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Overview

Several low-topped supercells developed along a warm front during the afternoon hours of July 26th, 2025. These cells exhibited weak mid-level rotation (rotational velocities of 20-25 knots at most), which prompted the issuance of several Special Weather Statements with "landspout possible" tags. While there were reports of wall clouds with these cells, only one produced a tornado–an EF-1 near Deckerville in Sanilac County. Radar interrogation of these cells was complicated by their distance from the radar, with the lowest scans of the KDTX radar beam at 6100 ft AGL and the CASET radar beam at 4700 ft AGL.

Tornado potential was low in this setup for most of southeast Michigan given generally weak flow aloft and uniform column winds. Instability was also limited and deep convection struggled with very little lightning activity even in the tornado-producing supercell. That said, the presence of a warm front near the M-46 corridor and its intersection with the marine layer provided just enough low level curvature in the wind field for tornadogenesis. In more technical terms, the backed (southeast) flow north of the warm front/near the Lake Huron shoreline created a localized pool of streamwise vorticity that was realized as the storm moved west to east at ~35 mph into it. This is not an uncommon local phenomenon where rotation develops and/or increases as storms encounter the marine layer–we see this both near Lake Huron and Lake Erie (e.g. Detroit Beach, Luna Pier, etc.). The tornado was on the ground for roughly 3 minutes, traveled a little over 1.5 miles, and had maximum wind speeds of 95 mph.

Tornado PNS

Tornado - Deckerville, MI
Sanilac County

Date July 26, 2025
Time (Local) 4:18 PM - 4:21 PM EDT
EF Rating EF-1
Est. Peak Winds 95 mph
Path Length 1.58 miles
Max Width 100 yards
Injuries/Deaths 0/0

Summary:

The tornado touched down west of Maple Grove Road and south of Richmondville Road, on the edge of a sugar beet and corn field. As the tornado moved east, tree damage was noted on either side of Maple Grove Road. Numerous large tree limbs were snapped and carried 50 to 100 yards to the east and northeast. The top of a large pine tree was torn off a nearby tree and impaled a semi-truck. A few vehicles were picked up by the tornado, moved about 15 to 20 yards and pivoted by about 180 degrees. A nearby large farm building sustained damage to the back wall and lost a few roof panels. These roof panels were found approximately 1000 yards to the east in a nearby wheat field. Numerous vehicles sustained damage, with a few blown out windows and a large camper was flipped on its side. The tornado continued east and moved over mainly farm fields, resulting in damage to corn and sugar beet crops. A distinct path, about 50 yards wide, of corn was flattened in a convergent pattern across these farm fields. The continued path across sugar beet fields was less discernible on the ground, but more visible in aerial footage from the Michigan State Police. After crossing numerous farm fields, the tornado continued east and impacted another property near Loree Road, where a large machine shed and small shed were destroyed. Debris was scattered into the field crossing Loree Road. The tornado continued to move east, but quickly dissipated after causing some minor tree damage closer to Richmondville Road.

NWS Detroit/Pontiac would like to thank the Sanilac County Emergency Management for their help surveying and coordinating the damage assessment.

 

 

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EF-Scale

 

                                                                                         

 

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

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EF-Scale

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
ef-scale
Tornadoes that fail to impact any ratable damage indicators on the EF-Scale are rated EF-Unknown (EF-U)

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KDTX Storm-Relative Velocity 

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