Early Friday, a storm system was moving over the state, bringing with it the possibility of tornadoes, huge hail, and gusts of 50 mph or more. At one point, at least eight counties were under a tornado warning.
Up until 12:45 a.m., Livingston, northeast Saginaw, southern Bay, and southeast Midland counties are under a tornado warning; Saginaw County is under a tornado warning until 1 a.m.
According to preliminary accounts, a semitractor-trailer on Millet Highway was overturned by a tornado that slammed Waverly, mid-Michigan, at approximately 11:36 p.m. on Thursday. According to the weather service, the “location is within the tornado debris signature on radar.”
According to Consumers Energy’s outage map, over 206,000 customers were without power as of early Friday. The majority were concentrated in a zone that stretched from Kalamazoo to Ann Arbour into west Michigan. About 4,689 customers were reported without power by DTE Energy.
Springfield was struck by wind gusts of up to 76 mph. Winds of 68 mph were recorded in Grand Haven, 66 in Portage, and 61 in Cascade and Edgemont Park. The weather service reported damage at Tri Cities International Airport, Flint Bishop International Airport, Battle Creek, Easton Rapids, Whitehall, and Norton Shores.
With tornado watches in effect until five in the morning on Friday, Metro Detroit was prepared for severe storms. Northern Lower Michigan was under a watch until three in the morning on Friday.
Northeast and southern Kent, northwest Montcalm, northeast Eaton, northeast Allegan, southern Ionia, and northeast Barry counties were under active tornado warnings as of 10:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Additionally, Ingham County in south central Michigan was under a tornado warning until 12:15 a.m. on Friday, according to the meteorological service.
According to the alerts, tornado-producing storms had been observed in certain regions, moving eastward.
Northeast Calhoun County is under another tornado warning.
Residents were advised to relocate to an internal room or basement on the lowest floor of a substantial building and to stay away from windows.
According to the warning, persons without shelter would be at risk from flying debris and damaged or destroyed mobile homes.
A line of strong to severe storms is predicted to pass through Metro Detroit until three in the morning on Friday, increasing the likelihood of thunderstorms. Damage-causing gusts of up to 70 mph and 1.5-inch hail were predicted, coupled with the possibility of tornadoes “particularly along and west of U.S.-23.” According to the meteorological service, the storm will move 45 mph towards the northeast. Up until five in the morning, a tornado watch was in force.
In the central and western regions of Lower Michigan, 37 counties were already under a tornado watch issued by the NWS. The watch expires on Friday at 3 a.m.
It was predicted that Friday night and evening would see another round of strong to slightly severe storms.
In addition, Benzie, Manistee, Van Buren, Allegan, Ottawa, Mason, Muskegon, and Oceana counties were under severe thunderstorm warnings from the weather service. In such regions, golf-ball-sized hail and gusts of up to 70 mph were predicted.
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In a Severe Weather Outlook, NWS stated that while hail with a diameter of one inch or more poses the greatest threat, “a tornado cannot be ruled out.”
Lower Michigan’s southwest, west-central, and south-central regions are deemed to be at “enhanced risk.” Michigan as a whole is seen as being in “slight risk.”
More than 500 staff members were prepared to respond to power outages, according to Consumers Energy.
The storm was predicted by the National Weather Service to make landfall in the following locations on Thursday at the following times:
| Time | Cities Affected |
| 9 – 10 p.m. | Baldwin, Newaygo, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek |
| 10 – 11 p.m. | Big Rapids, Greenville, Ionia, Charlotte, Marshall |
| 11 p.m. – 12 a.m. | Clare, Mount Pleasant, Alma, Saint Johns, Lansing, Jackson |
As a cold front moves across the region, the NWS predicts that another wave of strong to marginally severe thunderstorms will form Friday evening and into the night.
In southwestern Michigan, hail could fall once more. For the majority of the state, daytime highs are predicted to get into the 80s.
Saturday is predicted to be cooler, with highs in the 60s. The forecast calls for breezy conditions with gusts of up to 30 to 40 miles per hour.
Lower Michigan temperatures might drop below freezing again by Sunday night, with the possibility of frost, primarily in regions north of U.S. -10, according to NWS.
