Clare County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26035 · population 30,835 · 564 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 201 records for Clare County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 179 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (70 records). The deadliest single record is the March 8, 2017 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Clare, which covers the county: 2 deaths and $6.0 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 9 declarations naming the county since 1975, 7 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Katrina Evacuation” on September 7, 2005.
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
- 201on 179 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 23 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $19Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 9latest 2020
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 Clare County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 70 since 1960. 56% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 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 | 70 | 61 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 2 | $1.5M | 47 of 83 |
| Winter storms | 65 | 64 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $1.2M | 60 of 83 |
| Hail | 39 | 34 | 1966-2022 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 50 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 10 | 1976-2024 | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | 45 of 83 |
| Floods | 8 | 8 | 1996-2013 | 0 | 0 | $6.1M | 54 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 1997-2017 | 2 | 0 | $6.2M | 61 of 83 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 53 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 Clare County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Clare County from 1976 to 2024, the strongest rated EF1, 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Clare County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Clare County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-05 | Lake George, Clare County | EF1 12.11 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2021-06-26 | Dover, Clare County | EF0 3.72 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2008-07-30 | Dover, Clare County | EF0 0.38 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-05-21 | Browns Corner, Clare County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 1998-10-06 | Clare County | F0 100 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $362K |
| 1994-07-17 | Clare County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-06-17 | Clare County | F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-06-29 | Clare County | F1 3 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1986-07-25 | Clare County | F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1976-03-30 | Clare County | F1 2 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Clare County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 5, 2024 tornado ($1.9 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
The first indications of tornado damage were near Bringold Avenue about one-third of a mile south of Mannsiding Road. The tornado traveled east northeast across Lake George and continued east near Cedar Road and continued on to the east northeast crossing US-127 and ending just south of the intersection of East Gladwin Road and South Rodgers Avenue. The damage included boats flipped on Lake George as well as hundreds of trees downed along the path - including some trees falling onto homes. There was a concentrated area of damage where winds were estimated at 95 mph just east of Old State Road about one-quarter mile south of Mannsiding Road. After that, the damage became intermittent and weaker with some pockets of 65-80 mph damage.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1203956)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindClare Municipal Airport, Clare County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-29 | Winter StormClare County · forecast zone Clare | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-07-05 | TornadoLake George, Clare County | EF1 12.11 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2021-06-26 | TornadoDover, Clare County | EF0 3.72 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2020-04-07 | HailLake, Clare County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $285K |
| 2017-03-08 | High WindClare County · forecast zone Clare | 52 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $6.0M |
| 2013-11-17 | Thunderstorm WindHarrison, Clare County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $95K |
| 2013-04-17 | FloodLeota, Clare County | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | |
| 2011-06-08 | Thunderstorm WindTemple, Clare County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-03-04 | Winter WeatherClare County · forecast zone Clare | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2010-12-11 | Winter StormClare County · forecast zone Clare | 0 | 0 | $338K | |
| 2008-07-30 | TornadoDover, Clare County | EF0 0.38 mi x 50 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-08 | High WindClare County · forecast zone Clare Two people were killed when the vehicle they were driving in on M-115 in Freeman township in Clare county was struck by a large tree at 4:25 pm. Peak wind gusts of up to 60 mph resulted in numerous downed trees and limbs and power lines and widespread power outages. | 52 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $6.0M |
| 2013-11-17 | Thunderstorm WindHarrison, Clare County Several trees and power lines were blown down and one person was injured by a falling tree. Part of US-10 was blocked by several downed large trees and one tree fell on a house. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $95K |
| 2011-03-04 | Winter WeatherClare County · forecast zone Clare Clare county emergency management reported that two dozen accidents were attributable to icing from about a eighth of an inch of freezing rain. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1994-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindHamilton Township, Clare County A barn and silo were damaged. A travel trailer was damaged by fallen trees. One man was injured when a tree fell on his vehicle. Sheriff Department received reports of tornadoes, but none were confirmed. | 0 | 1 | $100K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-04-17 | FloodLeota, Clare County | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | |
| 2024-07-05 | TornadoLake George, Clare County | EF1 12.11 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 1998-09-26 | HailLeota, Clare County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $543K |
| 1998-10-06 | TornadoClare County | F0 100 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $362K |
| 2001-05-15 | Flash FloodCountywide, Clare County | 0 | 0 | $250K | |
| 1994-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindHamilton Township, Clare County | 0 | 1 | $100K | |
| 2013-11-17 | Thunderstorm WindHarrison, Clare County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $95K |
| 2001-05-21 | TornadoBrowns Corner, Clare County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 30, 1976 (tornado, Clare County); June 29, 1987 (tornado, Clare 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 Clare 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 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 16 | 32 | 13 | 4 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 14 | 4 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
56% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 17 · Feb 19 · Mar 18 · Apr 10 · May 17 · Jun 30 · Jul 38 · Aug 14 · Sep 11 · Oct 6 · Nov 3 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Clare County
FEMA's register lists 9 declarations that include Clare County: 4 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and snowstorm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2001-01-10 | EM-3160 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1986-09-18 | DR-774 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-01-27 | EM-3057 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3035 | Drought | Drought |
| 1976-03-19 | DR-495 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & Flooding |
| 1975-09-30 | DR-486 | Flood | Severe Storms, High Winds & Flooding |
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 Clare County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 8 flood or flash flood records for Clare County from 1996 to 2013, on 8 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Clare County ranks 2436th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $27,000 on 8 claims filed in Clare County; the most in one year was 2 in 1987. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1986: 1 · 1987: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2023: 1; 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 Clare County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clare County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.9M | 2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $293K | 17 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 2.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $292K | 29 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $2K | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $253K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.2M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Clare 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 Clare CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Clare County's FEMA declarations (CSV)9 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis