Heavy Storms Create Chaos in America’s Midwest

This past weekend on Saturday, June 5th the National Weather Service received a total of 175 severe storm reports via telephone. Nearly half of all of the callers reported that they had seen tornadoes. The areas affected stretched across parts of Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. The state of Ohio suffered the heaviest damage however as tornadoes left seven people dead there.

In Lake Township just south of Toledo, numerous homes were completely leveled. The local high school was literally torn to shreds just hours before the school’s graduation ceremony was to begin there. School buses were tossed onto their sides, leaving one bus sitting fifty yards from where it was parked, with its emergency lights still flashing a full twelve hours after the storm had passed. There were reports of many people being rushed to local hospitals for treatment in the area as well as numerous reports of minor injuries.

In Berrien County, Michigan, cleanup efforts are still underway after a pair of tornadoes hit the area late Saturday night. The National Weather Service said that EF1 and EF2 tornadoes caused the heavy damage. Officials in the county are being warned today June 8th that more severe storms may soon be on the way. A warm front that is carrying a lot of heavy moisture is expected to move into this area as soon as later today, so the potential is very real for more severe weather. In total, there were eight tornadoes sighted throughout the region as part of a line of storms that moved across the Midwest.

Residents of Berrien County are being reminded that it is not only tornadoes that they need to be concerned with. Heavy thunderstorms can kick up winds in excess of 80 mph, which can rip roofs off buildings and topple trees. Last weekend’s storms were caused both by tornadoes and these heavy winds that were produced as the ‘right ingredients’ were in place to cause the damaging weather. Residents are being told to view severe thunderstorm warnings as seriously as they do tornadoes which may include needing to take cover in basements.

Thousands of people in Berrien County were left without power following the storms but most had their power restored by Sunday, although there are still some remote areas without electricity. Several roadways were forced closed due to downed trees and work crews are working quickly to clear them before the next line of storm moves through later today or early tomorrow.