Norton Shores, MI Tornado History — 24 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Norton Shores, MI had?
Norton Shores has had 24 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Norton Shores?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Norton Shores was an Unrated on October 13, 2024.
When is tornado season in Norton Shores?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Norton Shores, with 5 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 Norton Shores
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.
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 Norton Shores
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Norton Shores since 1950, across 1 event. 143 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 5 fatalities along a 20.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Norton Shores
About Tornadoes in Norton Shores
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Norton Shores, Michigan, and the surrounding 25-mile area have experienced 24 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The most active period occurred during the 1960s, when seven tornadoes were recorded, while the 1980s saw only a single event. In recent decades, activity has remained relatively modest, with four tornadoes in the 2000s, one in the 2010s, and two so far in the 2020s.
April has been the peak month for tornado activity in the area, accounting for five events. The most significant tornado in the region's history struck on April 11, 1965, when an F4 tornado carved a 20.6-mile path with a maximum width of 300 yards. This storm claimed five lives and caused $2.75 million in property damage, making it both the deadliest and costliest tornado on record for the area. The Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornadoes from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest), replaced the original Fujita scale in 2007 to provide more consistent damage assessments.
The majority of tornadoes near Norton Shores have been relatively weak, with 13 rated EF0 and four rated EF1. However, the area has also seen five EF2 tornadoes and the single F4 event from 1965. The widest tornado on record was an F2 that touched down on September 22, 1961, reaching a maximum width of 2,000 yards despite traveling only 2.7 miles. The longest-tracked tornado was an EF0 on November 17, 2013, which traveled 36.7 miles while causing $100,000 in property damage but no fatalities.
The most recent tornado occurred on October 13, 2024, an unrated event with a brief 0.1-mile path and 50-yard width that caused no damage or injuries. One tornado in the historical record remains unrated in addition to this recent event.