NWS: 2 tornado touchdowns confirmed in Michigan overnight

Damage is shown in Alba, Michigan on Aug. 29, 2018 from a tree that fell on a mobile home after a tornado hit overnight. The owners fled for shelter before the tree hit. Photo submitted by Therese Dwyer.

The National Weather Service confirmed two tornado touchdowns in Michigan this week.

Storms rolled in overnight on Tuesday, into Wednesday morning causing tree damage and power outages in parts of Northern, Western and Mid-Michigan.

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NWS says an EF-0 tornado touched down 3.5 miles south of Alba, Michigan around 7:49 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

The tornado lifted just before the Otsego County line. Damage was mainly to hardwood and soft trees.

Another EF-1 tornado touched down about four miles northeast of West Branch in Ogemaw County, causing damage to at least two homes. 

The National Weather Service said it had an estimated peak wind of 100 mph when it hit at 8:53 p.m.

It lifted just two minutes later, carving out a damage path about .17 miles long, and 40 yards wide.

The information is preliminary and NWS is continuing to investigate. 

Damage is shown in Alba, Michigan on Aug. 29, 2018 from a tree that fell on a mobile home after a tornado hit overnight. The owners fled for shelter before the tree hit. Photo submitted by Therese Dwyer.

Electric utilities reported at least 103,000 homes and businesses without power Wednesday morning, with the greatest number of outages spread across the state from around Ludington along Lake Michigan to the northern section of Saginaw Bay.

Fallen trees damaged some homes and businesses and blocked some roads. Officials closed several miles of a state road in the Cadillac area for a time because of fallen trees and power lines.

The National Weather Service reports that Tuesday night’s storms had wind gusts reaching 50 mph and dumped up to 3 inches of rain in the Grand Rapids area.


About the Author:

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.