Ann Arbor, MI Tornado History — 97 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Ann Arbor, MI had?
Ann Arbor has had 97 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 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. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
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.
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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Ann Arbor. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
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.
Tornadoes by Month
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.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 23 fatalities along a 90.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Ann Arbor
About Tornadoes in Ann Arbor
This overview was written July 24, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Ann Arbor sits in southeastern Michigan, in the gently rolling country west of Detroit dotted with lakes and wooded moraines. The lower Great Lakes region experiences tornadoes during the warm season; they are less frequent than on the plains, but the area's mix of farmland and low hills still allows organized storms to develop and move through.
Tornadoes here form mainly in spring and summer, when warm, humid air moving north becomes unstable under strong heating and a jet-stream disturbance supplies the wind shear that lets thunderstorms rotate. Situated inland from the Great Lakes shorelines, the area can see instability build freely on hot, humid afternoons. Activity is generally greatest from late spring into midsummer.
Tornado intensity is described on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which runs from EF0 to EF5 based on surveyed damage rather than a measured wind speed. Most tornadoes are weak, though the region's climate can produce stronger events. For the specific tornado history near Ann Arbor — the total on file, the distribution by decade and rating, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — see the figures compiled from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center elsewhere on this page.