Manistee County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26101 · population 25,012 · 542 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 252 records for Manistee County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 203 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (108 records). 131 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 July 20, 1987 thunderstorm wind: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 8 declarations naming the county since 1977, 6 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
- 252on 203 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 40 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $26Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 8latest 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 Manistee County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 108 since 1997. 56% of its winter storm records since 1997 fell in January and February. 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 | 108 | 107 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $450K | 29 of 83 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 58 | 48 | 1964-2024 | 2 | 0 | $734K | 57 of 83 |
| Hail | 47 | 25 | 1973-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 66 of 83 |
| Floods | 16 | 13 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | $6.8M | 26 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 11 | 11 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $199K | 39 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | $13M | 59 of 83 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2001-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 of 83 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2000-2016 | 1 | 0 | – | 32 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1956-2008 | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | 78 of 83 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 1 | 0 | – | 15 of 83 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 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 Manistee County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Manistee County from 1956 to 2008, the strongest rated F4, 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 2 tornadoes whose track touched Manistee County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Manistee County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956-04-03 17:35, as SPC files it | Lake Ann | F4 | 50.3 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Manistee County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-12 | Stronach, Manistee County | EF0 1.04 mi x 425 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 1956-04-03 | Manistee County | F4 12.5 mi x 400 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 Manistee County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 27, 2024 hail ($1.9 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Images shared on social media from Zosel St. in Onekama of measured 2 inch hail. Damage to vehicles and home siding. Time estimated from radar.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1172777)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | HailPleasanton, Manistee County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | HailPleasanton, Manistee County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | HailWellston, Manistee County | 0.80 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | Winter StormManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Winter StormManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-27 | Winter StormManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-18 | HailManistee County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-15 | High WindManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-08 | Winter StormManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-06 | High WindManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-27 | HailOnekama, Manistee County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindManistee County | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-09-06 | LightningHigh Bridge, Manistee County A Texas man was was struck and killed by lightning while on the North Country Trail in Dickson Township. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2007-07-11 | Rip CurrentManistee County · forecast zone Manistee A 15 year old boy from a downstate Michigan community, drowned as a result of rip currents at 5th Avenue Beach in the city of Manistee. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-07-20 | Flash FloodOak Hill, Manistee County | 0 | 0 | $4.0M | |
| 2024-04-27 | HailOnekama, Manistee County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2008-06-12 | Flash FloodOak Hill, Manistee County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2005-07-24 | Flash FloodManistee County | 0 | 0 | $756K | |
| 2012-03-02 | Heavy SnowManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 0 | 0 | $450K | |
| 2019-10-16 | Lakeshore FloodManistee County · forecast zone Manistee | 0 | 0 | $404K | |
| 2008-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindManistee County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $267K |
| 2011-04-10 | Thunderstorm WindManistee County | 69 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $157K |
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 3, 1956 (tornado, Manistee 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 Manistee 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 | – | – | – | – | 14 | 51 | 29 | 14 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 13 | 3 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 22 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
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 winter storm records since 1997 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 34 · Feb 32 · Mar 15 · Apr 25 · May 21 · Jun 21 · Jul 20 · Aug 16 · Sep 14 · Oct 12 · Nov 16 · Dec 26 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Manistee County
FEMA's register lists 8 declarations that include Manistee County: 4 major disasters, 4 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 |
| 2020-03-27 | DR-4494 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3455 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2008-07-14 | DR-1777 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3225 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1986-09-18 | DR-774 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Manistee County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Manistee County from 2000 to 2024, on 13 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Manistee County ranks 1928th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $253,000 on 29 claims filed in Manistee County; the most in one year was 6 in 2020. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1985: 2 · 1986: 4 · 1987: 1 · 1988: 1 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 6 · 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 Manistee County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Manistee County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.4 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 High | $383K | 28 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $493K | 27 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.6M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $272K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $10K | once in about 11,333 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | $3K | once in about 76 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Manistee 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 Manistee CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Manistee County's FEMA declarations (CSV)8 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis