Pontiac, MI Tornado History — 88 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pontiac, MI had?
Pontiac has had 88 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Pontiac?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pontiac was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Pontiac?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pontiac, with 18 on record. April through June account for 38 of the 88 tornadoes on record near Pontiac.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Pontiac
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 18 total, averaging 0.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Pontiac since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 EF-2 tornado impacted east Detroit on the afternoon of September 3... touching down near the Poletown East neighborhood and tracking southeastward... eventually cros (DTX)
Within 25 miles of Pontiac. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Pontiac
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Pontiac and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 18, 2025 and the most recent on June 18, 2025. It is already counted in the Pontiac totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Probable tornado with downed large limbs near Kelly Rd between 14 and 15 Mile Rd. (DTX)
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 Pontiac
17 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Pontiac since 1950, across 7 events. 465 injuries have been reported across all events. 1964 was the deadliest year on record near Pontiac.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on May 8, 1964, which caused 11 fatalities along a 3.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pontiac
What the record shows near Pontiac
The 1980s were the busiest decade near Pontiac, with 21 of the 88 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 8 so far. The Pontiac record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Pontiac, 61 reached EF0 or EF1 and 27 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Pontiac is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Pontiac has averaged 0.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 18 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 3, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.