COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – High winds and brief torrential downpours including pea-sized hail swept across Branch County and the region last night while at least one twister moved through mid-Michigan.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for a portion of Branch County at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, shortly before heavy rain and gusty winds moved into the county quickly heading northeast. A top wind speed of 43 mph was recorded at the Branch County Memorial Airport at 6:30 p.m.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the county was cancelled 45 minutes later. A handful of downed limbs or trees were reported to Branch County 911 Central Dispatch, but no other damage was listed on the 911 log.
They will be cleaning up and assessing the damage today after one or more tornados touched down in Shiawasee County and crossed the border into Genesee County last evening right before and after 7:00 p.m. 40 to 50 homes were damaged or destroyed. Hardest hit was the town of Vernon along I-69.
There were no injuries or fatalities reported. The American Red Cross set up a shelter at the Corunna Community Center.
The weather system which on Wednesday battered the Midwest and Mountain sections of the country did provide some beautiful rainbows in sections of Branch County as the storm front blew through last evening.
