Muskegon County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26121 · population 175,775 · 504 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 399 records for Muskegon County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 317 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (152 records). The deadliest single record is the November 10, 1998 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Muskegon, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1975, 12 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
- 399on 317 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 15 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $103Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 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 Muskegon County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 152 since 1956. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 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 | 152 | 115 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 5 | $61M | 25 of 83 |
| Winter storms | 134 | 134 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | 18 of 83 |
| Hail | 66 | 50 | 1956-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 12 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 20 | 16 | 1997-2024 | 1 | 0 | $19M | 25 of 83 |
| Floods | 14 | 12 | 1997-2020 | 0 | 0 | $17M | 27 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 7 | 1956-2013 | 0 | 0 | $320K | 53 of 83 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1998-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 83 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $36K | 12 of 83 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 83 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $72K | 47 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 Muskegon County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Muskegon County from 1956 to 2013, the strongest rated F2, 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 8 tornadoes whose track touched Muskegon County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Muskegon County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-11-17 | Trent, Muskegon County | EF0 3.86 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $63K |
| 2001-04-11 | Cloverville, Muskegon County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-11-10 | Roosevelt Park, Muskegon County | F0 2.5 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-04-21 | Muskegon County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-04-16 | Muskegon County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1965-09-04 | Muskegon County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1956-05-13 | Muskegon County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1956-05-13 | Muskegon County | 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 Muskegon County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the October 31, 2023 heavy snow ($484,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Muskegon received nearly a foot of snow on October 31st (11.5 inches). A report of nine inches of snow was received from Whitehall. The weight of the heavy wet snow brought down numerous trees and limbs and power lines and close to 40,000 power outages occurred in Muskegon county. Travel conditions became very poor with numerous accidents across Muskegon county.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1141007)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindMuskegon Airport, Muskegon County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindRavenna, Muskegon County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-21 | Winter StormMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Winter StormMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-29 | Winter StormMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | Winter StormMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-15 | Thunderstorm WindMuskegon Hgts, Muskegon County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-15 | Thunderstorm WindNorton Shrs, Muskegon County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-15 | Thunderstorm WindMuskegon Airport, Muskegon County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindCloverville, Muskegon County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-21 | Winter StormMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-11-10 | High WindMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon A low pressure system of historic dimension moved from the central plains across the upper midwest and Lake superior to Ontario, Canada. Winds during this event exceeded 50 mph across the entire county warning area. The highest gust reported was 87 mph in Mason County with gusts exceeding 60 mph common across the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2002-08-21 | Thunderstorm WindNorton Shrs, Muskegon County An isolated severe thunderstorm blew down a tree in Norton Shores. The tree fell down on and injured two people who were taking a walk through woods near Lake Michigan. Law enforcement in Fruitport reported that several tree limbs and power lines were blown down. | 53 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $16K |
| 1998-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindMontague, Muskegon County Michigan State Police EMD Damage and Injury Assessment Report indicated $2,458,958 in public damage costs, 42 homes destroyed, 1805 homes damaged, 5 businesses destroyed, and 73 businesses damaged. Two injuries were reported. Total public and private costs have been estimated at $24,205,908 according to FEMA and local ... | 0 | 2 | $53M | |
| 2008-06-28 | Thunderstorm WindMichillinda, Muskegon County A sixteen inch diameter branch fell on a truck and resulted in minor injuries. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindMontague, Muskegon County | 0 | 2 | $53M | |
| 2020-05-18 | FloodMontague Airport, Muskegon County | 0 | 0 | $6.8M | |
| 2009-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindMuskegon County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.8M |
| 2019-02-05 | Ice StormMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | |
| 1998-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindMuskegon County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2014-04-12 | Thunderstorm WindMuskegon Hgts, Muskegon County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2023-10-31 | Heavy SnowMuskegon County · forecast zone Muskegon | 0 | 0 | $484K | |
| 2000-08-22 | Thunderstorm WindMuskegon County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $257K |
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: September 4, 1965 (tornado, Muskegon 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 Muskegon 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 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 32 | 46 | 21 | 17 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 31 | 54 | 37 | 12 |
| Hail | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 35 | 7 | 5 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 48 · Feb 28 · Mar 23 · Apr 37 · May 37 · Jun 45 · Jul 46 · Aug 33 · Sep 14 · Oct 22 · Nov 15 · Dec 51 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Muskegon County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Muskegon County: 9 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and severe storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2004-06-30 | DR-1527 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2001-01-10 | EM-3160 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1999-01-27 | EM-3137 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| 1998-06-24 | DR-1226 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 1986-09-18 | DR-774 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1985-09-18 | DR-744 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1978-01-27 | EM-3057 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1976-03-19 | DR-495 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & Flooding |
| 1975-09-30 | DR-486 | 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 Muskegon County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 14 flood or flash flood records for Muskegon County from 1997 to 2020, on 12 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Muskegon County ranks 1167th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $842,000 on 131 claims filed in Muskegon County; the most in one year was 23 in 2020. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 6 · 1979: 5 · 1980: 4 · 1984: 3 · 1985: 22 · 1986: 21 · 1987: 2 · 1988: 3 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 3 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 16 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2026: 3; 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 Muskegon County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Muskegon County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $27.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $3.5M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.9M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $17M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $245K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $482K | 31 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $636K | 1.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $264K | 1 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Muskegon 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 Muskegon CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Muskegon County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis