AccuWeather estimates economic damage and loss for record flooding in Michigan

By John Roach, AccuWeather staff writer

Updated May. 31, 2020 10:37 PM

Record flooding in Central Michigan last week forced more than 11,000 people to be evacuated from their homes and damaged bridges, cars, roads and a sewer system, leading Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to declare such an event during the coronavirus pandemic, “Truly a crisis in the middle of a crisis.” 

AccuWeather estimates the total damage and economic loss caused by the flooding of the Tittabawassee River and the damage to the Sanford and Edenville dams will total an estimated $640 million, based on an analysis incorporating independent methods to evaluate all direct and indirect impacts of the storms based on a variety of sources. 

AccuWeather’s estimate includes damage to homes and businesses, as well as their contents and cars, as well as job and wage losses, farm and crop losses, contamination of drinking water wells, infrastructure damage, auxiliary business losses and the long-term impact from flooding, in addition to the lingering health effects resulting from flooding and the disease caused by standing water.

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Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Midland County, and President Donald Trump signed an emergency declaration authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts, according to USA Today. There were no major injuries or deaths reported during the disaster, an outcome local officials attributed to a remarkable evacuation effort.

"I think, like everyone, it was hard to believe we're in the midst of a 100-year crisis, a global pandemic and we're also dealing with a flooding event that looks to be the worst in 500 years," Whitmer said.

A slow-moving storm doused Michigan with heavy rains over the period of several days, triggering fear of imminent dam failure and flood warnings across the state.

The two dams, located roughly 140 miles north of Detroit, broke on the evening of May 19 after an extended period of heavy rains. The Tittabawassee River hit a historic high the following day at 35.05 feet, well above major flood stage, which is 28 feet, but below the 38-foot mark officials worried the crest would reach. 

People survey the damage on one of two North M-30 bridges on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 in Edenville, Mich. After two days of heavy rain, the Edenville Dam failed and flood waters rushed south, ravaging the landscape in its path. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

It costs roughly $25 to $50 million to build a dam, and the damage to the dams highlights a nationwide problem, as The Associated Press reported in November 2019. The AP's two-year investigation found “scores of dams nationwide” in poor condition and situated in dangerous locations. “They loom over homes, businesses, highways or entire communities that could face life-threatening floods if the dams don’t hold.”

A lawsuit was filed late last week by residents and businesses in central Michigan against the operator of the dams and two state agencies responsible for overseeing the structures. The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $75,000 and is perhaps just the first such legal action. 

Flooding is often not covered by standard insurance policies, a fact the owner of Fieros Forever, discovered when his Pontiac Fiero museum and 19 of the 20 cars in his collection were destroyed, according to the Detroit Free Press. "It's devastating," said 73-year-old Timothy Evans.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. 

Tropical Storm Amanda to bring major flood risk to Central America

By Courtney Spamer, AccuWeather meteorologist

Updated May. 31, 2020 1:19 PM

Forecasters are focused on Tropical Storm Amanda in the East Pacific, which is poised to unleash feet of rain across portions of Mexico and Central America into early week.

The first tropical system of the 2020 East Pacific hurricane season developed back in late April, when Tropical Depression One-E formed well west of Mexico. This depression remained over water and did not make any impact to land.

The next tropical system in the East Pacific will be a different story.

Approximately 400 km (250 miles) southwest of southern Guatemala, a tropical low formed early in the week near what meteorologists call a gyre, or a large area of disturbed weather. This disturbance became more organized over the past several days and was designated Tropical Depression Two-E on Saturday.

Early Sunday morning prior to landfall, the National Hurricane Center officially dubbed the low as Tropical Storm Amanda, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour.

The magnitude of the tropical moisture already pushing through the region will bring rounds of heavy rain from the Panama-Costa Rica border to Guatemala into Monday morning.

Downpours will also spill northward through much of southern Mexico.

Any downpour is likely to be heavy and could produce 50 mm (2 inches) of rainfall in just a few hours. Areas that receive days of this much rain are likely to experience destructive, life-threatening flash flooding and, in the mountainous terrain, mudslides.

"Heavy rainfall will be the greatest threat over Central America, particularly in the higher terrain or Guatemala and El Salvador where rainfall totals of 18-24 inches are possible," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Randy Adkins said. The highest terrain could pick up an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 800 mm (30 inches).

This is more than enough rain, when combined with the rugged terrain, to lead to life-threatening conditions from flash flooding and mudslides.

"Tropical Storm Amanda is forecast to be a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes due to the risks posed by very heavy rainfall," Adkins said.

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After moving over land, the storm will quickly weaken over the rugged terrain, but heavy rainfall will remain a concern.

In anticipation of the approaching storm, the President of El Salvador issued a "Yellow Alert" around the middle of this past week.

"A landfall anywhere from Costa Rica to Guatamala is quite rare," AccuWeather's Lead Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.

AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to monitor waters on either side of Central America in relation to the lingering and still developing gyre.

"There is some potential for a system to develop during the first or second week of June on the Caribbean and southern Gulf of Mexico side of Central America and the northern and eastern side of the gyre," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

While tropical systems often track near Central America, or even make landfall along the coast with the Caribbean Sea, a landfalling Pacific system is much less common, only occurring twice in the last 10 years.

This satellite image shows Tropical Storm Amanda nearing the Central America coastline early Sunday morning, May 31, 2020. (CIRA/RAMMB)

The last tropical system to do this was Tropical Storm Selma, which formed late in October 2017. Selma was the first ever tropical storm to make landfall in El Salvador.

Tropical Storm Alma formed off the coast of Costa Rica in late May 2008 and drifted northward to make landfall in Nicaragua. It was the first tropical storm ever to do so on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua.

Two other notable storms have made landfall in Central America since the turn of the century. Adrian made landfall in Honduras as a tropical storm in 2005, while Tropical Storm Agatha made landfall in Guatemala in 2010.

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The same gyre that generated Tropical Storm Amanda could be powerful enough produce additional tropical activity in the coming weeks.

"A tropical gyre is just a large slowly spinning area of disturbed weather, that can be as wide as a 1,500 km (1,000 miles) in diameter. When they form over Central America, they can create extra moisture to spawn tropical development on the Atlantic side or the Pacific side or sometimes both," Sosnowski said.

Because of this, AccuWeather meteorologists will also be monitoring the waters of the southern Gulf of Mexico and the western Caribbean very closely for tropical development through the middle of June.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.

Hurricane season begins: Prepare with AccuWeather's #HurricaneTownHall

By John Roach, AccuWeather staff writer

Published May. 28, 2020 5:00 PM Updated Jun. 1, 2020 8:31 AM

The coronavirus pandemic, murder hornets and zombie fires kicked off 2020 with an array of challenges. And that’s all before the official start of the Atlantic Basin hurricane season on June 1, which appears similarly daunting.

“This will probably be a more active season than normal,” AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said about the company's forecast for the coming season, which has already churned out two-named storms. “Our current indications show there could be as many as 14 to 20 tropical storms, seven to 11 hurricanes and maybe four to six major hurricanes – Category 3 or higher.”

The AccuWeather TV Network convened its first-ever television special to address the hurricane season and essentials such as preparation and response during the pandemic, among other hurricane-related issues in “AccuWeatherReady: 2020 Hurricane Season during COVID-19.”

The one-hour TV event features expert meteorologists and emergency management officials as well as top government officials and business leaders discussing all manner of challenges this hurricane season will present. The program aired at 9 p.m. Thursday with repeats on May 30 at 11 a.m. and June 1 at 9 p.m., and featured segments will be available on AccuWeather.com after the original broadcast for the remainder of the hurricane season, which starts on June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30.

“We expect the 2020 hurricane season to be different and we recognized early planning was the key to everyone staying safe and prepared,” said AccuWeather TV Network Executive Producer Jim Proeller when asked about how the event came to fruition. “We brought together an experienced and knowledgeable panel who would give us diverse insights and be able to speak across many different areas.” 

Those areas include the impact of a global pandemic, particularly in regard to decisions people will make regarding evacuations, shelters and their own safety. 

“With hurricane planning, when you introduce COVID-19 into it, every piece has to be gone through to make sure that you’re able to maintain those things that are recommended by our health providers on social distancing and face coverings – but the major message is, we’re going to do what we have to do to save lives,” said Bill Wheeler, deputy emergency management coordinator for Harris County, Texas. 

Sightseers watch waves crash on shore as Hurricane Dorian made its way off the Florida coast Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Ormond Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The Red Cross already has applied different methods during the pandemic to shelter people, including providing more than 23,000 hotel stays in a recent four-week span because of tornadoes across the country, according to American Red Cross Senior Vice President of Disaster Services Trevor Riggen. 

“In hurricane season, we assume that we'll have to open many shelters to keep families safe,” Riggen said. “So, we’ve introduced new protocol, we’ve adjusted a screening process to make sure we’re taking the temperature of clients that come to shelters, checking for symptoms ... We want to make sure they know whether we put them in a hotel or a shelter that they’re the safest they can possibly be, even in the face of this pandemic.” 

COVID-19 fears could affect people’s decisions to evacuate as a hurricane nears, according to some town hall participants. “There may be some adjustments in [people’s] plans [because of COVID-19 concerns],” said National Hurricane Center (NHC) Director Ken Graham. “But the bottom line is those basic risks of a hurricane still exist. Whether it’s a tropical storm – it’s not about the category of the storm, it’s about the size of the storm and it’s about the speed of the storm.” 

Storm surge can be an underrated element of a hurricane’s impact. “It’s the leading cause of fatalities in tropical systems,” said Graham, who launched a new NHC graphic to show what the maximum storm surge could be at any given location. 

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“That’s something we’ve been really focused on here at AccuWeather over the last couple of years: How do we most effectively communicate all of the different type of risks and impacts that a hurricane can have in an area?” said AccuWeather for Business Vice President Jonathan Porter. "AccuWeather's RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes looks at potential impacts beyond the wind, namely coastal storm surge, inland flooding and the total economic impact and loss to communicate the total impact in a particular area.” 

AccuWeather introduced the Real Impact Scale for Hurricanes in 2019 as a way to provide a more nuanced look at the overall affect a hurricane or tropical storm can have on the places it hits. The scale takes into account the effects of wind speeds, rainfall and storm surge can impose on places along with the overall economic damages a storm is expected to leave in its wake.

The key message from the town hall participants centered on the need for planning. “This year has an added layer of complexity that we just haven’t experienced in recent times,” said Riggen. “There are more than 20 million people without work, that adds a layer of complexity: ‘Can I afford to evacuate? ... [And because of COVID-19], Every single person in the country has had to use their emergency supplies in some way ... Now is the time to replenish any supplies to make sure your family is kept safe.”

A basic hurricane preparation kit includes water, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, a flashlight and batteries. If sheltering pets or infants, keep a supply of baby formula, diapers and pet food in the kit as well. A more extensive list can be found here and would include a battery-powered radio, essential documents and more. Additional items for COVID-19 concerns would include masks, gloves, sheets, soap and washcloths.

“Practice your family plan [in the event of a hurricane],” said Graham. “It’s real comfortable to work that plan in 5 to 7 days ... but you’re not always going to get that lead time.”

And things can change quickly. “If you’re looking at information five, six or seven days out, some people think, ‘Oh, I know what’s going to happen now,’” said Kottlowski. “Don’t assume that what you heard five days ago is going to be the same thing that’s going to happen two days from now. Keep up with the weather.” 

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. 

New York City metro-area forecast for June 1-July 15,2020

Here's the 45-day weather forecast for the New York City metro-area for the period of all of June and the first half of July (June 1-July 15),2020 from accuweather.com

Today,June 1: Remaining a bit cool for very late spring with a mix of sun and some clouds and a high temperature in the upper 60's to lower 70's.As of 1PM,EDT,it's 67 degrees and mostly cloudy,with 40% humidity,in White Plains,NY and it's just 63 degrees and mostly cloudy with 38% humidity,in New York City.

Tonight: Remaining partly cloudy and seasonably mild for the beginning of June,with a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 50's,overnight.

Tomorrow,June 2: Turning a bit milder/warmer than recent days with sun giving way to increasing clouds and a high temperature in the lower and middle 70's.

Tomorrow night: Turning cloudy,rainy and warmer than recent nights,with rather cloudy skies and a chance for a couple of showers and a low temperature dropping to 60-65 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,June 3: Turning much warmer than recent days,as it turns quite warm and humid with times of clouds and sun and a chance for a scattered afternoon shower or thunderstorm possible and a high temperature in the middle 80's.Remaining cloudy,warm and humid with a scattered evening shower or thunderstorm possible and a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,overnight.

Thursday,June 4: Remaining very warm with times of clouds and sun; air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive groups and a high temperature in the lower and middle 80's.Becoming cloudy with a thunderstorm or two late; air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive groups and a low temperature dropping to 60-65 degrees,overnight.

Friday,June 5: Remaining quite warm with times of clouds and sun and a scattered shower or thunderstorm possible and a high temperature in the middle and upper 80's.Remaining partly cloudy and mild with an evening thunderstorm possible and a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,overnight.

Saturday,June 6: Becoming mostly cloudy with an afternoon thunderstorm possible and a high temperature in the lower and middle 80's.Not as warm as recent nights,with partly cloudy skies and a low temperature dropping to around 60 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,June 7: Becoming partly sunny and not as warm with a high temperature in the lower and middle 70's.Remaining partly cloudy and seasonably mild to warm for early June,with a low temperature dropping to 55-60 degrees,overnight.

Monday,June 8: Remaining partly sunny and seasonably warm with a high temperature of 75-80 degrees.Becoming clear and seasonably mild for early June and the end of spring,with a low temperature dropping to the middle 50's,overnight.

Tuesday,June 9: Remaining seasonably warm for early June,with partial sunshine and a high temperature of 75-80 degrees,once again.Remaining mainly clear and seasonably mild with a low temperature dropping to around 60 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,June 10: Becoming mostly sunny,but remaining seasonably warm with a high temperature of around 80 degrees.Becoming mostly cloudy with a strong thunderstorm in spots late and a low temperature dropping to the upper 50's to lower 60's,overnight.

Thursday,June 11: Remaining seasonably warm,but turning more humid with intervals of clouds and sunshine and a high temperature of around 80 degrees,once again,the high humidity levels making it feel even warmer,like it's 85-90 degrees,at times.Remaining mainly cloudy,warm and muggy,with a low temperature dropping to 60-65 degrees,overnight.

Friday,June 12: Turning a bit warmer and more humid than recent days,with partly sunny skies and a couple of thunderstorms possible and a high temperature of 80-85 degrees.Becoming clear with a low temperature dropping to around 60 degrees,overnight.

Saturday,June 13: Remaining partly sunny and seasonably warm with a couple of showers and thunderstorms possible and a high temperature of around 80 degrees.Remaining clear and seasonably mild to warm for early-to-mid June with a low temperature dropping to 55-60 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,June 14: Remaining seasonably warm with ample sunshine and a high temperature in the upper 70's to lower 80's.Becoming clear and rather cool for mid-June with a low temperature dropping to the lower and middle 50's,overnight.

Monday,June 15: Becoming cloudy,but remaining seasonably warm for mid-June and dry with a high temperature of 80-85 degrees.Remaining mostly cloudy,seasonably warm and humid with a chance for a couple of evening showers and a thunderstorm possible and a low temperature dropping to 55-60 degrees,overnight.

Tuesday,June 16: Becoming sunny,but not as warm,with a high temperature of 75-80 degrees.Becoming partly cloudy and a bit cool for mid-June with a low temperature dropping to the middle 50's,overnight.

Wednesday,June 17: Remaining sunny and seasonably warm with a high temperature of 75-80 degrees, once again.Becoming mainly clear and milder/warmer than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to 60-65 degrees,overnight.

Thursday,June 18: Turning a bit warmer than recent days,with mostly cloudy skies and a chance for a spotty afternoon shower or thunderstorm possible and a high temperature of 80-85 degrees.Becoming cloudy,rainy,seasonably warm and muggy with evening rain tapering off and a low temperature dropping to 60-65 degrees,once again,overnight.

Friday,June 19: Remaining seasonably warm,but turning cloudy with a chance for a scattered morning shower or thunderstorm followed by some afternoon rain and a high temperature in the upper 70's to lower 80's.Becoming clear,but remaining seasonably warm with a low temperature dropping to the upper 50's to lower 60's,overnight.

Saturday,June 20: The first day of the 2020 summer season (the 2020 Summer Solstice),will be remaining mostly sunny in the upper 70's to lower 80's,the modest humidity levels and high sun angle making it feel even warmer,like it's in the middle and upper 80's,at times.Remaining mainly clear and seasonably warm with a low temperature dropping to 60-65 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,June 21: Father's Day 2020 will be turning a bit warmer than recent days,with sun and some clouds and a high temperature in the lower and middle 80's,the modest humidity levels and high sun angle making it feel even warmer,like it's in the upper 80's to lower 90's,at times.Remaining clear to partly cloudy and seasonably warm with a low temperature in the lower and middle 60's,overnight.

Monday,June 22: Remaining quite warm with more sunshine than clouds and a high temperature in the middle 80's,the high,late June sun angle making it feel much hotter,like it's 90-95 degrees,at times.Not as mild or warm as recent nights,with patchy clouds and a low temperature dropping to around 60 degrees, overnight.

Tuesday,June 23: Not as warm,with mostly cloudy skies and a high temperature in the upper 70's to lower 80's.Becoming mostly cloudy,but remaining seasonably warm with a low temperature dropping to the upper 50's to lower 60's,overnight.

Wednesday,June 24: Remaining cloudy,seasonably warm and humid with a high temperature in the upper 70's to lower 80's.Turning partly cloudy,warmer and more humid with a chance for a late-night shower possible and a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,overnight.

Thursday,June 25: Becoming mostly cloudy,quite warm and humid with a chance for a couple of showers and a thunderstorm possible and a high temperature in the middle 80's.An evening shower or thunderstorm around; otherwise,partly cloudy and humid with a low temperature dropping to 60-65 degrees,overnight.

Friday,June 26: Not as warm,with partly sunny skies and a high temperature in the upper 70's to lower 80's.Becoming mainly clear,but remaining seasonably mild to warm with a low temperature dropping to the upper 50's to lower 60's,overnight.

Saturday,June 27: Remaining mostly cloudy and seasonably warm for the end of June,with a high temperature in the upper 70's to lower 80's,once again.Becoming overcast with a chance for a passing evening shower followed by a little rain late and a low temperature dropping to the upper 50's to lower 60's,once again,overnight.

Sunday,June 28: Becoming quite warm and stuffy,with times of sun and clouds and a chance for an afternoon thunderstorm or two possible and a high temperature in the middle and upper 80's.Remaining partly cloudy,warm and muggy,with a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,overnight.

Monday,June 29: Remaining quite warm,but turning less humid with sunshine and patchy clouds and a high temperature in the middle and upper 80's,once again.Becoming mainly clear,but not as warm with a low temperature dropping to the upper 50's to lower 60's,overnight.

Tuesday,June 30: June of 2020 ends turning mostly sunny,but turning quite warm to hot with a high temperature of 85-90 degrees,the high,early summer sun and modest humidity levels making it feel even hotter,like it's 90-95 degrees,at times.Remaining mainly clear and seasonably mild to warm with a low temperature dropping to the upper 50's to lower 60's,once again,overnight.

Wednesday,July 1: July of 2020 begins remaining mostly sunny and seasonably very warm with a high temperature in the lower and middle 80's.Remaining warm and muggy with patchy clouds and a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,overnight.

Thursday,July 2: Remaining seasonably very warm with intervals of clouds and sunshine with a shower or thunderstorm possible,turning humid with a high temperature in the middle 80's,the high humidity levels making it feel even hotter,like it's 90-95 degrees,at times.Remaining clear to partly cloudy and seasonably warm with a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,overnight.

Friday,July 3: Becoming mostly sunny,but remaining quite warm to hot with a high temperature of 85-90 degrees,the high,early summer sun making it feel even hotter,like it's 90-95 degrees,at times,once again.Becoming partly cloudy,but remaining seasonably warm with a low temperature dropping to 60-65 degrees,overnight.

Saturday,July 4: Independence Day (the Fourth of July),2020 will be remaining sunny to partly cloudy and hot with a high temperature of around 90 degrees.Remaining warm with an evening thunderstorm; otherwise, partly cloudy and humid and a low temperature dropping to 65-70 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,July 5: Remaining partly sunny,hot and humid with a high temperature of around 90 degrees,once again.Becoming partly cloudy and warm with a low temperature dropping to 65-70 degrees,once again, overnight.

Monday,July 6: Becoming mostly cloudy,quite warm and humid with a shower or thunderstorm possible and a high temperature of 85-90 degrees.Becoming partly cloudy and much cooler than recent nights,with a low temperature plunging down to the upper 50's to lower 60's,overnight.

Tuesday,July 7: Becoming mostly sunny and cooler than recent days,with a high temperature of 80-85 degrees.Becoming mainly clear and warmer with a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 60's,overnight.

Wednesday,July 8: Remaining mostly sunny and quite warm with a high temperature in the middle 80's.Becoming partly cloudy,but remaining seasonably warm for early July,with a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,once again,overnight.

Thursday,July 9: Becoming humid with a blend of sun and clouds;a shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon and a high temperature in the lower and middle 80's.Remaining mostly cloudy and humid with a couple of showers and a thunderstorm and a low temperature dropping,for the third straight night,down to the middle 60's,overnight.

Friday,July 10: Remaining quite warm to hot with intervals of clouds and sunshine; humid with a shower or thunderstorm around and a high temperature of 85-90 degrees,the high humidity levels making it feel quite hot,like it's in the lower and middle 90's,at times.Partly cloudy and humid; a couple of thunderstorms around late and a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,overnight.

Saturday,July 11: Not as hot with considerable cloudiness and a chance for a couple of showers and a thunderstorm; humid and a high temperature of 80-85 degrees,the high humidity levels making it feel much warmer,like it's in the upper 80's to lower 90's,at times.Considerable cloudiness and humid with thunderstorms and a low temperature dropping to the middle 60's,once again,overnight.

Sunday,July 12: Turning quite warm to hot,once again,with a chance for a spotty morning thunderstorm; otherwise,after a cloudy start, sunshine returns and a high temperature of 85-90 degrees.Remaining seasonably warm with patchy clouds and a low temperature dropping to 65-70 degrees,overnight.

Monday,July 13: Turning hot with plenty of sunshine and a high temperature of around 90 degrees,the blazing,blaring,early-to-mid July sunshine making it feel quite hot,like it's in the middle 90's,at times. Remaining mainly clear and warm with a low temperature dropping to 65-70 degrees,once again, overnight.

Tuesday,July 14: Remaining mostly sunny and hot with a high temperature of around 90 degrees,once again.A thunderstorm in spots in the evening; otherwise, mostly cloudy and a low temperature plunging down to 60-65 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,July 15: Remaining quite warm to hot with clouds to start, then sunshine returns and a high temperature of 85-90 degrees.Becoming mainly clear and a bit cooler than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 50's to lower 60's,overnight.

This Date in Weather History for June 1,2020

Weather History
For Monday,June 1,2020

1812 - Apple trees at New Haven CT did not blossom until the first of June, the latest such occurrence during the period beginning in 1794. Snow whitened the ground in Cleveland OH and Rochester NY. (David Ludlum)

1903 - A strong tornado just 50 to 75 yards in width killed many persons around the Gainesville GA Cotton Mill. The tornado strengthened and widened near the end of its four mile path, killing 40 persons at New Holland GA. A total of 104 persons were killed in the tornado. (The Weather Channel)

1980 - A man from Falmouth ME was struck by lightning restoring his eyesight. The man had been blind and partially deaf since a truck accident in 1971. (The Weather Channel)

1987 - Severe thunderstorms in the Upper Mississippi Valley and the Lower Ohio Valley produced wind gusts to 81 mph at Albert Lea Airport in southern Minnesota, and baseball size hail around Otterbein IN, Sarona WI, and Danville IL. Two inches of hail totally destroyed 5000 acres of corn and soybean north of Danville. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - Thunderstorms drenched north central Texas with torrential rains, with more than 14 inches reported in Commanche County. Afternoon thunderstorm in New Jersey and Pennsylvania produced wind gusts to 70 mph. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - Thunderstorms developing during the afternoon over the Southern Plains Region produced severe weather through the evening and the night, spawning nine tornadoes. Thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 80 mph at Alpine TX, and baseball size hail at Balmorhea, TX, Fluvanna, TX, and in Borden County, TX. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)