Thunderstorms, Hail and Gale Force Winds in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

The National Weather Service has issued several severe weather warnings for areas of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, including severe thunderstorms, hail and 60 mph winds for counties of Delta, Alger, Menominee, Dickinson, Schoolcraft and Marquette. Saturday looks to be a rough afternoon and evening.

Doppler radar detected a line of storms between northwest of Rock and northeast of Stephenson in Delta county. Cities under warning are Rock, Escanaba, Gladstone, Rapid River, Lathrop, Schaefer, St. Nicholas, Bark River, Cornell, Hyde, Perkins, Ford River, Brampton, Maplewood, Stonington, Round Lake, Ensign, and Nahma Junction.

These areas are very rural. Residents in these locations are urged to stay in the central area of the house on the ground floor. If you can get to a basement or storm cellar, do so. Visitors in RVs and tent campers should vacate the area and move to a safer neighboring region. Look for a large business, hotel or establishment to weather the storm.

These thunderstorms appear to be bringing gale force winds, severe storms and penny-sized hail. Weather signals at Sawyer Air Force base clocked 58 mph winds.

Cities under severe weather watch include: Gladstone, Iron Mountain, Ishpeming, Escanaba, Kingsford, Manistique, Marquette, Musing, Menominee and Norway. Residents living in rural areas are urged to seek shelter in storm cellars or in larger facilities.

There is a general hazardous weather watch for the preceding counties and also for Keewanaw, Ontonogan, Gogebic, Iron, Luce, Baraga and Houghton. There is also a special marine warning for near-shore Lake Superior from Marquette to Whitefish Point. This storm system could bring winds near 50 knots and hail. This is an extremely treacherous area in high winds. Boaters are urged to stay in Whitefish Bay where it is safer.

Thunderstorms and rain may produce flooding in some areas. Residents are reminded to stay indoors. As little as six inches of water can knock a person off of their feet and two feet can float a car. Those in special danger are elderly people, children, parents with small children and persons with disabilities. Don't attempt to swim in rough water.

Waves can be treacherous and create undertow or rip currents. Rip currents are streams of water that run opposite from regular waves. Even on a floatation device, rip tides will carry you out further into the lake. If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm. Try to swim out of the stream, by swimming parallel with the shore instead of toward it.

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about weather from a life-time hanging out on Michigan's Great Lakes and 25 years teaching science.