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Overview
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Numerous thunderstorms developed across southern Lower Michigan during the evening of May 7, 2024. Many thunderstorm cells exhibited some rotation, and a couple of strongly rotating storms produced tornadoes during parts of their life cycle. One of the tornadoes cut a path across the city of Portage and in portions of adjacent townships in Kalamazoo County. Large hail also fell from some of the storms in southern Michigan, in some cases up to 4 inches in diameter. Information about the Portage tornado is below. Information about other tornadoes in southern Michigan is available from NWS Northern Indiana. |
 Portage Tornado, Photo Courtesy of Blake Naftel |
Tornadoes
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Tornado - Portage, MI
Track Map  
Downloadable KMZ File (available soon) |
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The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
| EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
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Photos & Video
Ariel footage of tornado damage suffered on the evening of May 7, 2024. Video Credit: Michigan State Police
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| Portage Area Damage (Jake Taylor/WWMT) |
Portage Area Damage (Jake Taylor/WWMT) |
Portage Area Damage (Diana Rice/WWMT) |
Portage Area Damage (Alleisha Baker/WWMT) |
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| Damage at Timbercreek Townhomes in Portage (WOODTV) | Damage at Timbercreek Townhomes in Portage (WOODTV) | Damage at Timbercreek Townhomes in Portage (WOODTV) | Damage at Timbercreek Townhomes in Portage (WOODTV) |
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| Portage Area Damage (Samantha Jacques/WZZM) |
Portage Area Damage (Samantha Jacques/WZZM) |
Portage Area Damage (Samantha Jacques/WZZM) |
Portage Area Damage (Samantha Jacques/WZZM) |
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| Strip Mall Along West Centre Ave in Portage (WOODTV) |
"A large and destructive tornado developed just before 6 p.m. ET in Southern Kalamazoo County within Texas Township and tracked east/northeast along Center Street into Portage, Michigan. The tornado caused structural damage to a FedEx building and other homes and businesses within the path as it tracked just south of the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport Tuesday evening. The primary video view of the tornado is looking south from Westnedge Avenue south of the Crossroads Mall and Target store in Portage, Michigan as the tornado tracked east."
Video Credit: Blake Naftel
Radar
| Base reflectivity from 5:32pm to 7:32 pm. Portage tornado is denoted in the green line. | Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor 30 minute rotation tracks from 6:00pm to 6:50pm. |
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| 5:48pm | 5:55pm | 6:01pm | 6:08pm |
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| 6:11pm | 6:14pm | 6:17pm | 6:20pm |
Storm Reports
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0532 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 S Decatur 42.08N 85.97W 05/07/2024 Van Buren MI Storm Chaser Chaser provided photos of several trees uprooted and snapped just south of Decatur. Time is estimated by radar. 0542 PM Hail 6 ESE Decatur 42.07N 85.86W 05/07/2024 E0.75 Inch Van Buren MI Trained Spotter Time estimated from radar. 0555 PM Tornado 4 WSW Portage 42.19N 85.67W 05/07/2024 Kalamazoo MI NWS Storm Survey The EF2 tornado touched down near the intersection of South 10th Street and West R Avenue and traveled east/northeast for around 11 miles until it lifted north of East N Avenue just west of 31st Street. Many homes, including two mobile home parks, were severely damaged. A number of businesses had significant damage. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted. A large section of the roof of an industrial warehouse also collapsed near the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport. Total number of injuries unknown. 0555 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 W Portage 42.19N 85.67W 05/07/2024 Kalamazoo MI NWS Employee Large trees down, power lines down, shingles scattered around. Possible tornado. Time estimated based on radar. 0600 PM Tornado 2 W Portage 42.20N 85.64W 05/07/2024 Kalamazoo MI Official NWS Obs Radar confirmed tornado. Time estimated via radar. 0601 PM Hail 2 NW Portage 42.22N 85.62W 05/07/2024 M2.00 Inch Kalamazoo MI Public 0614 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Tekonsha 42.09N 84.99W 05/07/2024 Calhoun MI Fire Dept/Rescue Numerous trees and wires down in Tekonsha. Time is estimated via radar. 0623 PM Hail 4 WNW Montague 43.44N 86.44W 05/07/2024 E0.88 Inch Muskegon MI Trained Spotter 0630 PM Hail 1 N Rothbury 43.52N 86.35W 05/07/2024 E1.00 Inch Oceana MI Public Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
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