At least six people have died after tornadoes struck Michigan and Oklahoma, according to multiple reports. The storms caused fatalities in Branch and Cass counties in Michigan and in Major County, Oklahoma, where a mother and her teenage daughter were killed when a tornado hit their car.
In Michigan, three fatalities and 12 injuries occurred in Branch County, according to multiple reports. Another person died in Cass County. The exact total death toll across all affected areas remains unclear, as reports from different sources may refer to the same or different events. The Independent reports four deaths in Michigan (Branch and Cass counties), while Midi Libre reports at least three deaths near Union Lake outside Union City. It is unclear if these refer to the same tornado or different ones, affecting the total death count. Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated Michigan's emergency operations centre, according to multiple reports. Whitmer said she set up a crisis center to coordinate work after the storms in southwestern Michigan. Hundreds of people were affected by a power outage in Michigan, according to major media reports. The full extent of damage and injuries in Michigan has not been confirmed.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer set up a crisis center to coordinate work after the storms in southwestern Michigan.
In Oklahoma, a powerful tornado struck Enid on Thursday, causing significant damage, according to multiple reports. The tornado ripped roofs from homes, felled power poles, and left totaled properties in Enid. Authorities reported no immediate fatalities and only minor injuries in Enid. Emergency responders conducted door-to-door checks in affected neighborhoods. Vance Air Force Base was impacted by the tornado, though the status of personnel and operations remains unknown. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt urged prayers for the Enid community. In Major County, a mother and her teenage daughter were killed when a tornado hit their car, according to multiple reports.
The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Iowa on Friday night, according to multiple reports. Extreme thunderstorms are forecast to affect areas from southern Texas to western Tennessee and northwestern Alabama on Saturday. Severe weather may persist into next week. The broader severe weather outlook suggests continued risk across the central and southern United States.