COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down south of Coldwater, in Branch County during the early hours of Wednesday, April 15.
The tornado, which occurred between 1:04 a.m. and 1:07 a.m. reached estimated peak winds of 90 MPH.
It carved a path 2.59 miles long with a maximum width of 100 yards, starting near Sanford Road and Fenn Road before moving southeast across Interstate 69 and eventually lifting near South Wood Road.
Despite the intensity of the storm, no injuries or deaths were reported.
The preliminary damage survey highlights significant structural and environmental impacts along the tornado’s path. Initial damage included debris from a barn thrown to the east and minor damage to a solar farm’s panels near the touchdown point. As the storm progressed southeast, it caused damage to a pole barn near the interstate and ripped the roof off a garage in the area of Dubendorf and Quimby Roads.
The tornado also downed numerous trees and destroyed vinyl fencing around a pool before impacting a final pole barn on South Wood Road, where debris was scattered deep into a nearby field.
The Branch County tornado was one of nine now confirmed in Michigan from late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
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