In the heart of severe season, active weather returns to Michiana

 

After a quiet start to the month of July, severe thunderstorms once again moved across Michiana Wednesday afternoon. Gusty winds and heavy rain pelted portions of Berrien County around 2:30 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm WARNING including Berrien Co #miwx Download the App → https://t.co/IPg2cd5wQZ pic.twitter.com/6TMHm0RQ2c

— Tom Coomes (@TomCoomes) July 7, 2021

Coming into Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana had issued 67 severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in 2021. That's about even with how many warnings Michiana had at this time last year. However, our paths to 70 couldn't be more different. Remember, we had to wait until June 18 to get our first severe storm warning of the entire year!

Just as a refresher, a "severe" thunderstorm is one that produces one inch hail or greater in diameter and/or wind gusts of 58 mph or greater.

Plenty of damage has been done across Michiana this year already by non-tornadic severe storms.

Some in Berrien County lost power Wednesday afternoon. If additional storms have strong winds, a few more power outages are possible heading into Thursday morning.

This time of year is typically when Michiana's severe weather peaks. Both tornadoes and thunderstorm wind damage are fairly common in June and July, while hail's peak season is shifted a bit earlier in the year.

While more thunderstorms are possible this weekend, let's hope that cooler temperatures will help keep the severe weather to a minimum across already storm-battered Michiana.