List of Michigan tornadoes

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An F4 tornado in Erie on June 8, 1953 Erie Michigan 1953 tornado.jpg
An F4 tornado in Erie on June 8, 1953

Tornadoes in the U.S. state of Michigan are uncommon, with an estimated 17 tornadoes touching down every year since 1880. Although Michigan is not in the traditional tornado alley, it has had several destructive tornadoes since records began.

Contents

Climatology

The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section. Portions of the southern border have been almost as vulnerable historically as states further west and in Tornado Alley. For this reason, many communities in the very southern portions of the state have tornado sirens to warn residents of approaching tornadoes. Farther north, in Central Michigan, Northern Michigan, and the Upper Peninsula, tornadoes are rare. [1]

Events

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Pre-1950

An F4 tornado that struck the Detroit River on June 17, 1946 WindsorTornadofromAirport.jpg
An F4 tornado that struck the Detroit River on June 17, 1946
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1950–1959

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1960–1969

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1970–1979

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1980–1989

1990-1999

2000–2009

2010–2019

2020–present

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2001</span>

This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2001. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1973</span>

This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 1973, but mostly features events in the United States. According to tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis, documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information. Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life. Consequently, available documentation in 1973 mainly covered the United States. On average, most recorded tornadoes, including the vast majority of significant—F2 or stronger—tornadoes, form in the U.S., although as many as 500 may take place internationally. Some locations, like Bangladesh, are as prone to violent tornadoes as the U.S., meaning F4 or greater events on the Fujita scale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1967</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1958</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1958, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1957</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1957, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1955</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1955, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1954</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1954, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1953</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1953, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. This was the first year to record an F5 tornado as well as one of the deadliest tornado seasons in official U.S. records, which go back to 1950.

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1951, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1950, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak sequence of December 1–6, 1953</span> Weather event affecting Southeastern United States

The first six days of December 1953 produced a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak sequence across the Southern United States. There were 19 confirmed tornadoes, including a violent F4 tornado that hit the northwest side of Alexandria, Louisiana and even more violent F5 tornado that hit Vicksburg, Mississippi. In all, the tornadoes killed 49 people, injured 404 others, and caused $45,709 million in damage. The death toll made this deadliest December tornado outbreak ever recorded and it would not be surpassed until 2021. This was also the last of the series of deadly and catastrophic tornado outbreaks to strike the US in 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1949</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1949, primarily in the United States. Most recorded tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1948, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. Also, prior to 1950, tornadoes were not officially surveyed by the U.S. Weather Bureau, which would later become the National Weather Service, and thus had no official rating. All documented significant tornadoes were instead given unofficial ratings by tornado experts like Thomas P. Grazulis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1947</span> Tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1947

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1947, primarily in the United States. Most recorded tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1946, primarily in the United States. Most recorded tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

References

  1. "Tornadoes". geo.msu.edu. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  2. Grazulis 1993, p. 607.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Grazulis, Significant, p. 676
  4. The United States' Worst Tornadoes Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Significant Tornadoes in Michigan: 1882–1999". www.a2gov.org. Archived from the original on 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  6. 1 2 Grazulis 1990, p. 125.
  7. 1 2 3 Grazulis 1993 , p. 767
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grazulis 1993 , p. 768
  9. 1 2 3 Mitchell, Charles L. (April 1920). "Tornadoes of March 28, in Northeastern Illinois". Monthly Weather Review. 28 (4). Chicago, Illinois: United States Weather Bureau: 191–196. Bibcode:1920MWRv...48..191M. doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1920)48<191b:TOMINI>2.0.CO;2 . Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. "Death And Destruction In Wake Of Tornado". Fenton Independent. April 1, 1920.
  11. Historical Tornado-Related Events – Atmospheric Hazards Web Site – Ontario – Adaptation and Impacts Research Group – [Meteorological Service of Canada – The Green Lane]Archived 2010-04-07 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Michigan Event Report: F1 Tornado. National Centers for Environmental Information (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  13. Michigan Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Center for Environmental Information. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 Storm Data Publication 1956 , #10040549
  15. Storm Data Publication 1956 , #10040544
  16. "Michigan Event Report: F2 Tornado". NCDC. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  17. "Michigan Event Report: F0 Tornado". NCDC. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  18. "Michigan Event Report: F2 Tornado". NCDC. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  19. Michigan Event Report: F2 Tornado. National Weather Service (Report). National Center for Environmental Information. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  20. "April 3–4, 1974 Super Outbreak". National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  21. "Southeast Michigan Tornado Outbreak". NWS Detroit/Pontiac. NOAA. June 15, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  22. "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov.
  23. "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov.
  24. "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  25. "Damage reported in West Michigan from storm, possible tornado". mlive. 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2024-07-31.