New York, March 7: A tornado touched down in Three Rivers, Michigan, in the US, on Friday evening, March 6, causing significant structural damage and leaving thousands without power across St. Joseph County. The storm struck shortly before 7:00 PM, with its most notable impact occurring at a Menards home improvement store, where large sections of the roof were torn off and debris was sent flying across the parking lot. Local emergency management teams were deployed immediately to assess the damage, though no life-threatening injuries were reported in the initial hours following the event.

The severe weather was part of a broader system moving through the Great Lakes region, triggering multiple tornado warnings across southern Michigan. Eyewitness videos captured a large debris cloud circulating near US-131, a major transit artery in the area. In addition to the commercial damage in Three Rivers, the storm uprooted trees and downed power lines, leading to widespread utility disruptions that affected over 5,000 customers in the immediate vicinity of St. Joseph County. Oklahoma Tornado Causes Major Damage Near Helena as NWS Issues Rare PDS Warning.

Tornado in Michigan, Video Shows Debris Flying

Tornado Touches Down in Michigan

Tornado in Michigan: Structural Damage at Menards and Local Businesses

The Menards location in Three Rivers bore the brunt of the wind's intensity. Footage from the scene showed insulation and metal roofing twisted into nearby power lines and scattered across adjacent fields. Employees and customers reportedly sought shelter in the store's designated safety zones as the storm passed over the building.

Beyond the retail district, several residential structures reported minor roof damage and broken windows. City officials have advised residents to stay clear of the damaged commercial areas while crews work to secure unstable structures and downed electrical wires. Storm Outbreak Threatens US Heartland with Tornadoes.

Power Outages and Utility Response After Tornado Strikes Michigan

As of Friday morning, utility companies reported that significant progress had been made, but hundreds of homes remained in the dark. St. Joseph County dispatchers received dozens of calls regarding blocked roads and transformer fires caused by falling limbs.

Local law enforcement worked through the night to reroute traffic away from US-131 and other local roads where debris made travel hazardous. Consumers Energy and other local cooperatives have brought in additional crews from neighboring counties to expedite the restoration of the electrical grid.

Weather Service Investigation

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Northern Indiana is expected to survey the area to officially confirm the tornado's touch-down and determine its strength on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. Preliminary radar data indicated strong rotation directly over the Three Rivers area at the time the damage occurred.

This event follows a period of unseasonably volatile weather in the Midwest. Meteorologists noted that while springtime tornadoes are common, the intensity of the wind gusts, estimated to have exceeded 80 mph, caused more concentrated damage than typically seen in early-season thunderstorms in this corridor.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 07, 2026 07:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).