NWS: Tornado Touches Down In Monroe County
TEMPERANCE (WWJ/AP) - The National Weather Service says a weak tornado touched down in southeastern Michigan, causing minor property damage.
The weather service says the funnel cloud hit the ground about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday in Monroe County, near a subdivision about a mile northeast of Temperance.
Meteorologist Steve Considine told the Detroit Free Press that the twister had top winds of about 60 miles per hour.
Monroe County emergency dispatchers reported numerous sightings of funnel clouds in the area, and that was enough for plant officials at the Fermi II Nuclear Plant to issue an alert.
"There are different sirens at Fermi II for different occurrences. So, this was specifically a tornado siren, and there's also an announcement made by the plant control room at what type of siren it is," spokesman Guy Cerullo told WWJ.
The tornado reportedly damaged a garage and overturned a child's playscape. No injuries were reported.
'This is the time of year when tornado season is winding down," said WWJ-TV Chief Meteorologist Jim Madaus, adding that when tornadoes do happen this in the fall, they are often weak.
Madaus said Wednesday's twister was tied into this giantic area of low pressure that's been with us for a few days now. He said it's the same system that's been causing the cloudy, wet weather with us all week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
