KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Seven separate tornado warnings were issued last night in West Michigan.

Yet, not a single tornado actually formed, and further, there were absolutely zero reports of damage across the area.

How could this be when so many people witnessed low hanging, rotating clouds ever so close to touching the ground?

Local radars were sensing rotation aloft. And, they were right. We had plenty of ingredients for rotating thunderstorms in West Michigan, all the way up to 3,000-ft. aloft.

The Storm Prediction Center sounded the alarm about this when they increased the tornado risk in Allegan, Barry counties and all points southward from 2% to 5% early Thursday afternoon.

Bob Millward – Vicksburg

Storm spotters reported wall clouds, some with rotation, some without. Angular looking tails were spotted that could almost serve as the beginnings of a funnel cloud.

A warm front was blowing through West Michigan, serving as the focal point for changing wind directions over short distances. Plus, 70 mph winds were sensed just off the ground.

The presence of colder, more stable air immediately to the north of the Tornado Watch and Warnings probably had something to do with the results or lack of tangible results.

Just because rotation is sensed aloft doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to translate toward the ground. To be clear, two tornado reports came out of eastern Iowa: one just east of Iowa City and the other to the southwest, south of I-80.

Joseph Brisco was filming what clearly looks like a funnel attached to some kind of a shelf looking cloud with lightning near Climax. (Chime In/WWMT)

Illinois, lower Wisconsin, and eastern Iowa always had the better ingredients for tornadoes than Michigan.

As busy as we’ve been so far in this severe weather season, missing out on this event is more than just fine for all of us.

That’s especially true for our friends in Union City, Three Rivers, Edwardsburg, and Clarendon township after Mar. 6, 2026. And, also for Portage residents that continue to patch their lives back together after their devastating tornado two years ago.

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