ground less than 10 minutes and travels about five miles.

Those who attend the Skywarn Class will learn how to accurately observe such weather phenomena as floods, hail, wind and its associated damage, cloud features (funnel clouds) that lead to tornadoes, and cloud features that do not lead to tornadoes.

Spotter training is open to members of the general public, law enforcement, fire officials and amateur radio operators. No registration is required.

The arrival of spring is a good time to make sure you have flashlights and batteries in the event severe weather results in loss of electricity. It’s also a good time to purchase a NOAA All Hazard Weather Radio or download the American Red Cross tornado app. Consider buying surge protectors or a lightning protection system to protect your home, appliances and electronic devices.

Starting April 6, Lapeer County 911 Central Dispatch and local fire departments will begin monthly tornado siren testing at 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month (through October). Should inclement weather be present at the time of testing, the test will be canceled.