Storm Based Warnings Used in the Southwest Michigan Severe Weather Outbreak
October 18th 2007 was the first time the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, Michigan issued storm based warnings for a major severe weather outbreak. Storm based warnings are designed to warn smaller areas for shorter periods of time to reduce unnecessary disruptions. From Thursday afternoon through the early hours of Friday morning , the Grand Rapids National Weather Service Office issued 36 storm based warnings. Eleven were tornado warnings and twenty-five were severe thunderstorm warnings. With smaller areas being warned for a shorter period of time, it is hoped that there will be less interruptions to commerce and industry.
The image above taken at 1022 PM EDT, shows a polygon (outlined in red) representing a Storm Based Tornado Warning that was issued at 1004 PM EDT on October 18th for much of Ingham County. The area of bright red colors next to bright green colors is where Doppler radar detected the tornadic circulation. The orange line in the center of the polygon represents the track of an EF2 tornado that touched down around 1028 pm EDT just northeast of Mason, Michigan and lifted around 11 pm EDT, shortly after it crossed the Shiawassee County line. The tornado caused 2 fatalities just northeast of Williamston in Ingham County when a modular home was blown off its foundation and into a pond. The location of these fatalities is denoted by the "X" labeled "Home".
In the image below taken at 1027 PM EDT, note how the adjacent red and green colors near Mason are brighter, indicating the circulation has become more intense.
Finally, in the image below taken at 1048 PM EDT, a new warning has been issued, as seen by the new polygon. This new polygon shows how the tornado threat has shifted to the northeast. The circulation remains extremely strong, with extensive damage continuing.
Below is a map of the warning polygons and severe weather reports from the outbreak. There were several rounds of severe weather that prompted multiple tornado warnings over Ingham county during the course of the night. A more detailed listing of severe weather reports can be found by accessing our Local Storm Report.
Storm based warnings displayed with radar data during severe weather events is also available. If no warnings are in effect, you will not see any polygons at this site.
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The image above taken at 1022 PM EDT, shows a polygon (outlined in red) representing a Storm Based Tornado Warning that was issued at 1004 PM EDT on October 18th for much of Ingham County. The area of bright red colors next to bright green colors is where Doppler radar detected the tornadic circulation. The orange line in the center of the polygon represents the track of an EF2 tornado that touched down around 1028 pm EDT just northeast of Mason, Michigan and lifted around 11 pm EDT, shortly after it crossed the Shiawassee County line. The tornado caused 2 fatalities just northeast of Williamston in Ingham County when a modular home was blown off its foundation and into a pond. The location of these fatalities is denoted by the "X" labeled "Home".
In the image below taken at 1027 PM EDT, note how the adjacent red and green colors near Mason are brighter, indicating the circulation has become more intense.
Finally, in the image below taken at 1048 PM EDT, a new warning has been issued, as seen by the new polygon. This new polygon shows how the tornado threat has shifted to the northeast. The circulation remains extremely strong, with extensive damage continuing.
Below is a map of the warning polygons and severe weather reports from the outbreak. There were several rounds of severe weather that prompted multiple tornado warnings over Ingham county during the course of the night. A more detailed listing of severe weather reports can be found by accessing our Local Storm Report.
Storm based warnings displayed with radar data during severe weather events is also available. If no warnings are in effect, you will not see any polygons at this site.
Return to News Archive
