At least 6 dead as ‘large and extremely dangerous tornado’ tears through Michigan and storms rattle Central US
At least six people have been killed after tornadoes tore through Michigan and Oklahoma and as storms continue to rattle the Central United States.
The National Weather Service office in Northern Indiana warned of a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” that struck parts of southwestern Michigan Friday, USA TODAY reported.
The Branch County Sheriff’s Office said three people were killed and 12 more were injured, including three who were taken to the hospital, when the tornado hit the Union Lake area.
A video posted to Facebook by a Michigan resident showed what appears to be a massive tornado ripping through homes off Union Lake.
“Oh my god,” the local said. “It is lifting houses — holy s***.”
Cass County officials reported one death and several injuries from the storm. Cass County Emergency Manager Manny DeLaRosa said homes and barns were majorly damaged or destroyed.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in an X post Friday night that she was activating the state’s emergency operations center “to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan.”
Michigan State Police said “significant wind damage, possible tornadoes, and injuries” were reported in Branch, Cass and Saint Joseph counties.
Thursday night, a mother and her teenage daughter were found dead in their car in Major County, Oklahoma, after it was hit by a tornado, according to reports.
OklahomaGovernor Kevin Stitt shared his condolences, writing on Facebook, “I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as all those impacted by the storms.”
Severe weather was reported in parts of the Plains, Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley over the past 48 hours or so, The Weather Channel reported.
Tornado watches remained in effect in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Extreme thunderstorms are expected to reach from southern Texas to western Tennessee and northwestern Alabama on Saturday, according to AccuWeather.
AccuWeather warns that severe weather could continue across parts of the Central U.S. through next week.
