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Tornado in Cass County, Michigan
21 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.
NCEI records 21 tornado events in Cass County, Michigan, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
March is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 6 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.6% of the 1,291 tornado events recorded in Michigan; its 4.3 per 100 square miles compares with 2.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 4 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 | Cass County | Michigan | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 21 | 1,291 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 4.1 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 253 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
4Apr
0May
1Jun
4Jul
3Aug
4Sep
0Oct
2Nov
1Dec
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 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Tornado | F1 | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1998 | Tornado | F2 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 25 | County |
| 16 Jul 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1968 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Cass County had?
21 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 Cass County?
6 Mar 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Cass County?
The tornado of 24 Oct 2001, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5.0M.
How does Cass County compare with Michigan for tornado?
4.3 events per 100 square miles against 2.3 statewide; the county holds 21 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.