wood tv 8 weather

WOOD-TV8: Festival might get hit by severe storms Friday afternoon

Artist Erwin Erkfitz created this paper mache head called "The Caretaker" to march in the opening ceremonies of Festival of the Arts today in downtown Grand Rapids. 

GRAND RAPIDS -- WOOD-TV8 meteorologist Kyle Underwood just posted on the station's website a forecast update for Friday afternoon that might create problems for those attending and volunteering at Festival of the Arts 2010.

He said:

"The time frame for severe weather looks like about 3pm to 9pm today. The primary threat will be strong winds, although an isolated tornado and big hail cannot be ruled out.This weather is particularly concerning for folks going (and showing) at Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids and people with other outdoor activities today. Temporary structures could be in trouble with strong winds developing later today."

AccuWeather is also calling for potential thunderstorms beginning at noon today but then the skies will clear.

The three-day Festival opens at noon Friday and continues through Sunday on six stages in downtown Grand Rapids, featuring local entertainment and 28 food booths run by nonprofit groups.

Keep coming back to here all weekend long for update, and follow our live Twitter feed in the right rail here and on our entertainment page.

Father Nick Marcus Of Holy Trinity Church grills It up for Festival around 11:30 a.m. today, but rain storms may dampen his coals.

Wood TV 8 Weather

Severe Weather Wrap-Up

 wood tv 8 weather

This picture was taken by WOOD photographer Avi Forstein.  He was at the IHOP on 28th St, which is near Patterson, west of I-96.  He was facing north and the time was 1:20 AM.  I’m assuming that wasn’t a tornado (otherwise East Grand Rapids would probably be in Ionia County right now).  There is video of this which you can see on WOOD-TV newscasts today, or at the WOOD TV-8 or Bill Steffen facebook pages.  Lightning is illuminating the shelf cloud connected to the line of heavy thunderstorms that pounded West Michigan Monday night.  You really can’t tell from a single image for sure.  The question is…is it rotating?  The most significant wind damage was from Ottawa County east to Lansing.  Measured or estimated gusts:  65 mph Grand Haven, 60 mph Coopersville, 63 Holland Beach, 50-55 mph Lansing, Grand Rapids (airport), 50 mph Richland, Rockford, Diamondale and Muskegon, 45 mph Allendale and Sunfield (Eaton Co.).  Numerous trees down in Lamont (Ottawa Co.), Alpine Towship (10 trees down between 6 and 8 Mile Roads, Saranac (tree on a home), Clarksville (trees down in 8 locations), Plainwell, and Marne.  Hail fell in Grand Haven and Muskegon.  A funnel cloud was reported at the Kent Co. Dispatch Center.  Law enforcement reported a possible tornado near Sparta.  Funnels were reported by the public in Ada and Alpine Township.  Rainfall totalled 3.25″ in Grand Haven, 1.13″ in downtown Grand Rapids, 1.6″ in one hour at Sunfield, 1.1″ in an hour in Plainwell.  Flooding was reported in Grand Haven, the Holland area and in Allegan.  If you had any damage, hail or flooding, please leave a comment.  The worst damage was in Wisconsin, where a tornado leveled at least six homes (minor injuries) in Eagle.  The home of the Eagle Fire Chief was leveled.  Another twister damaged homes in Hales Corner, Wi.  In Muskego, a possible twister damaged or destroyed 18 vehicles at the Post Office and ripped the air conditioner out of the building.  Boats there were flipped over.  Hail the size of ping pong balls fell east of Madison.  Here’s the storm reports from Grand Rapids and Milwaukee.  The Storm Prediction Center reported 29 tornadoes, 171 wind events, and 79 reports of large hail on Monday.  We’ll be dry and warm today with a chance of storms late Tues. night and Weds.  We’re smack dab in the Severe Weather Outlook Area again on Weds.