2026 Union City tornado
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Clockwise from Top: A video still of the tornado at peak intensity along Union Lake; NEXRAD scan of the tornado at 4:36 pm EST as it approached Union City; A graphic map of the tornado's track; Mid-range EF3 damage to a property along the shore of Union Lake. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 9 minutes |
| Formed | March 6, 2026, 4:33 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00) |
| Dissipated | March 6, 2026, 4:42 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00) |
| EF3 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Path width | 500 yards (0.28 mi; 0.46 km) |
| Path length | 4.46 miles (7.18 km) |
| Highest winds | 160 mph (260 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 3 |
| Injuries | 12 |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Branch County, Michigan, particularly near Union City |
| Script error: The function "split" does not exist. IBTrACS | |
Part of the Tornado outbreak of March 5–7, 2026 and Tornadoes of 2026 | |
During the afternoon hours of March 6, 2026, a short-lived yet deadly and destructive tornado tracked through Union City, Michigan. Part of a deadly tornado outbreak, this tornado was the third and most intense tornado spawned by a cyclic supercell in southwest Michigan.
The tornado tracked 4.46 miles (7.18 km) through Branch County, destroying multiple homes along Union Lake, claiming the lives of 3, and injuring 12 more. This tornado was the strongest tornado to occur in Michigan in nearly 50 years.[1][2]
Meteorological synopsis
Storm Prediction Center outlook
On March 6, the Storm Prediction Center outlined an Enhanced Risk for severe weather for the Great Plains and the Ozarks. The primary hazard was expected to be large hail. A 10% tornado risk with a CIG1 hatched area was outlined from north-eastern Texas into south-west Missouri, including eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, with the primary tornado threat expected to happen in Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma, extending into western Arkansas, Missouri, and southern Iowa.[3]
A marginal risk was outlined for Michigan, including Union City, along with a 2% tornado probability. However, it was noted through the CIG1 hatched probability that a conditional strong tornado risk did exist for the region. The primary severe threat expected for Michigan was isolated damaging winds through the late night into early morning; probabilities were low due to the forecasted lack of instability.[3]
Regional atmospheric conditions
On the night of March 5, 2026, a warm front stalled over northern Indiana and slowly moved northward throughout the afternoon hours of March 6th, with said crossing the Indiana-Michigan state line by 3 pm EST. Southerly winds boosted temperatures into the low to mid 70s across southern Michigan, in conjunction with ample low level moisture being transported northward. Wind shear values built up to 40-50 knots along with surface based CAPE values of 500-2000 J/kg. Storm-relative helicity (SRH) levels reached 200-250 m²/s² within the vicinity of Branch County as well, which is favorable for the formation of supercellular tornadoes.[4]
Supercell formation and initial tornadoes
Just after 4 pm EST, a supercell developed in northern Indiana and rode the frontal boundary up into southern Michigan. The supercell initially produced a weak but deadly tornado near Edwardsburg, Michigan, then later produced a strong tornado that impacted the city of Three Rivers, Michigan, where 10 people were injured and multiple businesses sustained damage. Hailstones ranging from quarter to golf ball size fell along the supercells path, with the largest hailstones being 1.75 inches.[4] The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning including Union City at 4:26 pm EST.[5]
Tornado summary
Formation and peak intensity along Union Lake
<mapframe>: Title "Tornadoes of 2026.map" is not a valid map data page Damage survey track of the tornado Key
EF0 65–85 mph (105–137 km/h) |
At 4:33 p.m. EST, the tornado touched down in northwest Branch County, Michigan near Union Lake between Blossom Rd and Mendon Rd, tracking east northeastward towards homes along the shore of Union Lake.[6] Moving along the north side of Union Lake, the tornado inflicted EF1 to EF2 damage to a pole barn and 2 houses. The tornado then crossed Tuttle Park Drive before destroying a large outbuilding and throwing a 500 U.S. gal (1,900 L) propane tank into a nearby field.
Ground scouring was noted as the tornado rapidly intensified to EF3 strength along Prairie Rose Lane, becoming a fully condensed multiple vortex tornado.[7][8][9] The neighborhood along Prairie Rose Lane was devastated, with nine homes being severely damaged at EF3 intensity, some being completely swept off of their foundations. All fatalities occurred in mobile homes that were completely destroyed. Several vehicles were thrown in the area and ice was seen being lofted into the tornado off of Union Lake.[8]
A large metal outbuilding that was anchored to the foundation took a direct hit, being completely destroyed at high-end EF2 strength. A home would have its slab nearly swept clean at mid-range EF3 strength. The home was poorly anchored as sill plates were held down by screws instead of anchor bolts.[10] South of the home, A well-anchored mobile home was tossed around 100 yards (91 m), severely damaging the frame, where one fatality occurred.[11][12] Subsequent homes would sustain major damage ranging from the removal of exterior walls to the collapse of all walls. An anchored home was completely swept clean, with only a subfloor and a fireplace where a man survived in remaining. The tornado reached a peak intensity of high-end EF3 as it completely demolished the last home along Prairie Rose Lane, a large two-story home anchored to a cinder block foundation, where winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) were estimated.[8]
Past Prairie Rose Lane, multiple trees would have their trucks snapped. A home west of Tuttle Rd had its exterior walls collapse, and a barn along Tuttle Rd was completely destroyed at low-end EF2 intensity.[10]
Union City and Dissipation
The tornado significantly weakened as it continued into Union City proper, where it inflicted EF0–EF1 damage. A store in downtown Union City had its front wall collapse, and a nearby church had its roof structure collapse. Soon after leaving Union City, the tornado continued to uproot more trees before dissipating at 4:42 EST local time near the Branch/Calhoun County line. The tornado tracked 4.46 miles (7.18 km) and reached a maximum width of 500 yards (460 m).[6]
After the Union City tornado dissipated, the parent supercell continued its track across southeastern Michigan. It went on to produce one final EF0 tornado in Calhoun County, shortly after which the supercell would dissipate.[4][6]
Aftermath
Around 70 homes in the Union City area were damaged or destroyed by the tornado.[13] Trees and powerlines were downed by the tornado, resulting in at least 2,000 customers losing power.[14]
The tornado was the earliest intense-to-violent tornado to ever occur in the calendar year for the state of Michigan and was initially considered for an EF4 rating, however the tornado was rated an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale with its final wind-speeds being 160 mph (260 km/h) due to homes being built with older building codes, and therefore having construction flaws.[15][16]
Recovery efforts
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a state of emergency in Branch, St. Joseph, and Cass counties to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to the severe weather.[17] Volunteers spent the weekend collecting and distributing supplies like food and water.[13] Operation BBQ, a volunteer group, soon arrived in Union City and began to give out free meals to residents affected by the tornado, as well as first responders.[18] Union City High School offered shelter and resources to those affected, and began to accept monetary and material donations.[13]
References
- ↑ Cichoracki, Colton (2026-03-09). "Union City tornado was the strongest tornado in Michigan in nearly 50 years". FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI). Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ Briscoe, Brett. "Union City tornado will go down as one of the strongest March twisters in Michigan history". WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Storm Prediction Center Mar 6, 2026 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "March 6th 2026 Severe Weather and Tornadoes in Southern Lower Michigan". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ↑ "Service Notice". iowamesonet.github.io. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Various National Weather Service offices (2026). "Damage Assessment Toolkit" (Interactive map and database). DAT. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- ↑ Channel 3, Meteorologist Will Haenni | News (2026-03-09). "Damage surveys reveal paths and intensity of 4 Michigan tornadoes Friday". WWMT. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Briscoe, Brett. "NWS confirms Union City tornado was EF3 in final report,". WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ Gmiter, Tanda (2026-03-09). "Deadly Union City tornado tossed a mobile home 100 yards and was a multi-vortex twister, NWS says". mlive. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ↑ "Public Information Statement: Union City Preliminary Rating". NOAA. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Union City tornado victims identified as recovery continues".
- ↑ Bohner, Steven (2026-03-06). "Thousands lost power in Three Rivers and Union City following observed tornadoes". WZZM. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ↑ Channel 3, Collin Rogers | News (2026-03-07). "NWS rates Union City tornado EF3, with winds up to 150 mph". WWMT. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ Snabes, Max Reinhart and Anne. "Tornado that hit Union Lake area had 150 mph winds". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ Carr, Brandon (2026-03-07). "Governor Gretchen Whitmer activates state of emergency center after multiple tornadoes hit SW Michigan". WDIV. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ↑ Channel 3, Ivy S. Fowler | News (2026-03-08). "Operation BBQ Relief serving free meals to community impacted by deadly tornado". WWMT. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
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