A major wind-rain storm in the Livonia-Bloomfield area may have been a tornado, according to meterologists.
Thursday June 16, was a sweltering hot day, with high humidity and temperatures in the 90’s for most of the day. But about 5 p.m., thunder started, skies darkened, and a downpour started, followed by very heavy winds — heavy enough to flip boats on Conesus Lake, and tear down huge trees and electric wires, temporarily ending electric services for residents and vacationers around the lake.
Farmers on the hills surrounding the lake did not escape damage, either. Trees were falling on fences which were holding cattle in, and littering fields with huge trees and downed fences and wires. On the east side of the lake, the VanZandt Farms barn, had a black metal put on five years ago, saw that metal roof peeled back to the peak of the roof; on the west side of the lake, a 60 foot silo fell on a barn on Maxwell Farms.
“That metal roof was supposed to have a 50-year guarantee,” said Barbara VanZandt. “The roofer was shocked when he saw it, said the 2 x 4’s and metal roof were all screwed in (but he was here on Friday to get estimates to fix it.). We have several huge walnut trees down, on our fences, on our long shed behind the house, having fallen into the fields. Camp Stella Maris has a lot of trees down too, and trees on Big Tree St. in town fell over also… a lot of the town now has no electric…and yet other areas were fine. I have a friend on Federal Rd near Niver said she didn’t even have a branch down….”
Some residents reported seeing the tornado funnel; others said it was just “the highest winds they’ve ever seen.” Whether or not it gets declared a tornado remains to be seen.
Filed Under: FEATURES, LEAD STORY, Life and Style, LIVINGSTON COUNTY, News, Outdoors
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