Crawford County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26039 · population 12,919 · 556 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 241 records for Crawford County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 199 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (101 records). The most damaging was the August 2, 2015 thunderstorm wind ($1.5 million 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 “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
- 241on 199 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 016 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $7.6Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F2
- 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 Crawford County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 101 since 1997. 47% of its winter storm records since 1997 fell in December and January. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 101 | 99 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 1 | $331K | 30 of 83 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 63 | 46 | 1967-2021 | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | 61 of 83 |
| Hail | 45 | 37 | 1980-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 12 | 1973-2024 | 0 | 14 | $1.8M | 36 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 10 | 10 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | $104K | 80 of 83 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2001-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 83 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2008-2010 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 2 of 83 |
| Floods | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 79 of 83 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 1 | – | 52 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 Crawford County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Crawford County from 1973 to 2024, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 14 injuries recorded in the county. That is 36th of 83 Michigan counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Crawford County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Crawford County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-05 | Grayling, Crawford County | EF0 0.27 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2014-09-01 | Frederic, Crawford County | EF1 9.14 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $106K |
| 2012-06-18 | Grayling, Crawford County | EF1 1.29 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $77K |
| 1998-06-25 | Camp Grayling, Crawford County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-31 | Grayling, Crawford County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-02 | Grayling, Crawford County | F1 3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-07-05 | To, Crawford County | F1 5.6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1993-08-30 | Grayling, Crawford County | F1 8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1987-07-09 | Crawford County | F1 16 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1985-09-07 | Crawford County | F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1975-04-19 | Crawford County | F2 1.5 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 14 | $250K step |
| 1973-05-20 | Crawford County | F2 | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Crawford County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the November 28, 2024 winter storm (1 injury).
Crawford County Sheriff deputy, on call at a crash site on I-75 at mile marker 262, received minor injuries when his patrol car was hit by a passing car. A CoCoRaHS observer 15.8miles NE of Grayling reported 10.2 inches of snow ending 0600EST on the 30th, with a storm total of 13.9 inches during this event.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1225282)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | Winter StormCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Cold/Wind ChillCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-06 | Cold/Wind ChillCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-29 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-28 | Cold/Wind ChillCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-28 | Winter StormCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-26 | Winter StormCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-29 | Ice StormCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-11-28 | Winter StormCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2024-06-05 | TornadoGrayling, Crawford County | EF0 0.27 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2015-08-02 | Thunderstorm WindFrederic, Crawford County | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-04-19 | TornadoCrawford County | F2 1.5 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 14 | $250K step |
| 2024-11-28 | Winter StormCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford Crawford County Sheriff deputy, on call at a crash site on I-75 at mile marker 262, received minor injuries when his patrol car was hit by a passing car. A CoCoRaHS observer 15.8miles NE of Grayling reported 10.2 inches of snow ending 0600EST on the 30th, with a storm total of 13.9 inches during this event. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2006-08-02 | LightningCamp Grayling, Crawford County A soldier at Camp Grayling was struck by lightning as he exited a car in an open field. He suffered burns on one hand, but no other injuries. | 0 | 1 | – |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-08-02 | Thunderstorm WindFrederic, Crawford County | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
| 2010-05-18 | WildfireCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2008-04-24 | WildfireCrawford County · forecast zone Crawford | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1995-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindGrayling, Crawford County | 0 | 0 | $968K | |
| 2014-09-01 | TornadoFrederic, Crawford County | EF1 9.14 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $106K |
| 1993-08-30 | TornadoGrayling, Crawford County | F1 8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1994-07-05 | TornadoTo, Crawford County | F1 5.6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2012-06-18 | TornadoGrayling, Crawford County | EF1 1.29 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $77K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 19, 1975 (tornado, Crawford 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 Crawford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 42 | 25 | 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 19 | 9 | 3 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its winter storm records since 1997 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 29 · Feb 26 · Mar 15 · Apr 15 · May 14 · Jun 28 · Jul 40 · Aug 18 · Sep 10 · Oct 5 · Nov 17 · Dec 24 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Crawford County
FEMA's register lists 9 declarations that include Crawford 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 |
| 1978-01-27 | EM-3057 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3035 | Drought | Drought |
| 1975-04-26 | DR-465 | 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 Crawford County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1 flood or flash flood record for Crawford County from 2006 to 2006, on 1 day, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Crawford County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $122,000 on 1 claim filed in Crawford County; the most in one year was 1 in 2026. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2026: 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 Crawford County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Crawford County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $200K | 28 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $291K | 26 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $207K | once in about 761 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $742K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.3M | once in about 28 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $311K | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $168K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $906 | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Crawford 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
- Winter storms in MichiganThe state's winter storm records, 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 Crawford CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Crawford County's FEMA declarations (CSV)9 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis