For Consumers Energy, the utility company that serves much of western and middle Lower Michigan, this derecho was the most destructive weather event in the company’s history. In some locations power was not restored for up to 10 days. This was a new historical record, slightly exceeding the number of customers that lost power during the Southern Great Lakes Derecho of 1991. About 860,000 customers lost electrical power. Approximately 250 homes and 34 businesses were totally destroyed, and over 12,000 homes and 800 businesses were damaged. Total damage was estimated to be $172 million (1998 U.S. In this region four people were killed and 146 were injured (not including those who self-treated). Of all the regions affected by the derecho, the greatest damage and the greatest number of casualties occurred in Lower Michigan. Winds of 60 to 90 mph were common in some areas, winds were estimated to have reached 130 mph. It reached the “Thumb” area in a little over 2 hours (Figure 1). EDT Sunday and blasted across Lower Michigan at a speed of about 70 mph. According to the Storm Prediction Center, this episode ranks as one of the top thunderstorm events in world history!įrom the Storm Prediction Center: “The leading edge of the derecho reached the eastern shores of Lake Michigan around 4:45 a.m. that Sunday, the storms blasted through West Michigan with winds estimated as high as 130 mph in Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Walker. (WOOD) - was the 25th anniversary of the famous “derecho” thunderstorm outbreak of 1998.Ī derecho (Spanish for “straight”) is a fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms that produces a wide and long swath of significant wind damage.

Current doppler radar michigan