EF2 Tornado — Genesee, Michigan

2024-02-28 · near Grand Blanc, Genesee, Michigan

Event narrative

The tornado touched down in Creasey Bicentennial Park damaging the south pavilion and uprooting a pine tree. The tornado tracked east northeast across Westminster Cir where multiple trees were snapped, two garage doors were blown out, and a roof was partially stripped from one home. The tornado continued tracking east northeast across Porter Rd and Reid Rd where multiple limbs and trees were snapped. The peak of damage occurred at an industrial complex at the intersection of Reid and S Dort Hwy. Damage to the complex included blown out non load bearing walls and loss of the majority of the roof. Peak winds were estimated at 115 mph. Multiple transmission poles were also snapped along S Dort Hwy. Damaged continued into the Indian Hill neighborhood near downtown Grand Blanc where multiple large trees were downed with some of them falling onto homes along Old Bridge Rd to Stonybrook Dr. The tornado tracked east northeast across Genesee Road to Belsay Rd snapping hardwood limbs and uprooting pine trees before greater damage occurred along Moonstone Dr and Brookview Dr. Damage in these areas included more widespread tree damage and one home with a garage door blown out and a roof partially uplifted. The tornado weakened and lifted shortly after it crossed Perry Rd.

Wider weather episode

Record February high temperatures in the lower 70s created enough instability to allow for strong thunderstorms as a very strong cold front pushed through during the overnight hours. A few thunderstorms reached severe limits, highlighted by an EF-2 tornado in Grand Blanc. Winds behind the cold front on February 28th frequently gusted between 40-50 mph throughout the day.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.9200, -83.6700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1153881. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.