Michigan sees a moderate amount of severe weather each year, with 1,237 confirmed tornadoes, 5,871 hailstorm events and 12,627 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950., and averages 16.5 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Michigan combines a continental severe-weather season with lake-effect winter storms, giving it one of the most varied weather climates in the country. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Michigan from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).

Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.

Michigan Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)

• 1,237 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
• 342 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
• 7 confirmed F5/EF5 tornadoes on record — the maximum rating on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales
• 249 direct tornado deaths and 3,444 direct injuries
• 5,871 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
• 12,627 damaging-wind events on record
• 16.5 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
• June is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 21.7% of Michigan tornadoes
• 434 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS

When Michigan Severe Weather Happens

Michigan tornado activity is heavily concentrated in spring. March, April, May and June account for 54% of all Michigan tornadoes, with June alone responsible for roughly 21.7%.

• June: 268 tornadoes (21.7%) — peak month
• July: 215 tornadoes (17.4%)
• May: 194 tornadoes (15.7%)
• August: 193 tornadoes (15.6%)
• April: 141 tornadoes (11.4%)
• September: 93 tornadoes (7.5%)

Top 10 Michigan Counties by Tornado Frequency

Tornado activity in Michigan is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.

The Deadliest Tornadoes in Michigan History

Michigan has lost 249 lives to tornadoes since the National Weather Service began systematic tornado record-keeping in 1950. The single deadliest event killed 116 people in Genesee County in 1953, rated F5 on the Fujita scale.

Michigan Tornado Strength Distribution

Most Michigan tornadoes are weak: roughly 72% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 28% of rated tornadoes in the state. Michigan is one of the few states with a confirmed F5 or EF5 tornado on record.

• F0/EF0 (weak): 410 tornadoes — 33.6% of rated events
• F1/EF1: 469 tornadoes — 38.4% of rated events
• F2/EF2 (strong): 242 tornadoes — 19.8% of rated events
• F3/EF3: 63 tornadoes — 5.2% of rated events
• F4/EF4 (violent): 30 tornadoes — 2.5% of rated events
• F5/EF5 (incredible): 7 tornadoes — 0.6% of rated events

Record-Setting Severe Weather in Michigan

Largest hailstone: 4.50 inches in diameter, observed in Macomb County on July 26, 1978. The three largest hailstones on record in Michigan measured 4.50″, 4.50″, 4.50″.

Highest measured wind gust: 80 knots (92 mph) recorded in Iron County near Iron River on August 9, 2005. Most damaging-wind events in Michigan are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.

How Michigan Compares Nationally

Michigan ranks 25th nationally for tornado frequency, in the middle of the pack of US states by severe-weather activity.

• Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
• Michigan tornado total: 1,237 — ranked 25th nationally.
• Michigan hail total: 5,871 hail events on record since 1950.
• Michigan wind total: 12,627 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes does Michigan have on average per year?

Michigan averages 16.5 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.

What was the deadliest tornado in Michigan history?

The June 8, 1953 tornado, rated F5 on the Fujita scale, killed 116 people and injured 785 in Genesee County. It remains the single deadliest tornado in the Michigan modern record.

Where in Michigan are tornadoes most common?

The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Genesee County with 49 events. The three most active counties overall are Genesee, Monroe, Wayne.

How does Michigan compare to its neighbors?

Michigan shares a severe-weather climate with Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Michigan’s neighbors’ records on the same date.

How recent is the data on this map?

The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.

Compare Michigan to Neighboring States

Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Michigan tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Michigan’s storm history to its land neighbors:

• Wisconsin severe storm history — ranked 18th nationally, Great Lakes severe-weather and lake-effect winters
• Indiana severe storm history — ranked 16th nationally, Great Lakes severe-weather and lake-effect winters
• Ohio severe storm history — ranked 22nd nationally, Great Lakes severe-weather and lake-effect winters

Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map