Severe Storms Cause Extensive Damage

Detroit Tornado Crosses Border Into Windsor

A devastating tornado that touched down in Detroit continued across the Detroit River into Windsor, Ontario, changing rating as it crossed. The Northern Tornadoes Project determined the Windsor tornado was 1.1 kilometers wide and stayed on the ground for 7 kilometers, classified as EF-1 with maximum winds of 165 km/h. Survey teams found one home had its roof completely torn off and thrown about a block away. Most damage concentrated in Windsor's east-end Riverside and Forest Glade neighborhoods, with uprooted trees, downed power lines, and severe residential destruction.

Southeastern Michigan Hit by Triple Tornado Threat

The National Weather Service confirmed three separate tornadoes touched down in southeastern Michigan on Wednesday and Thursday. An EF-0 tornado hit Marysville while two additional tornadoes struck Wayne County, with damage spreading across residential homes, industrial buildings, and utility infrastructure. One tornado track continued into Windsor, as described above. Beyond the tornadoes themselves, the broader storm system unleashed hail larger than two inches along the I-69 corridor and straight-line winds of 60–70 mph from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 4 a.m. Thursday, causing hundreds of thousands of power outages.

Pennsylvania and New York See Multiple EF-1 Tornadoes

The National Weather Service confirmed EF-1 tornadoes in Pennsylvania's Lancaster, Potter, and Montour counties. The Lancaster County tornado measured about 100 yards wide and ripped the roof off a barn and one-room schoolhouse while bending a telephone pole. Damage to multiple agricultural structures indicated powerful rotation throughout its path. NWS also confirmed seven tornadoes across western and central New York, including two near the boundary of Letchworth State Park that touched down around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The Alexander, New York, tornado traveled approximately four miles with winds near 110 mph, while a more powerful EF-2 tornado near Fayette peaked at 115 mph and carved a seven-mile track across the landscape. Researchers documented significant wind damage that matched the power expected from these ratings. The wide geographic spread—from Michigan through Pennsylvania to New York—revealed this was a significant regional storm system rather than isolated thunderstorm activity.

Storm Damage Extended Far Beyond Tornado Tracks

While tornadoes caused the most dramatic destruction, the broader storm system delivered hazards across a much larger area. Hail exceeding two inches pounded the I-69 corridor in Michigan, lightning struck utility infrastructure, and straight-line winds of 60–70 mph knocked down trees and power lines over dozens of miles. This multi-hazard approach meant power outages and damage extended well beyond the relatively narrow tornado paths themselves. The National Weather Service documented damage from falling trees, lightning strikes, and wind gusts that affected hundreds of thousands of residents across the region.