National Weather Service confirms 7 tornadoes touched down in Michigan

Photo Credit: Missy Beck

(MICHIGAN) The National Weather Service has confirmed that seven tornadoes touched down in Michigan on Thursday night. 

One of those was an EF-1 Tornado that touched down in Kent County, in Comstock Park.  

At least four people are dead and thousands were without power Friday after the storms ripped across the state, from the Grand Rapids area all the way to Southeast Michigan.

Officials said the Kent County tornado started in Comstock Park east of Peach Ridge and north of 6 mile at 8:15 p.m. and ended in Belmont just west of Rockford High School at 8:30 p.m.

The tornado spanned 8.7 miles and peak winds speeds were estimated to be more than 110 mph. 

Consumers energy says they're working on getting the lights back on for more than 200,000 customers after winds exceeding 75mph traveled across the state. 

In Kent County, tornado sirens started going off just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday night. 

The storms came after two days with heat indexes near 100 degrees. 

The Kent County Sheriff's office says a woman and two children ages one and three were killed during a crash near Cedar Springs that happened around 8:10 p.m. Thursday.

Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted during the storm. In Kent County the KSCO says the greatest area of damage appears to be along Alpine near 6 mile and northeast through Belmont. 

Homes in the Pine Island Drive and 7 Mile Road were also damaged quite a bit.  

The NWS also confirmed an EF-1 Tornado in Livingston County in Fowlerville and a weak tornado in Wayne County in Canton. 

Ingham County also received a great deal of damage. The Sheriff's office says more than 25 vehicles were severely damaged along I-96 and one person died. 

The Ingham County Sheriff's office says, several other people were injured during the storm. 

If you see a power line that is down you are asked to stay at least 25 feet away. 

Consumers Energy also says a generator should never be used in an attached garage, enclosed patio, basement, or near any air intakes. 

At intersections where there are no lights, due to power outages, treat it as a four way stop. 

Kent County Emergency Operations is also asking residents to report any property damage from the storm. 

That can be done online. 

VNN will continue to follow this story. 

*This story has been updated to included information from the National Weather Service*