National Weather Service confirms tornado struck in Detroit on Thursday
The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado struck Detroit on Thursday afternoon amid a blast of severe weather that resulted in tornado warnings for several Southeast Michigan counties.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield broke that news Friday afternoon during a press conference about the storm and its impact, adding that the report was not a surprise given the damage in the area. The NWS has since confirmed that report to CBS News Detroit.
The NWS sent a team to Detroit on Friday morning to survey damage after the suspected tornado hit the city's east side Thursday afternoon. The survey area was from Hamtramck to Detroit to Belle Isle. The exact path and rating of the tornado's strength are pending further research.
The tornado headed across the Canadian border into Windsor, and weather reports from Ontario authorities are pending.
Tornadoes are rated via an estimated wind gust speed in the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale. A EF-0 tornado is estimated at up to 85 mph; and an EF-1 tornado is estimated at between 86 mph and 110 mph.
The NWS conducted its survey from Hamtramck to Detroit to Belle Isle. A tornado warning was issued for Wayne County just before 4 p.m. Thursday.
The last tornado that directly affected the City of Detroit happened in July 1997.
An active tornado season in Michigan
This is Michigan's 28th tornado of the year. A tornado that caused tree damage in St. Clair County on Wednesday evening was confirmed as Michigan's 27th tornado of the year.
Michigan saw one of its most-active tornado seasons on record during 2025, with 33 tornadoes confirmed in the state that year.
