Saginaw County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26145 · population 190,067 · 801 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 647 records for Saginaw County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 393 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (299 records). The most damaging was the March 8, 2017 high wind ($27.7 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1973, 15 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
- 647on 393 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 040 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $106Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 30strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 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 Saginaw County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 299 since 1957. 49% 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 | 299 | 163 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 4 | $4.8M | 30 of 83 |
| Hail | 126 | 64 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 0 | $411 | 29 of 83 |
| Winter storms | 74 | 73 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $7.7M | 76 of 83 |
| Floods | 40 | 35 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 0 | $18M | 8 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 38 | 38 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 2 | $41M | 15 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 30 | 24 | 1953-2026 | 0 | 5 | $32M | 25 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 16 | 16 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 10 | $2.6M | 27 of 83 |
| Heat | 14 | 14 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 19 | – | 14 of 83 |
| Lightning | 7 | 6 | 1998-2007 | 0 | 0 | $303K | 17 of 83 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 83 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 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 Saginaw County had?
NOAA records 30 tornadoes in Saginaw County from 1953 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 25th 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 27 tornadoes whose track touched Saginaw County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 30: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-06-21 21:02, as SPC files it | Frankenmuth | F3 | 1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Saginaw County (30)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-09 | Freeland, Saginaw County | EF1 1.43 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-14 | Buena Vista, Saginaw County | EF0 0.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2026-04-14 | Alicia, Saginaw County | EF1 3.68 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2025-05-15 | Chesaning, Saginaw County | EF0 3.36 mi x 160 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-15 | St Charles, Saginaw County | EF0 1.62 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $150K |
| 2015-06-22 | Birch Run, Saginaw County | EF0 2.41 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 2 | $62K |
| 2014-06-11 | Brant, Saginaw County | EF1 5.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $312K |
| 2011-08-20 | Chesaning Airport, Saginaw County | EF0 2.73 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2011-08-09 | Lakefield, Saginaw County | EF0 0.6 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $656 |
| 2005-06-05 | Hemlock, Saginaw County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-22 | Arthur, Saginaw County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-22 | Burt, Saginaw County | F0 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-14 | Shields, Saginaw County | F1 4 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $391K |
| 2001-10-24 | Fosters, Saginaw County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-06-10 | Fergus, Saginaw County | F0 2.9 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $17K |
| 1997-07-02 | Burt, Saginaw County | F1 0.3 mi x 45 yd | 0 | 0 | $92K |
| 1997-07-02 | Layton Corners, Saginaw County | F1 2 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $368K |
| 1997-07-02 | Chesaning, Saginaw County | F1 0.3 mi x 45 yd | 0 | 0 | $735K |
| 1997-07-02 | Chesaning, Saginaw County | F1 2 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $735K |
| 1996-06-21 | Frankenmuth, Saginaw County | F3 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $9.4M |
| 1991-08-17 | Saginaw County | F0 5 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-04-28 | Saginaw County | F2 8.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1982-06-20 | Saginaw County | F1 7 mi x 180 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-06-15 | Saginaw County | F2 19 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $2.5M step |
| 1976-06-18 | Saginaw County | F1 1.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-06-01 | Saginaw County | F1 12.8 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1972-08-22 | Saginaw County | F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1967-04-14 | Saginaw County | F1 1.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1956-05-12 | Saginaw County | F2 3.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1953-06-05 | Saginaw County | F2 5.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Saginaw County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 14, 2026 tornado ($100,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
The tornado touched down just to the northwest of Roedel Rd and S Reimer Rd. EF-0 damage occurred along the path of the tornado as it moved southeast. Two barns were damaged and lost the majority of roofing. Some siding on an adjacent house was also ripped off. Pine trees were uprooted and several hardwood trees lost large limbs along the path. Peak winds estimated at 80 mph. The tornado lifted of in a field south of Roedel Rd between S Reimer Rd and Maple Rd after causing additional tree damage.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1328773)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Excessive HeatSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-25 | HailFreeland, Saginaw County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindSaginaw County | 59 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindFreeland, Saginaw County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-09 | TornadoFreeland, Saginaw County | EF1 1.43 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindBuena Vista, Saginaw County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindBuena Vista, Saginaw County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindTri City Apt Sa, Saginaw County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindHemlock, Saginaw County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-17 | HailTri City Apt Sa, Saginaw County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-17 | HailFreeland, Saginaw County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-14 | TornadoBuena Vista, Saginaw County | EF0 0.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-02-03 | Cold/Wind ChillSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw A bitter cold airmass blasted into the region on Saturday, February the 3rd and persisted through Tuesday, February the 6th. Temperatures through this period were 20 to 25 degrees below normal. Daytime temps struggled to reach 10 degrees while subzero temperatures occurred all 3 nights. Flint set 2 temperature records ... | 0 | 10 | $36K | |
| 2013-07-14 | HeatSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw A six day heat impacted Southeast Michigan July 14th through the 19th with high temperatures ranging from the upper 80s to mid 90s. Heat Indices were in the 90s for the most part, but Detroit Metro area hospitals reported an increase of 173 heat related illnesses during this stretch. Here are the daily maxes reported ... | 0 | 6 | – | |
| 2012-07-01 | HeatSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw An extended heat wave gripped southeast Michigan during the first week of July, with temperatures topping out around 100 degrees on multiple days. In fact, Detroit set a record high on July 4th, reaching 102 degrees. Heat indices peaked our around 110 degrees on July 4th and July 6th. Although no known heat deaths ... | 0 | 5 | – | |
| 2012-06-28 | HeatSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw High temperatures climbed to around 100 degrees across much of southeast Michigan during the afternoon hours of June 28th, with heat indices climbing between 100 and 110 degrees. This lead to an increase in heat related hospitalizations. Temperatures slowing came down during the evening hours, with drier air slowly ... | 0 | 5 | – | |
| 2006-05-29 | HeatSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw An early season heat wave, leading to an unusually hot Memorial Day, resulted in dozens of people suffering from heat related illnesses. Near record to record setting high temperatures, in the low to mid 90's, sent some people to the hospital. The official high temperatures for the day ranged from 88 to 93 degrees. Of ... | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 1982-06-15 | TornadoSaginaw County | F2 19 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $2.5M step |
| 2015-06-22 | TornadoBirch Run, Saginaw County A tornado touched down just west of Pine Ridge RV Campground in far southeast Saginaw county and tracked generally east along Birch Run Road, lifting near Mcpherson Road in Tuscola County 2 miles south of Millington. Trees were blown down and shingles were observed off houses. The tornado peaked in intensity near ... | EF0 2.41 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 2 | $62K |
| 2008-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindCarrollton, Saginaw County Dozens of trees uprooted and blown down, along with powerlines down. A few large trees fell onto houses. Downed trees also blocked roads. An entire roof was blown off a commercial building near Stevens and Hamilton roads. In addition, a tree fell onto a car, resulting in two residents suffering minor injuries. | 63 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $274K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-08 | High WindSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw | 59 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $28M |
| 2020-05-18 | FloodFordney, Saginaw County | 0 | 0 | $10M | |
| 1996-06-21 | TornadoFrankenmuth, Saginaw County | F3 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $9.4M |
| 2013-11-17 | High WindSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| 2003-11-12 | High WindSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.4M |
| 2013-04-19 | FloodTri City Apt Sa, Saginaw County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2020-05-18 | FloodFenmore, Saginaw County | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 1998-12-30 | Cold/Wind ChillSaginaw County · forecast zone Saginaw | 0 | 0 | $905K |
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: June 15, 1982 (tornado, Saginaw County); April 28, 1986 (tornado, Saginaw 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 Saginaw 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 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 49 | 88 | 78 | 53 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 47 | 40 | 10 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 41 | 18 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 11 | 20 | 7 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 12 | 10 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% 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 35 · Apr 30 · May 100 · Jun 130 · Jul 117 · Aug 69 · Sep 33 · Oct 23 · Nov 18 · Dec 26 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Saginaw County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Saginaw County: 14 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and severe storm (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | DR-4925 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-07-09 | DR-4547 | Dam/Levee Break | Severe Storms 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 |
| 2008-07-14 | DR-1777 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and 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 |
| 1998-06-24 | DR-1226 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 1997-07-11 | DR-1181 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding |
| 1996-07-23 | DR-1128 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1973-04-12 | DR-371 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Saginaw County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 40 flood or flash flood records for Saginaw County from 1996 to 2020, on 35 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Saginaw County ranks 385th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $11.8 million on 798 claims filed in Saginaw County; the most in one year was 200 in 1986. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 3 · 1979: 3 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 28 · 1982: 9 · 1983: 4 · 1985: 28 · 1986: 200 · 1987: 3 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 6 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 11 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 26 · 1997: 28 · 1998: 8 · 1999: 14 · 2000: 6 · 2001: 6 · 2002: 2 · 2004: 15 · 2005: 4 · 2006: 6 · 2008: 6 · 2009: 6 · 2011: 11 · 2012: 6 · 2013: 72 · 2014: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2017: 26 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 184 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 40; 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 Saginaw County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Saginaw County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $71.9 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 | Very High | $1.2M | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $3.9M | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $11M | 2.9 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively High | $9.2M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $43M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $287K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | 2.3 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Saginaw 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 Saginaw CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Saginaw County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis