At least two tornadoes ripped through southeast Michigan early Wednesday morning, damaging homes, businesses and a school, the National Weather Service has confirmed.
There were no reports of injuries from either of the tornadoes, which struck in Ann Arbor and Melvindale.
Ann Arbor
An EF1 tornado blew through Ann Arbor early Wednesday morning, blowing off part of a school roof and snapping trees and light poles, the National Weather Service said.
The twister, which reached an estimated top windspeed of 110 mph, touched down around 1:44 a.m. in the area of Jackson Avenue near Interstate 94, according to NWS. It moved southeast, crossing the interstate and moving into Veterans Memorial Park.
There, it uprooted and snapped trees and downed stadium light poles. The Ann Arbor Fire Department confirmed that the east wall of the park’s ice area collapsed in the storm. Most damage was concentrated from Jackson Avenue through the park and in nearby neighborhoods.
Part of the metal roof of the University of Michigan’s Yost Arena was damaged in the storm, with roofing material seen blown off the home of the Michigan Wolverines hockey team.
It continued to cause sporadic damage as it continued through town to the area of Virginia Park, NWS reported, including ripping off part of an elementary school roof.
The storm that produced the tornado also caused straight line winds that pulled metal roof panels off of Yost Ice Arena.
The tornado lifted around 1:46 a.m. at the intersection of West William and 4th streets. In total, it traveled around 1.7 miles during its two-minute duration.
Lincoln Park-Melvindale area
At 2:14 a.m., a tornado touched down near Wall and Ruth avenues in Lincoln Park, just south of Outer Drive near the border of Allen Park and Melvindale.
The EF1 twister traveled cut a path about 0.3 miles in total and reached an estimated top speed around 95 mph, according to NWS.
It ripped shingles from roofs along Ruth and Wall, while also snapping trees and damaging windows, facades and HVAC equipment at nearby businesses.
The tornado continued to the southeast, crossing Dix Highway, where it uprooted trees before dissipating around 2:16 a.m. in the vicinity of Outer Drive and Meginnity Street in Melvindale.
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Other twisters around Michigan
In southwest Michigan, a tornado touched down north of Otsego, in Allegan County, around 11:52 p.m. Tuesday, originating on the north side of the Kalamazoo River along 106th Avenue, according to NWS. It then traveled east about 16 miles, crossing into Barry County near Silver Lake and Lake Doster before lifting near Hickory Corners.
The EF1 twister reached an estimated peak windspeed of 100 mph and caused widespread tree damage along its 16-mile path, NWS reported. It also heavily damaged several large barns, multiple homes and businesses.
It scattered debris on U.S- 131, forcing crews to temporarily close the road.
Three additional tornadoes have been confirmed in mid-Michigan: an EF1 that hit Albee Township in Saginaw County shortly before midnight and EF0 tornadoes that touched down near Durand in Shiawassee County and in the Bridgeport area of Saginaw County.
