Past Emergency Events

Serious Storms Raked Washtenaw County on May 9, 2000

The Washtenaw County Emergency Operations Center was partially activated on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 9, 2000 for a significant severe weather event.  Numerous Emergency Management Division staff were called in and over 40 ham radio Skywarn spotter volunteers were activated across the county.

Severe Weather Time Line

1805 -- National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issues a Tornado Watch #256 for Southern Lower Michigan.

1900 -- Volunteer SkyWarn spotters are activated throughout the community to watch for and report severe weather.

1910 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports 3/4" hail in Milan.

1939 -- The National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac issues a Tornado Warning for Washtenaw County until 2045.

1947 -- Lenawee County reports a tornado on the ground 3 miles East of Onsted in Lenawee County.

1950 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports a shelf cloud near Willis and Hitchingham Roads in Augusta Township.

1952 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports a wall cloud 2 miles east of Chelsea.

2000 -- 3 trained SkyWarn spotters report a funnel cloud over US-23 between Bemis and Willis Roads in York Township.

2001 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports 3/4" hail at US-12 and Platt Rd. in Pittsfield Township.

2006 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports golf ball sized hail in Saline.

2006 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports 1-1/4" hail at US-12 and Platt Rd. in Pittsfield Township.

2012 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports a rope-like funnel West of US-23 and US-12 in Pittsfield Township.

2017 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports golf ball sized hail at Hewitt and Golfside Roads in Ypsilanti Township.

2019 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports baseball sized hail at Clark and Geddes Roads in Superior Township.

2020 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports a possible tornado at Maple and Hartman Roads in Saline Township.

2021 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports 60 MPH winds in Chelsea.

2024 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports a possible tornado just East of Geddes and Ridge in Superior Township.

2026 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports 60 MPH winds in Dexter.

2029 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports a wall cloud at M-14 and Main Street in Ann Arbor.

2032 -- Trained SkyWarn spotter reports a funnel cloud at North Territorial and US-23 in Northfield Township.

2035 -- Sheriff Dept. reports a rotating wall cloud at North Territorial and Gottfredson Roads in Salem Township.

2040 -- Numerous phone calls from citizens reporting damaged trees/blocked roads [see below] and downed power lines.

2045 -- The Tornado Warning expired for Washtenaw and Lenawee Counties.

2200 -- The Tornado Watch was canceled for Southeast Michigan.

Radar Image of Supercell and Other Approaching Storms

The Supercell (a rotating thunderstorm, shown here in the eastern half of the county appearing like a "V" pointing to the southwest with a pink dot in lower right portion of the storm) produced hail from pea-sized to mable-sized to base ball sized, a rotating wall cloud with a protruding funnel (the funnel did not touch down) and wind gusts to over 70 miles per hour.  The second punch came from the west in the form of a line echo wave pattern that produced pea sized hail and wind gusts to over 60 miles per hour.  As this image was being taken of the EOC's radar display, two trained SkyWarn spotters were reporting a funnel cloud visible from both US-23 and Michigan Avenue and US-23 and Willis Roads.  Marble sized hail was reported northeast of the cell.

Summary of Initially Reported Storm Damage

This is a listing of the storm damage that was initially reported to the Emergency Operations Center immediately following the storm.

Ypsilanti Township

Ypsilanti City

York Township

Webster Township

Superior Township

Scio Township

Salem Township

Lodi Township

Dexter Township

Augusta Township

Ann Arbor Township

Pictures of Some of the Storm Damage