Tornado Confirmed in Southeast Kent County

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down in Kent County on the night of June 11, 2026. The twister moved through areas near Caledonia and Alto, roughly 2 miles east-southeast of Caledonia, with estimated peak winds of 85 mph.

According to Scott Corbin, Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator, the tornado struck at approximately 9:31 p.m. and traveled about 4.25 miles before lifting around 9:34 p.m. near Freeport. The path reached a maximum width of 70 yards, the National Weather Service reported.

Residents Describe the Moment It Hit

Hillary Martin was putting her two young daughters to bed at her home on Whitneyville Avenue when she received a tornado warning alert on her phone. She heard what she described as a roaring train-like sound.

"I heard that, like, roaring train-like sound and I immediately screamed for everybody to get to the basement," Martin said.

Martin's family was unharmed. Her Ford Ranger truck was not. A tree smashed the cab and crushed the windshield. The truck was intended to become a rolling billboard for her family's food truck business, Family Thyme.

"We were really looking forward to just the little cute stuff for advertisement with it, but now that won't happen," Martin said. "So we're a little bit sad about that."

Damage Across the Path

The tornado caused spotty tree damage between Alaska Avenue Southeast and Whitneyville Avenue Southeast. The National Weather Service said the storm reached its strongest point at the southernmost part of Saskatoon Golf Club, where significant tree damage occurred.

At Coldwater River County Park in Alto, several trees were uprooted and picnic tables were flipped. On Morse Lake Avenue, storms uprooted a large tree that landed on a neighbor's home.

Jason Wangerin, a homeowner on Morse Lake Avenue, said neighbors rallied to help clean up debris.

"We got a bunch of good guys in the community here, we're all sticking together," Wangerin said.

Wangerin also dealt with downed limbs and trees around his own property.

"I am very thankful the trees didn't fall towards the house," Wangerin said. "My daughter and I are safe."

Emergency Officials Urge Preparedness

Corbin used the event to warn residents against complacency during severe weather season.

"Weather is very unpredictable as it moves through your area. It's very hard to predict your own specific neighborhood and how much damage you may or may not get," Corbin said.

He urged residents to keep weather alerts turned on their devices and to maintain basic emergency supplies, including water, ice for refrigerated items, and a generator used safely.

"We hope that people do seek shelter and protect themselves, and at the same time, we're hoping that we don't get as much damage from those storms as what sometimes is predicted," Corbin said.

A Busy Tornado Season in Michigan

The Kent County tornado was one of two confirmed to have touched down in West Michigan on June 11. The second was an EF-0 in Barry County, with estimated winds of 75 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

With those two additions, Michigan's tornado count for 2026 now stands at 20, above the state average of about 15 per year. The season began early, with four tornadoes touching down in West Michigan on March 6, including an EF2 in Three Rivers and an EF3 in Union City.

No injuries or fatalities were reported from the Kent County tornado, according to the National Weather Service storm survey.