Several tornadoes struck Michigan on Tuesday evening, causing widespread damage and prompting emergency responses in various cities. One city in the southern part of the state, Union City, was placed under a rare tornado emergency as a large and destructive tornado moved through the area. Emergency responders were on high alert as reports of possible destruction came in, with photos on social media showing damage to buildings.
In Branch County, about 60 miles south of Kalamazoo, at least seven homes were destroyed, and the extent of damage in other parts of the county was yet to be assessed. The National Weather Service Grand Rapids issued warnings for severe storms between Kalamazoo and Jackson, with tornadoes and large hail posing significant threats.
The city of Portage urged residents to stay home and off the roads to allow first responders to navigate through gridlock caused by the severe weather. Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her concern for the affected communities and encouraged residents to monitor weather alerts and follow the guidance of emergency officials.
Meanwhile, tornado warnings were also in effect in western Ohio and eastern Indiana, indicating the widespread impact of the severe weather system. This weather event followed destructive storms in the Plains on Monday, which resulted in at least one deadly tornado, extensive property damage, and injuries.
Reports of tornado damage emerged from other states as well, with Sullivan, Missouri, and DeKalb County, Tennessee, experiencing considerable destruction to buildings and homes. The Storm Prediction Center recorded a total of 244 storm reports on Monday, including 17 tornado sightings and extreme weather phenomena such as softball-sized hail and hurricane-force wind gusts.
The rare issuance of a Level 5 high-risk warning by the Storm Prediction Center highlighted the severity of the weather conditions, marking the first such alert in over a year for the US. The risk of severe thunderstorms persisted on Tuesday and Wednesday, with millions of people at risk of encountering damaging wind gusts, hail, and tornadoes.
