A possible tornado tore through property in Portage, Michigan on Tuesday afternoon.
A line of storms moved through the West Michigan area on Tuesday, triggering multiple tornado warnings in the area.
WOOD-TV reports tracking a tornado in Portage, which is outside of Kalamazoo, around 6:08 p.m. Video posted to social media shows the twister in the area. A second tornado was reported near Portage around 7:25 p.m.
Update: Whitmer declares emergency after multiple tornadoes hit SW Michigan
Damage photos coming in out of Portage, MI pic.twitter.com/t9azc2ucUp
— Sara Flynn (@SaraFlynnWX) May 7, 2024
Photos posted by WOOD-TV show multiple buildings sustaining severe damage. A church steeple in Centerville was damaged, too. A barbershop in Portage said its building was damaged in the storm
Our barbershop in Portage on Centre Rd was hit by the Tornado. Luckily, everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/ulx7NjLckc
— Jude's Barbershop (@judesbarbershop) May 7, 2024
Images and video posted by storm chaser @NISWweather shows a mobile home park in Portage sustaining serious damage. Another video shows damage to a FedEx facility in Portage.
WOOD-TV reports at least one injury in the Portage tornado. Thousands are without power, according to Consumers Energy.
Multiple tornado sightings have been reported in West Michigan, including in St. Joseph County in Colon. Another photo shows a possible twister in Mendon.
The Portage Department of Public Safety is asking people to avoid travel in the city.
The National Weather Service will survey the damage on Wednesday to confirm if a tornado hit the area.