Tornadoes recently hit several communities in southern Lower Michigan, mainly in Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, and Calhoun counties, with the hardest-hit areas including Edwardsburg, Three Rivers, and Union City.

Quick Scoop: Where tornadoes hit in Michigan

Main impact zones

In the early afternoon of March 6, 2026, a lone supercell thunderstorm moved out of northwest Indiana into southern Lower Michigan and produced multiple tornadoes along its path. The storm tracked through:

  • Cass County, MI
  • St. Joseph County, MI
  • Branch County, MI
  • Calhoun County, MI

Key communities directly hit included:

  • Edwardsburg (Cass County) – An EF1 tornado with peak winds around 95 mph caused damage to trees and at least one home near Harris Street and M-62.
  • Three Rivers (St. Joseph County) – An EF2 tornado with winds up to about 130 mph struck the southwest side of town, heavily damaging a Menards store, a nearby storage facility, and other structures near the US‑131/M‑60 area.
  • Union City (Branch County) – An EF3 tornado with estimated winds near 160 mph hit the Union City area, destroying or severely damaging homes and vehicles and continuing toward the Branch/Calhoun county line before dissipating.

Strength and historical context

The storm produced four confirmed tornadoes in southern Lower Michigan, rated from EF0 to EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The Union City EF3 tornado has been noted as:

  • The earliest EF3+ tornado in the calendar year for Michigan on record.
  • The strongest tornado in the state since an F4 tornado affected parts of Kalamazoo and Eaton counties in 1977.

Tragically, the tornadoes in southern Michigan on March 6 led to multiple fatalities and more than a dozen injuries, with deaths reported in Cass County and near Union City.

Counties and towns hit (overview table)

Below is a quick reference to where tornadoes hit in Michigan during this event:

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[6][3][9][1] [3][1]
County Town / Area Estimated EF Rating Notable Impacts
Cass County Near Edwardsburg EF1 Trees snapped, damage to a home near Harris St & M‑62.
St. Joseph County Three Rivers & southwest side of city EF2 Significant damage to Menards, storage buildings, and nearby businesses and homes.
Branch County Near and into Union City EF3 Homes heavily damaged or destroyed, vehicles tossed, multiple fatalities and injuries.
Calhoun County Near Branch/Calhoun line EF1–EF2 (dissipating) Tornado weakened as it approached the county line, with still notable structural and tree damage.

Why this is a big deal right now

This Michigan tornado event has become a trending topic because:

  • It was part of a broader early‑March 2026 outbreak across the central U.S., with severe storms and tornadoes in multiple states.
  • For Michigan, it marked the deadliest tornado day in more than four decades and the earliest EF3 on record in the state.
  • Images and videos from storm chasers, residents, and local media in places like Three Rivers and Union City have circulated widely online, fueling forum discussion and news coverage.

If you’re in Michigan

If you are anywhere near Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, or Calhoun counties, local and state officials have issued emergency declarations and are coordinating recovery efforts. For the latest news and hyperlocal updates (shelters, road closures, power, etc.), check:

  • Your local National Weather Service office (Northern Indiana or Grand Rapids) for updated damage surveys and maps
  • Michigan emergency management and county social media pages for real‑time info
  • Trusted local outlets (TV, radio, public radio stations, and major Detroit/Grand Rapids news sites) for continuing coverage

TL;DR: Tornadoes in Michigan most recently struck southern Lower Michigan—especially Edwardsburg, Three Rivers, and Union City in Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, and nearby Calhoun counties—with the Union City EF3 standing out as both historically early and particularly destructive.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.