Severe Thunderstorm Warning Prompts Sirens
The National Weather Service has since downgraded the storm, but a number of advisories remain in effect Tuesday for southeast Michigan.
Residents awoke to the sound of sirens Tuesday morning after Oakland County activated its alert system in response to a severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service for southeast Michigan.
The storm had the capacity to produce winds in excess of 70 mph, as well as quarter-size hail, the NWS said. The tornado siren system is activated whenever winds of 70 mph or greater could strike, according to Oakland County.
The warning was canceled at 6:44 a.m.
"The line of storms which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits and (is) no longer an immediate threat to life or property," the NWS said. "However, small hail, gusty winds and heavy rains are still possible."
The region remains under a number of other NWS advisories, including an Air Qualitly Alert, an Excessive Heat Watch, a Hazardous Weather Outlook and a Heat Advisory.
The forecast high Tuesday is near 95 degrees, with a mix of sunshine and storms throughout the day, according to the NWS.
Dynaysja
8:38 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Oh my gosh....
karimichelle
9:15 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
FINALLY WE GOT SOME RAIN. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. AND WHAT A WONDERFUL SMELL. THE PLANTS AND FLOWERS ARE DANCING IN THE RAIN YIPEE...
T
10:45 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
We need much more but this was a nice helper to our lawns and plants. Let it rain!
Ty
6:31 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
We shouldn't have sirens going off for severe thunder storms
Kall
7:27 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I think it is a great idea the sirens go off for severe thunder storms. Can we have short warning sirens first so we would know the difference from a tornado then have the sirens blow. Just a thought.
Dale Murrish
6:20 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
I'm with you on this one, Zach. We have monthly tests of the warning signals at work and I can't keep the take shelter and evacuate tones straight.
This is a classic example of crying wolf. The sirens should be used only for tornado warnings (sightings of tornadoes in the area). People will ignore them otherwise or waste ten minutes looking at the NOAA website like I did, which mentioned nothing but thunderstorms. Golfers can look at the skies and get off the golf course.
Jesse
6:20 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
the sirens are only suppose to turn on if a tornado hits land?
Brian Hadfield
6:36 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
I think it's okay to use the sirens (same sound) for both tornado and 70+ windspeeds since both concern the same type of danger--destructive wind. For those who complain it's not a tornado they're sounding the siren for, an EF0 tornado may actually have SLOWER windspeeds than the 70+ MPH for which the county is using the siren. Just be glad of the heads up and call to "batten down the hatches."