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Ann Arbor, MI Tornado History — 97 Tornadoes Since 1950

Michigan · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Ann Arbor, MI had?

Ann Arbor has had 97 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Ann Arbor?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ann Arbor was an EF1 on May 15, 2025.

When is tornado season in Ann Arbor?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ann Arbor, with 24 on record. April through June account for 53 of the 97 tornadoes on record near Ann Arbor.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
97
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
12
12.4% of total
Peak Month
June
24 on record
Per Year Avg
1.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Ann Arbor

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 20 total, averaging 1.0 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 2
2024 1
2023 4
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 1
2017 0
2016 1
2015 2
2014 0
2013 1
2012 1
2011 0
2010 5
2009 0
2008 1
2007 1

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Ann Arbor since December 29, 2025

These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary EF1° April 15, 2026
3 S Barton Hills, Washtenaw County, MI
NWS Storm Survey team confirms an EF-1 tornado occurred in Ann Arbor on April 15. The tornado started in the area of Jackson Ave near Interstate 94... continued southea (DTX)
Preliminary EF1° April 4, 2026
2 NE Willis, Wayne County, MI
NWS storm survey confirms an EF-1 tornado occurred in Van Buren Twp on April 4. The tornado started just south of Martz Rd between Rawsonville Rd and Hoeft Rd... contin (DTX)

Within 25 miles of Ann Arbor. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Ann Arbor

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Ann Arbor and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 15, 2025 and the most recent on May 15, 2025. It is already counted in the Ann Arbor totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF1° May 16, 2025
3 W Gregory, Livingston County, MI
NWS damage survey confirmed a brief EF-1 tornado touched down between Stockbridge and Gregory being on the ground for a couple minutes before gusting out over Gregory. (DTX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 12
1960s 11
1970s 21
1980s 23
1990s 7
2000s 5
2010s 11
2020s 7

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 26
EF1 31
EF2 28
EF3 8
EF4 4

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 1
Mar 3
Apr 12
May 17
Jun 24
Jul 11
Aug 21
Sep 7
Oct 0
Nov 0
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Ann Arbor

51 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Ann Arbor since 1950, across 9 events. 776 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near Ann Arbor.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 23 fatalities along a 90.3-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Ann Arbor

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 11, 1965 — 23 fatalities, 90.3 mi path, 1,760 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on April 11, 1965 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F4 on April 11, 1965 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on April 11, 1965 — 90.3 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on May 15, 2025.

What the record shows near Ann Arbor

The 1980s were the busiest decade near Ann Arbor, with 23 of the 97 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 7 so far. The Ann Arbor record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Ann Arbor, 57 reached EF0 or EF1 and 40 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Ann Arbor is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Ann Arbor has averaged 1.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 20 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 5, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Ann Arbor, MI had?
Since 1950, 97 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Ann Arbor. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Ann Arbor?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Ann Arbor was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 23 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Ann Arbor?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ann Arbor, with 24 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Ann Arbor been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Ann Arbor, there have been 0 EF5 and 4 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Ann Arbor?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ann Arbor was an EF1 on May 15, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Ann Arbor?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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