NWS Detroit/Pontiac -- Monroe County Tornado Statistics

Monroe County Tornado Statistics

County	Date	Time (EST)	Type	EF-Scale	Deaths	Injuries	$$	$$ (crops)
MONROE	06/08/53	6:15 PM	Tornado	4	4	18	25000	0
MONROE	04/17/63	7:20 PM	Tornado	3	0	1	250000	0
MONROE	05/08/64	5:05 PM	Tornado	2	0	1	25000	0
MONROE	04/11/65	8:15 PM	Tornado	4	6	5	2500000	0
MONROE	04/11/65	9:00 PM	Tornado	4	5	5	0	0
MONROE	04/11/65	9:35 PM	Tornado	4	2	29	2500000
MONROE	03/26/68	5:45 PM	Tornado	2	0	0	2500003	0
MONROE	09/09/68	6:01 PM	Tornado	2	0	0	25000	0
MONROE	06/12/73	4:10 PM	Tornado	0	0	0	25000	0
MONROE	06/26/73	3:30 PM	Tornado	2	0	0	250000	0
MONROE	06/26/73	3:45 PM	Tornado	2	0	2	250000	0
MONROE	06/28/73	11:45 AM	Tornado	0	0	0	0	0
MONROE	04/03/74	7:30 PM	Tornado	2	0	0	3000	0
MONROE	04/03/74	8:56 PM	Tornado	3	0	3	250000	0
MONROE	05/31/77	1:35 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	25000	0
MONROE	07/04/77	10:07 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	3000	0
MONROE	08/29/79	5:49 PM	Tornado	0	0	0	3000	0
MONROE	08/29/79	5:51 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	25000	0
MONROE	08/29/79	5:54 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	25000	0
MONROE	08/29/79	5:56 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	25000	0
MONROE	05/02/83	12:55 AM	Tornado	1	0	0	3000	0
MONROE	06/02/87	12:10 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	3000	0
MONROE	08/28/90	4:50 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	3000	0
MONROE	03/27/91	8:39 PM	Tornado	0	0	0	0	0
MONROE	03/27/91	8:45 PM	Tornado	0	0	0	0	0
MONROE	09/09/92	8:00 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	3000	0
MONROE	04/12/96	3:57 PM	Tornado	0	0	0	0	0
MONROE	6/27/2006	2:34 PM	Tornado	0	0	0	50000	0
MONROE	6/6/2010	1:11 AM	Tornado	2	0	11	50000000	0
MONROE	6/6/2010	1:33 AM	Tornado	1	0	0	10000000	0
MONROE	6/23/2010	9:06 PM	Tornado	1	0	0	100000	0
MONROE	9/28/2011	3:46 PM	Tornado	0	0	0	3000	0
MONROE	3/15/2012	5:50 PM	Tornado	0	0	0	50000	0

STRONGEST TORNADOES:

There have been 4 EF4 (out of 5 on the Fujita scale) tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. Three of those occurred on April 11, 1965. They were part of the Palm Sunday Outbreak that caused 256 deaths, over 1500 injuries, and $200 million in damage over Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. 13 deaths and 39 injuries were in Monroe County.

The first two tornadoes, though separated in time by a half-hour or more, travelled along nearly the same path in Michigan. This path extended from near East Gilead in southern Branch County to 10 miles east of Milan in far northern Monroe County. The first tornado originated in Indiana. Overall, over 550 houses and 1000 buildings were destroyed or damaged by the tornadoes. In Monroe County, the tornadoes had a mean width of a mile, with 11 deaths and 10 injuries. The third tornado moved over the northern part of Toledo, Ohio and across the Lost Peninsula. Two deaths and 29 injuries occurred in Monroe County. There were 16 deaths reported in Ohio.

On June 8, 1953 an EF4 tornado moved from near Temperance to just south of Luna Pier and out onto Lake Erie. 15 houses and 65 farm buildings were destroyed, with another 14 houses and 15 farm buildings suffering damage. Four persons were killed and 18 injured.

There have been 2 EF3 tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. One occurred on April 17, 1963 between Monroe and Stony Point. A house and a garage were destroyed, with damage to 8 other houses. One person was injured.

The other EF3 occurred on April 3, 1974 at 8:56 PM. This tornado, and the EF2 at 7:30 PM, were part of the Super Outbreak that caused over 300 deaths, nearly 5500 injuries, and $600 million in damage over 13 states and Ontario. 3 injuries were reported in Monroe County from the EF3 tornado, which occurred just northwest of Erie.

All other tornadoes in Monroe County have either been EF2, EF1, or EF0. 4 tornadoes on 8/29/79 (3 EF1 and 1 EF0) all occurred southwest or southeast of Milan, resulting in damage to a few structures.

Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale:

EF0 - Gale Tornado (65-85 mph)
EF1 - Moderate Tornado (86-110 mph)
EF2 - Significant Tornado (111-135 mph)
EF3 - Severe Tornado (136-165 mph)
EF4 - Devastating Tornado (166-200 mph)
EF5 - Incredible Tornado (Over 200 mph)

Statistics last updated: December 18th, 2012

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Monroe County Tornado Statistics