COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The weather forecast for Branch County heading into the weekend included a heat advisory but it was the humidity that made the difference with the warm moist air helping touch off two separate storms that moved across area Saturday afternoon and evening, bringing heavy rains and some downed trees and power lines. There were predictions for our first 90 degree temperatures of the summer, but the official high in Coldwater on Saturday was just 83 while yesterday, it reached 85 degrees.
The first rainstorm swept into the county around noon Saturday, with heavy downpours in some areas. The rain did end before the start of the 46th Annual Bronson Polish Festival Parade, but organizers and those lining up early for the 1 p.m. event did get wet. The rain also delayed action at the Mickey Mantle North Central Regional being hosted at Lowe and Borden Fields in Coldwater.
The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch for the entire region late Saturday afternoon, and then issued a Thunderstorm Warning around 7:15 p.m. as a strong line of storms moved into the county. That original warning expired at 8 p.m., but another Thunderstorm Warning was issued until 9 p.m. By the time it expired, the thunderstorms had moved out of the county.
A number of trees, limbs, and even some power lines were reported down due to the strong winds with the thunderstorms. A tree fell and blocked Pierce Street just east of Grand Street in the city of Coldwater.
