Tornado Warning: Ann Arbor Arts Fair

Canon EOS 20D

Without a doubt one of the freakiest storms I've ever been involved with. This menacing cell came racing over downtown Ann Arbor on Thursday, July 20 at about 3:30 p.m. while thousands of people packed the streets for the Arts Fair. I was standing in Shaman Drum books with Paul A. Toth when one of the staffers got a phone call that there was a tornado warning--not a tornado watch, but a warning, meaning tornadic activity is imminent. An announcement was made and a subdued strain of panic washed through the crowd. No one flipped out that I saw, but you could see the fear in the eyes and on the faces of families with young children, people with dogs, the elderly and people with large, expensive art purchases as they began hauling ass back to their cars and shuttle bus pick-up spots. They didn't move quick enough as about two minutes later, the wind picked up and sent debris, hats, umbrellas, offical Arts Fair banners and several vendor booths rolling down the street. Watching the skies, there were a few areas of cloud rotation, but no funnel clouds and no hail--the unmistakable harbingers of tornadoes. It was one of the fastest moving fronts I've ever seen. Within minutes, its leading edge was several kilometres south of downtown and fairgoers were already back purusing stalls, the vendors once again open for business, a cool breeze having replaced the intense humidity and stillness. A major disappointment.