Alcona County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26001 · population 10,159 · 675 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 213 records for Alcona County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 170 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (63 records). The most damaging was the July 3, 1999 tornado ($443,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 9 declarations naming the county since 1977, 7 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on June 30, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 213on 170 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 01 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $15Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 9latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Alcona County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 63 since 1962. 59% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Michigan's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 63 | 52 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 1 | $184K | 63 of 83 |
| Winter storms | 60 | 60 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5K | 80 of 83 |
| Hail | 57 | 42 | 1955-2025 | 0 | 0 | $588 | 43 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 11 | 1953-2008 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 49 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 43 of 83 |
| Floods | 6 | 4 | 2008-2019 | 0 | 0 | $261K | 68 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | $26K | 78 of 83 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2001-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 83 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Alcona County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Alcona County from 1953 to 2008, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 12 tornadoes whose track touched Alcona County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-03-27 17:15, as SPC files it | Harrisville | F3 | 35 mi | 0 |
| 1991-03-27 17:20, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 21 mi | 0 |
| 1953-06-08 19:08, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 1.8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Alcona County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-22 | Backus Beach, Alcona County | EF1 0.75 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $69K |
| 2007-10-18 | Mc Ginn, Alcona County | EF1 2.31 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 1999-07-03 | Barton City, Alcona County | F1 12 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $443K |
| 1992-06-17 | Alcona County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1991-03-27 | Alcona County | F3 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1991-03-27 | Alcona County | F3 23 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1976-03-30 | Alcona County | F2 4.9 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1967-07-22 | Alcona County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1956-07-01 | Alcona County | F1 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1954-08-09 | Alcona County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1953-07-05 | Alcona County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1953-06-08 | Alcona County | F3 1.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Alcona County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 12, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | Winter StormAlcona County · forecast zone Alcona | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Cold/Wind ChillAlcona County · forecast zone Alcona | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-06 | Cold/Wind ChillAlcona County · forecast zone Alcona | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-29 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAlcona County · forecast zone Alcona | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-28 | Cold/Wind ChillAlcona County · forecast zone Alcona | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAlcona County · forecast zone Alcona | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormAlcona County · forecast zone Alcona | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-12 | Thunderstorm WindBackus Beach, Alcona County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2025-08-07 | HailLost Lake Woods, Alcona County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-07 | HailSpruce, Alcona County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | HailGreenbush, Alcona County | 0.85 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-29 | Ice StormAlcona County · forecast zone Alcona | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-07-22 | Thunderstorm WindCurtisville, Alcona County Thunderstorm downed several trees. One truck had its windshield broken by flying debris and a female passenger in the truck was injured. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-07-03 | TornadoBarton City, Alcona County | F1 12 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $443K |
| 2008-06-22 | TornadoBackus Beach, Alcona County | EF1 0.75 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $69K |
| 2025-08-12 | Thunderstorm WindBackus Beach, Alcona County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2007-10-18 | TornadoMc Ginn, Alcona County | EF1 2.31 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 2001-07-22 | Thunderstorm WindCurtisville, Alcona County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 27, 1991 (tornado, Alcona County); March 27, 1991 (tornado, Alcona County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Alcona County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 22 | 9 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 26 | 16 | 8 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 32 | 9 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
59% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 19 · Feb 17 · Mar 13 · Apr 8 · May 22 · Jun 35 · Jul 47 · Aug 19 · Sep 5 · Oct 7 · Nov 5 · Dec 16 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Alcona County
FEMA's register lists 9 declarations that include Alcona County: 4 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (2) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | DR-4925 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2025-07-22 | DR-4880 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-03-27 | DR-4494 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3455 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3225 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1999-01-27 | EM-3137 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| 1985-09-18 | DR-744 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1978-01-27 | EM-3057 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3035 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Alcona County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 6 flood or flash flood records for Alcona County from 2008 to 2019, on 4 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Alcona County ranks 2212th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $72,000 on 15 claims filed in Alcona County; the most in one year was 3 in 1986. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 3 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2026: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Alcona County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Alcona County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.7 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $216K | 25 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $553K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.6M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $1K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $20K | once in about 3,921 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | $3K | once in about 77 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $10K | once in about 77 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $68K | about once a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Alcona County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in MichiganEvery Michigan tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in MichiganThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Michigan recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Alcona CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Alcona County's FEMA declarations (CSV)9 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis