Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Grand Rapids, MI

April 2, 2026Kalamazoo County, Van Buren County, Michigan

NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this tornado warning at Apr 2, 2026, 7:01 PM EDT for Kalamazoo County, Van Buren County, Michigan. It was in force for 44 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
Apr 2, 2026, 7:01 PM EDT (23:01 UTC)
Expired
Apr 2, 2026, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Kalamazoo County, MI, Van Buren County, MI

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:02 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
Apr 2, 6:28 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC3 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 180 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 12:00Z on 2026-04-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 15 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2026-04-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 434 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
15 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
392 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
434 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
496 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

390 
WFUS53 KGRR 022301
TORGRR
MIC077-159-022345-
/O.NEW.KGRR.TO.W.0003.260402T2301Z-260402T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
701 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Van Buren County in southwestern Michigan...
  Kalamazoo County in southwestern Michigan...

* Until 745 PM EDT.

* At 700 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Marcellus, or 10 miles northwest of Three Rivers,
  moving northeast 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Portage and Schoolcraft around 710 PM EDT.
  Kalamazoo around 715 PM EDT.
  Westwood around 720 PM EDT.
  Parchment and Comstock Northwest around 725 PM EDT.
  Galesburg, Richland, and Gull Lake around 730 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Comstock, Augusta, Scotts, Oshtemo, Alamo, and Cooper.

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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4242 8568 4242 8530 4240 8530 4218 8538
      4207 8553 4207 8592
TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 217DEG 47KT 4203 8580 

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

$$

JC
3 follow-up statements
555 
WWUS53 KGRR 022315
SVSGRR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
715 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

MIC159-022324-
/O.CAN.KGRR.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260402T2345Z/
Van Buren MI-
715 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN VAN BUREN COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for southwestern
Michigan.

LAT...LON 4242 8560 4242 8530 4240 8530 4218 8538
      4207 8553 4207 8576
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 217DEG 47KT 4218 8564 

$$

MIC077-022345-
/O.CON.KGRR.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260402T2345Z/
Kalamazoo MI-
715 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR KALAMAZOO
COUNTY...

At 714 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Portage, moving northeast 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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Kalamazoo, Portage, Parchment, Comstock Northwest, and Westwood 
  around 720 PM EDT.
  Richland and Gull Lake around 730 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Comstock, Augusta, Scotts, and Cooper.

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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4242 8560 4242 8530 4240 8530 4218 8538
      4207 8553 4207 8576
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 217DEG 47KT 4218 8564 

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

$$

HOVING
339 
WWUS53 KGRR 022327
SVSGRR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
727 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

MIC077-022345-
/O.CON.KGRR.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260402T2345Z/
Kalamazoo MI-
727 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
KALAMAZOO COUNTY...

At 727 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Vicksburg, or near Portage, moving northeast at 40
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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Portage around 730 PM EDT.
  Galesburg around 735 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Augusta, Comstock, and Scotts.

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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4242 8550 4242 8530 4240 8530 4218 8538
      4211 8547 4214 8563
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 235DEG 36KT 4218 8550 

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

$$

HOVING
919 
WWUS53 KGRR 022337
SVSGRR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
737 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

MIC077-022345-
/O.CON.KGRR.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260402T2345Z/
Kalamazoo MI-
737 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL KALAMAZOO COUNTY...

At 737 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Galesburg, or 8 miles west of Battle Creek, moving
northeast 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.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
east central Kalamazoo County, including the following locations...
Augusta and Scotts.

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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4239 8532 4241 8530 4240 8530 4219 8538
      4218 8545 4230 8543
TIME...MOT...LOC 2337Z 217DEG 47KT 4229 8539 

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

$$

HOVING

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 Apr 2, 6:18 PM EDT, 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Thunderstorms Likely, Severe Thunderstorms Possible This Evening
  • Thunderstorms Friday Night to Saturday
Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 6:18 PM EDT, 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
618 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorms Likely, Severe Thunderstorms Possible This Evening

- Thunderstorms Friday Night to Saturday

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 222 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

- Thunderstorms Likely, Severe Thunderstorms Possible This Evening

Models have remained pretty consistent on the evolution of the
environment, with a warm front surging toward I-96 late this
afternoon and storms developing along a prefrontal trough over IL,
IN, southern Lake Michigan, and Southwest Michigan. Altogether,
the greatest severe weather threat will be between 5 PM and 10 PM,
but can't rule out a couple more isolated storms around 10 PM to
1 AM helping to stir down strong environmental winds above the
surface.

CAPE in the range of 500-1000 J/kg will develop in the warm
sector with most unstable parcels just above the surface, and the
greatest concentration of CAPE will be in the warm lower
troposphere above the LFC to about 4 km. This limits the hail
potential but increases the potential for vorticity tilting and
stretching in a highly sheared 0-1 km and 0-3 km layer. Hodographs
in the warm sector near and south of I-96 are expected to be
elongated and clockwise curved at least in the 0-2 km layer, with
less shear above. About 45 knots of 0-3 km shear is possible. The
Significant Tornado Parameter south of I-96 is favored to increase
to at least 1, perhaps approaching 2-3, between 5 PM and 9 PM.
Moisture through the convective layer will be high, with LCLs 1000
meters or lower, increasing rainfall rates but tempering the
strength of convective downdrafts and cold pools. But with low-
level wind shear being strong, it won't take strong downdrafts to
mix down locally severe wind gusts.

The storm mode that evolves over Southwest Michigan this evening
could be some mix of quasi-linear segments or semi-descrete
supercells. Either way, the small scale and lower-atmospheric
mesocyclones or mesovorts that develop in this environment could
be capable of producing a tornado or two in our area. Any right-
moving mesocyclones are calculated to move northeast around 55
mph, making this evening's hazards fast-unfolding if the
conditional threat is realized.

- Thunderstorms Friday Night to Saturday

Another wave of low pressure along this regional frontal zone
provides elevated warm-advection thunderstorms overnight Friday
night and showers/storms in the vicinity of a cold front during
the day Saturday. This will be another high-shear low-CAPE sort of
environment so can't rule out a marginal severe threat at this
point. The earlier daytime convection timing on Saturday may keep
the greater risk farther east.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 615 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

A dynamic system is moving through the area. A warm front is
moving north near I-94 and showers and thunderstorms will continue
to develop for the next several hours. Additionally, strong low
level flow ahead of the low over Iowa will result in LLWS through
midnight or so.

The trailing cold front will pass over the terminals around 12z
Friday putting an end to the precipitation. Cigs/vsbys will slowly
lift late morning and early afternoon.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 222 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Considered a gale warning for this evening/tonight, but the
threat of gales will probably be conveyed with special marine
warnings in the vicinity of thunderstorms. South-southwest winds
strengthen this evening, but the stable and cool marine air layer
is likely to subdue the potential for hours of widespread gales.
Instead, gales may be more spurious and thunderstorm-related.
Hazardous waves for small craft linger into part of the day Friday
while gradually diminishing. Hazardous conditions for small craft
are again likely Saturday and Sunday.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 222 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

The 3rd (of 4) rounds of rain this week is underway, and is so
far unfolding about as expected. An additional 0.5 to 1.0 inches
of rain has fallen across the Muskegon River and lower Grand River
watersheds. Water levels are beginning to rise. An additional 0.5
to 1.0 for the remainder of today, plus another 0.5 or so on
Saturday (Round 4) is raising the possibility of some minor
flooding developing along the Muskegon River. It's also possible
that some of the most vulnerable flood locations in the Grand
basin could approach flood stage, namely in Comstock Park and also
also the Maple River near Maple Rapids, but this will depend on
how the rest of today's rain unfolds. A flood watch is in effect
for parts of the Muskegon River, with flooding possible by this
weekend.

Thankfully the rain rate today is fairly moderate, with locally
heavy downpours, but not enough to cause substantial travel
impacts or other types of urban flooding.

&&

.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Friday for LMZ844>849.

&&

DISCUSSION...CAS
AVIATION...04
MARINE...CAS
HYDROLOGY...AMD
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 11:18 AM EDT, 7 hours 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
1118 AM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

MIZ037>040-043>046-050>052-056>059-064>067-071>074-030945-
Mason-Lake-Osceola-Clare-Oceana-Newaygo-Mecosta-Isabella-Muskegon-
Montcalm-Gratiot-Ottawa-Kent-Ionia-Clinton-Allegan-Barry-Eaton-
Ingham-Van Buren-Kalamazoo-Calhoun-Jackson-
1118 AM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southwest Lower
Michigan.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Thunderstorms are likely and some severe thunderstorms are
possible this afternoon into tonight. The greatest chance for
severe weather will be roughly between 4 PM and midnight. Damaging
winds will be the main threat, and a tornado could also develop.

Locally heavy rain today and tonight may lead to short term
flooding in low spots and urban areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Additional thunderstorms are expected Friday night into Saturday.
Locally heavy rain with flooding is possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible this evening.

LMZ844>849-030945-
St Joseph to South Haven MI-South Haven to Holland MI-
Holland to Grand Haven MI-Grand Haven to Whitehall MI-
Whitehall to Pentwater MI-Pentwater to Manistee MI-
1118 AM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for the nearshore waters from
St Joseph to Manistee.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Conditions hazardous to smaller craft are expected both today and
tonight. A few wind gusts may reach gale force tonight.

Thunderstorms are expected over Lake Michigan both today and
tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Conditions will remain hazardous for smaller craft on Friday.

Thunderstorms over Lake Michigan will be possible again Friday
night into Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible this evening.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 2, 6:06 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
606 PM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

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

0600 PM     Rain             4 NW Montague           43.45N 86.42W
04/02/2026  M1.49 Inch       Muskegon           MI   CO-OP Observer

            Daily total so far. Still raining.

&&

CAS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 2, 12:50 PM EDTRiver Flood WatchGRRNewaygo5 days
Apr 2, 12:50 PM EDTRiver Flood WatchGRRNewaygo4 days
Apr 2, 5:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGRRAllegan, Van Buren23 min
Apr 2, 6:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGRRKalamazoo, Van Buren50 min
Apr 2, 6:27 PM EDTTornado WarningGRRKalamazoo, Van Buren25 min
Apr 2, 6:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRRAllegan, Barry38 min
Apr 2, 7:35 PM EDTTornado WarningGRRCalhoun, Kalamazoo25 min
Apr 2, 7:50 PM EDTTornado WarningGRRCalhoun, Kalamazoo25 min

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.