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Wind in Kalkaska County, Michigan

50 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

50 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month July · county share of state 0.3%

2021-08-29: Wind2021-08-28: Wind2021-08-28: Wind2021-08-10: Wind2021-07-05: Wind2020-11-10: Wind2019-07-19: Wind2019-07-10: Wind2018-08-28: Wind2018-07-01: Wind2018-07-01: Wind2015-08-02: Wind2014-07-27: Wind2012-05-28: Wind2008-04-25: Wind2007-06-08: Wind2007-06-02: Wind2006-08-01: Wind2006-07-17: Wind2005-09-13: Wind2005-07-24: Wind2003-08-28: Wind2003-06-08: Wind2002-07-30: Wind2002-07-30: Wind2002-07-29: Wind2002-04-18: Wind2002-04-18: Wind2001-08-09: Wind1999-07-31: Wind1999-07-31: Wind1999-06-10: Wind1998-09-27: Wind1998-06-21: Wind1998-05-31: Wind1998-05-31: Wind1998-05-31: Wind1998-05-31: Wind1985-09-07: Wind1981-07-17: Wind
Wind event locations in and around Kalkaska County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

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 50 wind events in Kalkaska County, Michigan, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.

July is the busiest month, with 20 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 19 events against 29 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 0.3% of the 14,692 wind events recorded in Michigan; its 8.9 per 100 square miles compares with 26.0 statewide.

23 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 2 reached hurricane force (74 mph).

Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.

Compared with Michigan

MeasureKalkaska CountyMichiganUS
Wind events since 19505014,692701,953
Per 100 square miles8.926.019.9
Per 10,000 residents27.814.621.1
Deaths recorded0722,166
Busiest monthJulyJulyJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Kalkaska County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
0
Feb
0
Mar
0
Apr
3
May
5
Jun
5
Jul
20
Aug
9
Sep
3
Oct
1
Nov
3
Dec
1
Wind events in Kalkaska County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph27
58–73 mph21
74–95 mph2
96 mph and over0
NWS wind thresholds
under 58 mph
below severe threshold
58–73 mph
severe
74–95 mph
hurricane-force
96 mph and over
extreme

Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.

Recorded events

All 50 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
16 Dec 2021High Wind58 mph$10K———Forecast zone
29 Aug 2021Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
28 Aug 2021Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
28 Aug 2021Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
10 Aug 2021Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
5 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
10 Nov 2020Thunderstorm Wind61 mph$5K———County
19 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$4K———County
10 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
28 Aug 2018Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
1 Jul 2018Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
1 Jul 2018Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
2 Aug 2015Thunderstorm Wind69 mph$540K———County
27 Jul 2014Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
28 May 2012Thunderstorm Wind67 mph$25K———County
27 Oct 2010High Wind63 mph$5K———Forecast zone
25 Apr 2008Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
8 Jun 2007Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
2 Jun 2007Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
1 Aug 2006Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$3K———County
17 Jul 2006Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$4K———County
13 Nov 2005High Wind58 mph$5K———Forecast zone
13 Sep 2005Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$8K———County
24 Jul 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$4K———County
28 Aug 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
8 Jun 2003Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$5K———County
30 Jul 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
30 Jul 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
29 Jul 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
18 Apr 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
18 Apr 2002Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
9 Aug 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
31 Jul 1999Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
31 Jul 1999Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
10 Jun 1999Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
10 Nov 1998High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
27 Sep 1998Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
21 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
31 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
31 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind90 mph————County
31 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
31 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
13 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$5K———County
13 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$5K———County
13 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$25K———County
13 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$25K———County
13 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$25K———County
13 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
7 Sep 1985Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
17 Jul 1981Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Kalkaska County had?

50 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded wind event in Kalkaska County?

16 Dec 2021 (High Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Kalkaska County?

The thunderstorm wind of 2 Aug 2015, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $540K.

How does Kalkaska County compare with Michigan for wind?

8.9 events per 100 square miles against 26.0 statewide; the county holds 50 of the state's 14,692 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 Wind hub and the county page.