Fire officials and Michigan State Police this week shared video of a confirmed tornado that touched down near Deckerville Saturday afternoon as thunderstorms moved across the state.
"While the weather down (in the Detroit area) was pretty calm, it was a little different in the thumb area, the MSP Second District's post on X said.
Lt. Doug Confer of the Deckerville Fire Department captured video of the twister and the MSP added additional footage of the EF-1 tornado's path, posting both on X while stressing the importance of taking shelter during a storm.
"Just another reason why it is important to take shelter when a tornado warning is issued," the MSP said.
The tornado lasted about 3 minutes, according to the National Weather Service, and peaked at 95 mph with a maximum width of 100 yards.
The tornado touched down west of Maple Grove Road and south of Richmondville Road, on the edge of a sugar beet and corn field. Damage to trees, vehicles and farms were reported.
No deaths or injuries were reported.
There were no NWS warnings ahead of the tornado. Michigan Storm Chasers said part of the reason was that the thumb is in a well-known "radar gap."
A 2020 NWS report to Congress on radar gaps shows the thumb as being uncovered below 6,000 feet. Portions of the western and eastern UP also are not visible to radar below that level. A few areas in the UP are not covered below 10,000 feet.
What is a tornado?
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air with circulation reaching the ground. They nearly always starts as funnel clouds — spinning "funnels" that are not touching the ground — and may be accompanied by a loud noise.
Tornadoes are typically associated with thunderstorms and can range from EF0 to EF5 in scale — 65 mph winds to more than 200 mph. The strongest tornadoes can destroy brick buildings and hurl vehicles long distances.
What to do after a tornado
If you are trapped, do not move about or kick up dust. If possible, cover your mouth with a cloth or mask to avoid breathing dust.
Save your phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Use text messaging or social media to communicate with family and friends.
Watch out for debris and downed power lines.
Stay out of damaged buildings and homes until local authorities indicate it is safe.
Can I see where tornadoes have struck in Michigan?
The University of Michigan Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering department maintains a website showing tornadoes reported with the past 48 hours.
Does Michigan have a history of tornadoes?
The National Weather Service maintains a list of tornadoes that have been recorded in Michigan. The Tornado Project breaks down Michigan tornadoes by county and date.
Michigan has on average 15 tornadoes per year, according to MIREADY, the program through MSP that provides resources and education to prepare Michigan residents for emergencies. The average lead time for a tornado warning is just 10 to 15 minutes.
You can find an interactive map and list here.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tornado touched down in Michigan's thumb. Officials shared video of the twister, aftermath
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