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Tornado in Ottawa County, Michigan
25 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 25 tornado events in Ottawa County, Michigan, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
June is the busiest month, with 6 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 1.9% of the 1,291 tornado events recorded in Michigan; its 4.4 per 100 square miles compares with 2.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 14 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 6 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 1 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Michigan
| Measure | Ottawa County | Michigan | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 1,291 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 14 | 253 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
2Apr
4May
4Jun
6Jul
2Aug
4Sep
2Oct
1Nov
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 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2016 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $200K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2001 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1987 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1978 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Jun 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1966 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1965 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 22 Jun 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F5 | $250K | — | 14 | 200 | County |
| 3 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 1956 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Ottawa County had?
25 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 Ottawa County?
15 May 2025 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Ottawa County?
The tornado of 3 Apr 1956, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Ottawa County compare with Michigan for tornado?
4.4 events per 100 square miles against 2.3 statewide; the county holds 25 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.