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Tornado in Sanilac 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.
Sanilac County, Michigan, has 21 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 18 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 3 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 2.2 per 100 square miles compares with 2.3 statewide.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 0 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Michigan
| Measure | Sanilac County | Michigan | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 21 | 1,291 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.2 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 253 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
3May
3Jun
5Jul
4Aug
2Sep
3Oct
0Nov
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 1984 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1977 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Sanilac 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 Sanilac County?
26 Jul 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Sanilac County?
The tornado of 2 Sep 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Sanilac County compare with Michigan for tornado?
2.2 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.