Battle Creek, MI Tornado History — 66 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Battle Creek, MI had?
Battle Creek has had 66 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Battle Creek?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Battle Creek was an EF1 on May 15, 2025.
When is tornado season in Battle Creek?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Battle Creek, with 20 on record. April through June account for 37 of the 66 tornadoes on record near Battle Creek.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Battle Creek
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 15 total, averaging 0.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Battle Creek since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
An EF0 Tornado with top winds of 85 mph began just west of the intersection of P Drive South and 18 1/2 Mile Road. The damage path ended near N Drive South between 20 M (GRR)
Storm chaser video confirmed tornado near Union City. Location estimated based on radar. (IWX)
*** 3 FATAL... 12 INJ *** The most intense and deadly tornado of the cyclic tornadic supercell touched down in northwest Branch county... northwest of Union Lake betwee (IWX)
Within 25 miles of Battle Creek. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Battle Creek
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Battle Creek and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 15, 2025 and the most recent on May 15, 2025. They are already counted in the Battle Creek totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
The EF0 tornado resulted in mostly tree damage along its 8.5 mile path. It began just west of Saint Marys Lake and traveled just south of the lake and remained very clo (GRR)
The EF0 tornado resulted in mainly tree damage along its 10 mile path. More concentrated tree damage occurred near the beginning and the end of the path with intermitte (GRR)
An EF-1 tornado with top winds of 100 mph crossed the most southern part of Gun Lake traveling to the northeast before ending northeast of the Otis Sanctuary. Mostly tr (GRR)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Battle Creek
7 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Battle Creek since 1950, across 3 events. 193 injuries have been reported across all events. 1980 was the deadliest year on record near Battle Creek.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on May 13, 1980, which caused 5 fatalities along a 10.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Battle Creek
What the record shows near Battle Creek
The 1980s were the busiest decade near Battle Creek, with 13 of the 66 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 9 so far. The Battle Creek record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Battle Creek, 51 reached EF0 or EF1 and 15 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Battle Creek is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Battle Creek has averaged 0.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 15 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 4, and 12 of those years passed with none at all.