Leelanau County, Michigan
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1975 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
3
Tornado reports
37
Hail reports
8
Floods since 1996
273
All events
2
Deaths
$25.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Leelanau County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 3 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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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.
Three individuals were caught in rip currents near Van's Beach in Leland. One was rescued via kayak; a second managed to escape and swim back to shore. Unfortunately, the third, a teenaged male from Lake Leelanau, went under and disappeared. His body was found by searchers the ne…
An NWS storm survey team estimated winds in excess of 80 mph crossing much of southern Leelanau County. Thousands of trees were downed in this swath, from the Sleeping Bear Dunes to Grand Traverse Bay. Many homes and vehicles were damaged by falling trees. Area roads were closed …
Trees and power lines were downed in northern Leelanau County, though the damage was not as extensive as further south. Still, multiple vehicles and homes were damaged by falling trees.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Storm total snowfall across Leelanau county ranged from 18-19 inches near the tip of the peninsula near Northport, to as much as 27 inches at the Maple City cooperative observing station. Winds gusted as high as 39 mph at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center near …
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Apparent temperature as low as -27F on the early morning of the 23rd near Maple City in central Leelanau county; similar apparent temperatures along the coast near Glen Arbor and near Omena in the northern portion of the peninsula.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Estimate of up to 10 inches on the south side of Big Glen Lake by 11am, combined with wind gusts as high as 58 mph measured at Leland Harbor during the morning hours of the 19th.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Cooperative observer near Maple City recorded a storm total of 10 inches.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Cooperative observer near Maple City reported 11.5 inches of snow for the day of the 29th with high winds and drifting snow. A glaze of ice was also reported. Michigan Department of Transportation sensors reported wind gusts as high as 52mph near Leland around 13:00.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The tip of the Leelanau Peninsula near Northport received as much as 9 inches of snow as early as mid-morning, thanks to off-shore band just barely nicking the tip of the peninsula. As the band moved inland, additional snow fell, with reports of as much as 10 inches at Stony Poin…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees and powerlines reported down in Glen Arbor.
Hail Hail
Employees at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station in the Leelanau Peninsula, northwest of Traverse City, MI, reported hail up to the size of golf balls, leading to damage of some cherry and apple orchards in the area, impacting sale of some fresh market apples as…
High Wind High Wind
Winds of 59mph or greater were recorded at multiple sites across the Leelanau Peninsula. The highest gust recorded was 62mph at a mesonet station 5miles NNE of Northport.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A foot of snow fell between 1600EST on the 11th and 1300EST on the 12th near Suttons Bay. Cooperative observer near Maple City reported 7.0 inches by the evening on the 11th, along with gusty winds.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Flood Flood
Multiple basements flooded in Lake Leelanau area. Private weather station measured 5.95 inches of rain.
Hail Hail
Social media report with pic. Mainly nickel sized but some larger than a quarter.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Delayed report relayed by broadcast media. Pontoon boat flipped over on far south end of Lake Leelanau.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County dispatch reported tree down blocking S. Glen Lake Rd. Time estimated via radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree down blocking Popp Rd. Time estimated via radar.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
High Wind High Wind
Trees down/power outages throughout county.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and powerlines down countywide between approximately 1017 PM and 1040 PM.
Hail Hail
Report from 7/4 News.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet station minwm 0.8 NE Bingham.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water up to 6 inches deep flowing over some roads around Empire.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water rushing over the road roughly 6 inches deep at the intersection of Gallivan and Alpine roads. Report from 7/4 News.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
High Wind High Wind
High Wind High Wind
Lakeshore Flood Lakeshore Flood
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Lake-Effect Snow Lake-Effect Snow
Lake-Effect Snow Lake-Effect Snow
Lakeshore Flood Lakeshore Flood
In Northport on the 21st, a dock was damaged and a boat house was flooded. Water levels rose over the docks at Northport Marina. On the 22nd in Empire, a part of the break wall at Empire Beach was destroyed. In Glen Haven, restoration efforts from flooding earlier in the month we…
Lakeshore Flood Lakeshore Flood
The parking lot of the Grand Traverse Yacht Club was flooded.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were downed. Some power lines near the Leland Library were downed by falling trees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A road was blocked by fallen trees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed across a road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were downed. One large downed tree blocked M-22 north of Suttons Bay.
Seiche Seiche
Water entered some of the historic fishing shanties in the Fishtown section of Leland. Sandbags and other methods were deployed to attempt to keep the water out.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 13 | 0 |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 9 | 0 |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 13 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 18 | 0 |
| 2007 | 21 | 0 |
| 2006 | 8 | 0 |
| 2005 | 17 | 0 |
| 2004 | 9 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 11 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 |
| 1996 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2 | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Leelanau County, measured to its path.
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