Benzie County, Michigan
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
4
Tornado reports
20
Hail reports
5
Floods since 1996
198
All events
3
Deaths
$1.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Benzie County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 4 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
A rip current fatality occurred near Peterson Beach, in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. During a family outing, a 40 year old male from Cincinnati went into the water to pull out two nephews who were struggling with waves and strong currents. He was able to get them t…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Storm total snowfall across the county ranged from 16-20 inches, and locally as high as 2 feet. Some sleet and freezing rain occurred during this event.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Apparent temperature of -26F at AWOS station KFKS Frankfort-Dow Memorial Airport in Frankfort, MI.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Spotter reported 9 inches of snow fell between midnight and 9am on the 19th, with a 48-hr total of 16.7 inches.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
CoCoRaHS observer 5miles S of Benzonia reported 8.4 inches of snow by the morning of the 18th. A 30-hr snowfall report of 9.5 inches was noted in the Honor area in central Benzie county.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall observer near Honor reported 8 inches of snow by 11pm on the 10th; snowfall totals in the Honor area may have been as high as 10-12inches. Additional reports of up to 9 inches in the Lake Ann area in the eastern half of the county.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Reports of 10 to 11 inches of snow in eastern Benzie county, especially near near Lake Ann. Winds gusted as high as 46mph at KFKS, Frankfort - Dow Memorial Field AWOS.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totals of 8-12 inches reported across western portions of Benzie county. Cooperative observer 2 miles NE of Frankfort reported 9.3 inches by the morning of the 2nd; Benzie County Road Commission reported snowfall as high as a foot in the city of Frankfort.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees reported down in the vicinity of Frankfort, MI, including South Shore Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and powerlines down on Thompsonville Highway, south of US-31.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Cooperative observer 7miles SSW of Beulah reported a snowfall total of 8.1 inches.
High Wind High Wind
Wind equipment at the Frankfort Light reported multiple gusts greater than 50mph starting as early as 400pm. Highest recorded gust was 61mph at 547pm.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Report of 11 inches of snow in Lake Ann by the 12th. Additional reports from social media indicated periods of whiteout conditions elsewhere in the county.
Hail Hail
Report of three-quarter-inch hail.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Local media reports multiple trees and powerlines down in the city of Frankfort. Reports confirmed by emergency manager.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
High Wind High Wind
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Hail Hail
Report from mping.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and powerlines downed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Local print and broadcast media report downed trees and damage to artwork at Michigan Legacy Art Park due to thunderstorms. Time approximated from radar data.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Lakeshore Flood Lakeshore Flood
M-22 was closed across the Betsie Lake Causeway near Elberta due to high water.
Lakeshore Flood Lakeshore Flood
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Lake-Effect Snow Lake-Effect Snow
Lakeshore Flood Lakeshore Flood
A parking lot next to Betsie Lake in Frankfort flooded. A large field of debris, including entire trees and large tree limbs, was deposited along the beach at Point Betsie Lighthouse.
Lakeshore Flood Lakeshore Flood
Severe beach erosion threatened to destroy a home several miles north of Frankfort.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two trees were downed across M-115 near King Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Scattered trees were downed from the Beulah area to near Cinder and Homestead Roads.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Lake-Effect Snow Lake-Effect Snow
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were downed near Lower Herring Lake.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees and a few power lines were downed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large tree limbs were downed.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 |
| 2008 | 10 | 0 |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 |
| 2006 | 15 | 0 |
| 2005 | 12 | 0 |
| 2004 | 6 | 0 |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 7 | 0 |
| 1999 | 6 | 0 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 1 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Benzie County, measured to its path.
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