National Weather Service Raw Text Product

990 
NOUS43 KIWX 012232
PNSIWX
INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-004-
005-015-016-024-025-021045-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
532 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 /432 PM CST Wed Mar 1 2017/

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 02/28/2017 TORNADO EVENT...

.OVERVIEW...
Quasi-linear convective system moved through far southwest lower Michigan 
mid evening Tuesday producing 3 brief tornadoes.

.TORNADO 1...Niles MI

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated peak wind:    105 mph
Path length /Statute/:  0.6 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             Feb 28 2017
Start time:             854 pm EST
Start location:         Niles Michigan
Start Lat/Lon:          41.8317 / -86.2407

End date:               Feb 28 2017
End time:               856 pm EST
End location:           Niles Michigan
End_lat/lon:            41.8348 / -86.2308

SURVEY_SUMMARY: Tornado touched down in downtown Niles Michigan near the Eastside Elementary School.
Extensive tree damage along with minor to significant structural damage to homes occurred in about a 
5 block area of Niles Michigan. Many large trees down on house and vehicles.

.TORNADO 2...Dowagiac MI

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated peak wind:    105 mph
Path length /Statute/:  5 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             Feb 28 2017
Start time:             858 pm EST
Start location:         4.3 miles SW Dowagiac
Start Lat/Lon:          41.9478 / -86.176

End date:               Feb 28 2017
End time:               902 pm EDT
End location:           0.5 miles E Dowagiac
End_lat/lon:            41.9836 / -86.0917

SURVEY_SUMMARY: Tornado touched down a field southwest of town and caused extensive tree damage as
it tracked into the far south side of town. Here two single wide mobile homes were destroyed along
with widespread tree damage and additional minor house damage before the tornado crossed through the
Dowagiac Elks Golf Club and then dissipated/lifted as it crossed Dowagiac Creek.

.TORNADO 3...Vandalia MI

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated peak wind:    110 mph
Path length /Statute/:  2.7 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   150 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             Feb 28 2017
Start time:             912 pm EDT
Start location:         3.3 miles SW Vandalia
Start Lat/Lon:          41.8782 / -85.9497

End date:               Feb 28 2017
End time:               915 pm EDT
End location:           1.3 miles SE Vandalia
End_lat/lon:            41.8974 / -85.9039

SURVEY_SUMMARY: Tornado touched down south of Brownsville St west of Calvin Center Rd in a wooded 
area and then traveled rapidly northeast...just missing the Calvin Center SDA Church. Several large 
trees were uprooted here along with chain link fence pulled from the ground. Some minor damage to the 
was noted to the church including stripped siding and shingle loss. More extensive tree and structural 
damage to homes was noted just northeast of here including a roof off a single wide mobile home...garage 
partially deroofed and two story house twisted on its foundation along with roof damage. In addition 
dozens of snapped/uprooted trees. Additional tree damage occurred northeast toward Paradise Lake where 
several houses sustained minor roof and siding damage along with uprooted trees down on houses. The 
tornado continued on through a heavily wooded swamp before dissipating south of Donnell Lake.


EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale Classifies
Tornadoes into the following categories.

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 To 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph*

NOTE:
The information in this statement is PRELIMINARY and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in
NWS Storm Data. 

$$

Holsten/Fisher