Three Rivers Michigan Tornado: Damage & Midwest Storms Update

Deadly Tornadoes Sweep Across Southwest Michigan, Leaving Trail of Destruction

A series of destructive tornadoes tore through southwest Michigan on Friday, leaving a path of devastation and claiming at least four lives. The storms caused widespread damage, particularly in Three Rivers, Union City and Edwardsburg, prompting emergency response measures and leaving communities reeling.

The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed an EF3 tornado with estimated winds of at least 150 miles per hour struck the Union Lake area on Friday afternoon. Meteorologist Lonnie Fisher of the NWS Northern Indiana stated that the Union Lake area appears to have sustained the most extensive damage, based on reports from emergency management officials and social media. He added that Three Rivers also experienced a “fair amount of damage,” and it’s possible that city ultimately sustained the most damage due to its larger population.

The initial wave of severe weather struck Three Rivers during the afternoon, with a tornado reported near the city around 3:52 PM EST, moving northeast at approximately 40 mph, according to the NWS. Significant damage was reported at a Menards home improvement store in Three Rivers, with videos circulating on social media showing sections of the roof ripped off and debris scattered across the parking lot.

Further north, near Union Lake west of Union City in Branch County, three people were killed and twelve others injured. Twelve of those injured were hurt in the Union Lake area, with three requiring hospitalization. Fisher indicated that the tornado impacting Union Lake did not appear to directly enter Union City, or only grazed it.

In neighboring Cass County, a 12-year-old boy was fatally injured near Edwardsburg, where several others were also hurt near the Indiana state line. Emergency officials reported that the tornado that impacted the region touched down several times as it moved through St. Joseph County before striking the southwest side of Three Rivers. Storm chasers and local emergency management teams worked to confirm damage reports and relay information to the weather service.

Emergency crews were dispatched between Niles and Edwardsburg after reports of a person trapped following storm damage. Gretchen Whitmer, the Governor of Michigan, activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center at a Level 3 monitoring status around 6 PM Friday, signaling a coordinated response to the unfolding crisis.

Fisher explained that the path of damage extended from west of Edwardsburg, through Three Rivers, and ultimately to the Union City/Union Lake area. He noted that there was relatively little damage reported between these points, suggesting the tornado may have lifted or dissipated and then redeveloped as it moved along its path.

Search and recovery efforts continued around Union Lake on Saturday, as authorities assessed the full extent of the damage and worked to support affected communities. The destructive storms were part of a multi-day weather system impacting the Midwest.