From March 5 to 7, 2026, a small but damaging and deadly tornado outbreak impacted portions of the Central and Midwestern United States, particularly the states of Oklahoma and Michigan.
On March 5, a mother and daughter were reported dead in Major County, Oklahoma after an EF2 tornado that passed through the area west of Fairview struck their car while they were driving near US 60. Another EF2 tornado caused damage near Jet, and an EF1 tornado moved northwest of Cleo Springs. A tornado also caused damage near Wakita later that night. Elsewhere, trees were downed and homes and power lines were damaged.
The next day, a supercell produced four tornadoes in southern Michigan, with an EF1 tornado damaging a home near Edwardsburg, killing a 12-year-old boy. The supercell then produced a damaging EF2 tornado that tracked through the city of Three Rivers, prompting a PDS tornado warning and injuring 10 people. The third tornado from the supercell, a high-end EF3, was the strongest tornado to strike Michigan in nearly 50 years. It damaged and destroyed numerous homes along Union Lake, located just west of Union City, killing three people and injuring 12 others. The final tornado from the supercell was an EF0 that uprooted trees and inflicted minor damage to some structures. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a state of emergency in Branch, St. Joseph and Cass counties to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to the severe weather. Back in Oklahoma, several tornadoes were reported in the east central and northeastern part of the state, including an EF3 tornado near the town of Beggs, which caused two fatalities.
Meteorological synopsis
On March 6, the Storm Prediction Center outlined an Enhanced Risk for severe weather for the Great Plains and the Ozarks. The primary hazard was expected to be large hail. A 10% tornado risk with a CIG1 hatched area was outlined from north-eastern Texas into south-west Missouri, including eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, with the primary tornado threat expected to happen in Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma, extending into western Arkansas, Missouri, and southern Iowa. A marginal risk was outlined for Michigan, including Union City, along with a 2% tornado probability. However, it was noted through the CIG1 hatched probability that a conditional strong tornado risk did exist for the region. The primary severe threat expected for Michigan was isolated damaging winds through the late night into early morning; probabilities were low due to the forecasted lack of instability.
On the night of March 5, 2026, a warm front stalled over northern Indiana and slowly moved northward throughout the afternoon hours of March 6th, with said crossing the Indiana-Michigan state line by 3 pm EST. Southerly winds boosted temperatures into the low to mid 70s across southern Michigan, in conjunction with ample low level moisture being transported northward. Wind shear values built up to 40-50 knots along with surface based CAPE values of 500-2000 J/kg. Storm-relative helicity (SRH) levels reached 200-250 m²/s² within the vicinity of Branch County as well, which is favorable for the formation of supercellular tornadoes.
Just after 4 pm EST, a supercell developed in northern Indiana and rode the frontal boundary up into southern Michigan. The supercell initially produced a weak but deadly tornado near Edwardsburg, Michigan, then later produced a strong tornado that impacted the city of Three Rivers, Michigan, where 10 people were injured and multiple businesses sustained damage. Hailstones ranging from quarter to golf ball size fell along the supercells path, with the largest hailstones being 1.75 inches.
Confirmed tornadoes
March 5 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, March 5, 2026EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF0W of PutnamDeweyOK01:22–01:23This tornado was documented by a storm chaser and produced no damage. EF2W of FairviewMajorOK02:08–02:262 deaths – A strong tornado initially caused tree and power pole damage and twisted. As it approached US 60, it rolled a car approximately northeast, killing the two occupants in the car, while wooden transmission and utility poles were broken along and north of the highway. The tornado continued northeast through rural areas, causing additional tree damage before dissipating. EF1W of Orienta to NNW of Cleo SpringsMajorOK02:41–02:55This tornado heavily damaged outbuildings at its touchdown point along US 412. Damage to trees and power poles occurred along the remainder of the tornado's path with a residence also sustaining minor damage before the tornado dissipated. EF2WSW of Helena to NW of NashAlfalfa, GrantOK03:12–03:51The tornado developed and damaged power poles and trees as it moved northeastward, including near SH-45. It strengthened north of Helena along SH-58, where numerous power poles were broken along a mile-long stretch and at least three barns were destroyed. The tornado continued northeastward, causing additional tree and power pole damage, including broken poles east of Jet and along US 64 on both sides of the Alfalfa-Grant County line. After entering Grant County west of Nash, it continued damaging trees and power poles while turning more north-northeastward before dissipating. EF1S of WakitaGrantOK04:22–04:35This EF1 tornado unroofed a mobile home, destroyed two outbuildings, snapped tree branches, and damaged or snapped wooden power poles. EF0NNW of RenfrowGrantOK04:50–04:53Tree damage occurred. EFUSSE of CheyenneRoger MillsOK04:57–04:59This tornado was observed by a storm chaser and produced no damage. EF0NW of WakitaGrantOK05:09–05:11A barn was damaged. EF2E of Bluff CitySumnerKS05:34–05:37A high-end EF2 tornado overturned an oil pumpjack, damaged an oil tank battery and several outbuildings, and snapped a few power poles and cedar trees. EF1ESE of FreeportSumnerKS05:48–05:52A few outbuildings were damaged, several hay bales were tossed, and some headstones in a cemetery were knocked over.
March 6 event