A new round of severe weather ramped up Friday, with damaging tornadoes reported in Michigan and Oklahoma.
In Michigan, at least three people were reportedly killed and several others were injured after a tornado tore through the Union Lake area. Another death was reported in nearby Cass County. Emergency responders were working to rescue residents trapped under rubble late Friday and expected to continue operations through the night.
In Oklahoma, reports of both suspected and confirmed tornadoes flooded in, along with widespread evidence of damage and mounting power outages.
Overnight, attention turns to storms pushing across northeast Oklahoma into Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. You can read our full forecast here and track the threat here.
Here are our updates from throughout the evening Friday:
(10:43 p.m. EST) What To Do Before You Turn In For The Night
From meteorologist Sara Tonks:
As Friday draws to a close, severe weather is ongoing across portions of the central United States. Multiple cities (such as Dallas, Kansas City and Milwaukee) will remain under at least a level 2 (of 5) risk of severe weather until after midnight local time, and tornadoes are more likely to be deadly when they occur at night.
Here are some steps you can take before heading to bed if your area is still in a region at risk of severe storms to make sure you are safe:
Have multiple reliable ways to get severe weather alerts (this can include your smartphone or a NOAA Weather Radio)
If you are in a multistory house, sleep on the lowest floor in case limbs or other debris fall on your roof
Plug in any devices that need charging in case the power goes out in the middle of the night
Place a flashlight or other battery-powered light source near your bed
Check in with your family members to make sure everyone knows what to do if severe weather hits
(10:19 p.m. EST) Forecast For Overnight
From senior digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles:
A line of thunderstorms will continue to take shape from the Southern Plains to the Midwest through early Saturday morning.
By daybreak, showers and storms will have passed through Dallas, Little Rock, St. Louis and Indianapolis. Strong thunderstorm winds will be the main threat, but as we have seen in Oklahoma and Michigan already, a few tornadoes are also possible.
Storms will move into the eastern Great Lakes, Tennessee Valley and South on Saturday.
(10:10 p.m. EST) Death Reported In Michigan
Officials in Cass County, Michigan say one person has died and several others were injured after a reported tornado moved through near the village of Edwardsburg, just north of the Indiana state line.
Emergency officials say multiple structures, including homes and barns, were heavily damaged.
Cass County has now declared a state of emergency as responders work through the damage and check on residents.
(10:01 p.m. EST) Types Of Tornado Warnings
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Amid the uptick in severe weather, it’s important to know the difference between the types of tornado warnings.
Radar Indicated: Tornado not yet confirmed but rotation is observed on radar
Radar Confirmed: Debris signature is spotted on radar, which means there is likely a tornado
Spotter Confirmed: A trained spotter and/or law enforcement has observed a tornado
Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS): A tornado is confirmed and is expected to be strong and damaging
Tornado Emergency: Only issued when there is a “severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from an imminent or ongoing tornado”
Read more here about the conditions that trigger different tornado warnings and what those warnings mean for those on the ground.
(09:40 p.m. EST) Power Outages Mount In Oklahoma
More than 15,000 customers are currently without power across Oklahoma as severe storms move through the state, including about 6,300 outages in the Tulsa area.
Videos coming in from the region show power flashes as the storm knocked down power lines.
(09:26 p.m. EST) Where Tornadoes Are Common In March
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
March serves as the beginning of a major ramp up in severe weather. This is mainly due to the stronger surges of warm, moist air north that clash with the cooler air still prevalent over the northern portions of the country.
Meteorologically speaking, the areas with the greatest chance of a March tornado are the Lower Mississippi River Valley and the Deep South, but tornadoes are also possible across the Central and Southern Plains and Midwest, should the right conditions come together.
Climo based on SPC 1994-2024 data.
(09:03 p.m. EST) Big 12 Championship Evacuated
The Big 12 Wrestling Championship at Tulsa’s BOK Center was briefly evacuated after a tornado warning was issued for the area.
Fans and participants were moved to safer locations as a precaution. The threat has now cleared, and spectators have been allowed to return to their seats.
(08:49 p.m. EST) Deaths Reported In Michigan
Three people have died and at least 12 others were injured following a tornado in Union City, Michigan, according to local media reports citing the Branch County Sheriff’s Office.
Photos from the area show widespread destruction. Rescue crews are reportedly still working through the debris.
Storm chasers reported homes destroyed, businesses damaged, cars mangled and snapped trees.
(08:23 p.m. EST) What We Know So Far
From meteorologist Sara Tonks:
We have confirmations for tornadoes from three storms, but the exact number of tornadoes from those storms won’t be officially known until the National Weather Service conducts storm surveys in the coming days.
Here’s where things stand so far this evening:
Southwest Michigan
Tornado alerted as a Particularly Dangerous Situation
Warning Time: 4:03 PM EST
Location: Three Rivers/Union City, Michigan
East Oklahoma
Warning Time: 5:27 PM CST
Location: Bristow/Tulsa, Oklahoma
Note: There were several reports from the same cell, but it’s not yet clear how many separate tornadoes formed
Northeast Oklahoma
Warning Time: 6:34 PM CST
Location: Turley, Oklahoma
(07:58 p.m. EST) Severe Weather Tips From Our Experts
When we’re talking about severe weather, that can include thunderstorms, hail, strong winds, flooding and tornadoes, so the first step is staying aware of the forecast so you know what’s expected in your area.
If your area is under a watch or a warning, here’s what you need to know:
Watches mean conditions could lead to severe weather, so it’s time to prepare
Warnings mean dangerous weather is happening right now and you should take action
Plan ahead by knowing your safe place (like a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor) and keep your phone’s emergency alerts turned on so you’re notified, even at night.
Click here to read more about why it’s also smart to include items like a helmet and sturdy shoes in your emergency kit to protect yourself during and after the storm.
(07:43 p.m. EST) Tornado Near Tulsa
A tornado is reportedly barreling northeast of the Tulsa, Oklahoma metro area. Traffic cameras captured flashes of power outages as the storm moved through.
(07:21 p.m. EST) Multiday Flood Threat For Southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley
From meteorologist Sara Tonks:
Not only is this line of storms bringing tornadoes and the threat of hail, but heavy rain from the system could also prompt flash flooding in a region currently experiencing drought conditions. As of the latest drought monitor from the National Drought Mitigation Center, more than 80% of the South is under at least a moderate drought.
There is a level 2 (out of 4) threat of excessive rainfall in the ArkLaTex through tomorrow morning, but the threat expands later Saturday to stretch into parts of Alabama and Tennessee.
The flood threat is the result of the potential for multiple rounds of heavy rainfall from storms moving parallel to the nearby cold front, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
(07:05 p.m. EST) Emergency In Michigan
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center as reports mount of tornado damage at the southwestern edge of the state. Preliminary reports suggest there are injuries and even fatalities after at least one structure collapse that trapped people beneath piles of debris.
(06:52 p.m. EST) What We’re Watching
From meteorologist Jonathan Belles:
Right now, several segments of thunderstorms are sweeping eastward across the Plains and Midwest with a few storms deserving tornado warnings from time to time.
Farther north, we’re starting to see a sturdier line of thunderstorms producing strong gusts in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.
Interesting note from what we’ve seen so far: Last night, Wakita, Oklahoma was nearly hit by a tornado. Tonight, Sapulpa, Oklahoma is under a tornado warning. These towns were featured in Twister and Twisters, respectively.
(06:42 p.m. EST) Tornado Spotted In Oklahoma
Storm chaser footage shows an observed tornado on the ground near Bristow, Oklahoma.
The Tulsa metro area is at risk from this system.
(06:14 p.m. EST) Damage In Union City, Michigan
Multiple people were reportedly trapped after a large tornado tore through Union City, Michigan, causing significant damage and at least one partial building collapse.
Photos from a storm chaser show a devastating scene of destruction. The chaser said the damage was so severe they stopped tracking the storm to help residents.
The area’s tornado warning has now expired.
(05:51 p.m. EST) An Increase In March Tornadoes
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
In recent years, March has become the peak time for severe weather across the U.S.
In 2025, there were 300 tornado reports in the month of March, according to data from the Storm Prediction Center. This number isn’t final, but it is significantly higher than any other March on record.
Early analysis shows the locations of all tornadoes reported throughout the month of March 2025.
Three of the last four Marches have also had more than 200 tornadoes, with March 2022 holding the current confirmed highest record. The year 2023 wasn’t far behind with 204.
(05:31 p.m. EST) Surveys Underway On Thursday’s Tornadoes
Teams with the National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma are working through damage assessments after several tornadoes touched down Thursday across the state.
So far, three tornadoes have been preliminarily rated:
An EF2 tornado in Fairview, Oklahoma, where the strongest damage was found along U.S. 60
An EF1 that moved from near Orienta, Oklahoma to near Cleo Springs, Oklahoma
An EF2 tornado that began outside of Helena, Oklahoma and moved toward Jet, Oklahoma (though that portion of the track is still being surveyed)
A fourth tornado is believed to have occurred in Grant County, Oklahoma, but survey teams haven’t yet reached the site.
(05:18 p.m. EST) Frightening Reports From Michigan
We’re seeing a surge of photos and videos coming out of southern Michigan as multiple tornado reports roll in, with some showing dramatic damage.
There have also been early reports of injuries.
(05:01 p.m. EST) The Forecast Through Tonight
From meteorologist Jonathan Belles:
Today will be a day of transition. On Thursday evening, we saw supercells produce tornadoes in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. By Saturday, we’ll be watching a squall line passing through the Midwest and South.
Today, we’ll be watching the storms progress from supercell thunderstorms in eastern parts of Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma to broken squall lines in Iowa, Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, and northeast Texas.
(04:41 p.m. EST) Tornado Confirmed In Michigan
Our first tornado sighting of the evening comes from Three Rivers, Michigan, where storms moving along a warm front spun up at least one twister.
Our Jonathan Belles notes that temperatures in that area are running an unusual 30-35 degrees above average for this time of year.
Storm chasers and emergency officials report significant damage on the southwest side of town.
(04:28 p.m. EST) New Tornado Watch For Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa
From meteorologist Sara Tonks:
A new tornado watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center until 10 p.m. CST from central Kansas through southeastern Nebraska and into central Iowa, including Des Moines. The threats include tornadoes and a couple of intense tornadoes possible, large hail up to 2 inches in diameter and damaging winds up to 70 mph.
(04:17 p.m. EST) This System Has Already Proved Deadly
Severe storms from this system turned deadly last night when a tornado struck a vehicle near Fairview, Oklahoma.
Authorities say a mother and her teenage daughter were killed when the tornado hit their van while they were driving along State Highway 60.
Preliminary damage surveys indicate the tornado was an EF2.
Here’s everything else we know about the incident.
(04:06 p.m. EST) Tornado Watch Issued For Oklahoma, Texas
From meteorologist Sara Tonks
A tornado watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center until 10 p.m. CST in eastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas, including Dallas and Oklahoma City. The threats include tornadoes and a couple of intense tornadoes possible, large hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter and damaging winds up to 70 mph.
