Washtenaw County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26161 · population 372,064 · 706 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 988 records for Washtenaw County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 507 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (494 records). The deadliest single record is the June 8, 1953 tornado: 1 death and 5 injuries. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1965, 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
- 988on 507 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 948 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $164Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 29strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 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 Washtenaw County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 494 since 1957. 56% 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 | 494 | 253 | 1957-2026 | 4 | 2 | $12M | 3 of 83 |
| Hail | 261 | 115 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $985K | 3 of 83 |
| Winter storms | 66 | 64 | 1996-2024 | 1 | 1 | $21M | 78 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 44 | 44 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 2 | $55M | 6 of 83 |
| Floods | 38 | 34 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $10M | 5 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 29 | 27 | 1951-2026 | 1 | 12 | $58M | 14 of 83 |
| Lightning | 21 | 19 | 1997-2014 | 2 | 4 | $3.0M | 4 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 16 | 16 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 10 | $2.5M | 24 of 83 |
| Heat | 15 | 15 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 17 | – | 10 of 83 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 83 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2000-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 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 Washtenaw County had?
NOAA records 29 tornadoes in Washtenaw County from 1951 to 2026, the strongest rated EF3, with 1 death and 12 injuries recorded in the county. That is 14th 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 28 tornadoes whose track touched Washtenaw County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 29: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 1 of them in Washtenaw County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-06-15 14:57, as SPC files it | Stockbridge | F3 | 13 mi | 1 |
| 1953-06-08 18:30, as SPC files it | Ann Arbor | F3 | 11.3 mi | 1 |
| 2012-03-15 15:18, as SPC files it | Dexter | EF3 | 7.57 mi | 0 |
| 1969-07-04 16:23, as SPC files it | Flat Rock | F3 | 13.9 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Michigan.
Every tornado record filed for Washtenaw County (29)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-15 | Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County | EF1 1.71 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| 2015-06-23 | Rowes Corner, Washtenaw County | EF1 4.33 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $374K |
| 2012-03-15 | Hudson Mills, Washtenaw County | EF3 7.57 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $15M |
| 2010-07-23 | Stony Creek, Washtenaw County | EF0 0.61 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2010-06-23 | York, Washtenaw County | EF0 3.7 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 2007-08-24 | Salem, Washtenaw County | EF0 2.47 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $712K |
| 2006-09-30 | Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County | F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-06-13 | Pleasant Lake, Washtenaw County | F2 16 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $10.0M |
| 1990-06-02 | Washtenaw County | F2 15 mi x 160 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1988-08-04 | Washtenaw County | F1 0.3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1988-04-03 | Washtenaw County | F1 8.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-07-21 | Washtenaw County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-06-15 | Washtenaw County | F3 3 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1982-05-31 | Washtenaw County | F0 0.1 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-05-31 | Washtenaw County | F1 2.9 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-08-31 | Washtenaw County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1980-06-02 | Washtenaw County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1978-05-13 | Washtenaw County | F0 0.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1977-07-19 | Washtenaw County | F1 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-05-22 | Washtenaw County | F1 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-05-25 | Washtenaw County | F2 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1971-06-07 | Washtenaw County | F2 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1969-07-04 | Washtenaw County | F3 1.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 4 | $2.5M step |
| 1967-04-14 | Washtenaw County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1962-04-30 | Washtenaw County | F2 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1962-04-30 | Washtenaw County | F1 0.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1954-05-31 | Washtenaw County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1953-06-08 | Washtenaw County | F3 11.3 mi x 70 yd | 1 | 5 | $25K step |
| 1951-07-21 | Washtenaw County | F2 0.5 mi x 217 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 Washtenaw County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 15, 2026 tornado ($500,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
The tornado started in the area of Jackson Ave near Interstate 94. It moved southeast across the interstate and then over Veterans Memorial Park where it produced EF-1 damage. This damage included numerous uprooted and snapped trees, along with snapped stadium light poles. The greatest concentration of EF-1 damage occurred from Jackson Ave though Veterans Memorial Park and into the nearby neighborhoods. Peak winds estimated at 110 mph. The tornado continued through residential areas where there were numerous trees snapped and large downed tree limbs. The damage became more sporadic as is continued to the southeast through Virginia Park. A building north of Bach Elementary lost a portion of its roof, before the tornado lifted near W William St and 4th St. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1328776)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Excessive HeatWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindScio, Washtenaw County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | Thunderstorm WindAnn Arbor, Washtenaw County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | TornadoAnn Arbor, Washtenaw County | EF1 1.71 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| 2026-04-15 | Thunderstorm WindAnn Arbor Young Airport, Washtenaw County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | Thunderstorm WindAnn Arbor, Washtenaw County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $300K |
| 2026-03-06 | HailAnn Arbor, Washtenaw County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-09 | High WindWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2025-08-16 | HailPittsfield, Washtenaw County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-30 | Flash FloodWillow Run, Washtenaw County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-06-08 | TornadoWashtenaw County | F3 11.3 mi x 70 yd | 1 | 5 | $25K step |
| 2002-09-19 | LightningAnn Arbor, Washtenaw County Three men were installing a roof at an apartment complex under construction when they were struck by lightning. Two of the men were injured, while the third was later pronounced dead. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw An intoxicated 19 year male student left a frat party in Ann Arbor around 1 AM Friday Jan 23rd and was later found dead outside. The autopsy report stated the cause of his death as hypothermia, and described the manner of death as accidental. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-06-18 | LightningGeddes, Washtenaw County Southeast Michigan saw active weather in both the morning and afternoon on Wednesday, June 18th, with the afternoon convection turning severe. Previous convection during the morning hours had moved to the east and there was enough instability for the thunderstorm complex over southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindDexter, Washtenaw County Several trees were reported down, including one which fell onto a road. A car subsequently crashed into the fallen tree, causing 1 fatality. | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $34K |
| 2007-12-11 | Winter WeatherWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw A low pressure system with a plentiful supply of moisture moved from the Central Plains through the Great Lakes on Tuesday, the 11th. This system caused a combination of light snow and freezing rain over the area. Generally light amounts of mixed precipitation fell with best snowfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches over ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindSalem, Washtenaw County A cold front moved slowly south across southeast Michigan on the morning and afternoon of the 18th. Thunderstorms developed along and ahead of the front. A number of these became severe, producing marginally severe hail. The largest hail report was half-dollar sized in Clarkston.The storms produced a healthy amount of ... | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $3K |
| 1991-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindWashtenaw County | 1 | 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-08 | High WindWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $30M |
| 2012-03-15 | TornadoHudson Mills, Washtenaw County | EF3 7.57 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $15M |
| 1994-06-13 | TornadoPleasant Lake, Washtenaw County | F2 16 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $10.0M |
| 2021-06-25 | Flash FloodLyndon Center, Washtenaw County | 0 | 0 | $8.2M | |
| 1998-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindAnn Arbor, Washtenaw County | 0 | 0 | $8.1M | |
| 2023-02-22 | Ice StormWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw | 0 | 0 | $7.7M | |
| 1997-03-13 | Ice StormWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 2016-02-19 | High WindWashtenaw County · forecast zone Washtenaw | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4.9M |
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: July 4, 1969 (tornado, Washtenaw County); June 15, 1982 (tornado, Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw 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 | 9 | 16 | 48 | 73 | 147 | 137 | 60 |
| Hail | 2 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 26 | 101 | 79 | 27 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 35 | 16 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 19 | 13 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 18 | 7 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
56% 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 38 · Feb 34 · Mar 69 · Apr 68 · May 150 · Jun 193 · Jul 244 · Aug 75 · Sep 54 · Oct 20 · Nov 16 · Dec 27 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Washtenaw County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Washtenaw County: 6 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for snowstorm (3) and flood (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | DR-4925 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 1999-01-27 | EM-3137 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| 1980-09-08 | DR-631 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-01-27 | EM-3057 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1965-04-14 | DR-190 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
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 Washtenaw County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 38 flood or flash flood records for Washtenaw County from 1996 to 2025, on 34 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Washtenaw County ranks 1159th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.6 million on 133 claims filed in Washtenaw County; the most in one year was 19 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 2 · 1982: 6 · 1983: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 6 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 8 · 2001: 13 · 2004: 9 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2009: 6 · 2010: 14 · 2011: 19 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 6 · 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 Washtenaw County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Washtenaw County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $92.7 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 | $6.1M | 5.7 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively High | $21M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $11M | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.2M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.3M | 37 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $47M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.9M | 3.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.5M | 3.1 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 Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Washtenaw County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis