Dickinson County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26043 · population 25,935 · 761 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 503 records for Dickinson County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 384 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (175 records). 254 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the December 30, 2017 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Dickinson, which covers the county: 2 deaths, 4 injuries and $48,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 5 declarations naming the county since 1977, 3 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
- 503on 384 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 710 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $15Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 5latest 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 Dickinson County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 175 since 1996. 40% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in February and March. 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 | 175 | 174 | 1996-2026 | 7 | 10 | $278K | 25 of 83 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 117 | 72 | 1961-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 54 of 83 |
| Hail | 90 | 60 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 0 | $386K | 31 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 52 | 51 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 83 |
| Floods | 17 | 13 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $462K | 40 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 15 | 14 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $146K | 43 of 83 |
| Heavy rain | 12 | 12 | 2006-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 6 | 1974-2010 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 67 of 83 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 7 | 2002-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 83 |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 83 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | $251K | 30 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 Dickinson County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Dickinson County from 1974 to 2010, 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched Dickinson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-07-11 13:05, as SPC files it | Norway to Gladstone | F3 | 71 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Dickinson County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-07-27 | Vulcan, Dickinson County | EF0 0.23 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2010-07-27 | Vulcan, Dickinson County | EF0 0.33 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2002-09-30 | Norway, Dickinson County | F0 0.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-09-30 | Quinnesec, Dickinson County | F0 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-09-30 | Kingsford, Dickinson County | F1 4.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $11M |
| 2000-06-10 | Ralph, Dickinson County | F1 6.5 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $206K |
| 1987-07-11 | Dickinson County | F3 7 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1981-06-14 | Dickinson County | F2 1.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-04-21 | Dickinson County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 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 Dickinson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 16, 2021 winter weather (2 deaths and $16,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Snow and poor visibility from blowing snow likely contributed to a fatal accident in Sagola Township on the afternoon of the 16th. Sheriff deputies were dispatched on 125 pm CST to Highway M-95 near Tobin Lane. A Jeep Liberty was southbound when the driver lost control, crossed the center lane and collided with a northbound Peterbuilt tractor-trailer. The driver of the Jeep, a 50-year-old Iron River woman and her passenger, a 48-year-old Iron River woman were pronouned dead at the scene. The semi-driver, a 49-year-old man from Hastings, MI was uninjured. Deputies say speed and poor road conditions appeared to have caused the accident.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1004971)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | HeatDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-24 | HailNorway, Dickinson County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | FloodLoretto, Dickinson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Ice StormDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Winter StormDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | BlizzardDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Winter StormDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-10 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Winter StormDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-19 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-13 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-12-30 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson A brief period of snow dropped 1 to 3 inches of snow near the Marquette County line during the morning of December 30th. Gusty winds produced blowing snow causing visibility restrictions less than a half mile for a time. A serious car accident attributed to the weather conditions occurred on M-35 in Sagola Township ... | 2 | 4 | $48K | |
| 2020-01-23 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson Observers from Norway to Iron Mountain measured between 4 and 5 inches of snow over an approximate 15-hour period on the 23rd. Deputies from the Dickinson County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the scene of two-vehicle accident on Highway US-2 near Alfredson Road in Waucedah Township at 2:41 pm CST on the ... | 2 | 2 | $46K | |
| 2021-12-16 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson Snow and poor visibility from blowing snow likely contributed to a fatal accident in Sagola Township on the afternoon of the 16th. Sheriff deputies were dispatched on 125 pm CST to Highway M-95 near Tobin Lane. A Jeep Liberty was southbound when the driver lost control, crossed the center lane and collided with a ... | 2 | 0 | $16K | |
| 2018-12-01 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson The Kingsford observer and the observer three miles north of Iron Mountain measured 3 inches of wet snow during the two-day event. There was also a social media report of 8.5 inches of total snow accumulation in less than 24 hours just north of Iron Mountain. The wet snow contributed to a head-on crash on Highway M-95 ... | 1 | 2 | $28K | |
| 2015-12-30 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson Brief moderate snow likely contributed to an accident in the Iron Mountain area on the morning of the 30th. An Iron Mountain man was hospitalized after his vehicle slid off the roadway on Pine Mountain and Beverly roads. | 0 | 1 | $12K | |
| 2006-12-14 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson Light freezing rain or freezing drizzle created slippery road conditions and caused several accidents in the Iron Mountain-Kingford area. A Norway woman lost control and rolled her vehicle on Highway US-8. She was transported by ambulance to Dickinson County Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-09-30 | TornadoKingsford, Dickinson County | F1 4.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $11M |
| 1999-07-30 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Dickinson County | 0 | 0 | $886K | |
| 2000-06-09 | HailIron Mtn, Dickinson County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $386K |
| 2000-06-10 | TornadoRalph, Dickinson County | F1 6.5 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $206K |
| 1998-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn, Dickinson County | 0 | 0 | $181K | |
| 2010-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn Airport, Dickinson County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 2012-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindFloodwood, Dickinson County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $90K |
| 2017-12-30 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 2 | 4 | $48K |
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: July 11, 1987 (tornado, Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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 | – | – | – | – | 8 | 41 | 77 | 49 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 33 | 34 | 23 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 35 | 30 | 9 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 5 | 15 | 20 | 12 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
40% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in February and March. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 61 · Feb 52 · Mar 44 · Apr 36 · May 42 · Jun 63 · Jul 78 · Aug 36 · Sep 25 · Oct 12 · Nov 13 · Dec 41 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Dickinson County
FEMA's register lists 5 declarations that include Dickinson County: one major disaster, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and hurricane (1).
| 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 |
| 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 Dickinson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 17 flood or flash flood records for Dickinson County from 1999 to 2026, on 13 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Dickinson County ranks 2523rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $15,000 on 6 claims filed in Dickinson County; the most in one year was 2 in 2002. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1987: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2002: 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 Dickinson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dickinson County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $20.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $14M | 5.4 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $892K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $298K | 27 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $69K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.6M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $234K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $12K | once in about 5,378 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $385K | once in about 13 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Dickinson 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 Dickinson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Dickinson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)5 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis