GRAND BLANC, Mich. – A tornado tore through Grand Blanc overnight into Wednesday morning, knocking down large trees and rupturing gas lines.
According to the National Weather Service, the tornado is rated at EF-2 and peak winds reached 115 miles per hour. It touched down at 1:12 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, traveled for 5.7 miles, and ended at 1:22 a.m.
It touched down in Creasey Bicentennial Park, damaging the south pavilion and uprooting a pine tree. It moved east northeast across Westminster Circle, snapping multiple trees, blowing out two garage doors, and partially stripping a roof from a home. It continued east northeast across Porter Road and Reid Road, snapping multiple limbs and trees.
Update: National Weather Service confirms EF-2 tornado touched down in Grand Blanc
Grand Blanc city police officers reported seeing the tornado from their patrol cars. The tornado knocked down large trees, which damaged several homes in the Indian Hill and Kings Pointe subdivisions and ruptured several gas lines. Debris from damaged buildings were scattered and thrown.
Grand Blanc city fire crews evacuated several residents to the fire department. Consumers energy responded to the ruptured gas lines and were able to make repairs before residents were allowed to return home.
City officials said several residential and commercial buildings were significantly damaged and many people were left without power. There was a gas main break from a commercial building off Dort Highway. Gas was shut off at 9:40 a.m.
Residents are being asked to avoid Dort Highway between Grand Blanc Road and Reid Road, Reid Road between Porter Road and Grand Oak Drive, and Creasey Bicentennial Park.
Police said no injuries have been reported.
---> Tornado in Calhoun County downs trees, power lines
EF-2 tornado confirmed in Grand Blanc last night.
— NWS Detroit (@NWSDetroit) February 28, 2024
Only the second time a tornado has been observed in February over Southeast Michigan. The previous one occurred Feb 28th 1974 in southwest Wayne county. pic.twitter.com/gWRzxPjeYe
How the National Weather Service determines the scale of a tornado
The National Weather Service uses the EF Scale to rate a tornado based on wind speeds and damage.
The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) has been used since 2007 and the National Weather Service is the only federal agency with the authority to provide an official EF Scale rating of a tornado.
When the NWS surveys damage from a tornado officials compare the damage to a list of Damage Indicators (DIs) and Degrees of Damage (DoD), which help them estimate the range of wind speeds the tornado likely produced.
The EF scale is a set of wind estimates, not measurements, based on damage. It uses three-second gusts estimated at the point of damage based on a judgment of 8 levels of damage to 28 indicators.
Damage Indicators include barns, homes, mobile homes, motels, fast food restaurants, shopping malls, schools, hardwood trees, softwood trees, and many more.
After the range of wind speeds is determined, they assign an EF-0 to EF-5 rating. The goal is to give the tornado an EF Scale rating based on the highest wind speed that occurred within the damage path.
---> How the National Weather Service determines the scale of a tornado