The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch and multiple thunderstorm and tornado warnings overnight as severe storms moved across Michigan, and as of 1:30 a.m. all of the warnings had expired with no new warnings reported.
The Storm Prediction Center placed Southeast Michigan in an enhanced risk, the agency said, and specific tornado warnings included a warning through 2:45 a.m. for Monroe and Lenawee counties and a warning through 2:15 a.m. for Washtenaw County.
A statewide tornado watch covered a broad area through 4 a.m., the advisories listed dozens of counties under threat including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, St. Joseph, Genesee, Washtenaw, Ingham and Kalamazoo among others.
Local station 13 ON YOUR SIDE reported receiving multiple eyewitness accounts of suspected tornadoes, including sightings near Carson City and near Allegan and Otsego, though the National Weather Service said tornadoes cannot be confirmed until storm surveys are completed.
Safety Guidance Flood Watch And Aftermath
The National Weather Service explained the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning, noting a watch means tornadoes are possible and a warning means a tornado has been sighted or detected on radar and people should take shelter immediately.
The service recommended going to a pre-designated safe room, basement, storm shelter or the lowest building level and avoiding windows, and advised those in mobile homes to seek more substantial shelter when a warning is issued.
The average lead time for a tornado warning is 10 to 15 minutes, the agency said, and the Enhanced Fujita scale rates tornadoes from EF0 with 65 to 85 mph winds up to EF5 with winds over 200 mph.
The National Weather Service in Detroit also issued a flood watch for all of Southeast Michigan beginning at 8 p.m. and running through late Thursday night, and Adrienne Woodland of AAA warned that wet pavement can turn roads into a slip and slide in seconds.
Officials urged residents to use NOAA Weather Radio, local TV, radio, apps such as the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app, and systems like Nixle to receive alerts, and to prepare an emergency kit and family communications plan.
After a storm, the National Weather Service will conduct damage surveys and use photographs, video and eyewitness accounts to determine whether a tornado occurred and to rate its strength on the EF scale.
