Kalamazoo Under Tornado Warning As Severe Storms Hit Michigan

A tornado warning was issued for Kalamazoo County, Michigan, on Thursday afternoon as severe thunderstorms swept across the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed radar-indicated rotation near the city of Kalamazoo, prompting immediate safety alerts for residents.

The warning, active until 4:15 PM ET, urged people to seek shelter in basements or interior rooms. Local authorities reported downed trees and power lines as strong winds battered the area. Emergency crews were dispatched to assess damage in affected neighborhoods.

This weather event is part of a larger storm system moving through the Midwest. Social media footage showed dark funnel clouds forming near Portage, though no confirmed touchdowns were immediately reported. The NWS advised residents to stay weather-aware through the evening.

Kalamazoo Public Schools canceled after-school activities as a precaution. Consumers Energy reported over 2,000 customers without power in the county as of 3:45 PM. The warning comes exactly six years after a deadly tornado struck nearby Otsego in 2020.

Meteorologists attribute the severe weather to an unstable air mass colliding with a cold front. The system is expected to move northeast toward Detroit by nightfall. This developing story is trending nationally due to its potential for significant damage in a populated area.