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Waterspout 1983

Photograph
24 snapshots of damage caused by a July 21, 1983 waterspout. The photos are packed in a "Linprints" clear-plastic, hinged box with a note that reads "The water spout of 1983, landed in Wicks Park, then jumped up to Francis Street on the hill." Included in this entry are images of 28 July 1983 Commercial Record coverage of the storm's aftermath.
Waterspout 1983 picture number 1
Waterspout 1983 picture number 2 Commercial Record 28 July 1983 Commercial Record 28 July 1983 Commercial Record 28 July 1983 Commercial Record 28 July 1983

2026.03.01

Print, photograph

Saugatuck Yacht ServiceChain Ferry Landings888 Holland/Park House/Clover's Waffle House/H.D. Moore residence321 Water St./Saugatuck Tea Party/Tuscan Pot/Kleeman's Tavern

A waterspout is a rotating column of air, like a tornado, that forms over water. The waterspout damaged multiple trees, boats, fences, buildings and cars in Saugatuck and Douglas. The F2 weather event happened at 8:50 pm and resulted in the drowning death of William Lee, 63, of Grand Junction. "Later that same day, a tornado struck near Saugatuck, Michigan. A wall of water created by the tornado moved up Kalamazoo Lake and swamped a boat that was moored to a bridge. One of the men occupying the boat was thrown into the water and drowned. This was the first tornado-related fatality during July in Michigan since 1926." -- Annual Summary, The Tornado Season of 1983, National Severe Storms Forecast Center, Kansas City, MO 64106, March 1985. Subsequent power outages had restaurants scrambling to keep frozen food stocks from thawing.

Weather, extreme

Winthers, Sally

2026.03

Morris, Forrest

Donation, unconditional

water spoutdisasterclimatedestruction

3-1/2 in

4-1/2 in

146 Weather and Climate

02/23/2026

03/02/2026