Sunita Somvanshi
Southeast Michigan went through two consecutive days of severe storms this week — and federal meteorologists have now confirmed that a tornado struck inside Detroit itself.
On Wednesday evening, September 2, the National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac office confirmed Michigan’s 27th tornado of 2026 — an EF-0 twister that touched down in Marysville, St. Clair County. That storm had estimated peak winds of 75 mph, carved a path 0.35 miles long and 175 yards wide between 7:19 and 7:21 p.m. EDT, and caused sporadic tree damage. There were no fatalities and no injuries.
The following afternoon, on Thursday, September 3, a separate severe storm tracked across Wayne County and hit Detroit’s east side. Tornado warnings had been issued for the area ahead of the storm.
On Friday morning, September 4, the NWS dispatched a storm survey team to inspect damage along a corridor stretching from Hamtramck across the east side toward Belle Isle. The team documented snapped utility poles, uprooted trees, and damaged roofs. On Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service confirmed the tornado, and Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield also publicly confirmed the event.
The confirmed Detroit tornado is Michigan’s 28th of 2026 and the first to strike inside Detroit city limits since the July 2, 1997 outbreak — a span of nearly 30 years.
Detroit’s network of 56 outdoor warning sirens covering seven districts activated as warnings were issued ahead of Thursday’s storm, giving residents time to seek shelter before the tornado struck.
Anyone in the Detroit area during a tornado warning should immediately move to a basement, an interior room on the lowest floor, or a designated safe room away from windows — consistent with guidance from the City of Detroit’s own preparedness resources.
