A warm and humid air mass ahead of a low pressure system approaching from the Northern Plains set the stage for the formation of severe thunderstorms over portions of Gogebic County from late evening on the 11th into the early morning of the 12th.  The storms caused flash flooding and damaging winds over portions of Gogebic County.

Thunderstorm Wind in GOGEBIC, MICHIGAN
From 11-JUL-16 18:48:00 to 11-JUL-16 18:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: JUNET
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Gogebic County Sheriff's office reported large trees in excess of 12 inches in diameter down across Lake Road near Upper Powers Road.  The Gogebic County Road Commission was clearing the road with front end loaders.

Tornado in GOGEBIC, MICHIGAN
From 11-JUL-16 22:44:00 to 11-JUL-16 22:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: HURLEY
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF1 tornado touched down near the Wisconsin-Michigan border just southeast of Van Buskirk and caused damage for less than a mile before dissipating.  Damage consisted mostly of uprooted or snapped trees.

Flash Flood in GOGEBIC, MICHIGAN
From 11-JUL-16 20:55:00 to 12-JUL-16 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: JUNET
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Radar estimated rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches caused major flash flooding over portions of far western Gogebic County and left many sections of road washed out and impassible.  Many people became stranded from near Ironwood to Little Girls Point.  The Gogebic County Sheriff reported the Montreal River flooded on Lake Road at the Michigan-Wisconsin border with a washout of the guardrail at the Flint Creek ravine.  A Gogebic County patrol car was swept up in the Montreal River flood waters and the deputy driving the car needed to be rescued.The Gogebic County Road Commission closed Lake Road from near Saxon Harbor, WI to Lower Powers Road.

Tornado in GOGEBIC, MICHIGAN
From 11-JUL-16 22:55:00 to 11-JUL-16 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PURITAN
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The NWS storm survey confirmed a low end EF1 tornado about three miles south of Bessemer.  Winds from the tornado were estimated around 90 mph.  The tornado touched down near the intersection of S. Barber Road and Spruce Road and ended 2.4 miles to the east-northeast, just northeast of the intersection of W. Harding Road and Koski Road.  Damage included multiple trees down on a garage on Spruce Street and  half a barn destroyed in Bessemer Township on Elder Street.

The damage path was 200 yards wide or less and occurred just before midnight CDT.

Thunderstorm Wind in GOGEBIC, MICHIGAN
From 11-JUL-16 22:56:00 to 12-JUL-16 23:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAKEFIELD
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The NWS storm survey concluded that damage in and immediately surrounding Wakefield was caused by straight-line thunderstorm winds up to 90 mph.  Wind damage included an overturned camper trailer, a roof ripped off an old skating rink, a few damaged or destroyed outbuildings, hundreds of large uprooted or snapped trees (some 30 to 40 inches in diameter), downed power lines, and several trees downed on houses or vehicles.  The survey team could not access all areas around Wakefield due to the number of downed trees.  The time of the report was based on radar, observations and interviews of individuals in the area.