The National Weather Service upgraded the Wednesday, April 15 tornado in Branch County to an EF-1 with maximum winds of 85 to 90 mph.
The tornado was about 100 yards wide and traveled 2.59 miles south of Marble Lake.
Based on reports and photos from Branch County Emergency Management, forecasters said that within a line of thunderstorms moving east-southeast, “a circulation may have attempted to touch down on Sanford Road, north of Fenn Road” around 1:04 a.m.
Fewer than two dozen panels at the Apex Solar farm were damaged.
Minor treetop damage was observed from Sanford Road to near Interstate 69.
The report said the circulation ultimately tore the roof off a pole barn at Carleton Equipment on E. Fenn Road, east of the I-69 interchange.
The tornado continued southeast, causing tree damage until reaching Dubendorf and Quimby Road, where a garage lost its roof, trees were downed, and vinyl pool fencing was destroyed.
The tornado then struck a pole barn on South Wood Road, throwing debris far into an adjacent field before lifting.
Brian O’Shea from Apex Solar said, “We are thinking of our neighbors in Coldwater and Ovid Townships, and the broader Coldwater community as we assess the full extent of the storm’s impact.”
The remaining 90% of the 150-megawatt project continues to operate, with the damaged portion isolated for evaluation and repair.
Cleanup of the historic barn on the Steve Gaglio property off Sanford Road continued Friday, April 17.
Barn debris was found in a wooded area east of the solar farm.
The NWS said, “We wish to thank Branch County Emergency Management for its assistance while still managing recovery from the March 6 EF-3 tornado that struck Union Lake.”
Contact Don Reid, dReid@USATodayCo.Com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Branch County tornado upgraded to EF-1
Reporting by Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter / Coldwater Daily Reporter
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