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Shelby, MI Tornado History — 58 Tornadoes Since 1950

Michigan · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Shelby, MI had?

Shelby has had 58 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Shelby?

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

When is tornado season in Shelby?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Shelby, with 12 on record. April through June account for 24 of the 58 tornadoes on record near Shelby.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
58
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
8
13.8% of total
Peak Month
June
12 on record
Per Year Avg
0.8
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Shelby

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 10 total, averaging 0.5 per year over this window.

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

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Shelby 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Shelby. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Shelby

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Shelby 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 Shelby 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 6
1960s 2
1970s 17
1980s 14
1990s 6
2000s 3
2010s 5
2020s 5

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 17
EF1 26
EF2 7
EF3 5
EF4 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 2
Apr 4
May 8
Jun 12
Jul 12
Aug 11
Sep 5
Oct 3
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Shelby

15 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Shelby since 1950, across 5 events. 421 injuries have been reported across all events. 1964 was the deadliest year on record near Shelby.

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

Notable Tornadoes Near Shelby

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 Shelby

The 1970s were the busiest decade near Shelby, with 17 of the 58 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 5 so far. The Shelby record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Shelby, 43 reached EF0 or EF1 and 15 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Shelby is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Shelby has averaged 0.5 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 10 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 3, and 14 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Shelby, MI had?
Since 1950, 58 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Shelby. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Shelby?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Shelby was an F4 on May 8, 1964, which caused 11 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Shelby?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Shelby, with 12 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 Shelby been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Shelby, 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 Shelby?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Shelby was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Shelby?
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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