Detroit, Michigan tornadoes

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13confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Detroit since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: July 2, 1997, F2.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Detroit

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The record

At a glance

Total13within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.2average since 1950
Peak monthMay3 of 13
StrongestF4Jul 4, 1957
Deaths1whole paths, see note
Injuries114whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Detroit.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

30 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 0May: 3Jun: 2Jul: 3Aug: 3Sep: 1Oct: 0Nov: 1Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 3 of 13 tornadoes.

By time of day

30 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 1: 09 AM: 0: 1: 112 PM: 2: 0: 23 PM: 1: 3: 16 PM: 0: 1: 09 PM: 0: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 4:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 2: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01990: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
5
EF1
2
EF2
2
EF3
3
EF4
1

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F3, November 20, 1957

1 deaths, 12 injuries Strongest

F4, July 4, 1957

29.9 mile path Longest path

29.9 miles, F4

July 4, 1957, whole path Widest

2,500 yards, F2

July 2, 1997
Every tornado

All 13 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jul 2, 1997F25 mi2,500 yd090
Sep 14, 1990F324 mi90 yd00
Aug 2, 1986F10.3 mi20 yd03
May 2, 1983F323 mi200 yd03
Jul 16, 1980F21.3 mi10 yd00
Aug 21, 1975F00.1 mi17 yd00
Jun 2, 1975F00.1 mi10 yd00
Aug 1, 1973F012.5 mi10 yd00
Jun 26, 1973F00.1 mi17 yd00
Nov 20, 1957F31.5 mi100 yd112
Jul 4, 1957F429.9 mi50 yd06
May 12, 1956F011.7 mi333 yd00
May 31, 1954F11.8 mi100 yd00
Nearby

Detroit and its county

Detroit is in Wayne County, where NOAA has recorded 38 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.