Tornadoes · United States · Michigan · 2025
EF0 tornado, St Marys Lake to Burley Corners, Michigan, May 15, 2025
From St Marys Lake to Burley Corners, this EF0 tornado ran 8.5 miles across Calhoun County on May 15, 2025, touching down at 11:11 PM EDT and reaching 200 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- May 15, 2025
- Touchdown
- 11:11 PM EDT (03:11 UTC)
- Lifted
- 11:18 PM EDT (03:18 UTC)
- On the ground
- 7 minutes
- Path length
- 8.5 miles (13.7 km)
- Path width
- 200 yards (183 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Calhoun County
- Touchdown point
- 42.380, -85.200
- Lift-off point
- 42.414, -85.042
- Record number
- 2505152111-01
The damage survey
28 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS GRR, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 85 mph.
- No damage noted to homes - only trees in this area.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
A severe weather outbreak occurred on May 15-16 across lower Michigan that brought 8 tornadoes to the Grand Rapids forecast area and saw straight line winds in excess of 100 mph impact counties along the Lake Michigan shore on May 15. Large hail also occurred with storms on May 16. Tens of thousands were without power, some for several days due to the widespread nature of this severe weather event.
The tornado resulted in mostly tree damage along its 8.5 mile path. It began just west of Saint Marys Lake and traveled just south of the lake and remained very |close to Saint Marys Lake Road before working off to the northeast. It lifted off near 13 mile road just west of Mud Lake in Calhoun County.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
9 minutes of warning. NWS GRR issued a tornado warning for this county at 03:02 UTC, 9 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 03:45 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 00:22 UTC and running to 04:43 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:22 UTC | 04:43 UTC | Tornado Watch | GRR |
| 03:01 UTC | 04:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR |
| 03:02 UTC | 03:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | GRR |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Enhanced Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 01:00 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Detroit, MI (KDTX), 00:00Z
3.2 hours before the tornado, 143 km from the path. May 16, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1413 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -24 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2003 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1102 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 116 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 216 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.8
- Supercell composite
- 5.8
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.5 K/km
Detroit, MI (KDTX), 12:00Z
8.8 hours after it, 143 km from the path. May 16, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -11075 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1974 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 26 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -110 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -90 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 3.5 K/km
The radar
The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 03:09 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:54 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Ene Orangeville | Barry, MI | Trees uprooted and siding torn off of home. |
| 02:37 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Dorr | Allegan, MI | Numerous healthy trees down in Dorr Township. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:37 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Dorr | Allegan, MI | Eight large pine trees down on a property in Dorr. Location is within a TDS on radar. Time is estimated. |
| 02:37 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Dorr | Allegan, MI | Eight large pine trees down on a property in Dorr. Location is within a TDS on radar. Time is estimated. |
| 02:37 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Dorr | Allegan, MI | Eight large pine trees down on a property in Dorr. Location is within a TDS on radar. Time is estimated. |
| 02:38 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Wayland | Allegan, MI | Extensive structural damage to house from a falling tree. WOODTV report. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:41 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Martin | Allegan, MI | Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 WSW Martin. Schnable Lake area west of Martin sustained damage with at least one camper flipped over. WOODTV report. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:41 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Martin | Allegan, MI | Schnable Lake area west of Martin sustained damage with multiple trees snapped or down, at least one boat flipped out of the water, and at least one camper flipped over. WOODTV report. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:41 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Wsw Martin | Allegan, MI | This EF-1 tornado with estimated top winds of 95 MPH developed near the intersection of 114th Ave and N 16th Street where a power pole was pushed over. The developing tornado crossed Schnable Lake and heavily damaged the |
| 02:47 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Caledonia | Kent, MI | Trees snapped and uprooted in Caledonia. WOODTV report. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:47 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 N Orangeville | Barry, MI | Boat flipped on Gun Lake. WOODTV report. |
| 02:49 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nne Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | Tree across road. |
| 02:49 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ssw Caledonia | Kent, MI | Shingles off of gazebo. |
| 02:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | WOODTV reports the Comerica Bank building in downtown Kalamazoo had some paneling and insulation removed. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:50 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Nne Orangeville | Barry, MI | An EF-1 tornado with top winds of 100 mph crossed the most southern part of Gun Lake traveling to the northeast before ending northeast of the Otis Sanctuary. Mostly tree damage was observed along the path, though severa |
| 02:51 UTC | TORNADO | 2 E Caledonia | Kent, MI | An EF-1 tornado developed just east of the Thornapple River northeast of Caledonia. There it tracked northeast with the peak damage near Campbell Lake where houses sustained roof damage. The track continued northeast cro |
| 02:53 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Comstock | Kalamazoo, MI | Tree on home. WOODTV report. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Sw Alto | Kent, MI | Trees down. |
| 02:58 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | Trees and wires down across road. |
| 02:58 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | |
| 02:59 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Freeport | Barry, MI | Tree on house near Freeport. WOODTV report. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:59 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ene Galesburg | Kalamazoo, MI | The EF0 tornado resulted in mainly tree damage along its 10 mile path. More concentrated tree damage occurred near the beginning and the end of the path with intermittent damage in between. Several structures had minor d |
| 03:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Ne Mattawan | Kalamazoo, MI | Public report of trees down across Red Arrow Highway near S 1st Street close to the Van Buren/Kalamazoo County line. |
| 03:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Ne Mattawan | Kalamazoo, MI | Public report of trees down across Red Arrow Highway near S 1st Street close to the Van Buren/Kalamazoo County line. |
| 03:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Ne Mattawan | Kalamazoo, MI | Public report of trees down across Red Arrow Highway near S 1st Street close to the Van Buren/Kalamazoo County line. |
| 03:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Galesburg | Kalamazoo, MI | Shingles torn off roof. |
| 03:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Portage | Kalamazoo, MI | Several trees down, 12-20 inch diameter. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Portage | Kalamazoo, MI | Several trees down, 12-20 inch diameter. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Portage | Kalamazoo, MI | Several trees down, 12-20 inch diameter. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:07 UTC | TSTM WND GST 66 | 3 Ne Portage | Kalamazoo, MI | Kalamazoo ASOS. |
| 03:07 UTC | TSTM WND GST 66 | 3 Ne Portage | Kalamazoo, MI | Kalamazoo ASOS. |
| 03:09 UTC | TSTM WND GST 76 | 1 Ssw Springfield | Calhoun, MI | Peak gust at Battle Creek ASOS before going offline. |
| 03:09 UTC | TSTM WND GST 76 | 1 Ssw Springfield | Calhoun, MI | Peak gust at Battle Creek ASOS before going offline. |
| 03:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nnw Battle Creek | Calhoun, MI | Several trees down at Hubbard St and Waubascon Rd. Time estimated. |
| 03:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nnw Battle Creek | Calhoun, MI | Several trees down at Hubbard St and Waubascon Rd. Time estimated. |
| 03:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nnw Battle Creek | Calhoun, MI | Several trees down at Hubbard St and Waubascon Rd. Time estimated. |
| 03:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 S Banfield | Barry, MI | Boat flipped on Fine Lake, southeast of Delton. WOODTV report. Time estimated. |
| 03:11 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Se Bedford | Calhoun, MI | The EF0 tornado resulted in mostly tree damage along its 8.5 mile path. It began just west of Saint Marys Lake and traveled just south of the lake and remained very close to Saint Marys Lake Road before working off to th |
| 03:13 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Sw Ionia | Ionia, MI | Several uprooted trees along W Tuttle Rd. |
| 03:16 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nw Kalamo | Eaton, MI | Trees snapped with multiple trees across roads. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2025 tornado in MichiganEvery tornado in Michigan since 1950Warnings in force in Michigan nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 15, 2025
34 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15 | 1:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Chippewa, MN | 4.0 | 25 | |||
| May 15 | 1:28 PM CDT | EF0 | Swift, MN | 0.5 | 40 | |||
| May 15 | 1:34 PM CDT | EF1 | Swift, MN | 2.7 | 50 | |||
| May 15 | 2:43 PM CDT | EF0 | Stearns, MN | 2.8 | 50 | |||
| May 15 | 3:08 PM CDT | Unrated | Cass, ND | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 15 | 3:26 PM CDT | EF2 | Saint Croix, WI | 3.9 | 120 | |||
| May 15 | 4:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Sauk, WI | 0.1 | 20 | $5,000 | ||
| May 15 | 4:28 PM CDT | Unrated | Pembina, ND | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 15 | 4:42 PM CDT | Unrated | Columbia, WI | 1.2 | 20 | |||
| May 15 | 4:47 PM CDT | EF1 | Clark, WI | 0.8 | 100 | |||
| May 15 | 4:55 PM CDT | EF0 | Clark, WI | 2.4 | 75 | $1,000 | ||
| May 15 | 5:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Clark, WI | 2.4 | 100 | $45,000 | ||
| May 15 | 5:09 PM CDT | Unrated | Polk, MN | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 15 | 5:21 PM CDT | EF2 | Clark, WI | 4.6 | 230 | $725,000 | ||
| May 15 | 5:32 PM CDT | EF1 | Dodge, WI | 6.6 | 100 | $135,000 | ||
| May 15 | 5:38 PM CDT | EF2 | Dodge, WI | 11.5 | 500 | 1 | $2.5 million | |
| May 15 | 5:41 PM CDT | EF0 | Marathon, WI | 2.5 | 65 | |||
| May 15 | 5:48 PM CDT | EF1 | Dodge, WI | 4.2 | 75 | $1.2 million | ||
| May 15 | 5:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Portage, WI | 5.2 | 45 | |||
| May 15 | 5:57 PM CDT | EF2 | Dodge, WI | 8.3 | 300 | $3.4 million | ||
| May 15 | 6:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Dodge, WI | 2.1 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| May 15 | 6:09 PM CDT | EF1 | Dodge, WI | 1.5 | 50 | $45,000 | ||
| May 15 | 7:22 PM EDT | EF0 | Dare, NC | 0.8 | 100 | |||
| May 15 | 10:24 PM EDT | EF0 | Ottawa, MI | 3.5 | 50 | |||
| May 15 | 10:28 PM EDT | EF1 | Allegan, MI | 5.4 | 175 | |||
| May 15 | 10:41 PM EDT | EF1 | Allegan, MI | 8.3 | 200 | |||
| May 15 | 10:50 PM EDT | EF1 | Barry, MI | 6.8 | 200 | |||
| May 15 | 10:51 PM EDT | EF1 | Kent, MI | 14.9 | 100 | |||
| May 15 | 10:59 PM EDT | EF0 | Kalamazoo, MI | 10.1 | 200 | |||
| May 15 | 11:25 PM EDT | EF1 | Eaton, MI | 15.7 | 250 | |||
| May 15 | 12:03 AM EDT | EF1 | Livingston, MI | 1.9 | 230 | |||
| May 15 | 12:05 AM EDT | EF0 | Saginaw, MI | 1.6 | 250 | $150,000 | ||
| May 15 | 12:11 AM EDT | EF0 | Saginaw, MI | 3.4 | 160 | |||
| May 15 | 12:35 AM EDT | EF0 | Genesee, MI | 1.2 | 100 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.