DETROIT (WXYZ) — The National Weather Service said seven tornadoes touched down during storms in Michigan Thursday night. Six of those tornadoes happened in Southeast Michigan.
Severe storms traveled through Michigan Thursday night, causing major damage in some areas with trees and power lines down. At least five people were killed due to the severe weather.
One tornado touched down in Ingham and Livingston counties, three hit Wayne County, two happened in Monroe County and another happened in Kent County.
INGHAM AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES
A tornado started in Ingham County in Williamston and traveled through Webberville, ending near Fowlerville in Livingston County. The NWS initially rated the tornado an EF1 but upgraded it to an EF2. The tornado touched down about 4 miles west-southwest of Fowlerville around 9:41 p.m.
The tornado had winds of up to 90 mph when it entered Livingston County near the West Branch Red Cedar River and crossed Wallace Road. Then, the tornado tracked close to the river, through Cedar Road and reached close to North Nicholson Road near I-96.
WAYNE COUNTY
An EF0 tornado touched down in Canton around 10:19 p.m. According to a preliminary report from the NWS, the EF0 tornado touched down just northwest of Pheasant Run Golf course and track.
The tornado produced winds of up to 85 mph. After touching down in Canton, it continued southeast, tracking across Summit Parkway and Canton Center Road.
As the tornado reached Sheldon Road, dozens of trees were downed and uprooted, including a tree that fell on a home. The tornado dissipated just north of the Lower River Rouge around 10:21 p.m.
A tornado also touched down in Belleville around 10:23 p.m. That tornado was an EF1 and touched down near or just south of Wagner Homestead Farm, NWS said.
The tornado had winds of up to 90 mph. After touching down in Belleville, it tracked southeast and across Elwell Road near Belmont Drive. The tornado dissipated just over a mile southeast of Belleville around 10:26 p.m.
As the tornado approached Martinsville Road, high winds damaged siding on homes and trees were downed and uprooted, including a tree that fell on a home.
A third tornado was confirmed in Gibraltar in Wayne County. It touched down around 10:45 p.m. southeast of Gibraltar Road and West Jefferson Avenue in the Brownstown Creek area. The tornado went southwest across West Jefferson Avenue and South Gibraltar Road. It also crossed northern Edmond Island, continuing southeast to Horse Island, where it dissipated.
Estimated peak winds reached 90 mph.
MONROE COUNTY
A tornado was confirmed near Newport in Monroe County. NWS said that tornado was an EF1 and touched down in a farm field in Ash Township near Newport Road and Telegraph Road around 10:38 p.m. It had estimated peak winds of 100 mph.
The tornado tracked southeast and hit the Frenchtown Villa Mobile Home Park, which sustained significant damage. The tornado then continued Southeast, crossing I-75 near the Meijer distribution center.
Also in Monroe County, another tornado was confirmed in South Rockwood, a village in Berlin Township. It then went through a part of Wayne County. The NWS ranked this tornado an EF1 and said peak winds were at 105 mph.
It touched down on Carleton Tockwood Road, which is a mile from Telegraph Road. It then tracked eastward across Armstrong Road. The tornado continued to track east across I-75 and South Huron River Drive.
KENT COUNTY
On the west side of the state, an EF1 tornado touched down in Kent County north of Grand Rapids. The tornado touched down around 8:15 p.m. and tracked northeast before ending near Rockford High School. NWS said this tornado had 110 mph winds.
The National Weather Service was still assessing damage across the state Friday evening.
In addition to storms Thursday, heavy rain from severe storms Wednesday night caused major flooding, forces some roads and businesses to close.
