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Tornado in Berrien County, Michigan
32 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Berrien County, Michigan, has 32 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 23 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.5% of the 1,291 tornado events recorded in Michigan; its 5.6 per 100 square miles compares with 2.3 statewide.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 11 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Michigan
| Measure | Berrien County | Michigan | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 32 | 1,291 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.6 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 253 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
3Apr
3May
2Jun
13Jul
2Aug
1Sep
4Oct
3Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 32 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF2 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Tornado | F1 | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $1.1M | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1988 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 1979 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 6 | County |
| 17 Jun 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 1977 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1977 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 9 | County |
| 20 May 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 1974 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1967 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1958 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1956 | Tornado | F2 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Berrien County had?
32 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Berrien County?
28 Feb 2017 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Berrien County?
The tornado of 25 Aug 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.1M.
How does Berrien County compare with Michigan for tornado?
5.6 events per 100 square miles against 2.3 statewide; the county holds 32 of the state's 1,291 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.