Could Michigan See a February Tornado? Here’s What We Know

It may say February on the calendar, but parts of the Midwest are looking a whole lot more like April. Meteorologist Max Velocity is warning of a rare tornado threat on Thursday across portions of the Ohio Valley. That’s not something we say often this time of year.

Rare February Tornado Threat Develops in the Midwest

Temperatures are expected to surge well above average, with dew points climbing into the upper 50s and low 60s. Forecasters say supercells could spin up a few tornadoes during the afternoon.

READ MORE: Remembering the 1953 Beecher Tornado

The highest risk begins in Illinois along the Mississippi River, then marches east into Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. The Storm Prediction Center has even issued a 15% Slight Risk four days out, something we haven’t seen since October.

How Close the Severe Weather Gets to Michigan

So what about Michigan? According to MLive’s weather team, another storm system moves into Michigan Thursday night into Friday morning. We’ll be on the warm side of the pattern again, with a quick burst of showers and thunderstorms.

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The severe weather threat, including tornado potential, is forecast to come within about 50 miles of the Michigan border across southern Illinois and Indiana. While Michigan is not currently expected to see severe weather, the fact that the risk gets that close shows just how spring-like this setup really is.

How Rare Are February Tornadoes in Michigan?

And if you’re wondering whether February tornadoes can happen here, the answer is yes, but they’re rare. The National Weather Service says Michigan has only recorded three February tornado events, including one in southeast Michigan on February 28, 1974, and 2024’s storms that hit Grand Blanc and Marshall. It’s unusual, but not impossible.