The severe thunderstorms that swept through Michigan Saturday produced five confirmed tornadoes.
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids reports two tornadoes formed in Ionia County, one in Mecosta County, one in Clare County and another in Huron County. The strongest was an EF2 near Port Austin.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jim Maczko says the storms developed very quickly.
“We went from just some rain showers on the radar to storms that were capable of producing tornadoes within about 15 minutes,” says Maczko. “So that gave us very little notice for providing advance warning to folks of the approaching storm. So, if there’s a lesson to be learned from this weekend, it’s to remember that all thunderstorms are dangerous.”
In Michigan, severe weather season typically runs from February through July, though dangerous storms can happen any time of the year.
Maczko says it’s important to create an emergency plan for rapidly changing weather systems.
“And (on) days when we have potential for severe weather can deteriorate really, really quickly,” he explains. “So, folks need to be ready to take that action in a quick amount of time and have their preparedness plan in place well before the day the storms hit.”
There were no reports of injuries or fatalities from the weekend storms.