Kudos to the National Weather Service at White Lake /DTX/ on an excellent job on this early tornado and severe thunderstorm outbreak of March 15th, 2012!
The Strong Tornadoes of March 15th, 2012
An amplified, upper level weather pattern allowed for an unseasonably warm and humid air mass to infiltrate the southern Great Lakes region. Highly anomalous for the month of March, surface dew points climbed into the lower 60 degree range across much of Southeastern Michigan. This rich moisture combined with an upper level disturbance tracking northward through Lower Michigan to fuel a long duration severe thunderstorm event across Southeastern Michigan. The primary severe weather type observed with these storms was very large hail, along with a few tornadoes.
Dexter Tornado
A National Weather Service Storm Survey confirmed an EF-3 tornado touched down near Dexter, MI with maximum wind speeds of 135-140 mph. The path length was 7.2 miles with a maximum width of 800 yards. The tornado touched down at 5:17pm just northeast of the intersection of N Territorial and Dexter Townhall Rd. The tornado moved southeast and produced EF-1 damage with winds estimated at 100 mph. Damage was limited to uprooted and snapped trees as well as minor roof damage. The tornado strenthened as it hit the Horseshoe Bend Subdivision with winds estimated at 120 mph and structural damage to the outside of homes. The tornado then continued to track southeast alongside Dexter-Pinckney Rd. and produced EF-3 damage at 5:31pm. Winds estimated at 135-140 mph destroyed one home northwest of Dexter. The tornado then made a left turn and paralleled Huron River Dr. producing EF-2 damage on the north side of Dexter. The tornado then produced EF-3 damage again at 5:49pm in the Huron Farms Subdivision with winds estimated at 135-140 mph. One home was destroyed and another house had only interior rooms left standing. The tornado then weakened as it moved southeast and lifted at 5:52pm near the intersection of Zeeb Rd. and Ann Arbor-Dexter Rd. Radar images and photos will be added soon.
Path of the 3/15/2012 tornado that occurred near Dexter, MI in Washtenaw County
Ida Tornado
A tornado was confirmed in central Monroe county. The tornado was rated an EF0, with maximum wind speeds of 85 mph. The estimated path length of the tornado is 0.5 miles with a maximum width of 50 yards. Damage occurred along Ida Center Road just east of Lewis Rd. The damage consisted of siding and shingles blown off a house, a tipped car, a shed destroyed and trees blown down.
Columbiaville (Lapeer Co.) Tornado.
A National Weather Service Storm Damage Survey confirmed the occurrence of a tornado in western Lapeer County, approximately 3 miles south of Columbiaville or 5 miles northwest of Lapeer. The tornado produced damage consistent with a rating of EF2, with maximum wind speeds of around 125 mph. The tornado damage path was roughly 4.5 miles long with a maximum width of 400 yards. The damage extends from near the intersection of Mt. Morris Road and German Road with a touchdown of approximately 649 PM EDT to near the intersection of Flint River Road and Millville Road by approximately 704 PM EDT. Damage along much of the path was primarily uprooted trees and minor structural damage. The most intense damage occurred along Carpentar Road, roughly one quarter mile south of Stanley Road, at 700 PM EDT. A house was shifted off the foundation and an attached garage was destroyed at this location.
Path of the 3/15/2012 tornado that occurred near Columbiaville, MI in Lapeer County
KDTX .5 degree base reflectivity 6:53 PM EDT centered over Lapeer County storm
KDTX .5 storm relative motion 6:57 PM EDT centered over Lapeer County storm
House damage caused by Columbiaville Tornado
Summary of Severe Weather for March 15th, 2012
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
1028 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1059 AM HAIL WARREN 42.49N 83.03W
03/15/2012 M1.50 INCH MACOMB MI TRAINED SPOTTER
1158 AM HAIL 5 W ST. CLAIR SHORES 42.48N 82.99W
03/15/2012 E1.75 INCH MACOMB MI BROADCAST MEDIA
0331 PM HAIL 1 NNE HARBOR BEACH 43.86N 82.65W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH HURON MI COAST GUARD
HAIL WAS ACCUMULATING ON GROUND
0430 PM HAIL 6 N BAY CITY 43.67N 83.91W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH BAY MI LAW ENFORCEMENT
0450 PM HAIL BAY CITY 43.59N 83.89W
03/15/2012 M2.00 INCH BAY MI TRAINED SPOTTER
HAILING FOR AT LEAST 25 MINUTES AT BAY CITY STATE
RECREATION PARK
0507 PM HAIL 1 SSW PINCKNEY 42.44N 83.95W
03/15/2012 E1.00 INCH LIVINGSTON MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0519 PM HAIL 4 SE CHELSEA 42.27N 83.97W
03/15/2012 E1.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI 911 CALL CENTER
0530 PM HAIL 1 WSW WHITMORE LAKE 42.42N 83.77W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0540 PM TORNADO 2 NE DEXTER 42.35N 83.85W
03/15/2012 WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
MULTIPLE REPORTS OF A TORNADO ON THE GROUND WITH DAMAGE
TO TREES, POWERLINES, AND HOMES. OVER 100 HOMES DAMAGED.
13 OF WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED.
0540 PM HAIL 2 NE DEXTER 42.35N 83.85W
03/15/2012 E1.75 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0542 PM HAIL 1 SSW CHELSEA 42.30N 84.03W
03/15/2012 E1.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0542 PM HAIL 6 W ANN ARBOR 42.29N 83.84W
03/15/2012 M1.25 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0555 PM HAIL CHELSEA 42.31N 84.02W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
1 INCH HAIL.
0600 PM HAIL DEXTER 42.33N 83.88W
03/15/2012 M1.50 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0603 PM HAIL 4 NW COLUMBIAVILLE 43.21N 83.46W
03/15/2012 E1.50 INCH LAPEER MI AMATEUR RADIO
0612 PM HAIL 2 S MILLINGTON 43.25N 83.53W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH TUSCOLA MI 911 CALL CENTER
0620 PM HAIL ANN ARBOR 42.28N 83.73W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0620 PM HAIL 2 S ANN ARBOR 42.25N 83.73W
03/15/2012 E2.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0620 PM HAIL 1 W ANN ARBOR 42.28N 83.75W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI CO-OP OBSERVER
0625 PM HAIL 5 SSE DUNDEE 41.89N 83.61W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH MONROE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0628 PM HAIL 6 S MILLINGTON 43.20N 83.52W
03/15/2012 M1.50 INCH GENESEE MI AMATEUR RADIO
0630 PM HAIL ANN ARBOR 42.28N 83.73W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0630 PM FLOOD ANN ARBOR 42.28N 83.73W
03/15/2012 WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
3-4 FEET OF WATER COVERING SEVERAL ROADS IN THE ANN ARBOR
AREA
0630 PM HAIL ANN ARBOR 42.28N 83.73W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH WASHTENAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0645 PM HAIL 5 SSE AKRON 43.50N 83.48W
03/15/2012 M1.50 INCH TUSCOLA MI AMATEUR RADIO
0650 PM TORNADO 2 SSE IDA 41.88N 83.56W
03/15/2012 MONROE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF A TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR IDA
0653 PM TORNADO 3 S COLUMBIAVILLE 43.12N 83.40W
03/15/2012 LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF A TORNADO WITH DAMAGE TO TREES AND
POWERLINES. ONE MILE PATH OF TWISTED DEBRIS BETWEEN
GERMAN RD AND CARPENTER RD
0653 PM HAIL 3 ENE BRITTON 42.01N 83.78W
03/15/2012 E1.00 INCH LENAWEE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0657 PM HAIL 3 ESE COLUMBIAVILLE 43.14N 83.35W
03/15/2012 M1.50 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0657 PM HAIL 4 WSW MONROE 41.89N 83.46W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH MONROE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0701 PM HAIL 5 WSW MINDEN 43.64N 82.87W
03/15/2012 E1.75 INCH SANILAC MI 911 CALL CENTER
0709 PM HAIL 1 N DUNDEE 41.97N 83.66W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH MONROE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0720 PM HAIL 3 N BAY CITY 43.63N 83.89W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH BAY MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0735 PM TSTM WND GST 4 E DAVISON 43.04N 83.44W
03/15/2012 E70.00 MPH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0735 PM HAIL 4 E DAVISON 43.04N 83.44W
03/15/2012 M1.50 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0750 PM HAIL 3 NNW IMLAY CITY 43.05N 83.10W
03/15/2012 E1.50 INCH LAPEER MI 911 CALL CENTER
0800 PM FLOOD CARO 43.49N 83.40W
03/15/2012 TUSCOLA MI 911 CALL CENTER
WATER COVERING ROADS IN CARO
0806 PM HAIL 3 ESE OTTAWA LAKE 41.75N 83.69W
03/15/2012 E1.75 INCH MONROE MI AMATEUR RADIO
0819 PM HAIL 1 N TEMPERANCE 41.78N 83.57W
03/15/2012 E1.00 INCH MONROE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0830 PM HAIL 5 S CARO 43.41N 83.41W
03/15/2012 E1.00 INCH TUSCOLA MI PUBLIC
0900 PM HAIL 2 NNE KAWKAWLIN 43.68N 83.93W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH BAY MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0917 PM HAIL 2 SE BLISSFIELD 41.81N 83.83W
03/15/2012 M1.00 INCH LENAWEE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
Thank you for posting this. This is the first time I've seen a picture with the path of the Columbiaville Tornado. I was trying to figure out just how close it came to my house (about 200 yds, I now know.) Using Google Earth to plot the damage I've seen around the area I came up with a good guess. But I wanted to check it with a "real" map to see how close I came to getting it right. The verdict? I was pretty darn close, only missing the beginning at the NW crossroads and I wasn't sure where it ended after Carpenter Rd. I've been searching for a couple days for the path so thanks again for putting it up on your site.
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