Wexford County, Michigan
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 26165 · population 33,652 · 565 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 223 records for Wexford County, Michigan from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 188 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (80 records). The most damaging was the June 12, 2008 flash flood ($1.0 million in 2025 dollars). 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
- 223on 188 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 01 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $5.9Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest F2
- 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 Wexford County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 80 since 1997. 46% of its winter storm records since 1997 fell in December and January. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 80 | 80 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $366K | 44 of 83 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 68 | 52 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 0 | $386K | 56 of 83 |
| Hail | 38 | 29 | 1984-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 61 of 83 |
| Floods | 11 | 11 | 2000-2014 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 35 of 83 |
| High wind and dust storms | 9 | 9 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | $167K | 53 of 83 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 8 | 1963-2010 | 0 | 1 | $3.7M | 52 of 83 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 83 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2001-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 of 83 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 83 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 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 Wexford County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Wexford County from 1963 to 2010, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 1 injury 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 Wexford 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 Wexford County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-07-18 | Lake Cadillac, Wexford County | EF0 0.08 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2006-10-04 | Benson, Wexford County | F0 0.1 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $381K |
| 1989-10-15 | Wexford County | F1 1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-07-07 | Wexford County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1976-06-15 | Wexford County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-06-07 | Wexford County | F2 1.2 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1968-08-04 | Wexford County | F1 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1963-07-31 | Wexford County | F2 19.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $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.
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 Wexford County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 2, 2012 heavy snow ($321,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
One of the highest-impact snowstorms in recent memory pounded Northern Michigan on the night of the 2nd. Low pressure tracked from Missouri, to southern Lower Michigan, and on to eastern Canada, while rapidly strengthening. Precipitation surged northward into the region on the evening of the 2nd. This was primarily snow, except in parts of east central Lower Michigan (especially near Lake Huron), where temperatures were mild enough for rain. Snow wound down on the morning of the 3rd, and though somewhat blustery winds occurred behind the system on the 3rd, blowing snow was limited because the snowfall was so wet. Snow totals ranged from 6 to 14 inches across most of Northern Michigan. Higher amounts fell near and west of Grand Traverse Bay, with a maximum amount of 20 inches near Lake Ann. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 372459)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | HailSherman, Wexford County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | HailMeauwataka, Wexford County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | Winter StormWexford County · forecast zone Wexford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-29 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillWexford County · forecast zone Wexford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillWexford County · forecast zone Wexford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-28 | Winter StormWexford County · forecast zone Wexford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-23 | Thunderstorm WindManton, Wexford County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-23 | Thunderstorm WindSherman, Wexford County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-09-07 | HailCadillac, Wexford County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-07-25 | HailManton, Wexford County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-03-02 | Heavy SnowWexford County · forecast zone Wexford | 0 | 0 | $321K | |
| 2010-07-18 | TornadoLake Cadillac, Wexford County | EF0 0.08 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-06-07 | TornadoWexford County | F2 1.2 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-12 | Flash FloodHoxeyville, Wexford County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2006-10-04 | TornadoBenson, Wexford County | F0 0.1 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $381K |
| 2010-07-18 | TornadoLake Cadillac, Wexford County | EF0 0.08 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 31, 1963 (tornado, Wexford County); October 15, 1989 (tornado, Wexford 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 Wexford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 43 | 17 | 11 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 9 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its winter storm records since 1997 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 21 · Feb 21 · Mar 17 · Apr 17 · May 17 · Jun 28 · Jul 30 · Aug 21 · Sep 8 · Oct 9 · Nov 13 · Dec 21 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wexford County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Wexford County: 3 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and flood (1).
| 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 |
| 2008-07-14 | DR-1777 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3225 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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.
How many floods has Wexford County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 11 flood or flash flood records for Wexford County from 2000 to 2014, on 11 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wexford County ranks 2181st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $616,000 on 16 claims filed in Wexford County; the most in one year was 9 in 2026. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2008: 3 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2026: 9; 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 Wexford County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wexford County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.4 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 | Relatively High | $504K | 27 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.3M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $537K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $8K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $219K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $189K | 27 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.9M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $496K | once in about 11 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Wexford 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
- Winter storms in MichiganThe state's winter storm records, 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 Wexford CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wexford County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis