An irrigation system lies twisted after being hit by strong winds in Home Township Thursday. (National Weather Service photo)

A storm evaluation team from the National Weather Service's Grand Rapids office confirms that a tornado touched down in northwestern Montcalm County Thursday afternoon, damaging buildings and farm equipment but causing no injuries.
Evaluators said a combination of a strong downburst -- the same kind of storm that caused heavy damage in Lake Isabella earlier this summer -- and a tornado rated an EF-1 did the damage.

Numerous oak and maple trees were knocked down around a house on the south side of Cutler Road. (National Weather Service photo)

Two different damage paths were located, each about 100 to 200 yards wide. The first began about a mile west of the intersection of Cutler and Vickeryville roads. The second began near that intersection and extended to near the Montcalm-Isabella county line.

Many trees were uprooted or snapped off. Meteorologists say the damage was consistent with a rating of EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, used to rate the strength of tornadoes. The wind speeds were estimated at 90 to 100 mph.

No one was reported hurt.