COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Several bands of thunderstorms rocked Branch County Wednesday afternoon, knocking out power for thousands of homes and businesses, knocking down trees and power lines, and causing street flooding.
Several Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued for the county, and shortly after 3:00 p.m., tornado sirens were activated in the City of Coldwater, after police received word that a trainlike sound was heard near Willowbrook Road on the city’s east side. As it turned out, there was no funnel cloud sighted.
A wind gust of 60 miles per hour reported in Marshall in Calhoun County, and a gust of 59 miles per hour reported at the Branch County Memorial Airport in Coldwater.
At 5:00 p.m., Consumers Energy was reporting 6,468 customers out in Branch County, 30,013 out in Calhoun County, 10,071 in Jackson County, 28,914 in Kent County, 5,278 in Eaton County, 1,531 in St. Joseph County, and 1,586 in Hillsdale County. Coldwater Board of Public Utilities customers in the Ebyview subdivision in Coldwater Township also lost power. A portion of downtown Coldwater also lost power for a short time.
The City of Bronson appears to be one of the hardest hit areas, with numerous streets blocked by downed trees and power lines. Other major roads in the county blocked either fully or partially were Fremont Road, Girard Road, and Union City Road just north of Coldwater.
On Pond Drive in Batavia Township, a tree fell on a mobile home, trapping the resident inside until emergency crews arrived.
