The forecast for the rest of the week: More rain.
And that won’t help Michigan communities fearing floods, especially after eight tornadoes just touched down. Then, there will be some warmth, and by the weekend, in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, perhaps even some snow.
As for the tornadoes that touched down overnight in southeast Michigan: There were no injuries, but some damage, uprooting trees, blowing out buildings and tearing off roofs, including the University of Michigan’s Yost Ice Arena.
The spring, so far, has brought a mix of weather to Michigan: downpours, thundershowers, tornadoes, unseasonable heat — and soon, snow.
A flood watch across Michigan was still in effect early Thursday, the National Weather Service said, with the potential for more showers and thunderstorms, bringing occasional downpours of up to an inch Thursday night, and more in some areas.
“The soil can’t hold a whole lot right now,” Greg Mann, a weather service meteorologist in White Lake Township, said. “Trees suck up a lot of water, but they haven’t greened up yet and aren’t pulling that water out of the soil.”
Rain, he said, just keeps flowing until it finds its lowest spot.
5 tornadoes touchdowns
Earlier this week, five tornadoes swept across southeast Michigan. At least three more, the Lansing State Journal reported, were in west Michigan, in Allegan and Barry counties, and northwest of Lansing in near Fenwick in Montcalm County.
The first one in southeast Michigan, hit at 11:55 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in Saginaw County, just east of St. Charles, with wind speeds of 105 mph. The twister traveled about four miles. It was followed by two smaller ones, both clocked with wind speeds of about 80 mph.
Then, at about midnight Wednesday, April 14, a twister touched down in Shiawassee County, near Durand, and then another one landed at 12:06 a.m. in Saginaw County, close to Frankenmuth. They each damaged big trees and some sheds.
Two twisters struck closer to Detroit at 1:45 a.m. and 2:15 a.m. The former was spinning at 110 mph tornado and struck Ann Arbor. The latter was going 95 mph, and touched down in Melvindale, destroying a Subway restaurant.
Next: more rain, wind and snow
As for rain, many are hoping that it stops soon, and that the more than a half-dozen dams that seem ready to burst, hold.
The danger, of course, is that a spillover or, worse, structural failure will unleash a torrent of water. Some communities are preparing to evacuate — or have already to get out of the way.
In southeast Michigan, more strong winds and large hail also are possible.
In northern Michigan, the weather service is predicting that folks will “catch a (short) break” at night through Friday afternoon, April 17, which should be warmer, but will bring more storms that evening and into Saturday.
And, the weather service in Gaylord said, there’s the potential for “snow to wrap up the weekend,” to which it added, in the friendly way folks of Up North often do even when under stress, “Stay safe out there, fam.”
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com
This story was updated to include additional information.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: After 8 tornadoes hit Michigan, forecasters warn of more rain, snow
Reporting by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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