Michigan tornado damages FedEx facility, trapping workers; more severe weather on the way

A series of powerful storms unleashed tornadoes from southern Michigan to Arkansas Tuesday night, injuring over a dozen people and leaving widespread damage in its wake as much of the central and eastern U.S. remains at risk of severe weather.

About 50 workers inside a FedEx facility in Michigan were temporarily trapped when tornadoes ripped through Kalamazoo County, less than 60 miles south of Grand Rapids. No was was hurt in the partial collapse, the company told USA TODAY in a statement. Nearby, a tornado hit a mobile home community, injuring 16 to 20 people who were hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries. Around 176 properties were damaged, 17 of which were completely destroyed, said Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller in a video posted on Facebook.

“We found homes in the roadway, we found homes in neighbor’s homes,” said Fuller, urging residents to stay home as officials continue to search for people and survey the damage across the county.

Tens of thousands without power in Michigan after tornadoes

In St. Joseph County, just south of Kalamazoo, a tornado destroyed seven structures, mostly homes, Branch County Emergency Manager Tim Miner told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, adding that there were no deaths or serious injuries.

More than 30,000 homes and businesses in Michigan, mostly in the southeastern part of the state, were without power Wednesday morning, according to a USA TODAY tracker.

The looming storm system spun up at least eight tornadoes in Michigan; others were reported in Arkansas, Ohio and West Virginia, according to the National Weather Service. Powerful storms pummeled the Plains region on Monday, spinning up multiple tornadoes that killed at least one person in Oklahoma, flattened homes in multiple states and caused widespread power outages. Meteorologists warn that more severe weather is on the way.

Tornadoes, hail, damaging wind forecast for parts of central US

Nearly four million people across parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee were at enhanced risk of severe storms on Wednesday, according to the Storm Predication Center. The powerful thunderstorms were expected to bring tornadoes, giant hail, and damaging winds, the prediction center said.

The cities in the areas of highest risk include Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, Louisville and Little Rock, according to the weather service. A vast swath of the central and eastern U.S., from Texas to Georgia and up through New England was at slight risk of experiencing some of the poor weather.

Through the day and into the evening, meteorologists anticipate multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms to slam the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys. Across Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas, thunderstorms are forecast to develop by late afternoon. Along with the winds, rain and possible tornadoes, hail larger than 3 inches in diameter are a threat as the system shifts eastward through the evening.

Flood and tornado watches were in effect across Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri through Thursday morning.

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver; Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press