1,284
Recorded events
83
Counties affected
253
Direct deaths
$1.3B
Property damage
Michigan tornado history: 1,284 recorded events across 83 counties between 1951 and 2026.
Decade by decade
Michigan tornado history by decade
The 1970s are the busiest decade on record with 251 reported tornado events across Michigan. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.
County ranking
Counties with the most tornado events in Michigan
| Rank | County | Events | Deaths | Damage | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Genesee County | 50 | 120 | $80.6M | 1953–2025 |
| #2 | Kent County | 44 | 9 | $44.5M | 1956–2025 |
| #3 | Wayne County | 42 | 2 | $126.0M | 1953–2026 |
| #4 | Monroe County | 41 | 17 | $68.9M | 1953–2025 |
| #5 | Allegan County | 37 | 2 | $9.6M | 1954–2026 |
| #6 | Oakland County | 36 | 3 | $55.2M | 1953–2024 |
| #7 | Shiawassee County | 35 | 0 | $17.9M | 1956–2026 |
| #8 | Lenawee County | 33 | 9 | $26.7M | 1954–2021 |
| #9 | Berrien County | 32 | 0 | $3.9M | 1956–2017 |
| #10 | Ingham County | 29 | 5 | $99.5M | 1962–2025 |
| #11 | Saginaw County | 29 | 0 | $12.8M | 1953–2026 |
| #12 | Washtenaw County | 29 | 1 | $24.4M | 1951–2026 |
| #13 | Livingston County | 29 | 1 | $17.2M | 1951–2025 |
| #14 | Kalamazoo County | 27 | 5 | $79.3M | 1954–2025 |
| #15 | Hillsdale County | 26 | 8 | $54.3M | 1958–2024 |
| #16 | Eaton County | 25 | 2 | $54.3M | 1951–2025 |
| #17 | Ionia County | 25 | 0 | $5.4M | 1960–2025 |
| #18 | Ottawa County | 25 | 14 | $4.6M | 1956–2025 |
| #19 | Branch County | 24 | 22 | $253.2M | 1954–2026 |
| #20 | St. Clair County | 23 | 3 | $31.4M | 1953–2021 |
| #21 | Macomb County | 22 | 12 | $63.5M | 1964–2025 |
| #22 | Tuscola County | 22 | 0 | $2.9M | 1965–2024 |
| #23 | Barry County | 21 | 0 | $3.9M | 1955–2026 |
| #24 | Sanilac County | 21 | 0 | $3.8M | 1957–2025 |
| #25 | Cass County | 21 | 1 | $9.0M | 1959–2026 |
Significant events
Deadliest tornado events in Michigan
| Date | County | Scale | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 1953 | Genesee County | F5 | 116 | 785 |
| Apr 3, 1956 | Ottawa County | F5 | 14 | 200 |
| May 8, 1964 | Macomb County | F4 | 11 | 224 |
| Apr 12, 1965 | Branch County | F4 | 9 | 200 |
| Apr 12, 1965 | Branch County | F4 | 9 | 200 |
| Apr 12, 1965 | Monroe County | F4 | 6 | 5 |
| May 13, 1980 | Kalamazoo County | F3 | 5 | 79 |
| Apr 11, 1965 | Kent County | F4 | 5 | 142 |
| Apr 12, 1965 | Lenawee County | F4 | 5 | 42 |
| Apr 12, 1965 | Monroe County | F4 | 5 | 5 |