Tornado damages homes, ruptures gas lines as rare February storm hits Michigan

GRAND BLANC, MI – A survey team from the National Weather Service is expected to look at damage on the ground in Grand Blanc and at least one other area in Michigan today after overnight storms produced a tornado that damaged homes and forced people to be evacuated.

The storms, packing lightning and hail, touched off a series of tornado warnings as they swept across the state. Officials in Grand Blanc reported tornado damage shortly after 1 a.m. as the storm moved through Genesee County. Some roads in that community remain closed this morning amid widespread power outages there, city officials said.

“This morning at approximately 1:20 am, a tornado touched down in Grand Blanc in the area of Dort and Reid in Grand Blanc Township,” city officials said. “The tornado path proceeded east from there through Grand Blanc City, Indian Hill Subdivision, the Commons, Kings Pointe Subdivision, through Perry and Belsay roads and then into Atlas Township. Several large trees were knocked down and debris from damage buildings from the tornado were scattered and thrown in the path of the storm.”

“The large trees knocked down by the storm damaged several houses in Indian Hill and Kings Pointe Subs and while being locked down by the storm, uprooted several gas lines. Grand Blanc City Police (who observed the tornado from their patrol cars) and Grand Blanc City Fire responded and evacuated several residents to the Grand Blanc City Fire Department. Consumers Energy responded and made repairs to the leaks and residents were then allowed to return home. While there is significant damages to houses in the area, no one was hurt.”

There were also reports that the General Motors facility in Grand Blanc sustained some damage.

The National Weather Service office in Detroit said a survey team is expected to head to the Grand Blanc area today to look at the storm damage. This helps them assess the strength of the tornado.

There were also reports of a tornado observed on the ground near Marshall in Calhoun County at 12:39 a.m. Law enforcement confirmed that sighting. This morning, Calhoun County officials say they have crews out working in the area:

“The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan Emergency Management is assessing damage in Marengo and Marshall Townships. Many roads are blocked with trees and powerlines. Deputies, troopers and fire personnel are working their way through the areas with the assistance of the Calhoun County Road Commissions heavy equipment.”

“At this time we have no reports of injuries, but the area is still being checked. Emergency personnel are encountering some structural damage to buildings, but the full extent is unknown at this time. Please avoid the area and stay away from down powerlines. We will update as more information is available.”

In other areas, golf ball-sized hail was reported in Battle Creek, and several trees and powerlines were reported to be down in the Lawton area.

Violent storms like this are rare in Michigan in February, and today the weather is switching back to winter. Many areas across the state are seeing a 50-degree temperature plunge from yesterday’s record warmth.