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Waterford, MI Tornado History — 83 Tornadoes Since 1950

Michigan · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Waterford, MI had?

Waterford has had 83 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Waterford?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Waterford was an EF0 on May 15, 2025.

When is tornado season in Waterford?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Waterford, with 17 on record. April through June account for 37 of the 83 tornadoes on record near Waterford.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
83
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
7
8.4% of total
Peak Month
July
17 on record
Per Year Avg
1.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Waterford

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 17 total, averaging 0.8 per year over this window.

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

What storm spotters reported near Waterford

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Waterford and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 15, 2025 and the most recent on May 15, 2025. It is already counted in the Waterford totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° May 16, 2025
2 N Atlas, Genesee County, MI
NWS damage survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down northeast of Atlas and was on the ground 3 minutes before lifting north of Goodrich. (DTX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 9
1960s 2
1970s 14
1980s 19
1990s 16
2000s 10
2010s 6
2020s 7

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 26
EF1 30
EF2 20
EF3 4
EF4 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 1
Mar 2
Apr 7
May 15
Jun 15
Jul 17
Aug 10
Sep 10
Oct 4
Nov 1
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Waterford

8 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Waterford since 1950, across 6 events. 335 injuries have been reported across all events. 1956 was the deadliest year on record near Waterford.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on May 12, 1956, which caused 3 fatalities along a 6.6-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Waterford

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on May 12, 1956 — 3 fatalities, 6.6 mi path, 100 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on March 20, 1976 — 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 May 15, 2025.

What the record shows near Waterford

The 1980s were the busiest decade near Waterford, with 19 of the 83 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 7 so far. The Waterford record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Waterford, 56 reached EF0 or EF1 and 27 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Waterford is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Waterford has averaged 0.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 17 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 3, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Waterford, MI had?
Since 1950, 83 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Waterford. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Waterford?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Waterford was an F4 on May 12, 1956, which caused 3 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Waterford?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Waterford, 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 Waterford been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Waterford, 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 Waterford?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Waterford was an EF0 on May 15, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Waterford?
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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