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Weather service puts final total on weekend tornadoes at 5

Posted at 12:01 PM, Aug 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-23 14:38:41-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The National Weather Service has put the official tally on Saturday's tornado count in West Michigan at 5 .

In the damage surveys, the Weather Service determined that the tornado that struck Van Buren County tracked just into Allegan County. It then lifted about 2.5 miles northeast of Grand Junction.

A separate tornado formed southeast of Fennville, in Allegan County, and continued northeast into Ottawa County.

So, the official list - in order of occurrence:

  1. EF-1 tornado touched down about 1:13pm just southwest of Bangor, went northeast  through town, through the True Blue Blueberry Farm and Columbia Township Hall to Grand Junction.  It ended northeast of Grand Junction.  It had traveled about 10.6 miles and was 50 to 150 yards wide.  Winds peaked between 90 and 110 mph.
  2. EF-1 tornado touched down on 118th Avenue southeast of Fennville in Allegan County and traveled northeast to the Ottawa County border. It continued on into Ottawa County.  The complete track is still under investigation.
  3. EF-0 tornado touched down about 2:34pm near the intersection of Ivanrest and  Rivertown Parkway. Traveled through the intersection of 36th and Byron Center Avenue and others.  It ended after just after five miles near Nagel Avenue and Chicago Drive. The tornado was 200 to 250 yards wide and had peak winds of 80-85 mph.
  4. EF-0 tornado touched down at about 2:50pm near Perkins Avenue NE between Leonard Street and Knapp Street. The tornado was on the ground for only about two minutes.  Top wind speeds were between 70 and 80 mph.
  5.  EF-1 tornado touched down about half a mile east of Orleans, Michigan at about 3:10 p.m.  It traveled eight miles and ended at 3:25 p.m. at 3.5 miles southeast of Sheridan, Michigan.  The tornado was about 100 yards wide at its widest point and had wind speeds peak at 90 mph.

Straight-line winds were also recorded in Wyoming, from about M-6 and Kenowa of about 100mph.  High winds were clocked all the way to East Grand Rapids.