A deadly F5 tornado that packed winds of up to 300 mph struck northwest Grand Rapids, cutting a path from Hudsonville to Comstock Park. More than 330 injuries were reported, in addition to 17 fatalities.
April 3, 1956, was one of the deadliest days in West Michigan’s history, when a violent tornado tore a path through several West Michigan communities. It was one of several strong tornadoes to hit Michigan that day.
Source : Andrew Krietz, “Grand Rapids tornadoes: Here are 5 notable events in West Michigan history”, MLive, July 7, 2014.
“Aftermath of the deadly 1956 tornado: 17 killed, 300 injured in West Michigan“, MLive, April 3, 2017.