4Warn Weather – Eight tornadoes were confirmed in Michigan, with two in Metro Detroit, during the early morning hours of Wednesday, impacting parts of Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
The National Weather Service confirmed that the two tornadoes in Southeast Michigan were among at least eight confirmed across the state late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, highlighting the scope of a widespread severe weather outbreak across Michigan.
In Southeast Michigan, the strongest of the confirmed tornadoes tracked through the Ann Arbor area. It developed at 1:44 a.m. near Jackson Avenue and Interstate 94 and moved southeast through Veterans Memorial Park and nearby neighborhoods before lifting at 1:46 a.m. near West William Street and Fourth Street.
This tornado reached estimated peak winds of 110 mph, carving a path about 1.7 miles long and up to 500 yards wide. Damage included numerous uprooted and snapped trees, large downed limbs, and snapped stadium light poles. Portions of an elementary school roof were also blown off. After the tornado lifted, additional straight-line wind damage occurred nearby, including roof panel damage at Yost Ice Arena at the University of Michigan.
A second, shorter-lived tornado touched down near the Allen Park and Lincoln Park border in Wayne County at 2:14 a.m. and lifted just two minutes later. This tornado had peak winds of 95 mph and traveled about a third of a mile with a maximum width of 200 yards.
It began near Wall Avenue and Ruth Avenue, producing minor roof and shingle damage before strengthening to EF-1 intensity. The tornado snapped trees and caused damage to homes and businesses, including windows, roofs, and HVAC equipment, as it moved east-southeast and crossed Dix Highway into Melvindale.
Additional tornadoes confirmed across Mid-Michigan
Earlier in the night, additional tornadoes were confirmed across Mid-Michigan.
An EF-1 tornado touched down in Albee Township in Saginaw County at 11:53 p.m. Tuesday and remained on the ground for five minutes. It reached peak winds of 105 mph and tracked nearly four miles, with a maximum width of 880 yards.
Damage along its path included uprooted and snapped trees, destroyed outbuildings and silos, and significant structural damage to homes. One home lost most of its roof, and garage walls were blown out.
Two weaker EF-0 tornadoes were also confirmed in the region.
An EF-0 tornado occurred near Durand in Shiawassee County just before midnight, traveling about 1.7 miles. Damage included downed trees, siding ripped from homes, and damage to barns and outbuildings.
A few minutes after midnight, a brief tornado near Bridgeport in Saginaw County produced winds near 80 mph. It damaged barns, tore roofing from structures, and uprooted trees along a path of about a half mile.
Widespread wind damage and heavy rain
Beyond the tornadoes, the storms produced widespread damaging winds and heavy rainfall across Southeast Michigan.
Wind gusts reached 70 mph in Ann Arbor and 69 mph at Detroit Metro Airport. Reports of downed trees, power lines, and structural damage were recorded in multiple communities, including Romulus, Dexter, and parts of Oakland and Macomb counties.
Rainfall totals exceeded 2 inches in some locations, including parts of Livingston, Oakland, and Shiawassee counties, contributing to localized flooding concerns.
Statewide outbreak extends into West Michigan
Damage from tornadoes extends across the state.
In West Michigan, the National Weather Service confirmed three tornadoes, including:
- An EF-1 tornado near Otsego, tracking through Allegan and Barry counties with peak winds near 100 mph
- An EF-1 tornado from Fenwick to Perrinton in Montcalm and Gratiot counties, traveling nearly 19 miles with winds up to 110 mph
- An EF-0 tornado in Allegan County, beginning near Schermerhorn Lake and staying on the ground about 6.5 miles
No reported fatalities
No fatalities or injuries have been reported from any of the confirmed tornadoes.
All tornadoes surveyed so far fall within the EF-0 to EF-1 range on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which includes winds from 65 to 110 mph.
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