Berrien, Cass County hit hard by strong storms

Published 7:40 pm Sunday, June 6, 2010

Tornado damage was concentrated outside Dowagiac along M-62 between Dead Man's Hollow and Lindy's going toward Cassopolis. There were also pockets of damage on M-51 South in the vicinity of Imperial Furniture and along Cherry Grove Road near SMC and on Peavine Street. (Daily Star photo/JOHN EBY)

Tornado damage was concentrated outside Dowagiac along M-62 between Dead Man's Hollow and Lindy's going toward Cassopolis. There were also pockets of damage on M-51 South in the vicinity of Imperial Furniture and along Cherry Grove Road near SMC and on Peavine Street. (Daily Star photo/JOHN EBY)

While crews continue to clean up from Saturday night’s storms that roared through southwest Michigan, the National Weather Service is confirming that tornadoes caused damage in both Cass and Berrien Counties.

According to a statement released by the Weather Service Sunday afternoon, an EF1 tornado began a half-mile southwest of Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac and traveled three miles east-southeast ending near M-62.

In Berrien County, an EF1 tornado began near the intersection of Stevensville-Baroda Road and Marrs Road and traveled 3.5 miles to a point along Scottsdale Road just south of Rocky Weed Road.

The NWS also reported that an EF0 tornado began along Linco Road just southeast of the first tornado and continued approximately 1.5 miles east to S. Niles Road.

There were also widespread reports of straight line wind damage as well as heavy rains and some reports of hail throughout the area.

A tornado watch went up at 10 p.m. and the storm began its destructive path at approximately 11:30.

Power outages numbered in the thousands at the height of the storm, however, most had been restored by early Sunday morning, although there are still reports of areas without electricity in Cass County as late as Sunday afternoon.

Several roads in both Cass and Berrien counties were closed, including Hipps Hollow Road and Pucker Road, which was closed because of downed trees.

Authorities did not expect that road to be opened until something Monday morning.