Additional Coverage:
A powerful tornado struck Sheridan Township, Michigan, on Tuesday morning, leaving significant damage in its wake and freeing hundreds of cows from a local farm. The storm hit a barn around 10:50 a.m., according to reports from firefighters, who confirmed no injuries but noted the challenging task of rounding up between 200 and 300 cows that had escaped.
The tornado’s impact extended beyond the farm, causing power outages in several homes and blocking multiple roads with fallen trees. This event was part of a series of overnight storms that produced two EF-1 tornadoes in southeastern Michigan.
In Washtenaw County, the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down near Ann Arbor around 1:44 a.m. In Garden City, residents experienced strong winds that snapped a tree and downed power lines, which briefly ignited a small fire.
Resident Susan Steffke described the sudden onset of the storm: “I got an alert to take cover, and within seconds, it was raining with thunder and lightning.” The fallen tree blocked a side street, leaving wires hanging in her backyard, and a telephone pole was split in half, its top portion resting on the sidewalk.
Neighbors in Garden City were left without electricity for several hours after the storm. Julie Feinthel, another local resident, reported the power outage began around 3 a.m. and was restored shortly before 4:30 p.m., thanks to the efforts of DTE Energy crews working through the night.
Further south, in Wayne County, a tornado crossed Dix Highway into Melvindale, causing damage to roofs, windows, and HVAC units, as well as downing trees. Heavy rain and flooding accompanied the storms, submerging parts of Gibraltar. Resident Gary Gagne commented on the unusual flooding, noting it was the first time the street had been blocked and expressing hope for prompt drainage efforts.
The recent tornadoes and storms have clearly left a mark across southeastern Michigan, with ongoing recovery efforts focusing on power restoration, debris removal, and assisting residents affected by flooding.