Monster Wind Storm Slamming Michigan
A very powerful low pressure system is moving through the Midwest, bringing with it thunderstorms and high wind gusts of over 60 miles per hour. The National Weather Service has said that tornado warnings were put into effect for portions of southeastern lower Michigan today and the rest of the lower portion of the state is under a tornado watch until this evening. Michigan wind damage repair companies are going to be busy helping homeowners following this storm.
The weather service also issued a high wind warning for southeastern Michigan that will remain in effect until 9 pm tonight. The winds are expected to remain blowing at around 35 miles per hour with strong gusting taking place throughout the day and evening hours. Students in the small town of Hudson, Michigan took shelter in the middle school gymnasium this afternoon as a tornado was sighted near the town.
This mighty storm is more than capable of producing winds of up to 75 miles per hour. Marine warnings are in effect for Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron. In total, eleven states in the Midwestern United States are under a high wind warning. A low pressure system is to blame. This system developed in the Rockies and High Plains and is being pushed eastward by a powerful jet stream, bring with it high winds and cold temperatures.
Chicago was hit hard earlier today as strong winds topping 50 miles per hours and pouring rain pounded the metro area. Commuters were late arriving to their destinations and many flights at O’Hare International Airport were canceled causing havoc and disappointment for many. Many city commuters were huddled under train overpasses to stay out of the pounding rains and gusty winds, making a mad dash to the train platforms at the last minute. Detroit Metropolitan Airport fared a bit better than O’Hare as there were just five outgoing flights put on hold, two were heading for the Windy City and the other for Traverse City, Michigan.
This weather is rather unusual for this time of year. The winds this storm is packing are equivalent to what is experienced in a serious tropical storm. The wind gusts could reach cyclone speeds of 64 miles per hour. This storm is expected to be quite similar to the major storm that hit the Great Lakes region in November, 1975, which caused the Edmund Fitzgerald freighter to sink.
