Southeast Michigan Tornado Climatology

Please note that the page below was developed in 2003 for the 50th commemoration of the 1953 Beecher tornado. Up-to-date Southeast Michigan tornado climatology can be found here: https://www.weather.gov/dtx/torstatsall

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Tornado Information
Southeast MI

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Introduction | Tornadoes by F-Scale | Tornadoes by Month | Tornadoes by Hour | Tornado Intensity

Introduction

Since 1950, 331 tornadoes have struck Southeast Lower Michigan, killing 166 people. Tornado intensity is determined by the F-scale. Here are some Southeast Michigan tornado statistics arranged by F-scale.

Weak F0/F1
	Frequency	64% of all tornadoes
	Deaths	0.6% of all tornado deaths
	Duration	1 to 10 minutes
	Path length	up to 3 miles
	Wind speed	60 to 115 mph
Strong F2/F3
	Frequency	31% of all tornadoes
	Deaths	3.6% of all tornado deaths
	Duration	20 minutes or longer
	Path length	15 miles or more
	Wind speed	115 to 205 mph
Violent F4/F5
	Frequency	5% of all tornadoes
	Deaths	95.8% of all tornado deaths
	Duration	Last an hour or longer
	Path length	50 miles or more
	Wind speed	greater than 200 mph

Only one of these tornadoes has ever reached F5 intensity -- the Flint-Beecher tornado June 8, 1953.

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Tornadoes by F-Scale

Fortunately, most tornadoes here in Southeast Michigan are of the weak variety, with F1's predominate. Note: The two F-5's indicated in the chart are actually only one F-5 -- in two counties. The Flint-Beecher F5 crossed out of Genesee County and into Lapeer County.

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Tornadoes by Month

Tornado activity peaks in June here in Southeast Michigan. Most tornadoes occur between April and August. However, tornadoes have been recorded in every month but January and December.

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Tornadoes by Hour

Tornado activity by hour in Local Standard Time. Tornado frequency reaches a peak between 4 pm and 6 pm with most tormadoes occurring within 3 hours of this time. Tornadoes are less likely during the overnight hours into the early morning.

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Tornado Intensity

Note here that the most violent tornadoes occur in the Spring with Violent tornado activity peaking in April and May.

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