YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A squall formed along the leading edge of a strong storm front Sunday evening, raising waters above Gun Lake in Middleville, Michigan.
No gustnado damage was reported, although minor wind damage was reported in Kent and Barry counties.
Watch the gustnado video, captured by Cara Donovan Schulte, in the player above.
The gust was reported by Cara Donovan Schulte around 4:24 p.m. as the storm line approached Gun Lake in Middleville. The whirlpool formed before the leading edge of the storm hit. This is one of the indicators that the swirl on the surface was a gust, not a waterspout or tornado.
Showers and storms arrive for Sunday and Memorial Day
What is a gustnado?
Gusts can form at the edges before strong storms when outgoing cool air hits the surface and creates tiny twists and swirls in the wind. Often they cause minor damage and are not connected to clouds aloft. These small surface circulations only occur when the wind is turbulent.
Not all whirlpools above water are considered waterspouts. Waterspouts often need very large bodies of water to form and always have a parent cloud to connect to at altitude, unlike a gustnado, which circles in front of the storm line.
Inside woodtv.com: Storm Team 8 predictions
A severe thunderstorm affected other communities in Kent and Barry counties Sunday evening. The rotation in Ada produced a potential funnel cloud. Large hail was reported in Barry County and some minor wind damage was reported in Kent County.
The risk of severe weather is low for the remainder of the holiday weekend.
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