150
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
5
Direct injuries
$30.3M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Muskegon County, Michigan: 150 recorded events between 1956 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 74. That places the county #1,532 nationally and #32 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Muskegon County, Michigan: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Muskegon County is the 2000s, when 46 of the county's 150 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Muskegon County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 62.5% of all recorded severe weather across 10 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #1,532 for this hazard and #32 within Michigan, putting it in the 51.3 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Muskegon County with 35 recorded events, while Feb is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2002 | NORTON SHRS | 53 | 0 | 2 | $10K |
| May 31, 1998 | MONTAGUE | 0 | 0 | 2 | $24.2M |
| Jun 28, 2008 | MICHILLINDA | 50 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2025 | NORTON SHRS | 63 | $0 |
| May 16, 2025 | (MKG)MUSKEGON ARPT | 53 | $0 |
| May 16, 2025 | MUSKEGON HGTS | 56 | $0 |
| Mar 30, 2025 | CLOVERVILLE | 56 | $0 |
| Jun 25, 2024 | (MKG)MUSKEGON ARPT | 62 | $250K |
| Jun 25, 2024 | WHITEHALL | 61 | $250K |
| Jul 17, 2023 | TRENT | 52 | $20K |
| Apr 21, 2023 | (MKG)MUSKEGON ARPT | 51 | $0 |
| Aug 29, 2022 | WOLF LAKE | 52 | $2K |
| Jul 24, 2022 | MUSKEGON HGTS | 63 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Muskegon County
- Hail 66
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
A peak wind gust of 61 mph was recorded at the Muskegon airport. Wind gusts of at least 75 mph were estimated based on damage across far southern Muskegon county in the Fruitport area, where hundreds of trees and numerous power lines were blown down. The entire village was left without power.
Numerous trees were blown down in and near Muskegon. Numerous windows were blown out of area homes and businesses. 30,000 people in and near Muskegon lost power. Wind gusts with severe storms were estimated at up to 85 mph. A 60 mph wind gust was measured at the Muskegon airport.
Widespread wind damage occurred in the Muskegon metropolitan area including the cities of Muskegon, North Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, and Norton Shores and Laketon, Muskegon, and Fruitport Townships. Many large trees, utility poles, and power lines were downed by sustained 60 to 80 mph winds (estimated) over a 10 to 15 minute period. Overall, an estimated 900 power lines were downed in the Muskegon area which left approximately 54,000 homes and businesses without power, affecting approximately a third of all Muskegon County residents. Most structural damage to homes and businesses was caused by fallen trees and utility poles. An estimated 500 homes and 30 businesses sustained minor to moderate damage. Most area schools and many area businesses were closed on Friday, May 29th. An estimated 27,000 people were still without power as of late in the day, Saturday, May 30th. Despite the widespread damage, no injuries were reported.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Muskegon County, Michigan?
150 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Muskegon County between 1956 and 2025, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Muskegon County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Muskegon County measured 74.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Muskegon County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Muskegon County, Michigan.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/michigan/muskegon-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.