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Flood in Ottawa County, Michigan
23 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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.
Ottawa County, Michigan, has 23 flood events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 12 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 13 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.8% of the 1,305 flood events recorded in Michigan; its 4.1 per 100 square miles compares with 2.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to floods and flash floods.
Compared with Michigan
| Measure | Ottawa County | Michigan | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 23 | 1,305 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.1 | 2.3 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.3 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 12 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | June | May | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
3Mar
3Apr
1May
6Jun
7Jul
1Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
0Dec
1
Recorded events
All 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar 2026 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2020 | Flood | — | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2013 | Flood | — | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $34M | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Flood | — | $3.6M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Flood | — | $5K | $5K | 1 | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $1.0M | $1.5M | 1 | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Flood | — | $1.0M | $200K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2001 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2001 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2001 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2001 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 May 2000 | Flash Flood | — | $300K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 1998 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 1997 | Flash Flood | — | $1.4M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 21 Feb 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Ottawa County had?
23 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Ottawa County?
10 Mar 2026 (Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Ottawa County?
The flash flood of 19 Jun 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $34M.
How does Ottawa County compare with Michigan for flood?
4.1 events per 100 square miles against 2.3 statewide; the county holds 23 of the state's 1,305 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 Flood hub and the county page.