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Tornado damage confirmed in six counties

Patrick Center

The National Weather Service has confirmed evidence of several tornadoes on Saturday across western Michigan.

The service says damage  was confirmed in Kent, Van Buren, Allegan, Ottawa, Ionia and Montcalm counties.

The NWS on Sunday said preliminary data showed an EF-1 tornado between Bangor and Jamestown townships in Van Buren and Ottawa Counties, and an EF-0 in the southwest Grand Rapids metropolitan area.

It also found evidence of an EF-0 tornado briefly touching down at about 2:50 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in northeast Kent County near Perkins Avenue NE, between Knapp and Leonard streets.

It follows NWS tracking information provided over the weekend of an EF-1 tornado traversing about eight miles through lower Montcalm and northern Kent counties. 

The EF – or Enhanced Fujita – Scale is used to define and classify tornadoes by strength. The EF-0 and EF-1 categories are the weakest, with winds ranging from 65 to 85 miles per hour, and 86 to 110 miles per hour respectively.

NWS survey teams were on the ground over the weekend gathering data and other information.

More is expected from the agency this week.

Hilary is a General Assignment and Enterprise reporter for WGVU Public Media. She joined WGVU in September 2014 after several years of experience as a local news reporter, anchor and photojournalist in Midland, Saginaw and Bay counties. She's also worked as a financial and business reporter and audio field producer.
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