Newaygo County
Population 51,622 (2025) 839 sq mi
Newaygo County has recorded 14 tornadoes since 1950, 36th most of 83 counties in Michigan; the most recent was on March 30, 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 since 195014
- Major flood years since 19783
At a glance
The record for Newaygo County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Strongest tornado
F2
September 26, 1951, 2.3 mile path
Snowiest season
173.9in
Winter of 1981-82
Tornadoes
About one every 5.4 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
September 26, 1951
F2, 2.3 mile path
440 yards wide; 1 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Sunday, March 30, 2025
EF0, 2.8 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Mar 30, 2025 | EF0 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF0 | 36.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 29, 2005 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 1, 2002 | F0 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1999 | F0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 27, 1991 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 14, 1990 | F1 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1990 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1989 | F1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 12, 1979 | F1 | 18.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 1975 | F2 | 1.5 | 0 | 1 |
| Aug 10, 1971 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 1964 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 26, 1951 | F2 | 2.3 | 3 | 1 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Newaygo County: 2.
- 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
No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 75 days
Heavy smoke on 20 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
26.2 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
29 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 40 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
153 federal flood insurance claims since 1980, with $4.3 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2014: 56 claims
$1.8 million paid.
2nd most
2026: 29 claims
$1.5 million paid.
3rd most
1986: 25 claims
$501,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 49327 | 82 | $2.1 million |
| 49337 | 62 | $1.9 million |
| 49412 | 6 | $243,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood7
- Flood7
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
Most severe crest
September 12, 1986
Muskegon River near Croton Dam, 16.80 ft
7.80 feet above the 9.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
January 31, 2019
Muskegon River at Newaygo, 14.59 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Muskegon River at Bridgeton | 13.0 | 16.82 ft | 0 |
| Muskegon River at Newaygo | 11.0 | 15.13 ft | 1 |
| Muskegon River near Croton Dam | 9.0 | 16.80 ft | 2 |
- 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 92 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 13 months.
92
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
27
Months in extreme drought
6%
Share of all months, severe or worse
Lowest reading
February 1931
−6.16, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
13 months
August 1930 to August 1931.
Latest month
September 2026
+1.03, slightly wet
Last severe month: December 2007.
- 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 county in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.
Severe weather and other events
292 events in the National Weather Service record, 242 of them since 1996.
26
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
1
Hail, 2 inches or larger
69
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
96
Winter weather events since 1996
1
Heat events since 1996
0
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
August 29, 2019
2.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
April 12, 2014
85 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Mar 8, 2017High Wind, Newaygo$10.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Peak wind gusts of up to 60 mph resulted in numerous downed trees and limbs and power lines and widespread power outages.
- Apr 17, 2013Flood$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain caused significant flooding on rivers and streams across Newaygo county.
- Apr 12, 2014Flood$4.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Four hundred and three homes were impacted by flooding along the Muskegon River as a result of melting of a significant snow cover and significant rainfall on April 12. Significant damage was also incurred to area roads. Governor Synyder declared Newaygo county to be in a state of disaster.
- Mar 14, 2019Flood$1.7 million
National Weather Service narrative
The combination of rain and snowmelt resulted in flooding and closure of more than a hundred roads. 30 roads were completely washed out.
- May 31, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$1.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Michigan State Police EMD's Damage and Injury Assessment Report indicated $1,237,000 in public damage costs, 48 homes destroyed, 690 homes damaged, and 15 businesses damaged across Newaygo County. Damage estimates for private property were not available. Newaygo County declared a local state of emergency and was granted a Governor's disaster declaration to activate state assistance for the county. On June 24th, President Clinton granted a Major Disaster Declaration for Newaygo County, making federal disaster assistance available.
- May 23, 2004Flood, Newaygo$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The biggest and longest duration flooding event in the past ten to twenty years occurred across southwestern and south central lower Michigan from May 20th through the third of June. Flooding in mid May resulted in very high river levels and the ground was saturated on the 20th. Numerous thunderstorm complexes and areas of heavy rainfall developed repeatedly in the vicinity of a quasi stationary frontal boundary draped across southern lower Michigan. The heaviest rain fell on Saturday, May 22nd, when over two inches of rain fell over most of the area. Total rainfall over the Grand River basin from May 20th through June 3rd varied from four to as much as seven inches.The Grand…
- Feb 5, 2019Ice Storm, Newaygo$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A half to three quarters of an inch of freezing rain resulted in numerous downed trees, limbs, power lines and widespread power outages.
- Apr 3, 2003Ice Storm, Newaygo$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
A major ice storm affected much of southern lower Michigan, causing hundreds of thousands of people to lose power. The weight of the ice brought down thousands of trees and limbs and hundreds of power lines. Many people across the area lost power for several days and some people who live in outlying areas were without power for a week. The ice storm resulted in several million dollars worth of damage across the area.The ice storm came in three stages. The first period of freezing rain during the afternoon hours of the 3rd resulted in up to a quarter of an inch of ice across Osceola and Isabella counties, in central lower Michigan. The second period of freezing rain came during the…
- Apr 12, 2014Thunderstorm Wind$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
Roofs were blown off multiple structures and campers were blown over. Several trees were blown down across southern Newaygo county.
- Jun 25, 2023Thunderstorm Wind$150,000
National Weather Service narrative
A 911 call center reported that numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
- 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 Muskegon County Airport, 29.6 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1896.
- All-time high
- 99°F3 times, most recently Jul 6, 2012
- All-time low
- −30°FFeb 11, 1899
- Warmest night
- 83°FJul 5, 1911
- Coldest day
- −5°FFeb 9, 1899
- Wettest day
- 5.08 inJun 27, 1921
- Snowiest day
- 22.0 inJan 10, 1982
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 53.2°F
- Coldest year
- 1917mean 43.1°F
- Wettest year
- 201947.97 in
- Driest year
- 193016.57 in
- Snowiest season
- 173.9 in1981-82
Median first snow
November 13
Earliest: October 7, 1978
Median last snow
April 7
Latest: May 10, 1902
0 of 111 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Muskegon County Airport (USW00014840), 624 ft elevation, 29.6 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1896 to October 26, 2026; 99.9% 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
13 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, June 30, 2026.
| Jun 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925-MI |
| Mar 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494-MI |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455-MI |
| Jun 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121-MI |
| Sep 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225-MI |
| Jun 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527-MI |
| Jan 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137-MI |
| Jun 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226-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.
How this compares
Where Newaygo County stands among 83 counties in Michigan and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 14 | 36 / 83 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 153 | 16 / 83 |
| Flood insurance paid | $4.3 million | 11 / 83 |
| Disaster declarations | 13 | 16 / 83 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 14 | 38 / 83 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 126 | 48 / 83 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 96 | 38 / 83 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $27.1 million | 36 / 83 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 3 | 13 / 83 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 92 | 75 / 83 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 26.2 | 33 / 83 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Kent County | 44 | 0 |
| Lake County | 4 | 0 |
| Mason County | 5 | 0 |
| Mecosta County | 12 | 0 |
| Montcalm County | 12 | 0 |
| Muskegon County | 8 | 0 |
| Oceana County | 5 | 0 |
| Osceola County | 14 | 0 |
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 USW00014840.
- 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.