740
NOUS43 KIWX 092032
PNSIWX
INZ005>009-012>015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-103-104-116-203-
204-216-MIZ078>081-177-277-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025-
100845-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
432 PM EDT MON MAR 9 2026 /332 PM CDT MON MAR 9 2026/
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 03/06/2026 TORNADO EVENT UPDATE 4
THIS 4TH, AND ANTICIPATED FINAL, UPDATE TO THE MARCH 6 TORNADO
EVENT INCLUDES FULL INFORMATION ABOUT THE THREE RIVERS, MI TORNADO.
ADDITIONALLY, THE NARRATIVE WAS UPDATED FOR THE UNION CITY, MI
TORNADO AND MORE DEFINITIVELY STATES THE EF3 RATING THERE.
MANY THANKS TO EMERGENCY MANAGERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, TRAINED SPOTTERS,
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ASSISTED WITH THESE DAMAGE SURVEYS OR
PROVIDED VIDEOS AND PICTURES.
EDWARDSBURG, MI
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 95 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 13.40 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 350 YARDS
FATALITIES: 1
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 03/06/2026
START TIME: 03:09 PM EST
START LOCATION: 2 WNW EDWARDSBURG / CASS COUNTY / MI
START LAT/LON: 41.8099 / -86.1126
END DATE: 03/06/2026
END TIME: 03:35 PM EST
END LOCATION: 1 N SHAVEHEAD LAKE / CASS COUNTY / MI
END LAT/LON: 41.8658 / -85.8643
SURVEY SUMMARY:
A DISORGANIZED CIRCULATION TOUCHED DOWN NORTHWEST OF THE
INTERSECTION OF RUNKLE ST AND CONRAD RD, DESTROYING AN ATTACHED
GARAGE AND DAMAGING THE FRONT OF A HOME. ONE FATALITY, A 12 YEAR
OLD BOY, WAS CONFIRMED AT THE HOME. THE TORNADO CONTINUED
NORTHEAST, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MAINLY TREES WITH SOME MINOR ROOF
DAMAGE AS IT MOVED ACROSS YANKEE ST, EAST OF DAILEY RD. THE
TORNADO THEN WIDEN AND INTENSIFIED WITH THE PEAK DAMAGE OCCURRING
ALONG HARRIS ST, BETWEEN HESS RD AND M-62 WHERE NUMEROUS TREES
WERE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. SOME DAMAGE TO POLE BARNS AND HOMES
(MAINLY ROOFS) WAS NOTED. THE TORNADO CROSSED M-62 AND CONTINUED
NORTHEAST, CROSSING PORTIONS OF OIL CITY RD AND MONETTE ST TO
CURTIS, DAY AND CHAIN LAKES BEFORE LIFTING JUST EAST OF THE
INTERSECTION OF SOUTH AND WALNUT RD.
THREE RIVERS
RATING: EF2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 130 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 10.75 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 450 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 10
START DATE: 03/06/2026
START TIME: 03:49 PM EST
START LOCATION: 3 SW THREE RIVERS / ST. JOSEPH COUNTY / MI
START LAT/LON: 41.9243 / -85.6774
END DATE: 03/09/2026
END TIME: 04:07 PM EST
END LOCATION: 1 NW WASEPI / ST. JOSEPH COUNTY / MI
END LAT/LON: 41.9597 / -85.4778
SURVEY SUMMARY:
ANOTHER TORNADO FROM THE SAME SUPERCELL THAT PRODUCED THE
EDWARDSBURG TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR ROBERTS RD AND M60 JUST
SOUTHWEST OF THREE RIVERS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE TORNADO
QUICKLY INTENSIFIED AND PRODUCED EF-2 DAMAGE WITH ESTIMATED WIND
SPEEDS OF 120-130 MPH. HERE, THE TORNADO HIT A MENARDS, REMOVING
THE ROOF ON THE SOUTHWEST AND NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE BUILDING,
ALONG WITH AN EXTERIOR WALL COLLAPSE. ONE SECTION OF AN NEARBY
UHAUL FACILITY WAS ALSO COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE TORNADO
CONTINUED THROUGH THE HEART OF THREE RIVERS, PRODUCING EF-1 AND
ISOLATED POCKETS OF EF-2 DAMAGE TO RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES
(INCLUDING THE HOSPITAL). THE TORNADO CROSSED THE ST. JOSEPH
RIVER, PRODUCING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO A LUMBER YARD BEFORE
UPROOTING MANY TREES IN A LOCAL CEMETERY. THE TORNADO PRODUCED
ANOTHER POCKET OF EF-2 DAMAGE TO A DOUBLE-WIDE MOBILE HOME AND A
BRAND NEW SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FACILITY. MULTIPLE SCHOOL
TRAILERS WERE TOSSED EITHER ACROSS THE STREET OR INSIDE THE
TRANSPORTATION FACILITY ITSELF WHICH HAD ITS ROOF REMOVED. AS THE
TORNADO BECAME CUT OFF FROM THE MAIN SUPERCELL, IT BEGAN TO JOG
MORE EASTWARD. IT PRODUCED MORE DAMAGE NORTH OF CENTREVILLE
INCLUDING A LARGE BARN AND ADDITIONAL TREES SNAPPED.
UNION LAKE/CITY, MI
RATING: EF3
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 160 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 5.23 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 500 YARDS
FATALITIES: 3
INJURIES: 12
START DATE: 03/06/2026
START TIME: 04:33 PM EST
START LOCATION: 2 SSE ATHENS / BRANCH COUNTY / MI
START LAT/LON: 42.0537 / -85.219
END DATE: 03/06/2026
END TIME: 04:42 PM EST
END LOCATION: 1 ENE UNION CITY / BRANCH COUNTY / MI
END LAT/LON: 42.0725 / -85.1217
SURVEY SUMMARY:
THE MOST INTENSE AND DEADLY TORNADO OF THE CYCLIC TORNADIC
SUPERCELL TOUCHED DOWN IN NORTHWEST BRANCH COUNTY, NORTHWEST OF
UNION LAKE BETWEEN BLOSSOM RD AND MENDON RD. THIS TORNADO WAS
WELL PHOTOGRAPHED FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES, AND IT QUICKLY TURNED
INTO A MULTI-VORTEX WEDGE. AFTER DESTROYING A POLE BARN AND
DAMAGING A RESIDENCE, THE TORNADO DEPOSITED A 500 GALLON PROPANE
TANK IN A FIELD. DRONE FOOTAGE ALSO SHOWED GROUND SCOURING IN THE
SAME FIELD. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST AND CAUSED THE MOST
WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE DAMAGE ALONG PRAIRIE ROSE LN. EVERY
RESIDENCE ALONG THIS STRETCH WAS EITHER HEAVILY DAMAGED OR
COMPLETELY DESTROYED. TRAGICALLY, THREE INDIVIDUALS LOST THEIR
LIVES HERE WHEN THEIR MANUFACTURED HOMES WERE LOFTED AND TOSSED.
ONE OF THESE TRAILERS WAS WELL ANCHORED AND TOSSED APPROXIMATELY
100 YARDS, BADLY TWISTING THE FRAME. NUMEROUS VEHICLES WERE ALSO
TOSSED IN THIS AREA. THE MAXIMUM PEAK INTENSITY OF 160 MPH WAS
ESTIMATED TO BE AT THE CORNER OF TUTTLE RD AND PRAIRIE ROSE LN.
THIS 2 STORY BLOCK HOME WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. CONSTRUCTION
QUALITY AND OLDER BUILDING CODES OF ALL HOMES IN THIS AREA
CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR FAILURE AND PRECLUDED THE SURVEY TEAM FROM
BEING ABLE TO RATE HIGHER THAN AN EF-3. THE TORNADO CONTINUED OFF
TO THE NORTHEAST INTO UNION CITY PRODUCING EF-1 TO EF2 DAMAGE
ALONG THE WAY BEFORE DISSIPATING AT THE BRANCH/CALHOUN COUNTY
LINE. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE VARIOUS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON THE
QUICK RESPONSE TEAM THAT HELPED NWS NORTHERN INDIANA DETERMINE
THIS TORNADO'S INTENSITY.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>200 MPH
NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENTS AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page