Hillsdale County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26059 · population 45,730 · 598 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 427 records for Hillsdale County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 293 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (234 records). The deadliest day on its record was April 11, 1965: tornado records filed for Hillsdale County that day count 6 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 9 declarations naming the county since 1965, 6 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
- 427on 293 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 9138 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $317Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 26strongest F4
- 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 Hillsdale County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 234 since 1960. 50% 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 | 234 | 143 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 2 | $1.1M | 22 of 83 |
| Winter storms | 80 | 80 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 46 of 83 |
| Hail | 62 | 44 | 1973-2024 | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | 35 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 26 | 21 | 1958-2024 | 8 | 136 | $312M | 20 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 13 | 13 | 1997-2021 | 0 | 0 | $3K | 36 of 83 |
| Floods | 6 | 5 | 1996-2013 | 0 | 0 | $282K | 63 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2014-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 56 of 83 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 1 | 0 | – | 59 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 Hillsdale County had?
NOAA records 26 tornadoes in Hillsdale County from 1958 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 8 deaths and 136 injuries recorded in the county. That is 20th 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 26 tornadoes whose track touched Hillsdale County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 26, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 46 people, 8 of them in Hillsdale County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 18:00, as SPC files it | TecumsehCrossed IN, MI | F4 | 90.3 mi | 23 |
| 1965-04-11 18:40, as SPC files it | Tecumseh | F4 | 80.5 mi | 21 |
| 1974-04-03 18:44, as SPC files it | Hillsdale | F2 | 19.3 mi | 2 |
| 1991-03-27 18:37, as SPC files it | Pioneer | F3 | 5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Hillsdale County (26)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-24 | Austin, Hillsdale County | EF0 0.11 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 2021-09-07 | Bankers, Hillsdale County | EF1 5.33 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-04-09 | Moscow, Hillsdale County | EF0 0.6 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-08-01 | Hillsdale County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-07-10 | Camden, Hillsdale County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2001-10-24 | Ransom, Hillsdale County | F1 2 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $583K |
| 1991-03-27 | Hillsdale County | F3 5 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1988-05-15 | Hillsdale County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-05-15 | Hillsdale County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1984-09-25 | Hillsdale County | F2 2.1 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1979-06-07 | Hillsdale County | F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-07-18 | Hillsdale County | F2 4.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-03-12 | Hillsdale County | F2 3.6 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1976-03-12 | Hillsdale County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1975-05-21 | Hillsdale County | F0 7.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Hillsdale County | F2 5.4 mi x 167 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Hillsdale County | F2 5.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 5 | – |
| 1974-04-03 | Hillsdale County | F2 17 mi x 440 yd | 2 | 31 | $2.5M step |
| 1973-06-12 | Hillsdale County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1969-07-04 | Hillsdale County | F2 18.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1968-07-23 | Hillsdale County | F1 6.4 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1968-04-23 | Hillsdale County | F1 9.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1965-04-11 | Hillsdale County | F4 24.5 mi x 33 yd | 3 | 47 | – |
| 1965-04-11 | Hillsdale County | F4 24.2 mi x 1,760 yd | 3 | 47 | $25M step |
| 1964-08-22 | Hillsdale County | F2 10.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1958-06-24 | Hillsdale County | F1 3.6 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Hillsdale County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 26, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindJonesville, Hillsdale County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter WeatherHillsdale County · forecast zone Hillsdale | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-19 | Winter WeatherHillsdale County · forecast zone Hillsdale | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormHillsdale County · forecast zone Hillsdale | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindMilnes, Hillsdale County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLitchfield, Hillsdale County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindOsseo, Hillsdale County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindHillsdale County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindOsseo, Hillsdale County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2024-09-24 | TornadoAustin, Hillsdale County | EF0 0.11 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 2021-09-07 | TornadoBankers, Hillsdale County | EF1 5.33 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-06-21 | Thunderstorm WindSomerset Center, Hillsdale County | 65 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 | TornadoHillsdale County | F4 24.2 mi x 1,760 yd | 3 | 47 | $25M step |
| 1965-04-11 | TornadoHillsdale County | F4 24.5 mi x 33 yd | 3 | 47 | – |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoHillsdale County | F2 17 mi x 440 yd | 2 | 31 | $2.5M step |
| 2001-07-21 | LightningHillsdale County Man went outside to check possible lightning damage to barn. While standing outside of barn was hitby lightning and died shortly after at Hillsdale Community Health Center. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoHillsdale County | F2 5.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 5 | – |
| 1984-09-25 | TornadoHillsdale County | F2 2.1 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoHillsdale County | F2 5.4 mi x 167 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 2003-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindSomerset Center, Hillsdale County Emergency management reported tress down in Somerset Center. One person was injured. | 50 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-04-12 | HailReading, Hillsdale County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $3.8M |
| 2001-10-24 | TornadoRansom, Hillsdale County | F1 2 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $583K |
| 1996-06-17 | Flash FloodSouthwest, Hillsdale County | 0 | 0 | $282K | |
| 2024-09-24 | TornadoAustin, Hillsdale County | EF0 0.11 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 2015-04-09 | Thunderstorm WindMoscow, Hillsdale County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $93K |
| 1997-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindHillsdale County | 0 | 1 | $92K | |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLitchfield, Hillsdale County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindOsseo, Hillsdale County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 11, 1965 (tornado, Hillsdale County, 3 killed); March 27, 1991 (tornado, Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 37 | 80 | 42 | 39 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 20 | 36 | 16 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 8 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% 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 26 · Feb 28 · Mar 19 · Apr 27 · May 43 · Jun 71 · Jul 76 · Aug 53 · Sep 38 · Oct 10 · Nov 15 · Dec 21 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Hillsdale County
FEMA's register lists 9 declarations that include Hillsdale County: 3 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for snowstorm (3) and biological (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 |
| 2003-09-23 | EM-3189 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2001-01-10 | EM-3160 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1978-01-27 | EM-3057 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-02-05 | EM-3030 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1974-04-12 | DR-429 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1965-04-14 | DR-190 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
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 Hillsdale County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 6 flood or flash flood records for Hillsdale County from 1996 to 2013, on 5 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Hillsdale County ranks 2262nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $184,000 on 13 claims filed in Hillsdale County; the most in one year was 5 in 2018. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1989: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2025: 1 · 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 Hillsdale County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hillsdale County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $13.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.1M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $502K | 37 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $538K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $656K | 5.4 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $118K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.4M | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.7M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $181K | 3.5 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Hillsdale County's FEMA declarations (CSV)9 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis