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Tornado confirmed for Grandville and Wyoming; also in other counties

Posted at 4:48 PM, Aug 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-22 17:18:10-04

GRANDVILLE, Mich. - The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado did touch down in Grandville and Wyoming Saturday afternoon and other areas saw straight-line winds of 100mph.

The tornado touched down near 44th Street and Ivanrest Avenue at about 2:34pm.  It lasted about ten minutes and ended near the intersection of Nagel Avenue SW and Chicago Drive.  The tornado was about 200 to 250 yards wide and traveled about 5.25 miles.

The tornado zig-zagged through some major Wyoming intersections including the corner of Byron Center Avenue and 36th Street, Sharon Avenue and 28th Street SW, Porter Street and Boulevard Drive SW, and Burlingame Avenue SW, just north of Burton Street.

The National Weather Service says the tornado also moved through the Wyoming Middle School football field, Battjes Park and Prairie Park. The tornado was rated EF-0, which means wind speeds peaked at about 80-85 mph.

Straight-line winds also occurred in the area to the east of the tornado.  These winds, which were estimated at EF-1 strength, reached around 100mph.  These winds hit an area near the M-6 between Kenowa Avenue and Ivanrest SW.  Thesewinds caused significant damage at Ironwood Golf Courseand other large trees along 64th Street near Wilson.

Other straight-lines winds, estimated between 65 and 75 mph caused damage north of the M-6, notably to Maple Hill Golf Course and Pinery Park.  This straight-line of winds went from an area near the intersection of the M-6 and Wilson Avenue SW, all the way through East Grand Rapids.

In other counties, the National Weather Service says that an EF-1 rated tornado rolled from Bangor, northeast to Grand Junction.  This tornado was between 50 and 150 yards wide and had wind speeds of between 90 and 110 mph.

The Weather Service says it is unclear if this tornado continued on into Allegan County.  Another tornado path was found from 118th Avenue, southeast of Fennville, to the Ottawa County border.  The tornado path had wind speeds of 90- 110 mph.

Another path of EF-1 destruction was found in Ottawa County from the Allegan County border to 8th Avenue, north of Perry Street.  Winds from this tornado were estimated at 90 mph.

The National Weather Service has not yet determined how many tornadoes were actually formed during Saturday afternoon's storms.

Earlier, the Weather Service did confirm a tornado touched down in Ionia and Montcalm Counties.