Hurricane force winds in Michigan

[mcw]

Posting now that the power is back on...

Northern Lower Michigan, the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and especially the Straits of Mackinac were hit hard yesterday evening with sustained gale to storm force winds and hurricane force gusts. According to television met, 75 mph gusts reported at the Mackinac Bridge and also by a freighter sheltering between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island. 45,000+ customers for one energy company still without power. 15-20' waves on Lake Michigan.

From Gaylord NWS - co-op and official peak gusts:

High Winds in Northern Michigan Sunday

Northern Michigan saw its third high wind event in the past week on Sunday - and this was the worst of the three. An intense low pressure system lifted northeast across Lake Superior, resulting in strong southwest winds for most of the day. A number of locations saw wind gusts in excess of 50 mph, and there were numerous reports of trees and power lines downed.

Peak Wind Gusts Sunday Across Northern Michigan...

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES...66 MPH at 205 PM
SAULT STE MARIE (ONTARIO)...66 MPH at 900 PM
POINT IROQUOIS...62 MPH at 1000 PM
PRESQUE ISLE LIGHT...61 MPH at 1155 PM
PELLSTON...59 MPH at 103 PM
GAYLORD...58 MPH at 208 PM
SW PIER (SAULT LOCKS)...58 MPH at 900 PM
WHITEFISH POINT LIGHT...56 MPH at 952 AM
MIO...56 MPH at 400 PM
CHARLEVOIX...55 MPH at 230 PM
NEWBERRY...55 MPH at 1155 AM
SUTTONS BAY...55 MPH at 200 PM (approximate)
SAULT STE MARIE (MICHIGAN)...54 MPH at 122 PM
CADILLAC...54 MPH at 315 PM
CHEBOYGAN...53 MPH at 355 PM
BEAVER ISLAND...52 MPH at 415 PM
HOUGHTON LAKE...52 MPH at 234 PM
OSCODA...52 MPH at 155 PM
SILVER CREEK...52 MPH at 400 PM
HARBOR SPRINGS...51 MPH at 155 PM

(truncated list, these are only the gusts over 50.)

I saw lots of trees down, deep drifts of leaves and debris, and numerous jack o'lanterns rolling along the roadsides and in ditches (c'mon folks, Halloween is over!)

It ain't over 'till its over...another intense wind storm on tap for Wednesday.

...snipped from today's HWO...

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

ANOTHER STRONG STORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN MICHIGAN TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY. THE STORM WILL BRING THUNDERSTORMS TO PARTS OF NORTHERN
LOWER MICHIGAN TUESDAY NIGHT. AS THE STORM PULLS THROUGH THE REGION
TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...STRONG WINDS WILL OVERSPREAD NORTHERN
MICHIGAN AND ADJACENT NEARSHORE WATERS. SOME OF THE COLDEST AIR OF
THE SEASON WILL THEN MOVE INTO NORTHERN MICHIGAN BY WEDNESDAY.
ACCUMULATING LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORMALLY
FAVORED SNOW-BELT REGIONS OF NORTHWEST LOWER AND EASTERN UPPER
MICHIGAN.

...end snip...

TV met stating that the storm Wednesday could be stronger than the one we just experienced, and that the low is expected to track over Northern Lower and Eastern Upper MI instead of Lake Superior. Official NWS forecast calling for sustained 15-25, g to 35, but the AFD is more in line with the TV statements. We shall see.

[Aslkahuna]

The Fresh Water Furies of November.

Steve

[PurdueWx80]

We had gusts to near 60 in Madison Saturday night/Sunday morning - quite a few limbs down and such.

More of the same tomorrow night, in addition to the snow, will make for some nasty driving conditions Wednesday morning around here.

[Praxus]

Well looks like we are getting early xmas presents from michigan !

This front is nasty -
http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/data/sate ... 70_100.jpg

8:18 PM EST Tuesday 15 November 2005
Wind warning for
City of Toronto continued

High winds developing overnight and Wednesday morning.

This is a warning that damaging winds are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.
Severe thunderstorms are reported in southeastern Michigan and are moving toward the warned areas. Strong damaging winds and torrential downpours are associated with some of these storms. There is even the risk of a tornado.


8:18 PM EST Tuesday 15 November 2005
Severe thunderstorm watch for
City of Toronto continued

This is an alert to the potential development of severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds. There is also the risk for an isolated tornado.

Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements. If threatening weather approaches take immediate safety precautions.

[mcw]

Had the back of my pickup stacked over the cab with downed limbs. Numerous trees down all over the region. Some areas in the center part of the state have had no power since Sun. Still not on for them as of tonight (wed.) and it is headed for the 20's/teens for lows. Shelters have been opened for those without heat. Ouch!