Tornadoes · United States · Michigan · 2025
EF1 tornado, Chester to Bretton Woods, Michigan, May 15, 2025
From Chester to Bretton Woods, this EF1 tornado ran 15.7 miles across Eaton and Ingham counties on May 15, 2025, touching down at 11:25 PM EDT and reaching 250 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 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
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
- EF1
- Date
- May 15, 2025
- Touchdown
- 11:25 PM EDT (03:25 UTC)
- Lifted
- 11:39 PM EDT (03:39 UTC)
- On the ground
- 14 minutes
- Path length
- 15.7 miles (25.2 km)
- Path width
- 250 yards (229 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Counties
- Eaton and Ingham counties
- Touchdown point
- 42.600, -84.860
- Lift-off point
- 42.718, -84.597
- Record number
- 2505152125-01
The damage survey
16 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS GRR, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 100 mph.
- Siding and roof damage to a warehouse building. Small percentage of roof and siding damaged.
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.
Tree and structure damage occurred along the path of this tornado. A number of homes had roofing material ripped away and several outbuildings were heavily damaged. The |tornado also damaged a number of warehouse type buildings along its path. The tornado began in Eaton County and ended in Ingham County.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
27 minutes of warning. NWS GRR issued a tornado warning for this county at 02:58 UTC, 27 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 |
| 02:58 UTC | 03:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | GRR |
| 03:07 UTC | 04:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GRR |
| 03:18 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 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. 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
3.4 hours before the tornado, 106 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
8.6 hours after it, 106 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 surface observations
Charlotte (FPK), 12 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:35 UTC | 77 | 64.4 | 140° 8 kt | 998.6 | ||
| 01:55 UTC | 77 | 64.4 | 150° 9 kt | 16 | 998.3 | |
| 02:15 UTC | 77 | 64.4 | 140° 9 kt | 14 | 998.6 | |
| 02:35 UTC | 77 | 64.4 | 150° 10 kt | 16 | 999.3 | |
| 02:55 UTC | 77 | 66.2 | 160° 11 kt | 1000.3 | ||
| 03:15 UTC | 77 | 66.2 | 170° 13 kt | 18 | 1000.3 | |
| 03:35 UTC | 66.2 | 62.6 | 230° 15 kt | 48 | 1004.7 | +RA HZ |
| 03:55 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 260° 12 kt | 18 | 1003.4 | -RA |
| 04:15 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 220° 10 kt | 15 | 1002 | -RA |
| 04:35 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 200° 9 kt | 1002.7 | ||
| 04:55 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 190° 9 kt | 1002.7 | ||
| 05:15 UTC | 64.4 | 62.6 | 200° 9 kt | 1002.4 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 03:23 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. |
| 02:47 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 | 2 Ssw Caledonia | Kent, MI | Shingles off of gazebo. |
| 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 |
| 02:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Sw Alto | Kent, MI | Trees down. |
| 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 | Galesburg | Kalamazoo, MI | Shingles torn off roof. |
| 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. |
| 03:16 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Ionia | Ionia, MI | Barn damaged. WOODTV report. Time estimated. |
| 03:23 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ssw Olivet | Calhoun, MI | Damage along W Baseline Highway near Pine Lake. Barn roof removed, power lines down, and trees down. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:23 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Olivet | Eaton, MI | Roof removed from barn and tree damage on property. WOODTV report. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:25 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Nnw Charlotte | Eaton, MI | Tree and structure damage occurred along the path of this EF1 tornado. A number of homes had roofing material ripped away and several outbuildings were heavily damaged. The tornado also damaged a number of warehouse type |
| 03:27 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 W Potterville | Eaton, MI | Trees and wires down. Tree across roadway. |
| 03:28 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 W Potterville | Eaton, MI | Numerous Trees down, Multiple trees on houses. |
| 03:30 UTC | TSTM WND GST 48 | 3 Ne Kalamo | Eaton, MI | |
| 03:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Battle Creek | Calhoun, MI | Report of multiple mature trees down and broken branches 2 blocks north and west of Capitol Ave and Columbia Ave. |
| 03:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Battle Creek | Calhoun, MI | Report of multiple mature trees down and broken branches 2 blocks north and west of Capitol Ave and Columbia Ave. |
| 03:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Battle Creek | Calhoun, MI | Report of multiple mature trees down and broken branches 2 blocks north and west of Capitol Ave and Columbia Ave. |
| 03:36 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Nnw Dimondale | Eaton, MI | Structural damage to business with wall removed and debris blown into vehicles. WLNS report. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:36 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Ssw Waverly | Eaton, MI | Semi truck overturned on Millet Highway between South Canal Rd and South Creyts Rd. Location is within the tornado debris signature on radar. Time is approximate. |
| 03:36 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Ssw Waverly | Eaton, MI | Semi truck overturned on Millet Highway between South Canal Rd and South Creyts Rd. Location is within the tornado debris signature on radar. Time is approximate. |
| 03:39 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Waverly | Eaton, MI | Video of structural damage to the GM facility off Mt. Hope Highway in Lansing. A large section of a wall was removed, exposing the inside of the facility. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 N Mason | Ingham, MI | Multiple Trees down. |
| 03:40 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Ssw Waverly | Eaton, MI | Spotter reports power flashes near the Meijer distribution center off Creyts Rd. Tornado debris signature on radar. |
| 03:40 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Ssw Waverly | Eaton, MI | Spotter reports power flashes near the Meijer distribution center off Creyts Rd. Tornado debris signature on radar. |
| 03:42 UTC | TSTM WND GST 61 | 2 N Edgemont Park | Clinton, MI | Lansing ASOS. |
| 03:42 UTC | TSTM WND GST 61 | 2 N Edgemont Park | Clinton, MI | Lansing ASOS. |
| 03:43 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Lansing | Ingham, MI | Tree on house. |
| 03:46 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese East Lansing | Ingham, MI | Multiple trees down. |
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 | 11:11 PM EDT | EF0 | Calhoun, MI | 8.5 | 200 | |||
| 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.