EF1 tornado in Shiawassee County, Michigan

This tornado developed in Ingham County, just northeast of Mason, and tracked northeastward through the town of Williamston before crossing into Shiawassee County at 2153EST at a point 3.3 miles south-southeast of Perry (see Storm Data for Michigan, Southwest, for more information on the beginning portion of this tornado). In Shiawassee County, the tornado was on the ground for 2 miles and the most significant damage, rated EF1, was concentrated on Lovejoy, Locke, and Braden roads where 4 barns and 3 houses received damage. One house had windows blown out, one farm house had a section of roof taken off, and a modular home had the entire roof taken off. A man in the modular home received a bump on the head, otherwise, no injuries were reported. Total property damages to structures, vehicles, and other property were estimated at $400K. Average path width for the Shiawassee County portion was 100 yards.

A strong and potent storm in the Upper Great Lakes drove a cold front through Lower Michigan during the evening and overnight hours on October 18th and 19th. The atmosphere ahead of the cold front was very warm, moist, and unstable. These conditions combined with the strong storm to produce a late-season and late-night tornado outbreak. Five tornadoes were confirmed in Southeast Michigan in Shiawassee, Genesee, Tuscola, and Huron Counties. Only a couple of minor injuries were reported. Total property damages were estimated around $1.5M.