Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Grand Rapids, MI

June 11, 2026Clinton County, Eaton County, Ionia County, Michigan

NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this tornado warning at Jun 11, 2026, 9:54 PM EDT for Clinton County, Eaton County, Ionia County, Michigan. It was in force for 36 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jun 11, 2026, 9:54 PM EDT (01:54 UTC)
Expired
Jun 11, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Clinton County, MI, Eaton County, MI, Ionia County, MI

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 55 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:57 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 11, 8:08 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 00:00Z, 1.9 hours before the alert went out and 121 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2026-06-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 161 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2026-06-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 86 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
161 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-184 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1444 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
127 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

420 
WFUS53 KGRR 120154
TORGRR
MIC037-045-067-120230-
/O.NEW.KGRR.TO.W.0020.260612T0154Z-260612T0230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
954 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Ionia County in south central Michigan...
  Southwestern Clinton County in south central Michigan...
  Northern Eaton County in south central Michigan...

* Until 1030 PM EDT.

* At 954 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both
  tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located
  along a line extending from near Lake Odessa to near Nashville,
  moving east at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* These dangerous storms will be near...
  Portland around 1000 PM EDT.
  Grand Ledge and Potterville around 1005 PM EDT.

Other locations in the path of these tornadic storms include Lansing,
Capital Region International Airport and Edgemont Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4261 8507 4277 8507 4288 8509 4290 8460
      4258 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 0154Z 271DEG 49KT 4281 8505 4266 8507 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

CAS
2 follow-up statements
828 
WWUS53 KGRR 120219
SVSGRR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
1019 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

MIC067-120228-
/O.CAN.KGRR.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260612T0230Z/
Ionia MI-
1019 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN IONIA COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned 
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for south central
Michigan.

LAT...LON 4259 8480 4275 8477 4289 8479 4290 8460
      4258 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 0218Z 269DEG 49KT 4287 8464 4261 8467 

$$

MIC037-045-120230-
/O.CON.KGRR.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260612T0230Z/
Clinton MI-Eaton MI-
1019 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN CLINTON AND NORTHEASTERN EATON COUNTIES...

At 1018 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located
located along a line extending from near DeWitt to near Potterville,
moving east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

These tornadic storms will remain over mainly rural areas of
southwestern Clinton and northeastern Eaton Counties, including the
following locations... Waverly, Wacousta, and Dimondale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

This line of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4259 8480 4275 8477 4289 8479 4290 8460
      4258 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 0218Z 269DEG 49KT 4287 8464 4261 8467 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

DUKE
933 
WWUS53 KGRR 120227
SVSGRR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
1027 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

MIC037-045-120235-
/O.EXP.KGRR.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260612T0230Z/
Clinton MI-Eaton MI-
1027 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN CLINTON AND NORTHEASTERN
EATON COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1030 PM EDT...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However, gusty
winds are still possible with these thunderstorms.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for south central
Michigan.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for 
portions of Eaton, Clinton and Ingham Counties.

LAT...LON 4259 8480 4275 8477 4289 8479 4290 8460
      4258 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 0225Z 271DEG 49KT 4287 8457 4261 8460 

$$

DUKE

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Grand Rapids, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jun 11, 7:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Potential for severe weather remains for later this evening
  • Much cooler Friday; Rain chances return late Saturday into Sunday
  • Cooler and unsettled next week
Area forecast discussion, Jun 11, 7:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
735 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Potential for severe weather remains for later this evening

- Much cooler Friday; Rain chances return late Saturday into Sunday

- Cooler and unsettled next week

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 304 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

- Potential for severe weather remains for later this evening

There has been a lot said over the past few days regarding the
severe potential for tonight. That remains, but is still a little
uncertain just a few hours out due to leftover showers and storms
from last night trying to approach the area.

The synoptic scenario generally remains unchanged with lots of
dynamics still coming together over the area later this evening. The
main uncertainty comes with the showers and isolated storms slow to
diminish ahead of the main show, and the instability that can be
realized with the strong dynamics.

The showers and isolated storms are diminishing slowly as they
approach Lake Michigan. A bit slower than just about all of the
models have indicated. This is likely to delay the instability
advection over the area ahead of the strong short wave driving the
cold front through the region. An outflow boundary has settled over
Northern Illinois. This is becoming stationary and is about to be
pushed northward by the increasing low level jet ahead of the upper
wave and sfc front.

The bottom line is we expect plenty of instability to make it over
the area with up to around 2500 J/kg, highest across the SW corner
of the forecast area. The max instability will taper off as you head
further north and west.

Deep layer shear around 40 knots will work with the instability to
provide organization to the storms that are expected to line up
along the incoming cold front. Low level shear becomes very
favorable with the low level jet ramping up, especially across the
NW half of the forecast area. This along with backing winds at the
sfc provides quite some impressive hodographs that would support the
potential of isolated tornadoes along the QLCS.

Forecast soundings indicate that the further north you go, the more
of a stable layer is present. Further southwest, the stable layer is
quite shallow, partially because of the front approaching before we
lose too much instability, and partially because of the theta e axis
ahead of the front. The mid level winds are also strongest over the
western areas, leading to the best threat of strong winds. The best
threat of damaging winds reaching the ground, and possible tornadoes
will be there with the most shallow stable layer, with the threat
diminishing the further north and east you go.

The line should reach the Lake Michigan shore around 8-9 pm, and
then clear the forecast area 12-1 am, ending the threat once it
moves east. Some showers and storms may be possible with the wave
upper wave lingering. but the rich instability will be gone.

- Much cooler Friday; Rain chances return late Saturday into Sunday

We will likely see some residual clouds Friday morning, but these
will clear out quickly as ridging builds over the region. 850 mb
temps drop to around 12C Friday afternoon, which will support cooler
highs in the mid to upper 70s.

We will see the upper low over Canada then start to dominate the
weather over most of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. It will
bring a long wave trough down out of Canada late Saturday. This will
bring a sfc front into the forecast area Saturday evening. The front
is formidable itself, but then we will have a fairly strong short
wave ride along it, and bring another surge of energy to increase
the coverage of precipitation Saturday night and Sunday morning.
There is plenty of instability of around 1000 J/kg of MU CAPE ahead
of the front to support thunder. Shear is healthy too with the upper
jet near by, which helps support the marginal risk in place.

- Cooler and unsettled next week

Obviously the focus has been largely on the near term due to the
severe potential, so not much to say about the longer term period.
It can be categorized by long wave troughing/lower heights
dominating the region. This will result in much cooler temperatures
next week compared to this week. In addition, we will have short
waves moving through on the periphery of the upper trough. These
will bring periodic shower/storm chances to the area off and on next
week.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 213 PM EDT
Thu Jun 11 2026

The main change in this set of TAFs is to adjust the timing of the
next squall line currently moving across northern Illinois and
southern Wisconsin.

The main line of storms is expected to move through between 01Z and
06Z, and timing has been adjusted accordingly. Prevailing thunder
has been maintained at all sites, and TEMPO groups have been added
for higher gusts as the leading edge of the convection moves
through. IFR CIGs and visibilities are also included within the
TEMPO groups to account for the potential for heavy rainfall.

MVFR CIGs are expected overnight after the line passes, with VFR
conditions developing at most sites between 10Z and 14Z. Moderate
westerly winds will continue through 00Z Saturday, with skies
continuing to improve and cloud bases lifting to AOA 15kft AGL after
18Z.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 304 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

We will leave the Small Craft Advisory and Beach Hazards Statement
as is for tonight and Friday. We saw winds and waves approaching
criteria earlier, but are now in a relative lull before the winds
increase again with the approach of the front this evening. Then
winds will shift to be from the WNW with cooler air coming in which
will build the waves again through the first part of Friday before
diminishing. Aside from the synoptic winds, thunderstorm winds could
gust much higher which would be accounted for with Special Marine
Warnings.

&&

.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Beach Hazards Statement from 8 PM EDT this evening through
     Friday morning for MIZ037-043-050-056-064-071.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 8 PM this evening to noon EDT Friday
     for LMZ844>849.

&&

DISCUSSION...NJJ
AVIATION...Planz
MARINE...NJJ

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 11, 4:21 PM EDT, 5 hours 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
421 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0804 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NNE Perrinton         43.22N 84.66W
06/10/2026                   Gratiot            MI   Emergency Mngr

            Multiple large pole barn doors ripped off
            and launched into field. Some house damage
            from falling trees occurred just north in
            Perrinton.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 11, 8:59 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
859 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0855 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNE Holland           42.80N 86.08W
06/11/2026                   Ottawa             MI   Trained Spotter

            6 inch brand down at intersection of Chicago
            and South Waverly in Holland.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 11, 9:04 PM EDT, 50 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
904 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0900 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WNW Zeeland           42.82N 86.03W
06/11/2026                   Ottawa             MI   Public

            Trees and wires down.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 11, 9:10 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
910 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0905 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WNW Zeeland           42.82N 86.02W
06/11/2026                   Ottawa             MI   Public

            Trees and wires down on yard along West
            Mckinley Avenue.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 11, 9:13 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
913 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0900 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WNW Zeeland           42.82N 86.03W
06/11/2026                   Ottawa             MI   Public

            Trees and power lines down.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 11, 9:18 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
918 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0909 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Allegan                 42.53N 85.85W
06/11/2026                   Allegan            MI   Public

            Trees and wires down at Cutler and Cedar
            street in Allegan MI.

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 11, 8:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGRRAllegan, Muskegon, Ottawa94 min
Jun 11, 8:42 PM EDTTornado WarningGRROttawa38 min
Jun 11, 8:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRVan Buren55 min
Jun 11, 8:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGRRBarry, Kent62 min
Jun 11, 9:07 PM EDTTornado WarningGRRKent38 min
Jun 11, 9:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRKalamazoo39 min
Jun 11, 9:28 PM EDTTornado WarningGRRBarry, Ionia, Kent29 min
Jun 11, 9:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGRREaton, Ionia67 min
Jun 11, 9:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRCalhoun45 min
Jun 11, 10:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGRRClinton, Ingham60 min
Jun 11, 11:31 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGRRCalhoun, Kalamazoo3 hr
Jun 11, 11:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRJackson50 min
Jun 12, 4:10 PM EDTBeach Hazards StatementGRRMason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa34 hr
Jun 12, 4:10 PM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryGRR34 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.