Severe Storms Sweep Across Michigan, Prompting Tornado Warnings
Michigan faced a relentless wave of severe storms late Thursday night into early Friday, issuing multiple Tornado Warnings across the state. While the National Weather Service (NWS) has yet to confirm any tornadoes, numerous reports indicated sightings of funnel clouds and potential tornado touchdowns. The extent of damage will be determined in the coming days as officials conduct assessments.
Emergency managers were deployed overnight in regions like Ingham County to inspect storm-related damage. According to the NWS, crews are expected to investigate whether the destruction was due to tornado activity or straight-line winds. Wind gusts exceeding 70 mph were recorded, with additional reports of “gustnado” winds—whirlwinds generated at a storm’s edge—causing significant tree damage and infrastructure issues.
Tragically, these winds flipped at least two semi-trucks, trapping drivers inside. One incident occurred in Ingham County on U.S. 127, while another was reported on Millet Highway in Eaton County. In addition, the storms caused extensive property damage across Kalamazoo County, including trees crashing into homes in Oshtemo Township.
In the aftermath, over 200,000 residents lost power, predominantly affecting Consumers Energy customers. In response, the utility company deployed 500 crews of workers to address the outages, which were anticipated due to the severity of the storm.
As communities brace for the ongoing impact of this tumultuous weather event, the recovery process will likely take time, with safety officials continuing their assessments to determine the full extent of the storm’s damage. Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
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