Storm Records: Lake Michigan
Every storm the National Weather Service has filed in Lake Michigan: its floods, heat, cold, winter storms, hail, wind, lightning and tornadoes, year by year and county by county, each episode with its narrative.
The worst in Lake Michigan on the map
The deadliest and costliest episodes on record here, colored by kind of event.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 3,262
- Deaths
- 13
- Injuries
- 9
- Damage
- $3.5 million
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Every year
Tap a year for every episode in it.
Deaths each year
By kind of event
| Kind of event | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Thunderstorm Wind | 2,687 | 4 | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Marine Hail | 198 | 0 | 0 | |
| Waterspout | 180 | 0 | 0 | |
| Marine High Wind | 165 | 0 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| Marine Strong Wind | 32 | 9 | 8 | $891,000 |
The deadliest
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 17, 2011A line of thunderstorms crossed Northern Lake Michigan, producing a large swath of strong winds.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, August 10, 2012A tight pressure gradient over Lake Michigan due to strengthening low pressure moving through the Ohio Valley and central Great Lakes was responsible for gusty northeast winds and resultant high waves at Sheboygan Harbor.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, June 7, 2007Gale force winds blew across southern Lake Michigan during the afternoon hours of June 7th. A 19 year old man drown in choppy waters while trying to save a friend who was having trouble swimming near Waukegan.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, May 31, 2011A strong cold front moved through the near shore areas during the afternoon of May 31st and generated severe storms with gusty winds over portions of the near-shore waters of Lake Michigan.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, June 18, 2012Strong winds to around 30 knots developed over southern Lake Michigan in response to an area of low pressure moving across the lake.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, March 10, 2012An experienced kayaker battered by buffeting winds and high waves was thrown from his kayak and drowned on Lake Michigan (directly-related fatality), just northeast of the Port Washington marina.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, March 16, 2016Rapidly deepening low pressure over Wisconsin resulted in very windy conditions affecting the lake shore and near shore waters of Lake Michigan from late morning through the afternoon.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 7, 2020Scattered thunderstorms along with an outflow boundary moved across southern Lake Michigan during the evening of July 7th.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, June 13, 2021Thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front across northeast Wisconsin. Strong storms produced gusty winds as they tracked over Lake Michigan during the evening hours. Thunderstorm winds capsized a boat on the southern Bay of Green Bay, causing a fatality.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, May 1, 2021Strong southwest winds occurred over southern Lake Michigan during the afternoon of May 1st with gusts as high as 45 mph. An 18 foot long boat with four men onboard capsized around 215 pm near the East Chicago Marina after taking on water.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, March 21, 2025Two men were fishing on southern Lake Michigan near East Chicago's steel mill when their 19-foot vessel capsized during the afternoon of the 21st. One man was able to swim to shore and was transported to a local hospital where he recovered.
- Marine High Wind in Lake Michigan, October 19 to 20, 2011A strong storm system moved northwest and deepened as it reached Lake Erie during the early morning hours of October 20th. The gradient rapidly tightened with northerly winds increasing to 35 to 45 mph with gusts as high as 65 mph over southern Lake Michigan.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 12 to 15, 2019A peak wind gust of 58 mph was recorded at a mesonet station at the Muskegon north breakwater light. Wind gusts of up to around 50 mph were common along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in Lake Michigan, August 23, 2006The Michigan City In-Water Boat Show was in progress at the Washington Park Marina in Michigan City, as an intense supercell came onshore. A wind gust to 92 knots was recorded at the Michigan City Coast GLERL site with winds remaining above 34 knots for at least 5 minutes.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 19, 2011Rapidly developing low pressure moved across western Ohio and southeast Lower Michigan during the overnight period of October 19th and morning of October 20th.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 25 to 26, 2005Strong to severe thunderstorms produced numerous reports of high wind gusts ranging anywhere from 34 knots to as high as 67 knots.
- Marine High Wind in Lake Michigan, May 30, 2008A wake low developed behind a line of thunderstorms that traveled across Iowa and eventually weakened over northern Illinois.
- Marine High Wind in Lake Michigan, October 31, 2014A strong cold front ushered unseasonably cold air into the region along with very gusty winds. Several locations near Lake Michigan reported winds in excess of 60 mph.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 4, 2003The Saugatuck coastal observing station recorded a wind gust to 43 knots.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, September 19, 2002A 40 knot wind gust was recorded at the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph airport near the Lake Michigan coastline. Radar estimates that wind gusts to around 40 knots must also have occurred out to mid lake.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 21, 2004A peak wind gust to 62 m.p.h. was recorded at Port Sheldon in Ottawa county and a wind gust to 65 m.p.h. was recorded in Bangor in Van Buren county. A peak wind gust to 46 m.p.h. was recorded at the airport in Benton Harbor near Lake Michigan.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 11, 2003A 36 knot wind gust was recorded at the Muskegon GLERL coastal observation station.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds and Waterspout in Lake Michigan, June 30, 2011Powerful thunderstorms moved southeast across southern Lake Michigan during the evening hours of June 30th.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 22, 2019A peak wind gust to 54 mph was recorded in Muskegon, where a restaurant on Beach street was flooded due to high winds and high lake water levels. A 54 mph gust was also measured in Grand Haven.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, August 21, 2002A 40 knot thunderstorm wind gust was recorded at the Muskegon Airport.
The costliest
- Marine High Wind in Lake Michigan, October 19 to 20, 2011
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 12 to 15, 2019
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in Lake Michigan, August 23, 2006
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 19, 2011
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 25 to 26, 2005
- Marine High Wind in Lake Michigan, May 30, 2008
- Marine High Wind in Lake Michigan, October 31, 2014
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 4, 2003
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, September 19, 2002
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 21, 2004
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 11, 2003
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds and Waterspout in Lake Michigan, June 30, 2011
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 22, 2019
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, August 21, 2002
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 15, 2003
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 21, 2004
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, September 22, 2005
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 17 to 18, 2004
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 9, 2004
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 21, 2004
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 6, 2022
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 5, 2003
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, July 6, 2003
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 10, 2004
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Michigan, May 11, 2004
Marine zones
The places filed most often, as the offices named them.
| Marine zone | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island Il zone | 365 | 1 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| Burns Harbor to Michigan City in zone | 245 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wind Pt Lt Wi to Winthrop Hbr Il zone | 195 | 0 | 0 | $1,000 |
| Green Bay N From Cedar River Mi to Rock Island Passage zone | 151 | 0 | 0 | $16,000 |
| North Pt Lt to Wind Pt Wi zone | 140 | 1 | 1 | $322,000 |
| Sheboygan to Pt Washington Wi zone | 135 | 3 | 0 | $200 |
| Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor Il zone | 130 | 0 | 0 | $150,000 |
| Green Bay South From Cedar River Mi to Rock Island Passage and North From Oconto Wi to Little Sturgeon Bay Wi zone | 111 | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| Manistee to Point Betsie Mi zone | 75 | 0 | 0 | $5,000 |
| Green Bay South From Oconto Wi to Little Sturgeon Bay Wi zone | 65 | 1 | 0 | |
| Norwood Mi to 5nm W of Mackinac Bridge Inc Little Traverse Bay zone | 59 | 0 | 0 | |
| Michigan City in to New Buffalo Mi zone | 57 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wind Pt Lt Wi to Winthrop Hbr Il marine | 54 | 0 | 0 | |
| Two Rivers to Sheboygan Wi zone | 54 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sleeping Bear Point to Grand Traverse Light Mi zone | 53 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sturgeon Bay to Two Rivers Wi zone | 51 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand Traverse Bay From Grand Traverse Light to Norwood Mi zone | 49 | 0 | 0 | $15,000 |
| Wilmette Hbr to Meigs Field Il marine | 47 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm 5nm W of Mackinac Bridge to Manistee Mi Nwd Beyond 5nm Offshore to Mid Line of Lake marine | 47 | 0 | 0 | |
| North Pt Lt to Wind Pt Wi marine | 43 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay Wi zone | 43 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pt Washington to North Pt Lt Wi zone | 40 | 1 | 0 | |
| Seul Choix Point to Point Detour Mi zone | 37 | 0 | 0 | |
| New Buffalo to St Joseph Mi zone | 34 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm Holland to Whitehall Mi 5nm Offshore to Mid Line of Lake marine | 33 | 0 | 0 | $90,000 |
| Gary to Burns Harbor in zone | 31 | 0 | 0 | |
| Norwood Mi to 5nm W of Mackinac Bridge marine | 30 | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| Holland to Grand Haven Mi marine | 30 | 0 | 0 | $105,000 |
| Bay of Green Bay S of Ln Marinette to Fish Creek Wi marine | 29 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand Haven to Whitehall Mi marine | 29 | 0 | 0 | $100,000 |
| South Haven to Holland Mi marine | 28 | 0 | 0 | $95,000 |
| 5nm E of Fairport Mi to Rock Island Passage zone | 28 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sheboygan to Pt Washington Wi marine | 25 | 0 | 0 | |
| St Joseph to South Haven Mi marine | 25 | 0 | 0 | $100,000 |
| Burn Hbr to Michigan City in zone | 25 | 0 | 0 | |
| Burn Hbr to Michigan City in marine | 24 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm New Buffalo to Holland Mi 5nm Offshore to Mid Line of Lake marine | 23 | 0 | 0 | $80,000 |
| Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay Wi 5nm Offshore to Mid Lake zone | 23 | 0 | 0 | |
| Michigan City in to New Buffalo Mi marine | 22 | 0 | 0 | $520,000 |
| Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor Il zone | 21 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand Traverse Bay & Norwood to Grand Traverse Lt Mi marine | 20 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wind Point Wi to Winthrop Harbor Il 5nm Offshore to Mid Lake zone | 19 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wilmette Hbr to Meigs Field Il zone | 18 | 0 | 0 | |
| Calumet Harbor Il to Gary in zone | 18 | 2 | 4 | |
| Grand Traverse Lt to Sleeping Bear Pt Mi marine | 17 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sleeping Bear Pt to Manistee Mi marine | 16 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bay of Green Bay Cedar R to Rock Is Psg to Marinette to Fish Cr Wi marine | 16 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wilmette Harbor to Michigan City in 5nm Offshore to Mid Lake zone | 16 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand Haven to Whitehall Mi zone | 14 | 0 | 0 | $150,000 |
| Seul Choix Point to Rock Island Passage 5nm Offshore to Mid Lake zone | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
| New Buffalo to St Joseph Mi marine | 13 | 0 | 0 | $60,000 |
| Pt Washington to North Pt Lt Wi marine | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
| Gary to Burns Hbr in zone | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
| South Haven to Holland Mi zone | 13 | 0 | 0 | $100,000 |
| Lm Whitehall to Manistee Mi 5nm Offhore to Mid Line of Lake marine | 12 | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| Two Rivers to Sheboygan Wi marine | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
| Point Betsie to Sleeping Bear Point Mi zone | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seul Choix Point Mi to 5nm W of Mackinac Bridge zone | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seul Choix Point to the Mackinac Bridge and From Charlevoix Mi to S Fox Is 5nm Off Shore zone | 12 | 2 | 1 | $4,000 |
| St Joseph to South Haven Mi zone | 11 | 0 | 0 | $100,000 |
| Bay of Green Bay N of Line From Cedar R Mi to Rock Is Psg zone | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seul Choix Pt Mi to 5nm W of Mackinac Bridge marine | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bay of Green Bay N of Line From Cedar R Mi to Rock Is Psg marine | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pentwater to Manistee Mi zone | 10 | 0 | 0 | $100,000 |
| Lm St Joseph to Holland Mi 5nm Offshore to Mid Line of Lake marine | 9 | 0 | 0 | $35,000 |
| Bay of Green Bay S of Ln Marinette to Fish Creek Wi zone | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| Charlevoix to Point Betsie Mi 5nm Off Shore to Mid Lake zone | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| North Point Light to Wind Point Wi zone | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rock Is Psg to Sturgeon Bay Wi marine | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| Winthrop Hbr to Wilmette Hbr Il zone | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
| Holland to Grand Haven Mi zone | 8 | 0 | 0 | $100,000 |
| Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor Il 5nm Offshore to Mid Lake zone | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pentwater to Manistee Mi marine | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Whitehall to Pentwater Mi marine | 7 | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| Lm Rock Is Psg to Sheboygan Wi Ewd Byd 5nm to Mid Line of Lake marine | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seul Choix Pt to Pt Detour Mi marine | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sturgeon Bay to Two Rivers Wi marine | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Calumet Hbr Il to Gary in zone | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand Traverse Bay & Norwood to Grand Traverse Lt Mi zone | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Calumet Hbr Il to Gary in marine | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seul Choix Pt to Pt Detour Mi zone | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Norwood Mi to 5nm W of Mackinac Bridge zone | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rock Is Psg to Sturgeon Bay Wi zone | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm Sheboygan Wi to Winthrop Harbor Il Ewd Byd 5nm to Mid Line of Lake zone | 5 | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| Bay of Green Bay Cedar River to Rock Island Passage to Marinette to Fish Cr Wi zone | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bay of Green Bay South of A Line From Marinette to Fish Creek Wi zone | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Winthrop Hbr to Wilmette Hbr Il marine | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm Sheboygan Wi to Winthrop Harbor Il Ewd Byd 5nm to Mid Line of Lake marine | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Meigs Field to Calumet Hbr Il zone | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm 5nm W of Mackinac Bridge to Manistee Mi Nwd Beyond 5nm Offshore to Mid Line of Lake zone | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bay of Green Bay Cedar R to Rock Is Psg to Marinette to Fish Cr Wi zone | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Point Betsie to Manistee Mi 5nm Off Shore to Mid Lake zone | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wilmette Harbor to Meigs Field Il zone | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Burn Harbor to Michigan City in zone | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sleeping Bear Pt to Manistee Mi zone | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand Traverse Lt to Sleeping Bear Pt Mi zone | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Whitehall to Pentwater Mi zone | 3 | 0 | 0 | $100,000 |
| Sheboygan to Point Washington Wi 5nm Offshore to Mid Lake zone | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| North Point Light to Wind Point Wi 5nm Offshore to Mid Lake zone | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Point Washington to North Point Light Wi zone | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sheboygan to Point Washington Wi zone | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Port Washington to North Point Light Wi 5nm Offshore to Mid Lake zone | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm Michigan City to St Joseph to 5nm Offshore to Mid Line of Lake marine | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Gary to Burns Hbr in marine | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seul Choix Pt Mi to 5nm W of Mackinac Bridge zone | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand Traverse Bay & Norwood to Grand Traverse Light Mi zone | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm Winthrop Harbor Il Ewd to the Mid Line of Lake and Swd to New Buffalo Mi Byd 5nm Offshore marine | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lm From Seul Choix Pt to Rock Is Psg Sewd Byd 5nm Offshore to the Mid Line of the Lake zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wind Point Light Wi to Winthrop Harbor Il zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand Traverse Light to Sleeping Bear Point Mi zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sleeping Bear Point to Manistee Mi zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Manistee to Point Betsi Mi zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bay of Green Bay North of Line From Cedar River Mi to Rock Island Passage zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay Wi 5nm Offshore to Mid Line of Lake zone | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Every year
More
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.