Grand Rapids, Michigan tornadoes

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21confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Rapids since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: August 24, 2023, EF1.

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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.

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Recent warnings near Grand Rapids

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The record

At a glance

Total21within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthApril5 of 21
StrongestF5Apr 3, 1956
Deaths22whole paths, see note
Injuries476whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

50 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 5May: 5Jun: 0Jul: 3Aug: 5Sep: 3Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 5 of 21 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 4: 3: 03 PM: 0: 4: 46 PM: 2: 1: 19 PM: 0: 0: 212 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 12:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01960: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 1: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 21980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 11990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 4: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 0: 0: 12020: 0: 0: 0: 1: 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
8
EF1
6
EF2
4
EF3
1
EF4
1
EF5
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

F5, April 3, 1956

17 deaths, 292 injuries Strongest

F5, April 3, 1956

58.8 mile path Longest path

58.8 miles, F5

April 3, 1956, whole path Widest

2,000 yards, F2

September 22, 1961
Every tornado

All 21 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Aug 24, 2023EF18.7 mi100 yd00
Sep 11, 2019EF00.05 mi25 yd00
Aug 20, 2016EF00.9 mi50 yd00
Aug 20, 2016EF04.25 mi75 yd00
Jul 6, 2014EF16.25 mi400 yd06
May 21, 2001F00.1 mi50 yd00
May 21, 2001F00.1 mi50 yd00
May 21, 2001F10.3 mi50 yd00
May 21, 2001F00.6 mi50 yd00
Sep 6, 1989F10.5 mi23 yd01
Aug 9, 1979F00.3 mi67 yd00
Jul 24, 1979F00.2 mi10 yd00
Jul 28, 1976F12 mi40 yd01
May 20, 1975F22.3 mi10 yd01
Aug 5, 1968F252.7 mi50 yd00
Apr 21, 1967F20.3 mi27 yd00
Apr 21, 1967F313.6 mi400 yd032
Apr 11, 1965F420.6 mi300 yd5142
Sep 22, 1961F22.7 mi2,000 yd01
Apr 16, 1960F11.5 mi300 yd00
Apr 3, 1956F558.8 mi400 yd17292
Nearby

Grand Rapids and its county

Grand Rapids is in Kent County, where NOAA has recorded 44 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.