Tornado strikes Perry as severe weather rips through Michigan

A tornado tore through the city of Perry in Shiawassee County on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service, as the latest round of severe weather rifled through Michigan.

"Damage reported includes extensive tree damage, trees on homes and some damage to downtown buildings," the weather service reported.

Perry officials said they declared a state of emergency on Friday evening as a result of the tornado. The city also asked residents to limit sewer usage because of “power outages” and a strain on pumping stations.

“Many downed power lines and dangerous conditions. Please remain off the streets,” the city wrote in a Facebook post Friday night. “STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE.”

Video taken from a nearby highway and posted on social media shows drivers pulled over on the side of the road as a funnel cloud in the sky appears to touch down. 

According to the city, emergency responders were at the scene. No injuries have been reported.

The local fire department said emergency services are in the process of “assessing the damage from a tornado that left a path of destruction” in the city. Perry is located about 25 miles northeast of Lansing.

“There is several hazards including downed power lines,” Perry Area Fire and Rescue posted on Facebook. 

“Please avoid this area and let the emergency workers do their job.  Thankfully we have had no injuries thus far.”

Early Saturday, Consumers Energy's outage map showed about 1,600 customers without power, with utility crews assigned to address issues in several pockets between Lansing and Flint. The map showed roughly 670 customers in the Perry area impacted by power outages.

DTE Energy reported about 2,400 customers without electricity.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory until 2 a.m. Saturday for Livingston, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

"Rainfall rates in excess of 2 inches per hour have been estimated by radar," the notice said. "Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding."

NWS also issued a flash flood warning late Friday for parts of Genesee County, including Flint, Burton, and Swartz Creek, with the agency warning residents to seek higher ground.

Meanwhile, a tornado warning expired at 9:45 p.m. in northwestern Oakland County with no immediate reports of serious damage.

A severe thunderstorm warning until 10:30 p.m. had also been issued for parts of Metro Detroit including Troy, Farmington Hills and Southfield, leaving several thousand without power.

Earlier, the weather service forecasted severe thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts and large hail Friday evening. The storms pose mainly a large hail threat, according to the weather service.

Showers and thunderstorms were forecast for Saturday as temperatures climb into the low 80s.

More:Massive hail damages businesses, homes in Michigan; thousands still without power

Michigan has had its share of severe weather this summer. Baseball-sized hail hit some communities in July and a few weeks later, intense winds leveled entire trees and power lines in the Grosse Pointes and Ann Arbor.

Staff Writer Kara Berg contributed