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Rochester Hills, MI Tornado History — 76 Tornadoes Since 1950

Michigan · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Rochester Hills, MI had?

Rochester Hills has had 76 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Rochester Hills?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rochester Hills was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.

When is tornado season in Rochester Hills?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rochester Hills, with 17 on record. April through June account for 31 of the 76 tornadoes on record near Rochester Hills.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
76
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
8
10.5% of total
Peak Month
July
17 on record
Per Year Avg
1.0
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Rochester Hills

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 13 total, averaging 0.7 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 1
2024 1
2023 0
2022 1
2021 3
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 2
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 2
2009 0
2008 1
2007 2

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Rochester Hills 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF2° September 3, 2026
2 NE Comerica Park, Wayne County, MI
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 Rochester Hills. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Rochester Hills

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Rochester Hills 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 Rochester Hills totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

June 18, 2025
1 NE Fraser, Macomb County, MI
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

1950s 9
1960s 3
1970s 16
1980s 20
1990s 11
2000s 7
2010s 4
2020s 6

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 24
EF1 31
EF2 13
EF3 5
EF4 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 2
Apr 6
May 12
Jun 13
Jul 17
Aug 13
Sep 9
Oct 3
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Rochester Hills

17 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Rochester Hills since 1950, across 7 events. 447 injuries have been reported across all events. 1964 was the deadliest year on record near Rochester Hills.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on May 8, 1964, which caused 11 fatalities along a 3.3-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Rochester Hills

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on May 8, 1964 — 11 fatalities, 3.3 mi path, 833 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on May 2, 1983 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on July 2, 1997 — 2,500 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on June 2, 1971 — 57.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 18, 2025.

What the record shows near Rochester Hills

The 1980s were the busiest decade near Rochester Hills, with 20 of the 76 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 6 so far. The Rochester Hills record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Rochester Hills, 55 reached EF0 or EF1 and 21 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Rochester Hills is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Rochester Hills has averaged 0.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 13 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 3, and 12 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Rochester Hills, MI had?
Since 1950, 76 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Rochester Hills. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Rochester Hills?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Rochester Hills was an F4 on May 8, 1964, which caused 11 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Rochester Hills?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rochester Hills, with 17 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 Rochester Hills been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Rochester Hills, there have been 0 EF5 and 3 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 Rochester Hills?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rochester Hills was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Rochester Hills?
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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