Union City — A violent tornado tore through areas near Union City and Three Rivers in southwest Michigan on Friday, March 6, 2026, causing significant damage and multiple confirmed fatalities in what meteorologists describe as potentially the state’s earliest EF3+ tornado on record.
Storm chaser Drew Brummel documented scenes of obvious EF3+ damage, with estimated winds exceeding 150 mph. The tornado struck west of Ann Arbor, affecting Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties. Reports indicate major structural destruction, including to buildings like a Menards store in Three Rivers and Three Rivers High School.
The parent thunderstorm was relatively small and not particularly impressive in terms of wind or hail, but high low-level CAPE and helicity along a warm front allowed efficient spin-up, producing a classic “sneaky” warm-front tornado. A Particularly Dangerous Situation tornado warning was issued as the storm moved through.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in the affected counties to support response efforts. Search and rescue operations continue amid debris, with residents urged to avoid damaged areas.
The National Weather Service is conducting damage surveys to confirm the rating and path. This event stands out as rare for early March in Michigan, where the state typically sees few tornadoes this time of year. No direct ties to Arkansas severe weather were noted, though Friday’s broader system brought tornado risks to parts of the Midwest and South.
