Ontonagon County, Michigan
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1953 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
3
Tornado reports
55
Hail reports
10
Floods since 1996
630
All events
3
Deaths
$11.2M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Ontonagon 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.
A seven year-old boy drowned in Misery Bay near the boat launch on the afternoon of the 28th. Deputies from the Ontonagon County Sheriff's office were called to the scene just after 5 pm EDT, and when search and rescue crews and volunteers found the missing boy in the water they …
A slushy mixture of rain and snow contributed to a fatal accident on US Highway 45 near Bruce Crossing at 11 am on the morning of the 14th. Michigan State Police in Wakefield reported that a 36 year-old Michigan Tech University student from St. Paul, MN was killed when the vehicl…
Several roads were washed out in the Misery Bay area, including Misery Bay Road, Lots Road, Kemppa Road, and Wolf Creek Road. Some residents were stranded for hours due to the washouts. Newer culverts were blown out due to the flooding.
Michigan DOT closed Highway M-28 at Ewen due to snowmelt flooding over the bridge along the South Branch of the Ontonagon River from the 13th until the 18th. Traffic was detoured via US-2 and US-45. Ontonagon County was added to the state emergency declaration by Governor Whitmer…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were reported to have fallen on powerlines due to thunderstorm outflow winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees and branches down were reported due to strong thunderstorm outflow winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two 73 mph wind gusts were measured at the Ontonagon MDOT RWIS between 1621 pm and 1634 pm EST.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Video and photos showed significant tree damage, including trees uprooted and fallen. Two vehicles (pickup trucks) were significantly damaged from large trees falling on them. Power was also reported lost. An estimated 75 Thousand $USD of damage occurred.
Hail Hail
A public report from social media showed a hail stone the size of a quarter at Bond Falls.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The CO-OP Observer PDGM4 Paulding reported 1.4 inches of sleet and snow, with estimates of up to 0.25 inches of ice accumulation throughout much of the county. Key impacts: slick roads, travel delays.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Bergland Dam observer (BERM4) observed 11.5 inches of snow and Paulding observer (PDGM4) observed 8.1 inches of snow over 24 hours between 0800 3/16 and 3/17. Key impacts: Difficult to dangerous travel.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Heavy snowfall created difficult travel conditions in Ontonagon County. Snowfall analysis and observations showed 2-12 of snowfall, with the heaviest amounts over the southern portion of the county. Key impacts: travel delays, school closures.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills as low as -40F were observed on the 23rd and 24th, and as low as -30F on the 25th and 26th. Key impacts: school and business closures.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Heavy lake effect snow brought periods of visibility as low as 1/4 mile to the Ironwood Airport (IWD, nearest ASOS). Reported snow accumulations were sparse and below traditional criteria but heavy snow and blowing snow were impactful. 12.3 of snowfall in 24 hours was reported 3.…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Widespread moderate to heavy lake effect snow fell over much of Ontonagon County on Jan 16-17 with snowfall up to 10.5 at 5 NNW Bessemer, MI-GG-11, and the NOHRSC analysis showing 8-12 extending into much of the western half of Ontonagon County: Key impacts: transportation delays…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light freezing rain resulted in a glaze of ice on untreated surfaces. Key impacts: transportation delays.
Blizzard Blizzard
There were blizzard conditions with frequent wind gusts of 35-40 mph at NBDC Ontonagon and snowfall of 8-16 in Ontonagon County. Peak gust of 56mph at Ontonagon MDOT MC066. Key Impacts: Very difficult to impossible travel.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light freezing rain resulted in up to 0.25 of ice accretion, causing slippery roads. Key impacts: transportation delays.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Up to 7 inches of snow, combined with temperatures plummeting below freezing, resulted in slippery roadways from the evening of the 18th through the morning of the 19th. Key impacts: travel delays, school closures.
Blizzard Blizzard
Heavy snowfall totaling 1.5 to 2.5 feet along with winds gusting 40 to 60 miles per hour resulted in blizzard conditions. Twenty-two percent of customers (around 1,300) lost power across the county. Non-essential travel was discouraged by area officials. Key impacts: transportati…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The first accumulating snowfall of the year brought 3 to 6 inches to the area. Key impacts: transportation delays.
Heat Heat
Heat Heat
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Dispatch reported a large tree down at US-45 and Himanka Hill Road.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Several rounds of wintry precipitation occurred from the evening of the 28th through the evening of the 30th. First, a round of thunderstorms and sleet during the evening of the 28th resulted in slippery conditions. Then, heavy snow developed on the 30th, accumulating 6 to 12 inc…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Heavy snow and gusty winds occurred on the 23rd into early on the 24th, resulting in treacherous travel conditions and snowfall accumulations of 3 to 8 inches. Key impacts: travel delays.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Heavy snow and gusty winds occurred on the 23rd into early on the 24th, resulting in treacherous travel conditions and snowfall accumulations of 3 to 8 inches. Key impacts: travel delays.
Blizzard Blizzard
Strong winds and heavy snow brought blizzard conditions to the region on the 5th. Total snowfall ranged from around 7 to 15 inches. Key impacts: school, church, and building closures, travel delays.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Moderate to heavy snow and strong winds resulted in dangerous travel conditions and low visibility during the afternoon and evening of Feb. 28th. The snow ended during the early morning hours on March 1st.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Moderate to heavy snow and strong winds resulted in dangerous travel conditions and low visibility during the afternoon and evening of the 28th. Several inches of snow occurred and winds gusted as high as 45 mph.
Blizzard Blizzard
Several hours of blizzard conditions were reported during the afternoon and evening of the 6th. Multiple schools in the impacted areas were released early on the 6th and delayed their start on the morning of the 7th. Ontonagon Lakeshore and Silver City MDOT mesonet sites reported…
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill temperatures dipped into the 25 below to 40 below zero range at times from the 19th into the 21st. Most schools were closed throughout Ontonagon County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The observer 6 miles north of Greenland measured a five-day total of 22.8 inches of lake effect snow.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The observer at White Pine measured 4.5 inches of snow in 24 hours.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The observer at Bergland measured 7.2 inches of lake effect snow over 24 hours.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Observers across much of Ontonagon County measured between 2 to 4 inches of lake effect snow along with blowing snow through the period. Ontonagon and Ewen-Trout Creek Schools were on a two-hour delay on the morning of the 12th due to the lake effect snow, blowing snow and wind c…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The observer at Paulding measured 7.6 inches of lake enhanced snow over 24 hours. Northwest winds gusting as high as 35 mph also caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow while lowering visibility down to one-quarter mile or less at times. Ewen-Trout Creek Schools were clo…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Nearly five inches of rain from the evening of the 18th into the early morning of the 19th caused flash flooding in the Ontonagon area as a culvert washed out and resulted in the closure of Lakeshore Drive east of Ontonagon.
Hail Hail
One inch diameter hail reported in Ewen. The hail lasted 5-10 minutes.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Observers snowfall reports over an approximate 24-hour period included 9 inches at Bergland Dam, and 4 inches each at six miles north of Greenland and at Paulding. The wet, heavy snow combined with north winds gusting near 40 mph at times caused hazardous travel, sporadic power o…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Observer lake effect snowfall reports over 24 hours included 7 inches six miles north of Greenland and 5.7 inches just east of Ontonagon.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Observer snowfall reports over an approximate 24-hour period included 6 inches near Greenland and 5 inches each at Paulding and Trout Creek.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The observer in Greenland measured 4.7 inches of lake effect snow in 24 hours.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
There was a public report of 6 inches of lake effect snow in 48 hours at Rockland.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The observer eight miles north of Mass City measured around a foot of lake effect snow accumulation in 48 hours.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Bitter cold wind chills around 25 below zero were reported by the Rockland MDOT station. Schools in Ontonagon County were either closed or delayed on the 16th due to the cold.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Two-day storm total snowfall totals included 12.8 inches at Greenland and 10.6 at Bergland Dam.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Total snowfall reports from observers in Ontonagon County included 12 inches near Bergland, 8 inches at Trout Creek and 7 inches at Paulding. West winds gusting 25-30 mph at times also caused occasional whiteout conditions in snow and blowing snow.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The observer at Paulding reported a glaze of ice from freezing rain.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 0 |
| 2025 | 20 | 0 |
| 2024 | 12 | 0 |
| 2023 | 21 | 0 |
| 2022 | 28 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 0 |
| 2019 | 23 | 0 |
| 2018 | 19 | 0 |
| 2017 | 19 | 0 |
| 2016 | 22 | 0 |
| 2015 | 18 | 0 |
| 2014 | 31 | 0 |
| 2013 | 33 | 0 |
| 2012 | 28 | 0 |
| 2011 | 37 | 1 |
| 2010 | 23 | 0 |
| 2009 | 28 | 0 |
| 2008 | 21 | 0 |
| 2007 | 19 | 0 |
| 2006 | 23 | 0 |
| 2005 | 19 | 0 |
| 2004 | 13 | 0 |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 35 | 0 |
| 2001 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 13 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 8 | 0 |
| 1997 | 12 | 0 |
| 1996 | 17 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Ontonagon County, measured to its path.
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