Sterling Heights, Michigan tornadoes

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15confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterling Heights since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: June 18, 2025, EF0.

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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 Sterling Heights

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The record

At a glance

Total15within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.2average since 1950
Peak monthJune5 of 15
StrongestF4Jul 4, 1957
Deaths1whole paths, see note
Injuries18whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

50 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 1Apr: 1May: 2Jun: 5Jul: 2Aug: 2Sep: 1Oct: 1Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June is the peak month, with 5 of 15 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 2: 112 PM: 1: 1: 03 PM: 4: 1: 36 PM: 1: 1: 09 PM: 0: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 1: 2: 1: 1: 0: 1: 01980: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 119501960197019801990200020102020

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
4
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, March 20, 1976

1 deaths, 3 injuries Strongest

F4, July 4, 1957

29.9 mile path Longest path

29.9 miles, F4

July 4, 1957, whole path Widest

400 yards, EF0

June 18, 2025
Every tornado

All 15 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jun 18, 2025EF02.36 mi400 yd00
Aug 19, 2010EF05.01 mi200 yd00
Aug 19, 2010EF12.55 mi250 yd00
Jun 20, 1993F00.1 mi10 yd00
Sep 14, 1990F324 mi90 yd00
Apr 4, 1985F12.3 mi30 yd06
May 2, 1983F323 mi200 yd03
May 19, 1982F00.2 mi10 yd00
Oct 5, 1978F10.5 mi100 yd00
Mar 20, 1976F317.1 mi100 yd13
Jun 2, 1975F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jul 14, 1974F10.3 mi13 yd00
Jun 15, 1974F22 mi20 yd00
Jun 26, 1973F20.1 mi10 yd00
Jul 4, 1957F429.9 mi50 yd06
Nearby

Sterling Heights and its county

Sterling Heights is in Macomb County, where NOAA has recorded 23 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.