DETROIT — The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-2 tornado touched down in Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, causing widespread structural and tree damage across a 3.5-mile path. The agency classified the storm as an EF-2 with estimated peak winds of 115 mph that tracked through the city and onto Belle Isle.

The tornado touched down along Hancock Road near Ellery Place at 4:14 p.m. and ended at 4:18 p.m. The path was 3.5 miles long and half a mile wide. As it crossed East Forest Avenue, the tornado overturned an outbuilding and damaged the roof of and bent a fence behind the Preferred Meal Systems building. A large tree was uprooted and fell across Garfield Street due to the Detroit tornado.

The storm detached traffic signals and snapped several trees at the intersection of Mt. Elliot Street and Gratiot Avenue. Two vacant buildings collapsed along St. Paul Street near Concord Avenue. The Pekin Place on Jefferson Avenue had its sign almost entirely torn off. A nearby building to Pekin Place exhibited substantial brick fascia torn off and roof damage.

The Detroit tornado continued over the Detroit River to Belle Isle. A scull boat was blown into a tree near the Belle Isle Boathouse. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped on Belle Isle.

The Detroit tornado snapped and uprooted trees in Gabriel Richard Park. Gabriel Richard Park lost more than 20 old-growth trees. Paths at Gabriel Richard Park were cleared as of Friday afternoon, Sept. 4, 2026.

Mayor Mary Sheffield announced the details of the tornado during her press conference, confirming the National Weather Service's statement that the tornado touched down on the city's east side. The last time a tornado touched down in Detroit was on July 2, 1997.

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down in Lincoln Park on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. The Lincoln Park tornado touched down at 4:12 p.m. along Fort Street near Memorial Park. The Lincoln Park tornado tracked into Memorial Park and lifted near the park's Senior Center.

The Lincoln Park tornado lasted for about one minute. The National Weather Service estimated the peak wind speed of the Lincoln Park tornado at 70 mph. The path length of the Lincoln Park tornado was less than a quarter of a mile. "Within this narrow path, the majority of trees had large limbs snapped with a handful entirely uprooted," according to the National Weather Service report. "Electrical transmission lines along Fort St were bent with wire damage," according to the National Weather Service report.

More than 300,000 utility customers were without power at the height of the storms on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. DTE Energy reported that 263,574 of its customers were without power late Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. As of 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, 260,000 customers were without power in Michigan.

DTE Energy reported that 242,000 of its two million customers were without power as of 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. Consumers Energy reported that 23,000 of its customers were without power at the height of the storms. Consumers Energy reported that 17,476 of its more than 1.8 million customers were without power as of 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. DTE Energy restored service to more than 70,000 customers by early Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. DTE Energy stated that 3,400 employees, including more than 1,000 field workers from outside Michigan, were working to restore power.

"Damage that I am seeing here is one of the, if not the most, significant damage due to a weather event in my career," said DTE Energy Senior Vice President of Electric Operations Brian Claka. In total, around 450,000 customers were impacted by the severe weather since Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, according to Brian Claka. Around 4,000 utility workers were focused on restoring power on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 5, 2026, according to Brian Claka.

DTE Energy stated its goal is to restore power to 90% to 92% of its customers by Saturday night, Sept. 5, 2026. As of 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, 75,961 people were still without service, according to DTE Energy's outage map. "Please, please do not put them indoors. They should remain outdoors," said Brian Claka regarding generator use.

Why It Matters

The EF-2 rating marks the first confirmed tornado in Detroit since 1997, ending a 29-year period without such an event in the city. The storm impacted hundreds of thousands of utility customers across Southeast Michigan, requiring a massive restoration effort involving thousands of workers from within and outside the state. The investigation by the Northern Tornadoes Project in Canada shows the international nature of the severe weather system, which may have extended beyond the U.S. border into Ontario.

Timeline

An EF-0 tornado hit Marysville in St. Clair County on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at 7:19 p.m. The National Weather Service estimated the peak wind speed of the Marysville tornado at 75 mph. The Marysville tornado caused sporadic tree damage along a narrow path between Gratiot Boulevard and Highway 29. The Marysville tornado lasted until 7:21 p.m. In total, around 450,000 customers were impacted by the severe weather since Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, according to Brian Claka.

What's New

The tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service and was rated EF-2 with estimated peak winds of 115 mph, tracking a 3.5-mile path through Detroit and onto Belle Isle. More than three-quarters of an inch of rain fell on Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, according to National Weather Service data. The National Weather Service recorded multiple reports of high-wind damage, downed trees, and hail in Metro Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 3, 2026, for areas in Monroe, Lenawee, Livingston, Saginaw, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Gratiot counties. The storms produced winds up to 66 mph in southeast Michigan, according to National Weather Service local storm reports.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on specific figures and details regarding the National Weather Service reports. One source states the Detroit tornado was confirmed as an EF-2 with estimated peak winds of 115 mph, tracking a 3.5-mile path through Detroit and onto Belle Isle. Another source notes the National Weather Service estimated the peak wind speed of the Lincoln Park tornado at 70 mph.

Regarding the Marysville event, one source cites the EF-2 Detroit tornado details, while another states the National Weather Service estimated the peak wind speed of the Marysville tornado at 75 mph. Differences also exist in the level of detail provided; one source outlines the full Detroit tornado path and wind speed, while another simply classifies the Detroit tornado that occurred on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, as an EF-2. Additional reporting includes data on rainfall, with one source noting more than three-quarters of an inch of rain fell on Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, according to National Weather Service data, while another focuses on the tornado confirmation. Local storm reports are cited in one account for recording multiple reports of high-wind damage, downed trees, and hail in Metro Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, whereas another account emphasizes the tornado path details. Tree damage descriptions vary, with one source quoting the National Weather Service report that "Within this narrow path, the majority of trees had large limbs snapped with a handful entirely uprooted," while another confirms the broader Detroit tornado metrics. The confirmation of the Lincoln Park EF-0 tornado on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, appears in one report, while another focuses on the Detroit EF-2. Finally, tornado warnings issued on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 3, 2026, for areas in Monroe, Lenawee, Livingston, Saginaw, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Gratiot counties are detailed in one source, contrasting with the general path confirmation in another.