NWS survey confirms tornado in Portage was EF2 (2024)

More than 15 people were hurt, though no one was seriously injured overnight. About 15 homes were destroyed in a mobile home park community.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. — Tuesday evening brought severe weather to the majority of West Michigan. The greater Kalamazoo area saw some of the worst of that weather with multiple tornadoes touching down and over a dozen hurt.

Seven tornadoes were reportedly spotted across the Midwest region, four of which were reportedly in Michigan. The National Weather Service (NWS) is now releasing their survey on one of the reported tornadoes, which hit the Portage area.

The NWS said the tornado that hit the Portage area was confirmed as an EF2. Its estimated peak wind speed was 135 mph, its path reached about eight miles and its width was approximately 300 yards.

They said the tornado touched down near the intersection of South 10th Street and West R Avenue. It traveled east/northeast for around 11 miles before lifting north of East N Avenue just West of 31st Street.

Pavilion Estates Mobile Home Park in Portage was one of the hardest-hit areas, with entire homes destroyed.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office said about 176 homes were damaged, and about 15 were destroyed in that mobile home park community.

While there were no significant injuries to those who were inside those homes at the time, authorities said there were about 16 to 20 people who had non-life-threatening injuries.

"We recognize that this tornado appears to have come across from the part of Texas Township across the city of Portage into Pavilion Township. There is significant damage all along Centre Avenue, which is being handled by the city of Portage, as well as into Pavilion Township, and the Pavilion Estates Mobile Home Park there," the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office said late Tuesday.

There are multiple scenes across Kalamazoo County with heavy damage, especially on Westnedge Avenue, Centre Street and Oakland Drive with power lines down and debris in the road.

"Homes in the roadway. We found homes in neighbor's homes. We found large trees in homes. We found many vehicles that have been smashed by large trees or homes. We're finding again, no one in these vehicles," the sheriff's office said. "One of the things that I found, when I'm talking to residents out there as we were going in the area door-to-door, we were able to find out that they were people paying attention, paying attention to the weather service information. That was a huge success in knowing that our community pays attention to the weather services."

While the community is dealing with the damage from the storms, the Portage Department of Public Safety asked people to avoid traveling to the area.

Portage Mayor Patricia Randall declared an emergency to secure resources from the State of Michigan and the federal government.

Portage Public Schools announced schools will be closed on Wednesday, May 8 to allow families and the community to recover after the storms.

"My heart goes out to all those affected by tonight’s severe weather in southwest Michigan. Emergency teams are on the ground and working to assist Michiganders. I encourage everyone to continue monitoring severe weather alerts and follow the advice of emergency officials," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.

Kalamazoo County Emergency Management is asking residents with damage to share their reports through an online survey. This will help emergency managers and cleanup crews better assess the damage, and speed up their response.

You can find the link here.

With homes destroyed, that leaves many people displaced. Through the American Red Cross, the City of Portage identified this shelter:

  • First Assembly of God at 5550 Oakland Drive

You can call 1-800-RED CROSS for help.

If Portage residents need assistance with sheltering or other human service needs, you can call 211. Residents with questions about city services like brush pickup or clean-up assistance can call 269-329-4444.

Jude's Barbershop in Portage posted to Facebook sharing the damage to their shop and reported nobody was injured.

Our barbershop in Portage on Centre Rd was hit by the Tornado. Luckily, everyone is safe.

Posted by Jude's Barbershop onTuesday, May 7, 2024

Viewers from the Kalamazoo area sent in photos and videos showing some of the damage the storms left behind.

Photos included debris such as trees, powerlines and large branches down. They also shared shots of roofs torn off buildings, car crashes, damage to buildings and more.

Gallery of tornado damage in Kalamazoo area

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As severe weather tore through Kalamazoo County, we're learning of the damage the weather left in its wake.

The damage from the storms also left tens of thousands without power on Tuesday evening. At 6:45 p.m., Consumers Energy reported over 25,000 people without power. We'll be continuing to update outages here.

Bronson Medical Hospital, located in Downtown Kalamazoo told 13 ON YOUR SIDE they were assessing injuries with their team but could not elaborate further.

  • Southwest Michigan sees multiple confirmed tornadoes, severe weather Tuesday
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NWS survey confirms tornado in Portage was EF2 (2024)

FAQs

NWS survey confirms tornado in Portage was EF2? ›

More than 15 people were hurt, though no one was seriously injured overnight. About 15 homes were destroyed in a mobile home park community.

What level of tornado was in Portage Michigan? ›

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Authorities on Monday released the findings of a preliminary damage assessment following the EF2 tornado that tore through the Portage area last week, saying 60 buildings were destroyed.

What category was the tornado in Portage? ›

PORTAGE, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - The National Weather Service confirmed on Wednesday that an EF-2 tornado struck Portage, Michigan, Tuesday evening. Weather officials say the tornado reached an estimated peak wind of 135 mph and touched down near the intersection of S. 10th Street and W.

When was the last tornado in Kalamazoo, Michigan? ›

The last tornado to hit Kalamazoo County was June 19, 2009.

Has there ever been a F6 tornado? ›

In total, two tornadoes received the rating of F6, but both were later downgraded to F5. Based on aerial photographs of the damage it caused, Fujita assigned the strongest tornado of the 1974 Super Outbreak, which affected Xenia, Ohio, a preliminary rating of F6 intensity ± 1 scale.

What is the ranking of the tornado in Portage? ›

(WOOD) — The tornado that touched down in the Portage area on May 7 has been rated as a strong EF2. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service Grand Rapids reached the rating after conducting a survey the day following the tornado. So how are tornado ratings decided? The answer is in the damage.

Has there ever been a Class 5 tornado? ›

Worldwide, a total of 67 tornadoes have been officially rated F5/EF5: 59 in the United States, two each in France and Germany, and one each in Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Italy.

What is the strongest category of tornado ever recorded? ›

Throughout history, wind speeds have only been recorded in a small percentage of tornadoes, so it's impossible to definitively say this tornado had the strongest winds. However, out of those that have recorded wind speeds, this EF4/EF5 that pummeled Oklahoma City takes first place at 318 mph.

What town in Michigan had the tornado? ›

Dowagiac Tornado

Storms started leaving their mark on the state in the afternoon. An EF1 tornado touched down by the Dowagiac Municipal Airport and moved northeast for nearly 12 miles. It lifted near the border of Cass and Van Buren counties about 27 minutes later. At its strongest, it had winds estimated at 95 mph.

Has anyone died in the tornado in Portage Michigan? ›

Portage tornado tied for Kalamazoo County's worst since 1980

The confirmed tornado was rated as an EF2 by the National Weather Service with winds of up to 135 mph, which is 1 mph less than the threshold for a EF3 tornado. Nobody was killed in Tuesday's tornado, and there were minimal minor injuries, officials said.

What year did Michigan have 12 tornadoes in one day? ›

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Twelve tornadoes touched down and raced across Michigan on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, carving several paths of destruction.

When was the last F5 tornado in Michigan? ›

The last F5 tornado in Michigan was the Hudsonville-Standale tornado of April 3, 1956. It was debated in the U.S. Congress at the time whether recent atomic bomb testing in the upper atmosphere had caused tornadoes, including this one.

What is a F12 tornado? ›

The original Fujita Scale actually goes up to F12. An F12 tornado would have winds of about 740 MPH, the speed of sound. Roughly 3/4 of all tornadoes are EF0 or EF1 tornadoes and have winds that are less than 100 MPH. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are rare but cause the majority of tornado deaths.

What is the rarest tornado ever? ›

That devastating twister left behind EF-5 damage in its wake, the most severe category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale that uses damage to estimate a tornado's winds. And as of 2024, it's the last tornado anywhere in North America to receive this scale-topping rating.

Can you survive an EF5 tornado above ground? ›

Since many of our shelters are above-ground, the question remains — are they able to withstand an EF5 tornado? The answer from us is a resounding YES, and not just in theory; they have actually withstood some of the largest tornadoes in recent history without so much as a dent.

What city did the tornado hit in Michigan? ›

PORTAGE. The NWS said an EF-2 tornado hit the City of Portage. The tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 135 mph, its path length hit around 11 miles and its width was approximately 300 yards. The tornado started just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

What town in the US was devastated by an F5 tornado in 2011? ›

The tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011 was an EF5. It began at 5:41 PM local time and lasted for 32 minutes. It first touched down in the southern part of the city, near the intersection of JJ Highway and West 32 Street, and tracked eastward, causing damage for 13 miles.

What was the rank of the tornado in Flint Michigan? ›

The Flint-Beecher tornado was rated as an F5, the highest rating on the Fujita scale of damage.

Where did the worst tornado hit? ›

Deadliest single tornado in US history

The Tri-State tornado of March 18, 1925, killed 695 people in Missouri (11), Illinois (613), and Indiana (71). The outbreak it occurred with was also the deadliest known tornado outbreak, with a combined death toll of 747 across the Mississippi River Valley.

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