Michigan severe thunderstorm wind
Every recorded severe thunderstorm wind event since 1955 · 83 counties with a record
NOAA's Storm Events Database records 13,171 severe thunderstorm wind events in Michigan from 1955 through June 30, 2026, about 326 a year since 2000. The deadliest was the July 2, 1997 thunderstorm wind: 5 deaths, 8 injuries and $23.9 million in damage in 2025 dollars across 6 records. Michigan ranks 23rd of 52 states and territories by count and 31st of 51 per square mile.
Severe thunderstorm wind in Michigan, 1955 to 2026
Thunderstorm wind records per year (NOAA Storm Events); 2026 to June 30, 2026. NOAA recorded every event type only from 1996.
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1996: all 48 event types recorded from 1996
- Records
- 13,1711955 to June 30, 2026
- A year since 2000
- 326average
- Deaths
- 62388 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $915Mas filed
- Busiest year
- 2007602 records
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; deaths and damage as filed, damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
Are severe thunderstorm wind events common in Michigan?
Michigan averages about 326 severe thunderstorm wind events a year since 2000, 23rd of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2007 (602). Per 10,000 square miles of land, Michigan records 2327 severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955, 31st of 51 states and territories by that measure.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1955, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.
Which counties in Michigan have the most severe thunderstorm wind events?
Per square mile, Wayne County leads Michigan: 294 days with a severe thunderstorm wind event since 1955, 480.5 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Oakland County has the most thunderstorm wind records (725 since 1955); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1955 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.
When is the severe thunderstorm season in Michigan?
51% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The busiest month is July (3,810 records).
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 33 · Mar 313 · Apr 584 · May 1,668 · Jun 2,881 · Jul 3,810 · Aug 2,302 · Sep 954 · Oct 370 · Nov 135 · Dec 77 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began, since 1955.
What were the deadliest severe thunderstorm wind events in Michigan?
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-07-02 | Thunderstorm WindGrosse Pt Farms, Wayne County One storm episode: 6 records in 5 places; the totals are the episode's. | 5 | 8 | $24M | |
| 2023-08-24 | Thunderstorm WindSand Lake, Kent County One storm episode: 9 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. Severe storms developed during the evening hours in an extremely unstable environment. Two tornadoes occurred. The first tornado touched down in west central Kent County from Alpine Township to Plainfield Township and was rated an EF-1. The second tornado touched down in eastern Ingham County from Williamston to ... | 61 kt wind | 5 | 0 | $77M |
| 1987-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindManistee County Every thunderstorm wind record filed in the state that day (6, in 6 places; before 1996 NOAA filed no storm episodes); the totals are the day's. | 4 | 7 | – | |
| 1991-03-27 | Thunderstorm WindSt. Joseph County Every thunderstorm wind record filed in the state that day (10, in 7 places; before 1996 NOAA filed no storm episodes); the totals are the day's. | 3 | 21 | – | |
| 2004-05-21 | Thunderstorm WindColoma, Berrien County One storm episode: 5 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. Emergency management reported a 4 foot diameter oak tree fell onto a vehicle as it was passing. The car was crushed and the 50 year old female driver was killed instantly. | 60 kt wind | 3 | 7 | $125K |
| 1995-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindRoscommon County Every thunderstorm wind record filed in the state that day (11, in 10 places; before 1996 NOAA filed no storm episodes); the totals are the day's. Thunderstorm winds did widespread tree damage across all but extreme southeast Roscommon County, with well over 100,000 trees down. Most of the trees brought down were the largest and healthiest, as they had the highest tops and heaviest foliage. Widespread damage to residences, cottages, garages, vehicles was caused ... | 3 | 2 | $102M | |
| 1988-08-16 | Thunderstorm WindLivingston County Every thunderstorm wind record filed in the state that day (4, in 3 places; before 1996 NOAA filed no storm episodes); the totals are the day's. | 3 | 1 | – | |
| 1998-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindGrand Haven, Ottawa County One storm episode: 20 records in 14 places; the totals are the episode's. Damage surveys conducted by the National Weather Service Office in Grand Rapids, MI, in addition to trained spotter reports, local media meteorologist input, emergency management officials, and a review of National Weather Service Doppler Radar, indicate the widespread and severe damage which occurred with the ... | 2 | 143 | $302M | |
| 1998-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindFlat Rock, Wayne County One storm episode: 15 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. July 21st was one of the hottest days of the summer in southeast Michigan, as temperatures soared into the middle to upper 90s. An extremely humid airmass was also in place, with dew points in the upper 70s. The above produced an extraordinarily unstable atmosphere, with CAPE values approaching 7000 J/kg. A weak ... | 2 | 4 | $72M | |
| 1998-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindLinwood, Bay County One storm episode: 24 records in 9 places; the totals are the episode's. On the evening of the 30th, a strong low pressure system was located over the upper Mississippi Valley. The low moved rapidly east that night, reaching northern lower Michigan by daybreak on the 31st. The warm front associated with the low moved north across the Lower Peninsula overnight, ushering in an unstable air ... | 2 | 2 | $8.8M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed by the National Weather Service, summed over each storm (one episode, or one named storm filed by several offices). Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.
The costliest severe thunderstorm wind events in Michigan
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindGrand Haven, Ottawa County One storm episode: 20 records in 14 places; the totals are the episode's. | 2 | 143 | $302M | |
| 1995-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindRoscommon County Every thunderstorm wind record filed in the state that day (11, in 10 places; before 1996 NOAA filed no storm episodes); the totals are the day's. | 3 | 2 | $102M | |
| 2023-08-24 | Thunderstorm WindSand Lake, Kent County One storm episode: 9 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. | 61 kt wind | 5 | 0 | $77M |
| 1998-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindFlat Rock, Wayne County One storm episode: 15 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. | 2 | 4 | $72M | |
| 2015-08-02 | Thunderstorm WindGlen Haven, Leelanau County One storm episode: 7 records in 5 places; the totals are the episode's. | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $49M |
| 2011-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindWest Leroy, Calhoun County One storm episode: 7 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's. | 87 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $40M |
| 1997-07-02 | Thunderstorm WindGrosse Pt Farms, Wayne County One storm episode: 6 records in 5 places; the totals are the episode's. | 5 | 8 | $24M | |
| 2000-05-09 | Thunderstorm WindBelleville, Wayne County One storm episode: 6 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 6 | $15M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.
Are severe thunderstorm wind events becoming more frequent in Michigan?
Michigan's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. NOAA recorded every event type only from 1996, so earlier decades are not comparable; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.
| Decade | Michigan | United States | Michigan's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955-59 | 86 | 3,482 | 2.5% |
| 1960s | 376 | 10,124 | 3.7% |
| 1970s | 517 | 18,714 | 2.8% |
| 1980s | 1,137 | 39,604 | 2.9% |
| 1990s | 2,333 | 85,554 | 2.7% |
| 2000s | 3,653 | 129,990 | 2.8% |
| 2010s | 2,958 | 161,286 | 1.8% |
| 2020-26 | 2,111 | 126,815 | 1.7% |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
The most recent severe thunderstorm wind events in Michigan
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindTrenary, Alger County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindBeacon, Marquette County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindJacobsville, Houghton County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindChassell, Houghton County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindChassell, Houghton County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindJacobsville, Houghton County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindToivola, Houghton County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindOntonagon County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $75K |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindOntonagon County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindOntonagon County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindSilver City, Ontonagon County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindNorth Bessemer, Gogebic County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.
Federal disaster declarations for severe thunderstorm wind events in Michigan
FEMA files hail and wind disasters under the incident type Severe Storm: 10 declarations in Michigan, 10 of them major disasters; the latest on July 15, 2021.
| Declared | Number | Title | Areas named |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-07-15 | DR-4607 | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes | 5 |
| 2017-08-02 | DR-4326 | Severe Storms and Flooding | 4 |
| 2008-07-14 | DR-1777 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | 12 |
| 2004-06-30 | DR-1527 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | 26 |
| 2000-10-17 | DR-1346 | Severe Storms and Flooding | 2 |
| 1998-08-05 | DR-1237 | Severe Storms and High Winds | 2 |
| 1998-06-24 | DR-1226 | Severe Storms | 13 |
| 1997-07-11 | DR-1181 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding | 5 |
| 1996-07-23 | DR-1128 | Severe Storms and Flooding | 7 |
| 1976-03-19 | DR-495 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & Flooding | 29 |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- Wayne County: the county's whole recordThe Michigan county with the most severe thunderstorm wind events per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind across the United StatesEvery state ranked, by year and month
- Every natural hazard in MichiganTornadoes, floods, storms, heat and the federal declarations
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