Ogemaw County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26129 · population 20,747 · 564 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 247 records for Ogemaw County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 188 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (94 records). The deadliest single record is the March 30, 1976 tornado: 1 death and 7 injuries. FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1977, 5 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
- 247on 188 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 229 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $59Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 16strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 7latest 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 Ogemaw County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 94 since 1956. 67% 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 | 94 | 74 | 1956-2025 | 1 | 4 | $818K | 39 of 83 |
| Winter storms | 64 | 64 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $76K | 59 of 83 |
| Hail | 51 | 34 | 1976-2025 | 0 | 0 | $41M | 49 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 16 | 12 | 1974-2018 | 1 | 19 | $17M | 37 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 7 | 7 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 7 | 7 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $47K | 68 of 83 |
| Floods | 4 | 4 | 2004-2020 | 0 | 0 | $716K | 65 of 83 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2001-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 43 of 83 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1999-2014 | 0 | 6 | – | 35 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 Ogemaw County had?
NOAA records 16 tornadoes in Ogemaw County from 1974 to 2018, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 19 injuries recorded in the county. That is 37th 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Ogemaw County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 16: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976-03-30 13:40, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 6.4 mi | 1 |
| 1991-03-27 17:15, as SPC files it | Harrisville | F3 | 35 mi | 0 |
| 1991-03-27 17:20, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 21 mi | 0 |
| 1976-03-30 13:10, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 11.4 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Ogemaw County (16)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-08-28 | Campbells Corners, Ogemaw County | EF1 0.16 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $76K |
| 2017-08-17 | Lupton, Ogemaw County | EF0 0.26 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $54K |
| 2015-09-08 | Rose City, Ogemaw County | EF1 8.93 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2008-06-06 | Campbells Corners, Ogemaw County | EF0 1.08 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $103K |
| 1998-06-25 | West Branch, Ogemaw County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-07-13 | West Branch, Ogemaw County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $968 |
| 1995-07-13 | West Branch To, Ogemaw County | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $968K |
| 1994-07-06 | West Branch, Ogemaw County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1991-03-27 | Ogemaw County | F3 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1991-03-27 | Ogemaw County | F3 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1991-03-27 | Ogemaw County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1984-06-13 | Ogemaw County | F1 0.8 mi x 37 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-06-20 | Ogemaw County | F1 7 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1976-03-30 | Ogemaw County | F3 6.4 mi x 117 yd | 1 | 7 | $250K step |
| 1976-03-30 | Ogemaw County | F3 11.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 10 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-12 | Ogemaw County | F2 0.8 mi x 100 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 Ogemaw County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 18, 2020 flood ($513,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Widespread areal flooding developed in central and southern Ogemaw County on the 18th. Many creeks and rivers rose out of their banks, including the Rifle River system. Many roads across the county were closed. The Prescott area was especially hard hit, with some property damage due to flooding.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 897168)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | Winter StormOgemaw County · forecast zone Ogemaw | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | Cold/Wind ChillOgemaw County · forecast zone Ogemaw | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-29 | Cold/Wind ChillOgemaw County · forecast zone Ogemaw | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillOgemaw County · forecast zone Ogemaw | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormOgemaw County · forecast zone Ogemaw | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-27 | Winter StormOgemaw County · forecast zone Ogemaw | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-08 | Thunderstorm WindWest Branch, Ogemaw County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-08 | HailClear Lake, Ogemaw County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-08 | HailRose City, Ogemaw County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-05-18 | FloodPrescott, Ogemaw County | 0 | 0 | $513K | |
| 2018-08-28 | TornadoCampbells Corners, Ogemaw County | EF1 0.16 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $76K |
| 2018-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindPrescott, Ogemaw County | 52 kt wind | 1 | 1 | $18K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976-03-30 | TornadoOgemaw County | F3 6.4 mi x 117 yd | 1 | 7 | $250K step |
| 2018-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindPrescott, Ogemaw County A tree was downed onto an occupied vehicle on Sage Lake Road near Craun Road. The driver was killed, while a passenger suffered minor injuries. | 52 kt wind | 1 | 1 | $18K |
| 1976-03-30 | TornadoOgemaw County | F3 11.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 10 | $250K step |
| 2014-06-28 | LightningLupton, Ogemaw County A lightning strike injured six people at the Rifle River State Recreation Area. All were transported to a hospital in West Branch, where they were treated and released. | 0 | 6 | – | |
| 1995-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindWest Branch, Ogemaw County Two canoeists on the Rifle River were injured from falling tree limbs that were tornoff from strong thunderstorm winds. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2002-07-28 | Thunderstorm WindWest Branch, Ogemaw County Tree down at Ogemaw County Fairgrounds | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1995-07-13 | TornadoWest Branch To, Ogemaw County A small tornado, occurring almost simultaneously with damaging thunderstorm straight-line winds, touched down at the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds (nine miles east of West Branch), where several thousand motorcycle enthusiasts were camped for a rally. One man was injured by a falling tree. The tornado, occasionally ... | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $968K |
| 1982-06-20 | TornadoOgemaw County | F1 7 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-08-02 | HailWest Branch, Ogemaw County | 4.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $41M |
| 1995-07-13 | TornadoWest Branch To, Ogemaw County | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $968K |
| 2020-05-18 | FloodPrescott, Ogemaw County | 0 | 0 | $513K | |
| 2008-06-08 | Thunderstorm WindWest Branch, Ogemaw County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $260K |
| 2008-06-06 | TornadoCampbells Corners, Ogemaw County | EF0 1.08 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $103K |
| 2018-08-28 | TornadoCampbells Corners, Ogemaw County | EF1 0.16 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $76K |
| 2017-08-17 | TornadoLupton, Ogemaw County | EF0 0.26 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $54K |
| 2015-09-08 | TornadoRose City, Ogemaw County | EF1 8.93 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 27, 1991 (tornado, Ogemaw County); March 27, 1991 (tornado, Ogemaw 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 Ogemaw 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 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 35 | 16 | 11 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 31 | 15 | 8 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 28 | 7 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
67% 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 23 · Feb 18 · Mar 15 · Apr 13 · May 21 · Jun 50 · Jul 52 · Aug 27 · Sep 6 · Oct 2 · Nov 6 · Dec 14 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Ogemaw County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Ogemaw County: 2 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and snowstorm (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 |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3225 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1999-01-27 | EM-3137 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Ogemaw County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Ogemaw County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.1 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 Moderate | $1.5M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $159K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $788K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $299K | 27 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $997K | 2.2 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.7M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $504K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Ogemaw 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 Ogemaw CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Ogemaw County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis