COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County has had its first bout with severe spring weather this year and the Thursday outbreak of strong storms in Michigan prompted a tornado warning early in the evening in the northwest corner of the county as well as a severe thunderstorm watch last night. However, no funnel clouds were spotted and other than isolated tree damage and some heavy downpours, Branch County escaped any serious consequences from the system that spawned a deadly F-4 twister in Illinois.
The tornado warning for the county as well as Northeastern St. Joseph County was issued at 6:39 pm when radar indicated a severe thunderstorm with rotation capable of producing a tornado located southeast of Vicksburg moving east with towns in its path including Union City, Sherwood, and Hodunk. 20 minutes later, the warning was cancelled for St. Joseph County and it expired for Branch County at 7:17 p.m. The severe thunderstorm watch was issued at 10 p.m. and then cancelled at 12:30 a.m Friday morning.
Last night in Hillsdale County, there was a report at 6:20 pm of a wooden barn being destroyed and a loss of roof shingles to a house two miles northeast of Moscow. Around Michigan, strong storm winds late last night caused significant damage in parts of downtown Muskegon.
