Alpena County, Michigan severe weather history spans 157 recorded events between 1955 and 2025. The dominant hazard is thunderstorm wind, accounting for 58.6% of all recorded events. It ranks #2,669 nationally and #52 in Michigan.
157
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
4
Direct injuries
$914K
Property damage
The record
What the Alpena County, Michigan severe weather history record shows
Across the archive, Alpena County, Michigan severe weather history averages 2.2 recorded events a year. The busiest stretch on record is the 2000s, with 50 events logged in that decade alone. Roughly 44 events fall before 1990 and 113 from 1990 onward — a gap that reflects the expansion of NOAA reporting practice as much as the weather itself.
The costliest is tornado, with $592K in reported property damage. In total, 5 distinct hazard types appear in this county archive, each listed with its own dated record below.
By hazard type
Every hazard type recorded in Alpena County
| Hazard | Events | Deaths | Damage | Max | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 92 | 0 | $322K | 88 | 1955–2024 |
| Hail | 49 | 0 | $0 | 2 | 1960–2025 |
| Tornado | 14 | 0 | $592K | F1 | 1961–2007 |
| Lightning | 1 | 0 | $0 | 0 | 2005–2005 |
| Waterspout | 1 | 0 | $0 | 0 | 1998–1998 |
Decade by decade
Alpena County, Michigan severe weather history by decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
Tornado tracks
Paths crossing this county
11 mapped tornado paths intersect this county: 11 touched down inside it and 0 crossed in from a neighbouring county. This comes from path geometry, not county-tagged reports.
| Date | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Path length | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-10-18 | EF2 | 0 | 0 | 4.1 mi | Touched down here |
| 2007-10-18 | EF2 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 mi | Touched down here |
| 1988-08-12 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 mi | Touched down here |
| 1971-06-07 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 mi | Touched down here |
| 1967-07-22 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 mi | Touched down here |
| 1964-07-20 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 mi | Touched down here |
| 2001-06-09 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 mi | Touched down here |
| 1988-08-16 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 mi | Touched down here |
| 1988-09-03 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 mi | Touched down here |
| 1982-06-21 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 mi | Touched down here |
Significant events
Deadliest events on record in Alpena County
| Date | Type | Location | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 | 3 | $0 | |
| Jul 18, 2005 | Lightning | ALPENA | 0 | 1 | $0 |
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
The third tornado from this parent thunderstorm, and sixth and final tornado of the day, this one was only on the ground momentarily, with a quarter-mile long track. However, this quick touchdown produced substantial damage near Borke Road. One home had its second story ripped off. A nearby mobile home was destroyed, and two barns were significantly damaged. Some livestock (cows and chickens) were killed. Trees in the area were also heavily damaged. Winds were estimated at up to 110 mph, making it an EF2.
The Long Rapids tornado touched down initially near Hodgins Road, and tracked northeast for 4 miles, ending just north of Long Rapids Road on McNeil Road. The most concentrated property damage was near Hodgins Road. Three homes suffered roof and siding damage, and three barns were destroyed or heavily damaged. A garage and a shed were also destroyed, and there was substantial tree damage. Winds were estimated at 120 mph, making it an EF2.
Several large trees uprooted near the south end of Long Lake. A shed was crushed by a falling tree, and some homes were damaged by trees and other debris. In Alpena, part of a large tent erected for a local festival was brought down.
Context
Risk, population and federal disasters
Very Low
FEMA NRI risk rating
28,880
Population (ACS)
$154K
Median home value
7
Federal declarations
| Declared | Incident | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 2026 | Flood | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | SEVERE WINTER STORM | DR |
| Mar 27, 2020 | Biological | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | COVID-19 | EM |
| Sep 7, 2005 | Hurricane | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM |
| Jan 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | BLIZZARDS & SNOWSTORMS | EM |
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many severe weather events have been recorded in Alpena County, Michigan?
157 events are on record between 1955 and 2025, causing 0 direct deaths and $914K in property damage.
What is the most common severe weather hazard in Alpena County?
Thunderstorm Wind, with 92 recorded events — 58.6% of everything in the archive for this county.
How many tornadoes have crossed Alpena County?
11 mapped tornado paths intersect the county boundary; 11 of them touched down inside it. This is derived from path geometry, not county-tagged reports.
How many federal disaster declarations cover Alpena County?
7 federal disaster declarations from FEMA include Alpena County, each tied to a specific incident period.
How risky is Alpena County compared with the rest of the country?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Alpena County as very low risk, placing it in the 28 percentile of its state for expected annual loss.
Where does the Alpena County, Michigan severe weather history data come from?
Every figure is drawn from United States federal public-domain records: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events for the event archive, NOAA SPC SVRGIS for mapped tornado paths, FEMA for disaster declarations and risk ratings, and the U.S. Census for population context. Dates are shown in UTC and recent entries may still be revised by NOAA.
Nearby
Neighbouring counties
- Allegan County 365
- Antrim County 129
- Alger County 160
- Arenac County 121
- Alcona County 137
- Baraga County 154
Cite this page
“Alpena County, Michigan.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/michigan/alpena-county/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.