A tornadic waterspout spun across Torch Lake in northwest Michigan Monday evening, Sept. 22, and was caught on video and in photos by people in the area.
At 5:57 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, a tornado warning was issued for residents in the Torch Lake and the Bellaire areas as a tornado formed near Torch Lake. Additional tornadoes may have been produced, but not have been confirmed, the National Weather Service in Gaylord said.
The tornado took minutes to form and spent part of its lifecycle as a waterspout over Torch Lake, making it a tornadic waterspout, John Boris, a meteorologist for the NWS in Gaylord, said in an email.
The University of Michigan Climate and Space Science and Engineering website indicates three tornadoes in the area on Monday — all about EF-1 — including a “weak tornado” near Geilickville, southwest of Traverse City, a second at the north end of Elk Lake near Kewadin, and the third in the vicinity of Torch lake.
“We are sending a couple of survey teams out this morning (Sept. 23) to assess whether there was any damage, or whether there was more than one tornado,” Boris said, “There were no injuries.”
The funnel captured attention online as nearby residents, who posted video and photos taken with their smartphones.
On average, Michigan sees about 16 tornadoes per year. Since late May 2025, there have been at least 28 confirmed tornadoes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s interactive map shows.
“The majority of tornadoes in Michigan occur between April and September…with the peak number of tornadoes on average occurring in June,” Boris said.
Rain and storms are expected to continue through much of this week across Michigan.
Where is Torch Lake in Michigan?
Torch Lake, know for its clear blue water, is located in Antrim County in the northwest region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, west of Bellaire and south of Charlevoix.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Tornado spins across Michigan’s Torch Lake. What happened Monday
Reporting by Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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