Power Outage in Menominee, MI

The NWS storm survey team observed widespread damage from Faithorn to Hermansville with several structures severely damaged and thousands of trees uprooted or snapped off. Downed trees and powerlines resulted in impassable roads. |The NWS survey team also concluded that the damage was characteristic of intense straight line winds of 100 to 110 mph. This is supported by radar data which showed a classic descending rear inflow jet (strong high altitude winds descending to the ground) surging northeastward across this area. In addition, the downed trees fell in mainly the same direction along with signs of divergent flow in the damage pattern.

Widespread reports of 0.10 to 0.20 inch of freezing rain caused treacherous and icy road conditions, some tree damage and power outages over northern and central portions of Menominee County during the period. Schools were cancelled on the 23rd due to the impacts from the freezing rain.

Snowfall reports over an approximate 16-hour period included 14.4 inches at Spalding, 12 inches at Daggett and 11 inches at Stephenson. East to northeast gusting near 35 mph at times during the event also caused drifting of snow and greatly reduced visibility in snow and blowing snow. Power outages were reported across portions of Menominee County from the storm.

A spotter reported trees down over power lines just north of the city of Menominee.

Trees were snapped and uprooted with sporadic coverage across J.W. Wells State Park. The beach at the park was closed due to power line and tree damage. Tree sizes varied from six inches to two to three feet in diameter.

There was a report via social media of an estimated 11 inches of snow in 24 hours at Powers. The observing station in Spalding measured 9.7 inches of snow in 24 hours.

Winds from a strong thunderstorm caused a power outage in far southeast Menominee County. The wind gust at the nearby marine observation platform measured at 46 mph.

Power outages were reported across portions of central Menominee County.

Reporting stations at Spalding and Bagley measured six inches of snow fell in approximately six hours. There were also social media reports of an estimated six to seven inches of snow in Powers and Hermansville over nine hours and eight inches in six hours at Faithorn.

Many locations away from the Bay of Green Bay measured three to four inches over 12 hours while Powers measured six inches over 24 hours.

Widespread reports from Menominee to Powers measured nearly five inches of wet snow during the event. Precipitation starting off as a mixture of sleet and freezing rain on the evening of the 11th. Schools were closed throughout the county on the 12th due to the heavy wet snow.

The observer in Daggett measured six inches of wet snow in 12 hours while five inches of snow fell in Stephenson and Powers.

Spotter 12-hour snowfall totals included 12 inches in Powers and 9 inches near Stephenson. The wet snow combined with north to northeast winds gusting to 50 mph caused sporadic power outages and closed area schools on the 20th.

Observers from near Powers, Daggett and Menominee measured four inches of snow in less than 12 hours.

A few eight-inch diameter trees were snapped off and fell on power lines causing a power outage. Pea-sized hail and heavy rain were also reported.

Large trees fell across power lines just north of Menominee along Highway M-35. Two to three-inch diameter tree limbs were also reported down over the south side of Menominee.

Approximately one-foot diameter trees reported down...along with multiple reports of power lines down. Various 6-8 inch diameter branches were also reported down.

Law enforcement officers reported trees down on power lines in La Branche and several trees down in the Stephenson area. Stephenson and Carney-Nadeau schools were closed into the 27th.

Widespread tree damage occurred...most extensively in the 1st Street area. A tree fell on a car and another had roots exposed. A boat and a trailer were overturned. Two trees fell into power lines and a power pole...snapping the pole.

The County Sheriff reported major power outages and many trees down throughout the city of Menominee. The Menominee AWOS measured wind gusts to near 70 mph around 4 am. Visibility was reduced to zero at times in snow and blowing snow.

Spotters in Carney estimated snowfall of 13 to 16 inches during the afternoon and evening of the 2nd. Spotters in Powers and Cedar River also measured seven inches of snow on the 2nd.

Observers reported 8 to 10 inches of snowfall in Hermansville from the 1st through the morning of the 2nd. Sleet mixing with snow caused numerous minor accidents in Menominee. Wind gusts over 40 mph also downed billboard signs and caused power outages in Menominee on the evening of the 1st.

Many roads closed across southern Menominee County due to trees and power lines down. A few trees were on fire. Three-foot diameter older willow tree snapped near base at Highway 41 and Willow Tree Road.

Numerous trees knocked down throughout the county with power outages reported.

A 60 mph wind gust was reported in Menominee due to a wake low. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down.

Three large trees and a power pole down.

A strong wind gust from a passing thunderstorm caused a power outage in Menominee on the 14th.

A powerful cold front swept across Michigan's Upper Peninsula during the afternoon on the 18th. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms accompanied the frontal passage. One thunderstorm in Menominee County became severe and produced wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, which felled large trees near Stephenson. A gusty southwest wind turned sharply to the northwest soon after the frontal passage, and wind gusts approaching 60 mph blew down trees and caused power outages on the Keweenaw Peninsula.

A cold front moving across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on July 27 triggered thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening. Some of the storms produced high winds that knocked down trees and power lines.