Royal Oak, MI Tornado History — 73 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Royal Oak, MI had?
Royal Oak has had 73 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Royal Oak?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Royal Oak was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Royal Oak?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Royal Oak, with 15 on record. April through June account for 34 of the 73 tornadoes on record near Royal Oak.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Royal Oak
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 11 total, averaging 0.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Royal Oak 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
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)
NWS Storm Survey team confirms an EF-1 tornado occurred in Lincoln Park on April 15. A brief tornado touched down near Wall Ave and Ruth Ave... and continued across res (DTX)
Within 25 miles of Royal Oak. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Royal Oak
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak
16 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Royal Oak since 1950, across 6 events. 469 injuries have been reported across all events. 1964 was the deadliest year on record near Royal Oak.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on May 8, 1964, which caused 11 fatalities along a 3.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Royal Oak
What the record shows near Royal Oak
The 1980s were the busiest decade near Royal Oak, with 19 of the 73 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 4 so far. The Royal Oak record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Royal Oak, 50 reached EF0 or EF1 and 23 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Royal Oak is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Royal Oak has averaged 0.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 11 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 2, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.