Severe weather wreaked havoc in southeast Michigan on Thursday night, as another round of torrential rain, tornado, and thunderstorm warnings swept through the area. The Michigan State Police issued a warning that a tornado, accompanied by a “debris ball,” was heading eastbound towards Webberville. Residents in the affected area were urged to seek shelter immediately.
Megan Varcie, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, stated that although they had not yet confirmed the presence of a tornado, radar images showed significant rotation near the border of Ingham and Livingston counties. Varcie explained that an assessment of the damage would be necessary to confirm if a tornado had touched down. Indicators of tornado damage include a pattern of fallen trees in a rotating manner and the destruction of buildings and roofs.
Reports from the weather service indicated that a building’s roof collapsed in Williamston, suggesting a possible tornado. Additionally, cars were flipped over on Interstate 96 in the city. Power outages affected a significant number of people, with DTE Energy reporting 150,000 affected individuals and Consumers reporting 199,559.
Livingston County experienced downed power lines and trees throughout the area, while Genesee County reported large tree limbs down near Fenton Road and North Long Lake Road in Fenton Township. Tornado warnings were replaced by thunderstorm watches for south-central Wayne County, Monroe, and parts of Washtenaw County.
The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings, including for northwest Wayne and northeast Washtenaw counties, encompassing Westland, Plymouth, and Northville. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Salem, near Novi, moving east at 50 mph. The weather service warned that flying debris would pose a danger to those without shelter, and mobile homes, roofs, windows, and vehicles were at risk of damage. Tree damage was also likely. Another severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was reported over Belleville, moving east at the same speed.
Earlier in the evening, tornado warnings were issued for Howell, Fowlerville, and Cohoctah, as well as Flint, Burton, and Grand Blanc. Wind gusts reached speeds of 70 mph during the storm, according to weather reports.
Residents are advised to stay updated on weather alerts and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during severe weather events.
This rotation could potentially produce a tornado.
Severe weather caused havoc in southeast Michigan on Thursday night. The area experienced heavy rain, tornado, and thunderstorm warnings. The Michigan State Police issued a warning that a tornado, accompanied by a “debris ball,” was approaching Webberville from the east. Residents in the affected area were advised to seek shelter immediately.
Megan Varcie, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, stated that while they had not yet confirmed the presence of a tornado, radar images showed notable rotation near the border of Ingham and Livingston counties. Varcie clarified that
Stay safe everyone and make sure to take shelter if needed.
I hope everyone stays safe and that the storm passes quickly.