Tornadoes in Mason County

[Mary A.]

Tornado season is upon us, and this morning my local news station reported that every county in Michigan has experienced a tornado. Genesee County comes in with the most recorded events, and I was surprised to see that the Mason County/Ludington area has had five touchdowns. Do any of you recall one or more of these storms, where they touched down and the extent of devastation?

[masonco]

One was a few years ago along Sugar Grove area and US 10 near Walhalla if memory serves me correct

[masonco]

There were several touchdowns then weren't there?

[Mary A.]

Those storms made the local news downstate because of the widespread flooding. The meteorologist described the storm as having straight-line winds, different than a tornado but devastating just the same. I recall a poster on Ludington Talks describing the aftermath in the park, with fallen trees lying in the same direction rather than scattered about.

[masonco]

No this was closer to 10 years ago. Not the flooding of a couple years ago.

[Guidothesemipsuedocaptitalistpig]

Yes Mason there were.. I remember aerial shots of the area out by Point Sable. I also remember back in my youth another that went through south of Scottville. Fortunately.. we tend to get the little rope like ones that take out a few trees not the 1/2 mile wide things that take out whole towns like in the plains ehh?

[AQUAMAN]

The worst torando action in our area was in the Silver Lk. area for many years. Now of recent Ludington has had more than our share too. I had one hit my 800' driveway in Hamlin 10 years ago as I was attempting to move into the new home. It was a hot July day mid-month, I looked it over with a friend to see if we could clear it ourselves. It was a joke. The damage was about 60' wide X 150' long or more. And many of the trees were in the 18"-42" diameter size, some 75' tall. After a long look and rest, I decided to call the insurance co., and sadly had to make a claim of about $4K to get timbermen in to clear the mess. Aint no fun in any event to see them distantly, or have them near.