Tornado History

Michigan Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for Michigan. The local dataset contains 1,273 tornado records from 1951 through 2026, with a strongest listed rating of F5 (Incredible damage) and at least $1.3B in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is April 15, 2026. Across these records, NOAA lists 253 deaths and 3,464 injuries.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes1,273
Total Deaths253
Total Injuries3,464
Property Damage$1.3B
Avg Length4.2 mi
Avg Width131 yd

Key Tornado Facts for Michigan

Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.

Average 16.8 tornadoes per year (16.1/yr in last decade)
June is the peak tornado month with 266 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F5 in Michigan with 116 deaths
1974 was the most active year with 43 tornadoes
The 1970s had the most tornado activity (251 events)
Longest tornado: 100 miles in Michigan
Widest tornado: 2,500.0 yards in Michigan
Most tornadoes in one day: 25 on Apr 11, 1965

Monthly Distribution

Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Summary: In Michigan, June is the most active month with 266 tornadoes.

Annual Tornado Trend

Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.

4329150

Summary: 1974 was the most active year with 43 recorded tornadoes.

Tornado Intensity Distribution

Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by EF/F rating.

F0
EF0
F1
EF1
F2
EF2
F3
EF3
F4
F5
Unknown
EFU

Summary: F1 tornadoes are the most common in this group, with 368 recorded events.

Property Damage Trends

Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.

$310.2M$31.0M$3.1M$0

Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1965 with at least $310.2M in NOAA-listed property damage.

Tornado Count By County

Compares the counties with the most tornado records in this state dataset.

Genesee
Kent
Wayne
Monroe
Allegan
Oakland
Shiawassee
Lenawee
Berrien
Livingston
Saginaw
Ingham
Washtenaw
Kalamazoo
Hillsdale
Eaton
Ottawa
Ionia
Branch
St. Clair

Summary: Genesee County has the highest count in this state group with 50 tornado records.

Historical Track Sketch

F5 June 8, 19531953F5 June 8, 19531953F5 June 8, 19531953F5 April 3, 19561956F5 April 3, 19561956F5 April 3, 19561956F5 April 3, 19561956F4 April 11, 19651965F4 April 11, 19651965F4 April 11, 19651965F4 March 20, 19761976F4 May 21, 19531953F4 May 12, 19561956F4 May 8, 19641964F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 21, 1967F4 April 2, 1977F4 April 2, 1977F4 June 8, 1953F4 June 8, 1953F4 June 8, 1953F4 April 3, 1956F4 April 3, 1956F4 April 3, 1956F4 May 12, 1956F4 July 4, 1957F4 July 4, 1957F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965EF3 May 20, 2022EF3 August 24, 2007F3 April 21, 1967F3 May 13, 1980F3 May 2, 1983F3 May 2, 1983F3 March 27, 1991EF3 March 15, 2012F3 June 21, 1996F3 July 2, 1997F3 June 8, 1953F3 June 8, 1953F3 April 3, 1956F3 April 3, 1956F3 April 3, 1956F3 April 3, 1956F3 April 3, 1956F3 April 23, 1968F3 April 23, 1968F3 July 4, 1969F3 July 4, 1969F3 August 2, 1972F3 May 13, 1980F3 June 15, 1982F3 June 15, 1982F3 September 2, 1984F3 September 2, 1984F3 June 12, 1984F3 June 12, 1984F3 July 4, 1986F3 May 15, 1986F3 September 14, 1990F3 March 27, 1991F3 March 27, 1991F3 March 27, 1991F3 March 27, 1991F3 March 27, 1991F3 March 27, 1991F3 July 2, 1997F3 June 8, 1953F3 November 20, 1957F3 April 17, 1963F3 April 11, 1965© OpenStreetMap contributors
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Notable Tornado Records

The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.

DateRatingAreaLengthWidthDeathsInjuriesMin. property damage
June 8, 1953F5Genesee, Michigan9.6 mi833 yd116785$25.0M
June 8, 1953F5Genesee, Michigan9.3 mi833 yd00$25.0M
June 8, 1953F5Lapeer, Michigan0 mi833 yd059$25.0M
April 3, 1956F5Ottawa, Michigan15.1 mi400 yd14200$250K
April 3, 1956F5Kent, Michigan33.8 mi400 yd4130$25K
April 3, 1956F5Allegan, Michigan13.5 mi400 yd010$25K
April 3, 1956F5Montcalm, Michigan1.9 mi400 yd00$25K
April 11, 1965F4Branch, Michigan15.5 mi1333 yd9200$250.0M
April 11, 1965F4Lenawee, Michigan23.2 mi1760 yd542$25.0M
April 11, 1965F4Hillsdale, Michigan24.2 mi1760 yd347$25.0M
March 20, 1976F4Oakland, Michigan3.8 mi117 yd155$25.0M
May 8, 1964F4Macomb, Michigan3.3 mi833 yd11224$2.5M
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Source And Limits

Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.

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