BANGOR (WKZO-AM) — National Weather Service has now confirmed that at least three twisters hit west Michigan on Saturday, one in Van Buren County, one in Kent County and a third in Ionia County. They aren’t sure about a fourth.
The storm cell that tossed off the twisters became active in Bangor, and spun toward Grand Junction where it struck and damaged the True Blue Blueberry farm.
That first confirmed tornado was determined to be an EF-1 with winds between 86 and 110 mph.
They have also confirmed that an EF-0 with slower winds touched town twice in the Grand Rapids area.
Meteorologist Cort Scholten says the storm cell appears to have actually battered the southern side of the Grand Rapids metro area with straight line winds that may have had higher wind speeds than the tornado. That’s what the evidence tells them.
The third confirmed tornado touched down in Ionia County and did not dissipate until it had traveled into Montcalm County. It was an EF-1.
The National Weather Service inspectors also confirmed tornado damage in Allegan and Southern Ottawa County from an EF-1 Twister, but Scholten says they aren’t sure if that damage was done by a separate and distinct twister, or the same one that hit Bangor.
It may have been number-four.
Consumers Energy has restored power to everyone who lost it on Saturday. Most of the trees that came down because of the storm have been removed. It will take a little longer to repair the damage to homes and businesses.
The good news is that there are still no reports of any injuries as a result of the storm or the cleanup.
