Michigan Tornado 2026: Four Dead After EF3 Tears Through Union City, Three Rivers Devastated
Southwest Michigan is in mourning Monday, March 9, as communities continue to recover from a catastrophic tornado outbreak that tore through the region on Friday, March 6. The National Weather Service confirmed four tornadoes touched down across Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties, killing four people and injuring at least 12 others in what is now being called West Michigan's deadliest tornado outbreak in decades.
Michigan Tornado in Union City: Earliest EF3 on Record Hits With 160 MPH Winds
The deadly tornado that struck Union City, Michigan, on March 6 was rated EF3 — the earliest EF3 ever recorded in Michigan and the strongest to strike the state in 49 years, with estimated peak winds exceeding 160 mph.
The EF3 Union City tornado had a wind speed of at least 165 mph, just 1 mph shy of an EF4 classification on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Several homes in the area were severely damaged, with some taken completely off their foundations.
Around 70 homes in the Union City area were damaged. Several homes along Union Lake were taken off their foundation and destroyed, leaving behind only the cement slab.
Victims of the Union City Tornado Identified by Authorities
The Branch County Sheriff's Office identified the three Union City tornado victims as 63-year-old William Andrew Akers, 54-year-old Keri Ann Johnson, and 65-year-old Penni Jo Guthrie. All three were recovered in the area of Prairie Rose Lane and Tuttle Park Drive in the Union Lake area of Sherwood Township.
In Cass County, near Edwardsburg, 12-year-old Silas Anderson was killed after a tornado touched down in the area of Conrad Road. Police said a caller told dispatch just before 3:15 p.m. that they could not find their son. Anderson was located and taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Edwardsburg Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Courtney Szucs released a statement calling Anderson's death "unimaginable," announcing that crisis team members would be available to support students and staff beginning Monday, March 9.
Three Rivers Michigan Tornado: EF2 Collapses Menards Roof on US-131
An EF2 tornado ripped through Three Rivers with estimated peak winds of at least 130 mph. The path of damage ran from west of Edwardsburg through Three Rivers to the Union City area.
In Three Rivers, the back of a Menards at US-131 and Broadway Road collapsed. Part of the roof and front sign were torn away. Video circulated widely of clouds swirling with debris before roofing was torn from the building. Three Rivers Health Hospital and several clinics on its campus also sustained damage, though no staff or patients were hurt.
Three Rivers Community Schools closed Monday due to damage from the storm, with the district stating that instructional buildings were safe but that cleanup and assessment were still ongoing.
National Weather Service Confirms Four Tornadoes Across Michigan
The National Weather Service confirmed four tornadoes on Friday: an EF1 near Edwardsburg, an EF2 in Three Rivers, an EF3 in the Union City area, and an EF0 in Clarendon Township near Tekonsha.
The storms cut a devastating path through Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties, flattening buildings, toppling trees, and leaving thousands without electricity. Indiana Michigan Power reported roughly 5,500 outages, while Midwest Energy and Communications cited another 1,300 customers affected.
Governor Whitmer Declares State of Emergency After Michigan Tornado Outbreak
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer offered condolences to those affected and said the state was coordinating with emergency teams to deliver aid and resources, writing that the entire state was wrapping its arms around Three Rivers, Union City, Edwardsburg, and everywhere in between.
The American Red Cross set up a shelter for displaced residents at Riverside Church on East Michigan Avenue in Three Rivers. Residents with unmet needs for shelter, food, or assistance were directed to call 211. The Michigan State Police, the Salvation Army, and nonprofit Disaster Relief at Work went door-to-door Saturday with meals and cleaning supplies in both Union City and Three Rivers.
Union City High School has been established as a resource center for those needing shelter, supplies, or assistance. The cleanup and damage assessment across all four tornado corridors remains active as of Monday morning ET.
