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Tornado in Lenawee County, Michigan
33 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.
Lenawee County, Michigan, has 33 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 23 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 2 events against 8 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.6% of the 1,291 tornado events recorded in Michigan; its 4.4 per 100 square miles compares with 2.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 9 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Michigan
| Measure | Lenawee County | Michigan | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 33 | 1,291 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 3.3 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 9 | 253 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
2Apr
7May
6Jun
10Jul
2Aug
6Sep
0Oct
0Nov
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 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1988 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 3 Apr 1988 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1987 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1987 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1972 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1965 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | 5 | 42 | County |
| 11 Apr 1965 | Tornado | F4 | — | — | 4 | 41 | County |
| 22 Aug 1964 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 22 Aug 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1962 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1958 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1954 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Lenawee County had?
33 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 Lenawee County?
20 Jun 2021 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Lenawee County?
The tornado of 11 Apr 1965, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M; 5 deaths recorded.
How does Lenawee County compare with Michigan for tornado?
4.4 events per 100 square miles against 2.3 statewide; the county holds 33 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.