Marquette County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26103 · population 65,947 · 1,809 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,103 records for Marquette County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 754 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (432 records). 565 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 January 24, 2019 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Marquette, which covers the county: 2 deaths, 2 injuries and $12,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1977, 9 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
- 1,103on 754 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1858 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $144Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 Marquette County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 432 since 1996. 41% of its winter storm records since 1996 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 | 432 | 425 | 1996-2026 | 7 | 49 | $3.1M | 24 of 83 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 240 | 106 | 1958-2026 | 1 | 0 | $2.7M | 73 of 83 |
| Hail | 219 | 98 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $92M | 55 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 50 | 40 | 1998-2024 | 2 | 0 | $2.0M | 35 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 47 | 47 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 83 |
| Floods | 43 | 33 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $35M | 38 of 83 |
| Heavy rain | 20 | 17 | 2006-2024 | 1 | 4 | $75K | 7 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 10 | 1973-2016 | 0 | 0 | $116K | 72 of 83 |
| Lightning | 10 | 10 | 2008-2025 | 0 | 0 | $163K | 20 of 83 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 8 | 8 | 2008-2020 | 5 | 1 | – | 5 of 83 |
| Heat | 8 | 8 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 83 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 8 | 8 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 83 |
| Wildfires | 7 | 5 | 1999-2011 | 0 | 4 | $9.0M | 5 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 Marquette County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Marquette County from 1973 to 2016, 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Marquette County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Marquette County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-05-24 | Clarksburg, Marquette County | EF1 3.87 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $61K |
| 2016-05-24 | Michigamme, Marquette County | EF1 3.78 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2014-07-06 | Witch Lake, Marquette County | EF0 2.15 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2012-06-08 | Huron Mtn, Marquette County | EF1 7.8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2011-08-11 | Marquette Co Ar, Marquette County | EF0 0.05 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-06-10 | Gwinn, Marquette County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1997-08-16 | Northland, Marquette County | F0 0.3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-08-18 | Marquette County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1980-09-08 | Marquette County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1979-06-20 | Marquette County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1973-08-19 | Marquette County | F1 0.5 mi x 33 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 Marquette County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 13, 2026 flood ($638,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Emergency management reported multiple rivers and low lying areas were inundated by the combination of rain and snowmelt. In Gwinn, multiple roadways were inaccessible due to flooding on the Escanaba River by the 18th. Division Street in Negaunee was closed daily from the 13th onwards. Harlow Lake Rd (County Road HD) was closed at County Road 550 on the 17th. Flooding at Pelissier Lake in Sands Township resulted in 1 evacuation with well water being unsafe due to the high water table making septic systems inoperable. Ely, Humboldt, Champion, and Republic townships experienced water over multiple roadways, including the road at Steel Bridge Rd (Ely Township, County Road CG) on the 18th. The Chocolay River Fishing pier was underwater by the 19th. The Iron Ore Heritage Trail west of Wawanowin Rd to the city of Republic had flowing water on the trail by the 21st. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1334716)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Excessive HeatMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindBeacon, Marquette County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-05 | HailPalmer, Marquette County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | FloodSugar Loaf, Marquette County | 0 | 0 | $638K | |
| 2026-04-03 | Ice StormMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Winter StormMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | BlizzardMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Winter StormMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-10 | Winter WeatherMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Winter StormMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter StormMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-01-24 | Winter WeatherMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette Snowfall across the county ranged from two to locally five inches over an 18-hour period ending on the morning of the 25th. Northwest winds gusting to 25 to 30 mph on the afternoon of the 24th also caused reduced visibility at times in blowing snow. Troopers from the MSP Negaunee post responded to a two-vehicle crash ... | 2 | 2 | $12K | |
| 2017-10-24 | Lakeshore FloodMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette Extensive lake shore flooding was reported along Lake Superior from Marquette to Shot Point from north storm force winds building waves as high as 25 to 30 feet. Two people drowned when they were swept off Black Rocks at Presque Isle Park in Marquette during the storm. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station ... | 2 | 0 | $722K | |
| 2010-08-05 | Rip CurrentMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette A 15-year-old boy from Berkley, IL and a 16-year-old boy from Felch, MI both drowned near Presque Isle in high waves and strong rip currents on the afternoon of the 5th. Northwest winds gusting over 30 mph at times contributed to the high waves and strong rip currents. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2007-10-09 | Strong WindMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette Two elderly men, aged 71 and 72, drowned on the evening of the 9th after their fishing boat capsized on Lake Independence. High winds reportedly whipped up waves in the 4 to 6 feet range. | 30 kt wind | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2021-12-23 | Winter WeatherMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette Moderate to occasionally heavy lake effect snow of 4 to 5 inches was reported from Big Bay through Negaunee and Marquette to Harvey during the afternoon and evening of the 23rd. The moderate to heavy snow likely contributed to a fatal accident on Highway M-553 just north of Marquette Mountain. Police say a Ford ... | 1 | 4 | $27K | |
| 2018-02-20 | Winter WeatherMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette The National Weather Service in Negaunee Township measured one-tenth of an inch of ice accumulation in six hours. The observer in Harvey measured two-tenths of an inch of ice accumulation during the event. A mix of snow and ice accumulation made area roads slippery. Schools and a few businesses were closed throughout ... | 1 | 2 | $29K | |
| 2017-02-07 | Winter StormMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette The meteorologist at WJMN TV-3 estimated around one foot of lake enhanced snow fell over a 15-hour period in the higher terrain of Skandia Township. There was also a report of one foot of snow at Big Bay over the same time period. Nine inches of snow fell at Ishpeming and Negaunee over the 24-hour period ending on the ... | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2011-12-29 | Winter WeatherMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette A quick inch of wet snow created slippery roads and contributed to a fatal accident just south of Marquette Mountain on Highway M-553 around 10 am on the 29th. A 26 year-old Gwinn man was killed when the northbound car he was driving spun out of control and crashed into a garbage truck heading southbound. The ... | 1 | 1 | $20K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-15 | FloodMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | $22M | |
| 2007-06-20 | HailMarquette County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $14M |
| 2007-06-20 | HailMarquette County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $11M |
| 2007-06-20 | HailHarvey, Marquette County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $8.5M |
| 2023-04-12 | FloodWitch Lake, Marquette County | 0 | 0 | $6.8M | |
| 2007-06-20 | HailMarquette County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $5.7M |
| 2009-05-20 | WildfireMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 1999-05-02 | WildfireRepublic, Marquette County | 0 | 4 | $3.5M |
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 $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: August 19, 1973 (tornado, Marquette 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 Marquette 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 | – | – | – | – | 23 | 98 | 195 | 116 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 47 | 78 | 67 |
| Hail | 1 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 12 | 79 | 55 | 51 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 13 | 24 | 10 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 5 | 14 | 16 | 12 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 17 | 17 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
41% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 111 · Feb 108 · Mar 70 · Apr 79 · May 89 · Jun 127 · Jul 157 · Aug 140 · Sep 26 · Oct 42 · Nov 63 · Dec 91 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Marquette County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Marquette County: 5 major disasters, 5 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for flood (3) 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 |
| 2013-06-18 | DR-4121 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3225 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-05-06 | DR-1413 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1999-05-06 | FM-2261 | Fire | Mi - Tower Lake Mountain Fire - 05/06/1999 |
| 1999-01-27 | EM-3137 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| 1994-05-10 | DR-1028 | Freezing | Severe Deep Freeze |
| 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 Marquette County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 43 flood or flash flood records for Marquette County from 1996 to 2026, on 33 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Marquette County ranks 2075th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $233,000 on 21 claims filed in Marquette County; the most in one year was 4 in 2002. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1985: 3 · 1986: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2002: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2023: 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 Marquette County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marquette County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $26.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively High | $3.3M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $13M | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $375K | 31 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $509K | 23 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $534K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $147K | once in about 1,694 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $8.0M | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $62K | once in about 18 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Marquette 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 Marquette CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Marquette County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis