Tornado warnings expire in southeast Michigan. What we know
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Tornado warnings expire in southeast Michigan. What we know
Tornado watch vs. tornado warning, why it matters
Explaining the critical differences between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.
Dearborn — The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings across southeast Michigan as severe storms moved through the region Saturday evening.
All warnings have expired as of 7 p.m. Saturday.
Update: EF1 tornado confirmed in Michigan’s Van Buren Township
Warnings were issued for Dearborn, Taylor and Dearborn Heights until 6:15 p.m., and Monroe, South Monroe and West Monroe until 6:30 p.m. Warnings were in effect for Warren, Sterling Heights and Troy until 7 p.m., as well as St. Clair Shores, Roseville and Eastpointe.
More: Flood watch issued for southeast Michigan
At 5:48 p.m. Saturday, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Belleville, about 7 miles southeast of Ypsilanti, and was moving northeast at 45 mph, according to the weather service. Radar indicated rotation within the storm.
The storm was located over Romulus at 5:55 p.m. Saturday, also moving northeast at 45 mph, according to the weather service. Radar also indicated rotation within the storm, prompting urgent warnings for communities in its path. Communities including Taylor, Romulus, Dearborn, Wyandotte and Greenfield Village were expected to be impacted around 6 p.m., with additional areas such as Inkster, Wayne, Melvindale and Westland also in the storm’s path.
A separate tornado warning was issued for Monroe County communities, including Monroe, South Monroe and West Monroe, where similar severe conditions were possible through 6:30 p.m.
The third warning covered parts of Macomb and Oakland counties, including Warren, Sterling Heights and Troy, through 7 p.m. And the fourth covered St. Clair Shores, Roseville and Eastpointe until 7 p.m. The warnings also covered several major roadways, including stretches of Interstate 75 between mile markers 35 and 44, Interstate 275 between mile markers 13 and 21, Interstate 94 between mile markers 188 and 209, Interstate 96 near mile marker 183, and M-39 between mile markers 6 and 10.
Residents in all warned areas were urged to take immediate shelter in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and to avoid windows. Officials also advised motorists to avoid travel in the storm’s path and remain alert for rapidly changing conditions.
Forecasters warned the primary hazard is a tornado, with impacts including dangerous flying debris, damage or destruction of mobile homes, and likely damage to roofs, windows, vehicles and trees.
The weather service also issued a special marine warning for the waters of Lake Erie from the Detroit River to North Cape, as well as the Detroit River, until 6:45 p.m., warning of dangerous conditions for boaters.
Meteorologists are warning that heavy rain on Saturday could trigger flooding across southeast Michigan, with conditions expected to worsen through the evening hours. Officials are urging residents to remain alert, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
The National Weather Service in White Lake Township issued a flood watch Saturday afternoon covering Metro Detroit as well as parts of Ann Arbor, the Thumb and central Michigan. The watch remains in effect until midnight, with forecasters cautioning that excessive runoff may lead to rising water levels in rivers, creeks and streams.
More: Whitmer seeks federal aid after deadly southwest Michigan tornadoes
Rainfall totals between 1 and 3 inches had already been recorded Saturday morning, with additional rounds of rain expected later in the day. Urban areas and locations with poor drainage are especially vulnerable, and waterways could quickly overflow if heavier downpours develop.
Earlier Saturday, a severe thunderstorm watch was also issued for Monroe County at 3 p.m., with wind gusts up to 60 mph possible. Forecasters said the storms Saturday could bring heavy rain, damaging winds and even a brief, weak tornado, underscoring the region’s ongoing vulnerability to flooding, including on major roadways and near Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus.
Saturday’s tornado warnings come after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently asked President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster in three southwest Michigan counties following a series of deadly tornadoes that left four people dead, injured others and caused widespread property damage. If approved, the declaration would make residents eligible for federal aid to assist with recovery.
Whitmer said the request is aimed at helping affected communities access resources for home repairs, temporary housing and other recovery needs. She noted that while the state has already declared an emergency, federal assistance is critical to support long-term rebuilding efforts.
The National Weather Service confirmed that four tornadoes struck the region on March 6, marking Michigan’s deadliest weather event in nearly 50 years. The most severe was an EF3 tornado in Branch County’s Union City area that killed three people and injured 12, while a separate EF1 tornado in Cass County claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy.
Additional storms included an EF2 tornado in St. Joseph County’s Three Rivers and an EF0 tornado in Calhoun County. Preliminary damage assessments across Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties found 33 homes destroyed, 74 with major damage and more than 200 with minor damage, though officials say the true toll may be higher.
Whitmer’s request estimates that roughly $1.4 million in federal assistance is needed to support recovery, including funds for temporary housing, repairs and other needs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will review the request and make a recommendation to the president, with officials emphasizing that the scale of damage exceeds the state’s ability to respond without federal support.
