838
NOUS43 KIWX 200939
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-
202145-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
539 AM EDT FRI MAR 20 2026 /439 AM CDT FRI MAR 20 2026/
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 03/06/2026 TORNADO EVENT UPDATE 5
THIS IS THE FINAL UPDATE TO THE MARCH 6 TORNADO EVENT. THE ONLY
CHANGE WAS TO ADJUST THE START POINT AND TIME FOR THE THREE RIVERS
TORNADO BASED ON ADDITIONAL SURVEY DETAILS FROM EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
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, MI
RATING: EF2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 130 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 12.40 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 450 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 10
START DATE: 03/06/2026
START TIME: 04:47 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 2 ESE COREY LAKE / ST. JOSEPH COUNTY / MI
START LAT/LON: 41.9134 / -85.714
END DATE: 03/06/2026
END TIME: 05:07 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 2 NW WASEPI / ST. JOSEPH COUNTY / MI
END LAT/LON: 41.9595 / -85.4852
SURVEY SUMMARY:
ANOTHER TORNADO FROM THE SAME SUPERCELL THAT PRODUCED THE
EDWARDSBURG TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN WEST OF ARTHUR L JONES RD, NORTH
OF M60. 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.
FISHER
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