It seems like Michigan has really been experiencing more severe weather lately. This year alone, there have been several tornadoes reported in southwest Michigan moving through communities, and it seems like they’re getting worse.
But is there really an increase in tornado numbers in Michigan or is it just a perception based on where we live?
Wild Weather 2024 in Southwest Michigan
The state of Michigan averages about 15 to 16 tornadoes per year. The dichotomy of cold Canadian air mixing with warm southern air and a source of moisture to the west, Lake Michigan, results in some interesting weather phenomena that occur particularly in western Michigan. These include occasional severe thunderstorms.
However, 2024 feels worse than normal.
Last May, two tornadoes were confirmed in Kalamazoo County, as well as St. Joseph and Branch counties. The latter occurred mostly over open country, but some smaller communities and towns sustained minor damage and small buildings were destroyed. However, this storm triggered the state’s first reported tornado emergency, as the storm featured a dangerous funnel on the ground heading toward a densely populated area – Sherwood and Union City.
The other storm, an EF-2, flew directly through Portage, causing millions of dollars in damage, including the destruction of a Fed Ex facility where employees were temporarily trapped.
Then this week, more severe storms from Calhoun County prompted a number of new tornado warnings and produced another confirmed EF-2 tornado in St. Joseph County, just north of Three Rivers.
Three tornadoes in less than three months in the same area is pretty crazy for Michigan, right? And that’s just a small part of the state.
Actual number of tornadoes in Michigan
Turns out, no. The only area that had tornado warnings with confirmed tornadoes on the ground were these three storms in southwest Michigan. Since January, these three tornadoes are the ONLY three reported in the entire state – considering the state typically experiences 15-16 tornadoes each year.
So, actually, it’s been a VERY bad year for tornadoes in Michigan. Granted, there are still several months left in the year AND there’s still the possibility of some late storms in the early fall when cold and warm air mix over the state once again.
Most tornadoes in one year in Michigan
In recent years, Michigan has actually stayed pretty close to its annual average in terms of the number of tornadoes caused and confirmed. But the highest number in one year was recorded in 1974, that saw 43 confirmed tornadoes, and 51 people were injured, the damage amounted to over 5 million dollars.
In fact, there were three very rare tornadoes in the Upper Peninsula this year near Escanaba and Felch.
Although severe weather seems to be becoming more frequent and the number of tornadoes in Michigan is increasing, this year is NOT a good example, even though we have had three tornadoes in close proximity within a short period of time.
Still, you should take precautions against tornadoes, even though we’ve had very few this year. Technically, Mother Nature still has a lot of catching up to do to reach her annual average.
Tornado damage in southwest Michigan on May 7, 2024
These are the 10 deadliest tornadoes in Michigan history