Oakland County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26125 · population 1,274,114 · 867 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,239 records for Oakland County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 571 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (725 records). The deadliest single record is the January 4, 1999 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Oakland, which covers the county: 3 deaths and 4 injuries. FEMA has issued 15 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 February 8, 2024.
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
- 1,239on 571 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 22319 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $1.1Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 36strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 2024
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 Oakland County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 725 since 1957. 54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 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 | 725 | 289 | 1957-2026 | 2 | 15 | $19M | 7 of 83 |
| Hail | 241 | 119 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 3 | $31M | 5 of 83 |
| Winter storms | 72 | 70 | 1996-2024 | 2 | 5 | $191M | 82 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 47 | 46 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 5 | $84M | 12 of 83 |
| Lightning | 40 | 34 | 1996-2021 | 1 | 5 | $3.8M | 2 of 83 |
| Floods | 37 | 33 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $509M | 10 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 36 | 33 | 1953-2024 | 3 | 78 | $225M | 15 of 83 |
| Heat | 18 | 18 | 1999-2026 | 5 | 194 | – | 11 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 17 | 17 | 1996-2026 | 5 | 14 | $1.7M | 28 of 83 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 14 of 83 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 83 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 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 Oakland County had?
NOAA records 36 tornadoes in Oakland County from 1953 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 3 deaths and 78 injuries recorded in the county. That is 15th 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 36 tornadoes whose track touched Oakland County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 36, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 3 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976-03-20 18:15, as SPC files it | Farmington Hills | F4 | 3.8 mi | 1 |
| 1987-06-21 13:45, as SPC files it | Novi | F2 | 0.3 mi | 1 |
| 1997-07-02 15:32, as SPC files it | Holly | F1 | 0.3 mi | 1 |
| 1957-07-04 17:55, as SPC files it | Farmington Hills to Troy | F4 | 29.9 mi | 0 |
| 1990-09-14 11:10, as SPC files it | Detroit | F3 | 24 mi | 0 |
| 1972-08-02 14:23, as SPC files it | Novi | F3 | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| 1953-06-08 18:30, as SPC files it | Milford | F3 | 9.1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Oakland County (36)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-10 | Holly Adelphian Airport, Oakland County | EF0 1.23 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-07-11 | Newark, Oakland County | EF0 6.13 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $35K |
| 2021-10-03 | Davisburg, Oakland County | EF0 0.76 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-07-24 | White Lake, Oakland County | EF1 1.65 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $9.3M |
| 2014-09-21 | Goodison, Oakland County | EF1 1.23 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $499K |
| 2007-08-24 | Holly, Oakland County | EF1 5.54 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $5.7M |
| 2003-05-05 | Leonard, Oakland County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $144K |
| 2001-10-24 | Clyde, Oakland County | F1 12.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2001-05-21 | Milford, Oakland County | F0 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $125K |
| 1997-07-02 | Holly, Oakland County | F1 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 1 | 0 | $3.7M |
| 1996-06-12 | Novi, Oakland County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 1991-07-07 | Oakland County | F2 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1990-09-14 | Oakland County | F1 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1990-09-14 | Oakland County | F3 24 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1988-08-17 | Oakland County | F1 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1988-08-05 | Oakland County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-07-22 | Oakland County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-04-03 | Oakland County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1988-04-03 | Oakland County | F1 1.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1987-06-21 | Oakland County | F2 0.3 mi x 80 yd | 1 | 6 | $2.5M step |
| 1987-05-14 | Oakland County | F1 0.2 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 8 | $250K step |
| 1986-09-26 | Oakland County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1986-09-10 | Oakland County | F2 7.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1976-05-02 | Oakland County | F1 1.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-03-20 | Oakland County | F4 3.8 mi x 117 yd | 1 | 55 | $25M step |
| 1975-04-18 | Oakland County | F1 3.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1974-07-14 | Oakland County | F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-06-26 | Oakland County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1972-08-02 | Oakland County | F3 | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1964-05-08 | Oakland County | F2 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1957-07-04 | Oakland County | F4 26.9 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1957-04-27 | Oakland County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1956-05-12 | Oakland County | F2 4.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1956-05-12 | Oakland County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1955-07-15 | Oakland County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1953-06-08 | Oakland County | F3 9.1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 4 | $2.5M 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 Oakland County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 4, 2026 flood ($500,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
The Village of Holly issued a local state of emergency after flooding damaged pumps at its Waste Water Treatment Plant and impacted hundreds of homes. Water levels rose high enough to enter backyards and sheds. In some neighborhoods, residents reported water reaching the floorboards of their homes. The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) was forced to close North Holly Road (just north of Quick Road near Holly Middle School) on the evening of April 4. The closure remained in place for several days due to standing water and road instability.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1327295)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Excessive HeatOakland County · forecast zone Oakland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-16 | HailFranklin, Oakland County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-16 | HailHighland, Oakland County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindHazel Park, Oakland County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindWestacres, Oakland County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindElizabeth Lake Estat, Oakland County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindOxbow, Oakland County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindNew Hudson, Oakland County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindNew Hudson, Oakland County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindOxbow, Oakland County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindPontiac Airport, Oakland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindRochester Hills, Oakland County | 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-01-04 | Cold/Wind ChillOakland County · forecast zone Oakland Arctic air invaded Michigan behind the massive snowstorm. As usual, the Great Lakes offered some protection, as air was warmed as it crossed the lakes. But far southeast Michigan did not receive the benefits of the lakes, as arctic air coming from the northwest curled around the southern tip of Lake Michigan and ... | 3 | 4 | – | |
| 2002-06-28 | HeatOakland County · forecast zone Oakland A 10 month old girl and her 3-year old brother died after being left along in a closed car in Southfield. Temperatures that day were in the 90s while the children were left in the car. They were in the car approximately 3 hours and died from the extreme heat. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2001-08-06 | HeatOakland County · forecast zone Oakland A large high pressure ridge settled across the Great Lakes region during the first week of August. With this ridge in place, high temperatures soared well into the 90s across southeast Michigan. During this period, Flint broke 3 record highs, including a high of 98 on the 8th. Detroit also broke a record on the 8th ... | 1 | 80 | – | |
| 1976-03-20 | TornadoOakland County | F4 3.8 mi x 117 yd | 1 | 55 | $25M step |
| 1987-06-21 | TornadoOakland County | F2 0.3 mi x 80 yd | 1 | 6 | $2.5M step |
| 1990-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindOakland County | 1 | 4 | – | |
| 2006-03-13 | High WindOakland County · forecast zone Oakland A very deep low pressure system moved northeast across northern Lake Michigan early on the evening of the 13th. Damaging winds sustained from 30 to 40 MPH with frequent gusts over 50 MPH began during the late afternoon of the 13th and continued until 0300 EST on the 14th. The combination of the strong winds and a ... | 52 kt wind | 1 | 2 | – |
| 2003-04-03 | Ice StormOakland County · forecast zone Oakland An arctic frontal boundary moved south of the state by the morning of April 3, 2003. This front dropped temperatures to the freezing mark generally along and north of a Brighton to St Clair Shores line. Then, a series of low pressure systems moved across the front. This allowed very warm and moist air to lift north ... | 1 | 2 | $160M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-08-11 | Flash FloodFerndale, Oakland County | 0 | 0 | $499M | |
| 2003-04-03 | Ice StormOakland County · forecast zone Oakland | 1 | 2 | $160M | |
| 2017-03-08 | High WindOakland County · forecast zone Oakland | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $42M |
| 2016-02-19 | High WindOakland County · forecast zone Oakland | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $12M |
| 2023-02-22 | Ice StormOakland County · forecast zone Oakland | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2021-07-24 | TornadoWhite Lake, Oakland County | EF1 1.65 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $9.3M |
| 2014-07-27 | HailEast Highland, Oakland County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $7.5M |
| 2018-04-14 | Winter StormOakland County · forecast zone Oakland | 0 | 0 | $7.1M |
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: March 20, 1976 (tornado, Oakland County, 1 killed).
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 Oakland 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 | 3 | 20 | 17 | 44 | 101 | 177 | 236 | 127 |
| Hail | 0 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 27 | 82 | 85 | 19 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 38 | 18 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 21 | 12 | 6 |
| Lightning | – | – | – | – | 8 | 28 | 3 | 1 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 34 · Feb 32 · Mar 43 · Apr 111 · May 146 · Jun 233 · Jul 334 · Aug 136 · Sep 93 · Oct 31 · Nov 16 · Dec 30 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Oakland County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Oakland County: 9 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (5) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-08 | DR-4757 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2021-07-15 | DR-4607 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-03-27 | DR-4494 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3455 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014-09-25 | DR-4195 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3225 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-30 | DR-1527 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2003-09-23 | EM-3189 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2001-01-10 | EM-3160 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2000-10-17 | DR-1346 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1999-01-27 | EM-3137 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| 1997-07-11 | DR-1181 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding |
| 1978-01-27 | EM-3057 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1976-03-19 | DR-495 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & Flooding |
| 1975-04-26 | DR-465 | 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 Oakland County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 37 flood or flash flood records for Oakland County from 1996 to 2026, on 33 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Oakland County ranks 459th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.5 million on 582 claims filed in Oakland County; the most in one year was 60 in 1981. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 6 · 1979: 10 · 1980: 5 · 1981: 60 · 1982: 19 · 1983: 15 · 1984: 8 · 1985: 11 · 1986: 7 · 1987: 3 · 1988: 5 · 1989: 35 · 1990: 4 · 1991: 5 · 1992: 2 · 1993: 3 · 1994: 7 · 1996: 13 · 1997: 9 · 1998: 21 · 1999: 6 · 2000: 30 · 2001: 13 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 4 · 2004: 23 · 2005: 4 · 2006: 6 · 2007: 4 · 2008: 14 · 2009: 4 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 21 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 10 · 2014: 44 · 2015: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 34 · 2022: 16 · 2023: 33 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 5; 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 Oakland County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Oakland County Relatively High overall, with an expected annual loss of $359 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 | Very High | $102M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very High | $5.5M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very High | $55M | 2.6 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Very High | $9.0M | 5.5 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $165M | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | $13M | 4.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $557K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.0M | 35 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 Oakland 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 Oakland CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Oakland County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis