Tornado sweeps through Livonia, killing 2-year-old

A 2-year-old was killed Wednesday when a tornado swept through Livonia and toppled a tree that landed on the family’s house.

His mother and 2-month-old sibling were hospitalized after a tornado rapidly tore through the city, the National Weather Service said.

“We were informed by the Livonia Emergency Management that a 2-year-old child was killed, and his mother and a 2-month-old infant were injured,” said Steve Considine, a meteorologist with the weather service in White Lake Township. “This was due to a tree that fell on their home.”

Livonia residents reported there were no warning sirens sounding ahead of or during the storm. The weather service said it didn’t issue a warning, saying the tornado developed rapidly and did not allow the agency time to alert residents.

“We had a special weather statement out for the thunderstorm, which produced 40 mph winds, (but) we had a rapid development of the tornado right over Livonia and it developed and dissipated very quickly, so that it was difficult to put out a warning on such a quick spin-up of a tornado,” he said.

The weather service said it was sending a team to investigate the twister’s strength and size.

Reports of downed trees also were reported in Carsonville in Sanilac County, and several downed trees and power lines were reported across St. Clair County, both where gusts up to 60 mph blew through the Thumb region, the weather service said.