Midland
Population 42,806 (2025)
39 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Midland since 1950, 1 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195039
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger1
- Major flood years since 1978, Midland County3
At a glance
Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Midland County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Midland County.
Strongest tornado
F3
June 12, 1984, 48.0 mile path
Snowiest season
87.2in
Winter of 1966-67
Tornadoes
About one every 1.9 years since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
June 12, 1984
F3, 48.0 mile path
500 yards wide.
Most recent
Thursday, May 15, 2025
EF0, 1.6 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| May 15, 2025 | EF0 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2016 | EF0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 2014 | EF1 | 5.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 2012 | EF1 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 9, 2011 | EF0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2011 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 2011 | EF1 | 8.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 2006 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 2006 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2005 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 2004 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2004 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2004 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2003 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 2001 | F1 | 4.0 | 1 | 0 |
| May 31, 1999 | F2 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 1992 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1985 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1984 | F3 | 48.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 17, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 15, 1982 | F2 | 19.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Jul 23, 1979 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1979 | F0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1976 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 1976 | F1 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 12, 1974 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 12, 1974 | F1 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1974 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1974 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 14, 1974 | F2 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 31, 1973 | F2 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1973 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1973 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 3, 1973 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1965 | F2 | 9.9 | 2 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1957 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 1956 | F2 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1955 | F2 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1951 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
1 tropical cyclone passed within 100 miles since 1851, none within 50.
Most recent
August 14, 1955
Connie, Tropical storm
73.0 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 80 days
Heavy smoke on 21 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
26.6 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
29 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 41 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
547 federal flood insurance claims since 1982, with $28.0 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Midland County, the county that contains Midland.
Most claims in one year
2020: 237 claims
$20.0 million paid.
2nd most
2017: 165 claims
$5.6 million paid.
3rd most
1986: 66 claims
$1.2 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 48640 | 499 | $25.1 million |
| 48657 | 34 | $2.0 million |
| 48642 | 12 | $339,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood15
- Flash Flood5
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
River gauges in Midland County, the county that contains Midland.
Most severe crest
May 20, 2020
Tittabawassee River at Midland, 35.05 ft
11.05 feet above the 24.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
May 20, 2020
Tittabawassee River at Midland, 35.05 ft
Major flooding.
River gauges
| Pine River near Midland | 12.0 | 12.08 ft | 0 |
| Tittabawassee River at Midland | 24.0 | 35.05 ft | 9 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 113 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 17 months.
The drought index is for Midland County, the county that contains Midland.
113
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
36
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
2
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1931
−6.17, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
17 months
August 1930 to December 1931.
Latest month
September 2026
−1.77, mild drought
Last severe month: December 2025.
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the city centre in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.
Severe weather and other events
422 events in the National Weather Service record for Midland County, 376 of them since 1996.
63
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
8
Hail, 2 inches or larger
124
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
68
Winter weather events since 1996
15
Heat events since 1996
15
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
July 27, 2014
3.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
May 31, 2011
82 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 6 | 0 |
| Dense fog and smoke | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Jun 22, 2017Flash Flood$116 million
National Weather Service narrative
Five to eight inches of rain fell, leading to widespread major flooding. 57 homes were destroyed with over 1900 homes damaged. 193 roads and bridges damaged or destroyed.
- May 19, 2020Flash Flood$100 million
National Weather Service narrative
The failure of Edenville Dam lead to the failure of the Sanford Dam downstream and historic flooding along the Tittabawassee River as the river stage at Midland reached 35.05 feet on May 20th. Widespread homes and businesses suffered damage. Two bridges were washed away and the highway U.S. 10 bridge was also damaged.
- May 19, 2020Flash Flood$100 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Sanford Dam failed due to the failure of the Edenville Dam upstream in response to widespread heavy rain. This lead to historic flooding along the Tittabawassee River as the river stage at Midland reached 35.05 feet on May 20th. Approximately 1000 buildings or homes were severely damaged or destroyed, with about 1500 homes or buildings being affected or suffering minor flood damage in total across Midland County.
- May 18, 2020Flood$10.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Widespread flooding closed over 100 roads across Bay, Midland, and Saginaw Counties.
- Mar 8, 2017High Wind, Midland$7.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A non thunderstorm event took place over the state on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as high winds brought wind gusts in excess of 60 mph! The high winds took out power lines and trees, along with numerous reports of structural damage to buildings. There were also reports of brush fires and tractor-trailers flipped over around the area. Due to the extensive damage, many areas were without power for several days. Approximately 800,000 DTE customers and approximately 300,000 Consumers Energy customers were affected. The highest wind gust reported across Southeast Michigan was 68 mph at both Saginaw and Detroit Metro Airport.
- Jul 27, 2014Hail$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A powerful upper-level low pressure system dropped southward into the Great Lakes on Sunday July 27, sparking a good deal of severe thunderstorms in the warm, moist, and unstable air in advance of the system. Between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., severe weather affected nearly all of southeast Michigan. The initial storm that affected portions of Midland and Bay counties from around 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. was a prolific hail producer, with hail up to 3 diameter (greater than baseball size) recorded near Midland. Later, another particularly strong storm moved across Oakland County between around 4:30 and 5:15 pm, dropping hail up to 2.50 diameter (tennis ball size) near the Highland/White Lake…
- Jul 27, 2014Hail$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A powerful upper-level low pressure system dropped southward into the Great Lakes on Sunday July 27, sparking a good deal of severe thunderstorms in the warm, moist, and unstable air in advance of the system. Between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., severe weather affected nearly all of southeast Michigan. The initial storm that affected portions of Midland and Bay counties from around 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. was a prolific hail producer, with hail up to 3 diameter (greater than baseball size) recorded near Midland. Later, another particularly strong storm moved across Oakland County between around 4:30 and 5:15 pm, dropping hail up to 2.50 diameter (tennis ball size) near the Highland/White Lake…
- Apr 19, 2013Flood$1.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Tittawassee River at Midland crested at 28.37 feet on April 20th at 5Z.
- Jun 21, 1996Flash Flood$1.0 million
- Jul 27, 2014Hail$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A powerful upper-level low pressure system dropped southward into the Great Lakes on Sunday July 27, sparking a good deal of severe thunderstorms in the warm, moist, and unstable air in advance of the system. Between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., severe weather affected nearly all of southeast Michigan. The initial storm that affected portions of Midland and Bay counties from around 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. was a prolific hail producer, with hail up to 3 diameter (greater than baseball size) recorded near Midland. Later, another particularly strong storm moved across Oakland County between around 4:30 and 5:15 pm, dropping hail up to 2.50 diameter (tennis ball size) near the Highland/White Lake…
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Saginaw Mbs International Airport, 10.1 miles from the city centre, with records from 1898.
- All-time high
- 111°FJul 13, 1936
- All-time low
- −23°FFeb 5, 1918
- Warmest night
- 81°FJul 11, 1911
- Coldest day
- −4°FJan 18, 1994
- Wettest day
- 6.93 inAug 10, 2012
- Snowiest day
- 21.3 inMar 17, 1973
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 51.9°F
- Coldest year
- 1917mean 43.1°F
- Wettest year
- 192843.36 in
- Driest year
- 193417.56 in
- Snowiest season
- 87.2 in1966-67
Median first snow
November 17
Earliest: October 12, 2006
Median last snow
April 7
Latest: May 20, 2002
0 of 115 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Saginaw Mbs International Airport (USW00014845), 662 ft elevation, 10.1 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1898 to October 27, 2026; 100.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
14 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms and Flooding, July 9, 2020.
Declarations for Midland County.
| Jul 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547-MI |
| May 21, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | EM-3525-MI |
| Mar 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494-MI |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455-MI |
| Aug 2, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4326-MI |
| Jun 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121-MI |
| Sep 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225-MI |
| Jan 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160-MI |
| Jul 23, 1996 | Severe Storm | DR-1128-MI |
| Sep 18, 1986 | Flood | DR-774-MI |
| Sep 18, 1985 | Flood | DR-744-MI |
| Jan 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057-MI |
| Mar 19, 1976 | Severe Storm | DR-495-MI |
| Sep 30, 1975 | Flood | DR-486-MI |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00014845.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.