Waterspout in Michigan
Every waterspout event the National Weather Service has filed in Michigan, year by year, with the most significant episodes. A tornado over water. One that moves ashore is filed as a tornado from the coastline on.
The most significant on the map
The most significant waterspout episodes in Michigan.
- 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
- 12
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Damage
- $200,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Tornado and High Wind in Michigan, November 10 to 11, 1998A low pressure system of historic dimension moved from the central plains across the upper midwest and Lake superior to Ontario, Canada. Winds during this event exceeded 50 mph across the entire county warning area.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, September 7 to 9, 2001A cold front slowly approached the western Great Lakes region on Sep. 7th and 8th. Warm and unstable air ahead of this front, in combination with weak upper level disturbances, allowed thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours both days.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, August 16, 1997On Saturday, August 16, 1997, a cold front moved slowly south across Michigan's Lower Peninsula. One low pressure wave moved along the front early that morning, resulting in severe thunderstorm development over south central Lower Michigan.
- Waterspout in Michigan, July 3, 1999Waterspout damaged boat house and storage building on a marina dock.
- Tornado and Hail in Michigan, August 19, 2001An upper level low pressure system moved across the southern Great Lakes region. The cold air aloft with this low created enough instability to trigger scattered thunderstorms, most of which produced hail.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Michigan, June 25, 1998Brief tornado touchdown with no reported damage.
- Damaging Winds and Waterspout in Michigan, June 27, 1998A line of thunderstorms moved across Lake Michigan and onshore from Oceana County south to near Benton Harbor during the early morning hours of Saturday, June 27th. Wind gusts to 62 mph were reported in Muskegon and power lines were downed in and around the city.
- Waterspouts in Michigan, July 25 to 26, 1998Great Lakes water temperatures were warmer than normal during the summer, thanks mainly to unusual warmth during the preceding winter and spring. A cool air mass moved over the lakes late in the month, and winds became light as high pressure settled into the area.
- Tornado and Waterspout in Michigan, June 30, 1998A cold front passed through southeast Michigan around daybreak. Unseasonably cool air was ushered in aloft, maintaining some instability. A few showers developed in the Saginaw Bay area during the morning hours.
- Waterspout in Michigan, August 30, 1997Several waterspouts were reported over Lake Erie east of Monroe county. The waterspouts remained over the water, and no damage was reported.
- Waterspout in Michigan, August 4, 1999Unseasonably cold air over the warmer waters of Lake Michigan triggered numerous cold air funnel clouds over Little Traverse Bay; three of which developed into waterspouts.
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.