2026 Detroit tornado

2026 Detroit tornado

File:2026 Detroit tornado radar.png NEXRAD reflectivity (left) and storm-relative velocity (right) at 20:17 UTC (4:17 p.m. EDT) with a Hook echo present
Meteorological history
Duration	4 minutes
Formed	September 3, 2026, 4:14 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)
Dissipated	September 3, 2026, 4:18 p.m. EDT (UTC-4:00)
EF2 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Path width	0.5 mi (880 yd; 800 m) (U.S. portion)
Path length	3.50 mi (5.63 km) (U.S. portion)
Highest winds	115 mph (185 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities	0
Injuries	1
Areas affected	Detroit and Belle Isle, Michigan, United States; Windsor, Ontario, Canada
IBTrACS
Part of the Tornadoes of 2026

On September 3, 2026, an EF2 tornado struck the east side of Detroit, Michigan, and Belle Isle. The National Weather Service (NWS) surveyed a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) path through Detroit and Belle Isle, with estimated peak winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a maximum width of 0.5-mile (0.80 km). It damaged industrial and residential buildings, utility infrastructure and trees before crossing the Detroit River onto Belle Isle. The Northern Tornadoes Project subsequently confirmed that the tornado continued into Windsor, Ontario, where it was rated EF1 with estimated peak winds of 165 km/h (103 mph).

The tornado occurred during multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms in southeastern Michigan on September 2 and 3. Two other tornadoes, both rated EF0, were confirmed in Marysville and Lincoln Park. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield declared a local state of emergency for the principal impact area and Belle Isle on September 4. It was the first confirmed tornado within Detroit since an F2 tornado on July 2, 1997.

Meteorological history

On September 2, rotating thunderstorms developed over the Saginaw Valley and the Thumb, producing hail larger than 2 in (5.1 cm) near the Interstate 69 corridor and an EF0 tornado at Marysville. Later that night, a second group of thunderstorms developed over Livingston and Oakland counties and grew into a line while moving east-southeast through Macomb and Wayne counties. The line produced widespread estimated winds of 60 to 70 mph (97 to 113 km/h) before moving into Ontario early on September 3.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed southeastern Michigan in a slight risk of severe thunderstorms on September 3. The morning outlook described a mid-level disturbance moving from Wisconsin into Lower Michigan, where an outflow boundary, low-level moisture and atmospheric instability supported thunderstorm development. Forecasters expected some storms to initially exhibit supercell characteristics before organizing into a line, with damaging winds as the main hazard. A local National Weather Service forecast discussion described an organized mesoscale convective system moving along a stalled frontal boundary, with surface dew points in the lower to middle 70s Fahrenheit, surface-based convective available potential energy of 2,000–3,000 J/kg, and effective wind shear of 35–40 knots. Forecasters noted that enhanced storm-relative helicity near Metro Detroit could support a tornado within an embedded rotating storm.

At 2 p.m. EDT, the SPC issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch 648 for Lower Michigan and nearby waters until 7 p.m. Forecasters expected the storm cluster to intensify as it moved east-southeast, with possible wind gusts to 70 mph (110 km/h), hail to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) and one or two tornadoes. At 3:48 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Wayne County until 4:30 p.m. A radar-indicated line of storms was moving southeast at 45 mph (72 km/h), with forecast arrival in Detroit at about 4:10 p.m. and Belle Isle at about 4:20 p.m. As the storm crossed Detroit, radar showed strong rotation and a reduction in correlation coefficient, a signature consistent with lofted debris.

Tornado summary

The tornado touched down at 4:14 p.m. along Hancock Road near Ellery Place, about two miles (3.2 km) northeast of Comerica Park. It moved south-southeast through the lower east side, crossing East Forest Avenue and the intersection of Mt. Elliott Street and Gratiot Avenue. Damage increased between Mack Avenue and Mt. Elliott Street and East Grand Boulevard and East Lafayette Street.

The tornado continued through residential blocks near Concord and Canton avenues and crossed East Grand Boulevard at East Jefferson Avenue. It then crossed the Detroit River and reached Belle Isle just east of the Belle Isle Boat House. The NWS-surveyed U.S. track continued through the central part of Belle Isle toward the Model Yacht Basin, where the NWS survey ended at 4:18 p.m.

A building that was completely destroyed by a tornado in Detroit at mid-range ef2 intensity

A building that was completely destroyed by the tornado in Detroit

Damage was subsequently confirmed across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario. The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) rated the Windsor portion of the tornado EF1, with estimated peak winds of 165 km/h (103 mph). NTP investigators later reported that the tornado had crossed the Detroit River at Belle Isle and continued for approximately 7 km (4.3 mi) through Windsor, reaching a maximum width of 1.1 km (0.68 mi). The Windsor portion of the track began near Riverside Drive, continued roughly parallel to Jefferson Boulevard, crossed the Ford Essex Engine Plant area, and passed over the E. C. Row Expressway near Lauzon Parkway.

Damage and casualties

Near the beginning of the path, trees and residential siding were damaged. An outbuilding was overturned near East Forest Avenue, and part of the roof of the Preferred Meal Systems building was removed. At Mt. Elliott Street and Gratiot Avenue, traffic signals were detached and several trees were snapped.

Industrial buildings along Bellevue and Beaufait streets sustained partial roof loss and collapsed or blown-out walls. Near Concord and Canton avenues, trees were snapped or uprooted, electrical and lighting poles were damaged, and houses sustained roof, siding and window damage. Two vacant buildings on St. Paul Street near Concord Avenue collapsed, and sheet metal from the Utica Washers building was found about one mile (1.6 km) away near Helen and East Congress streets. The National Weather Service rated damage in this portion of the path from high-end EF1 to low-end EF2.

Near East Jefferson Avenue, the tornado tore brick facing and roofing from a building. On Belle Isle, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, and a rowing scull was blown into a tree near the boat house.

By September 4, city inspectors had identified at least 20 damaged properties, mostly with roof, wall or tree damage. About 80 trees had been reported down across Detroit, and crews had reopened 32 blocked streets. Nearly 100 traffic signals were initially inoperable. The Detroit Fire Department responded to 65 storm-related incidents, including downed wires, structure fires caused by wires, and trees on houses.

The preliminary National Weather Service survey listed one injury and no fatalities. According to city officials, a man dislocated his shoulder while shielding his infant after a tree fell on his home during the severe weather; the injury was not life-threatening.

Response and aftermath

City workers began checking affected neighborhoods and clearing hazards on September 3. Crews inspected damaged structures and installed generators or temporary stop signs at intersections without working signals. Fewer than 12 families were initially believed to need emergency housing assistance.

About 30,000 customers in Detroit remained without power on September 4 following the severe weather. Across the broader service territory of DTE Energy, more than 388,000 customers lost electricity during the successive storms beginning September 2. By the morning of September 5, approximately 80 percent of affected customers had been restored, while more than 90,000 remained without power across Metro Detroit. More than 4,000 utility workers and contractors were involved in restoration efforts.

On September 4, Mayor Sheffield declared a local state of emergency for an area bounded by Sylvester Street, East Jefferson Avenue, Chene Street and McClellan Avenue, as well as Belle Isle. The declaration permitted the city to mobilize local resources for cleanup and resident support and to coordinate with state and federal officials about possible additional aid.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources crews worked overnight to clear roads on Belle Isle. Volunteers joined a cleanup organized with the Belle Isle Conservancy on September 4 after additional storms delayed its start.

At Gabriel Richard Park along the Detroit riverfront, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy reported that more than 20 old-growth trees were lost. Restoration was expected to continue for several weeks.

Other tornadoes and severe weather

The National Weather Service confirmed two other tornadoes during the September 2–3 storms.

Confirmed tornadoes other than the Detroit tornado

Date	Location	Rating	Time (EDT)	Path	Maximum width	Effects
September 2	Marysville	EF0	7:19–7:21 p.m.	0.35 mi (0.56 km)	175 yd (160 m)	Estimated peak winds of 75 mph (121 km/h) caused sporadic tree damage between Gratiot Boulevard and Highway 29. No casualties were reported.
September 3	Lincoln Park	EF0	4:12–4:13 p.m.	0.16 mi (0.26 km)	50 yd (46 m)	Estimated peak winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) snapped limbs, uprooted several trees, bent transmission lines and damaged wires near Fort Street, Memorial Park and the Senior Center. No casualties were reported.

The storms also produced hail larger than 2 in (5.1 cm) near Interstate 69 and widespread straight-line wind damage. Most of southeastern Michigan received more than 1 in (25 mm) of rain, with 2 to 4 in (51 to 102 mm) in many areas along and south of M-59 and localized totals above 4 in (100 mm) in Livingston County. The rainfall caused road ponding but not widespread flooding.

Historical context

The previous confirmed tornado in Detroit occurred on July 2, 1997. Rated F2 on the original Fujita scale, it traveled 5 mi (8.0 km) from northwest Detroit through Highland Park and Hamtramck, reached a maximum width of 2,500 yd (2.3 km), and injured 90 people. It caused an estimated $90 million in property damage. Contemporary reporting described the 1997 event as one of 13 tornadoes recorded in southeastern Michigan that day.

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of United States tornadoes from July to September 2026
• Tornadoes of 2026

External links

• NWS Detroit/Pontiac event summary

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