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Portage, MI Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 
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The chance of earthquake damage in Portage is about the same as Michigan average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Portage is higher than Michigan average and is higher than the national average.

Topics:Earthquake IndexVolcano IndexTornado IndexOther Weather Extremes EventsVolcanos NearbyHistorical Earthquake EventsHistorical Tornado Events

Earthquake Index, #39

Portage, MI
0.13
Michigan
0.04
U.S.
1.81

The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.

Volcano Index, #1

Portage, MI
0.0000
Michigan
0.0000
U.S.
0.0023

The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.

Tornado Index, #224

Portage, MI
200.20
Michigan
140.33
U.S.
136.45

The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.

Other Weather Extremes Events

A total of 3,004 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Portage, MI were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:16Cold:4Dense Fog:3Drought:1
Dust Storm:0Flood:99Hail:680Heat:5Heavy Snow:156
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:20Landslide:0Strong Wind:38
Thunderstorm Winds:1,795Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:0Winter Storm:110Winter Weather:8
Other:69 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Portage, MI.

Historical Earthquake Events

No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Portage, MI.

No historical earthquake events found in or near Portage, MI.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 88 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Portage, MI.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
6.41980-05-13342°18'N / 85°43'W42°17'N / 85°30'W10.60 Miles450 Yards57925.0M0Kalamazoo
11.41977-04-02442°17'N / 85°33'W42°21'N / 85°19'W12.40 Miles183 Yards0102.5M0Kalamazoo
11.61986-09-29242°12'N / 85°51'W42°12'N / 85°47'W3.80 Miles400 Yards01250K0Van Buren
13.41965-04-11342°22'N / 85°36'W42°22'N / 85°19'W14.20 Miles150 Yards017250K0Kalamazoo
13.51955-05-28242°07'N / 85°38'W42°25'N / 85°03'W36.20 Miles100 Yards00250K0Kalamazoo
13.62001-05-21242°22'N / 85°27'W42°22'N / 85°27'W1.00 Mile150 Yards00500K100KKalamazoo
 Brief Description: A F2 tornado produced maximum estimated wind speeds of 120 to 130 m.p.h. and caused extensive damage 4 miles west of Richland, in Kalamazoo county. The initial damage occurred approximately one third of a mile south of the intersection of C Avenue and 24th street, extending north for about a mile. Extensive tree damage occurred along the tornado's path, and there was structural damage to several homes. One home along the tornado's path was completely destroyed, while several others sustained significant roof and shingle damage. The home that was destroyed lost it's roof, which was carried roughly 75 yards north of the home, and it also lost most of it's interior and exterior walls. The tornado's path length was one mile long with a width of 150 yards.
13.82009-06-19242°23'N / 85°30'W42°23'N / 85°28'W1.00 Mile200 Yards000K0KKalamazoo
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Several trees and large branches were knocked down across North 28th Street near the tornado touchdown. The most extensive damage was located approximately two-miles northwest of Richland south of E C Avenue. The roof was torn off a ranch-style house and completely destroyed with pieces of truss carried one-half mile. Insulation was found over one-mile away from the tornado damaged home. The back deck of the home was destroyed with a large piece of the deck thrown approximately 100 yards. All trees were snapped or uprooted around the house with two uprooted trees carried 30-40 feet. Nearly 1.8 miles northwest of Richland, about 50% of trees were snapped or uprooted with numerous branches down along the tree line. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms developed and moved across Lake Michigan during the evening hours on June 19th. Several hours of intense rainfall occurred starting around 7:00 PM EST. The ground was already saturated from early morning thunderstorms that produced very heavy rainfall. In addition to the heavy rain, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes accompanied the thunderstorms.
20.31955-07-06241°55'N / 85°29'W003K0St. Joseph
21.11976-03-04242°05'N / 86°13'W42°15'N / 85°47'W24.80 Miles100 Yards00250K0Van Buren
22.11980-05-13342°13'N / 86°13'W42°18'N / 85°49'W21.00 Miles300 Yards0152.5M0Van Buren
23.01956-04-03342°23'N / 85°57'W42°26'N / 85°56'W2.30 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Van Buren
23.11986-07-15242°33'N / 85°31'W42°25'N / 85°11'W20.00 Miles440 Yards00250K0Barry
23.11966-07-09241°56'N / 85°19'W0.50 Mile10 Yards0025K0St. Joseph
24.31966-06-09242°31'N / 85°23'W2.00 Miles33 Yards000K0Barry
24.61956-04-03342°16'N / 86°08'W42°23'N / 85°57'W12.00 Miles200 Yards092.5M0Van Buren
24.61956-04-03342°26'N / 85°56'W42°32'N / 85°50'W8.30 Miles200 Yards032.5M0Allegan
24.71954-05-31242°32'N / 85°46'W0.30 Mile110 Yards003K0Allegan
25.72009-06-19242°28'N / 86°00'W42°28'N / 85°53'W6.00 Miles400 Yards000K0KAllegan
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Damage to both trees and structures were found along the tornado path. A Circa 1940 pole barn was destroyed and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted just over a half a mile west of Chicora north of 108th Avenue. Further down the tornado's path, garage doors were blown out and carried 300 yards while two boats were blown out of the garage. The house suffered 80% shingle loss with one 2-foot diameter hole in the roof on the home's west side. This was approximately 0.35 miles north of Chicora. The most extensive damage occurred approximately one mile northeast of Chicora along 42nd Street. A roof was partially torn off of a house. A barn was blown about 20-feet off of its foundation. There were several telephone poles snapped with wires wrapped around a tree. A roof was ripped off a small unoccupied house with one wall collapsed. Debris was lofted up to one-half mile across a field. More shingle loss was found on the west side of a home located two-miles northeast of Chicora. Nearly 80% shingle loss was witnessed. Several utility poles were snapped with widespread tree damage through the area. More damage to a home was observed about a quarter-mile west of Schermerhorn Lake. The damage happened when numerous falling trees crushed it. One-quarter mile of 39th street was blocked by fallen trees. The trees were piled up to 15-feet deep on the road. As the tornado was weakening, a 30-foot metal tower was bent over half way up. This was located near the intersection of 37th Street and 109th Avenue. Minor roof damage was also noted to a home in this area. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms developed and moved across Lake Michigan during the evening hours on June 19th. Several hours of intense rainfall occurred starting around 7:00 PM EST. The ground was already saturated from early morning thunderstorms that produced very heavy rainfall. In addition to the heavy rain, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes accompanied the thunderstorms.
25.91989-05-30242°23'N / 86°02'W1.00 Mile50 Yards0025K0Van Buren
27.21953-05-17241°47'N / 85°46'W41°51'N / 85°40'W6.40 Miles33 Yards003K0St. Joseph
28.22010-06-05241°49'N / 85°41'W41°46'N / 85°29'W11.00 Miles200 Yards00300K0KSt. Joseph
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A survey of damage across southern St. Joseph county was performed by NWS Personnel. The damage found indicates that a circulation touched down over an open field north of Miller Road and west of Blue School Road. The tornado initially struck two barns, destroying them and sending the debris several miles downwind. The tornado then picked up a trailer at a local Port-A-Jon business. It appears that a combination of the strong winds and the trailer striking one of the guy wires, resulted in a 350 foot cell tower being blown down into an adjacent tower, causing the failure of both (DI: FST DOD:2). The tornado then continued across mainly open fields, scouring a 200 yard wide area of corn, just to the east-southeast of the cell towers and several trees along its track. The final damage occurred at a residence where minor roof damage was done to a barn, as well as more focused tree damage and a center pivot irrigation system being flipped. The tornado reached a maximum of roughly 200 yards in width and was on the ground for over 10 miles. Maximum winds are estimated at around 125 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A warm front worked north towards lower Michigan during the evening hours of the 5th. Storms were initially slow to organize, but quickly intensified and became super cellular as they moved off Lake Michigan. A combination of tornadoes and micro bursts were found in surveys across Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties.
28.21986-08-26242°35'N / 85°24'W0.60 Mile13 Yards0025K0Barry
28.71986-06-19241°55'N / 86°00'W1.30 Miles700 Yards002.5M0Cass
29.51956-05-09242°12'N / 86°10'W1.00 Mile33 Yards0025K0Van Buren
29.52010-06-05241°57'N / 86°05'W41°57'N / 86°02'W3.00 Miles200 Yards00100K0KCass
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: After leaving behind a swath of microburst winds, the storm intensified with a tornado touching down about a half mile southwest of Southwestern Michigan College, near Dowagiac. The circulation initially impacted the Pokagan subdivision with numerous homes suffering varying degrees of damage (DI: FR12 DOD: 4). The circulation continued east-southeast through mainly open and wooded areas, severely damaging numerous trees. The most extensive tree damage occurred near Michigan 62, west of Twin Lake Road where a 600 yard wide area of trees suffered extensive damage. The circulation was likely embedded within a much larger area of rear flank downdraft winds. The circulation then turned more southeast and hit a cemetery on Michigan 62, south of Cass Street. The circulation quickly dissipated after this point. Maximum winds are estimated at around 115 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A warm front worked north towards lower Michigan during the evening hours of the 5th. Storms were initially slow to organize, but quickly intensified and became super cellular as they moved off Lake Michigan. A combination of tornadoes and micro bursts were found in surveys across Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties.
29.61954-05-31242°18'N / 86°12'W42°24'N / 86°04'W9.30 Miles33 Yards00250K0Van Buren
29.61992-07-13242°02'N / 86°10'W42°04'N / 86°06'W4.00 Miles80 Yards025250K0Cass
30.91956-04-03342°32'N / 85°50'W42°45'N / 85°32'W21.20 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Ottawa
31.41979-06-07242°05'N / 86°11'W2.00 Miles60 Yards0125K0Van Buren
32.11967-10-24242°38'N / 85°49'W0425K0Allegan
32.21965-04-11441°43'N / 85°40'W41°45'N / 85°30'W8.50 Miles333 Yards5420K0Lagrange
33.01986-07-15242°24'N / 85°11'W42°15'N / 84°45'W22.50 Miles440 Yards00250K0Calhoun
33.61989-05-30242°25'N / 86°11'W42°32'N / 86°05'W9.20 Miles100 Yards00250K0Allegan
33.81976-03-12241°45'N / 85°19'W41°47'N / 85°15'W3.30 Miles100 Yards0025K0St. Joseph
33.91976-03-12241°47'N / 85°15'W41°48'N / 85°12'W0025K0Branch
33.91989-05-30242°24'N / 86°12'W42°25'N / 86°11'W1.00 Mile100 Yards00250K0Van Buren
34.51983-06-30241°59'N / 84°59'W1.00 Mile40 Yards0025K0Branch
34.61976-03-12241°41'N / 85°30'W41°45'N / 85°19'W10.10 Miles127 Yards0825K0Lagrange
34.81955-08-06242°39'N / 85°17'W0.50 Mile100 Yards0125K0Barry
34.91967-04-21242°30'N / 86°08'W42°42'N / 85°53'W18.60 Miles50 Yards04250K0Allegan
35.31980-07-05241°43'N / 85°49'W00250K0Elkhart
35.71976-03-12241°38'N / 85°38'W41°44'N / 85°30'W9.30 Miles100 Yards09250K0Lagrange
36.01975-05-21241°55'N / 85°00'W0.80 Mile33 Yards0025K0Branch
36.21965-04-11441°38'N / 85°40'W41°44'N / 85°16'W21.60 Miles177 Yards5412.5M0Lagrange
36.91962-04-30341°42'N / 86°04'W41°46'N / 85°49'W13.40 Miles33 Yards00250K0Elkhart
36.91986-05-15341°56'N / 84°58'W1.20 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Branch
37.51998-08-25241°51'N / 86°14'W41°47'N / 85°59'W9.00 Miles800 Yards00500K0Cass
 Brief Description: ONE MOBILE HOME WAS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED ON SOUTH SIDE OF JUNO LAKE AND SEVERAL OTHER HOMES AROUND JUNO, PAINTER, EAGLE AND CHRISTAN LAKE SUFFERED MINOR TO MODERATE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. AN RV WAS TOSSED ABOUT AND ROTATED 180 DEGREES WHICH CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE. NUMEROUS TREES WERE COMPLETELY FLATTENED WHICH ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO HOMES. MANY ROADS WERE BLOCKED BY FALLEN TREES...SNAPPED POWER POLES AND DOWNED POWER LINES. THIS TORNADO BEGAN IN NILES AND PEAKED IN INTENSITY AND WIDTH 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF EDWARDSBURG WHERE IT WIDENED OUT TO ONE HALF MILE. IT CONTINUED ON TOWARD THE TOWN OF BRISTOL IN NORTHEAST ELKHART COUNTY BEFORE LIFTING.
37.51991-03-27342°23'N / 84°54'W2.00 Miles400 Yards018250K0Calhoun
37.81974-06-20242°03'N / 86°18'W0.80 Mile100 Yards0025K0Berrien
38.71958-06-24241°45'N / 86°07'W41°45'N / 85°58'W7.30 Miles33 Yards0025K0St. Joseph
39.41965-04-11441°37'N / 86°04'W41°43'N / 85°40'W21.60 Miles333 Yards312520K0Elkhart
39.51956-04-03241°38'N / 85°29'W003K0Lagrange
39.51974-06-20242°44'N / 85°59'W42°42'N / 85°52'W5.70 Miles20 Yards00250K0Allegan
39.71965-04-11441°44'N / 85°10'W41°45'N / 85°05'W3.80 Miles333 Yards000K0Steuben
40.01965-04-11441°37'N / 85°42'W41°38'N / 85°40'W00250K0Elkhart
40.81965-04-11342°39'N / 85°18'W42°46'N / 85°04'W14.10 Miles33 Yards05250K0Barry
40.81963-06-09242°46'N / 85°49'W2.00 Miles33 Yards0025K0Allegan
41.01967-04-21242°43'N / 85°27'W42°48'N / 85°11'W14.50 Miles500 Yards0125K0Barry
41.21983-07-21242°40'N / 86°12'W42°35'N / 86°07'W13.60 Miles200 Yards11250K0Allegan
41.81977-04-02442°26'N / 85°01'W42°32'N / 84°43'W16.60 Miles613 Yards1442.5M0Eaton
41.91965-04-11441°45'N / 85°05'W41°53'N / 84°50'W15.50 Miles1333 Yards9200250.0M0Branch
42.61981-06-20241°57'N / 86°21'W1.50 Miles500 Yards00250K0Berrien
42.81956-04-03342°45'N / 85°32'W42°52'N / 85°20'W12.60 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Barry
42.81965-04-11441°48'N / 85°00'W41°52'N / 84°50'W9.20 Miles33 Yards92000K0Branch
42.91960-06-16241°50'N / 86°16'W003K0Berrien
42.91976-03-04241°57'N / 86°34'W42°05'N / 86°13'W20.00 Miles100 Yards09250K0Berrien
43.51975-05-20242°49'N / 85°44'W42°50'N / 85°40'W2.30 Miles33 Yards01250K0Kent
43.61956-06-26241°49'N / 86°16'W0.10 Mile17 Yards000K0Berrien
43.81965-04-11441°31'N / 86°04'W41°42'N / 85°44'W21.20 Miles33 Yards312520K0Elkhart
43.92001-10-24241°39'N / 86°08'W41°42'N / 86°01'W4.50 Miles1320 Yards001.3M0St. Joseph
44.11956-04-03542°40'N / 86°13'W42°46'N / 85°59'W13.50 Miles400 Yards01025K0Allegan
44.81955-05-28242°25'N / 85°03'W42°45'N / 84°43'W28.40 Miles100 Yards01250K0Eaton
45.31979-04-12241°51'N / 86°23'W41°54'N / 86°20'W3.30 Miles60 Yards06250K0Berrien
45.91969-09-06241°42'N / 85°00'W0025K0Steuben
46.31965-04-11341°35'N / 86°04'W41°38'N / 85°58'W5.60 Miles250 Yards00250K0Elkhart
47.01974-04-03341°34'N / 85°13'W41°44'N / 84°53'W20.50 Miles333 Yards2150K0Steuben
47.11972-06-14241°58'N / 86°29'W41°59'N / 86°26'W1.30 Miles70 Yards003K0Berrien
47.31956-04-03542°46'N / 85°59'W42°56'N / 85°47'W15.10 Miles400 Yards14200250K0Ottawa
47.52010-06-05241°58'N / 86°30'W41°59'N / 86°26'W3.00 Miles200 Yards00150K0KBerrien
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A survey of the area between Baroda and Stevensville indicated damage consistent with a tornado. The damage started on Marrs Road, just west of Stevensville-Baroda Road. and continued east-northeast. The damage started with a travel trailer being thrown and destroyed as well as some tree damage. The circulation tracked mainly over open fields until reaching an area of homes on Lincoln Ave where the entire roof was ripped off a home (DI: FR12, DOD: 6) and another home suffered slightly less roof damage. The circulation continued northeast, crossing Hollywood Road, north of Linco Road. Several one year old 24 inch diameter power poles were snapped (DI: ETL; DOD 4). In addition, a harrow and trailer were thrown from a barn roughly 150 to 200 yards into a field. The circulation appears to dissipate north of Linco Road, on Scottdale Road. The tornado was roughly 200 yards wide at its peak. Maximum winds are estimated at around 125 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A warm front worked north towards lower Michigan during the evening hours of the 5th. Storms were initially slow to organize, but quickly intensified and became super cellular as they moved off Lake Michigan. A combination of tornadoes and micro bursts were found in surveys across Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties.
47.71961-05-06341°32'N / 85°25'W41°33'N / 85°12'W11.00 Miles800 Yards052.5M0Lagrange
47.81974-04-03441°26'N / 85°38'W41°35'N / 85°26'W14.40 Miles33 Yards1240K0Noble
47.91967-10-24241°35'N / 86°01'W003K0Elkhart
48.11957-06-22242°52'N / 85°52'W0025K0Ottawa
48.31967-04-21242°01'N / 86°30'W1.00 Mile27 Yards00250K0Berrien
48.71974-04-03341°31'N / 85°17'W41°34'N / 85°13'W4.30 Miles1000 Yards000K0Lagrange
49.62007-08-24342°35'N / 84°49'W42°37'N / 84°45'W7.00 Miles300 Yards0540.0M0KEaton
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A NWS storm survey team determined that an EF-3 (Enhanced-Fujita Tornado Scale Rating) tornado with wind speeds estimated at 140 mph produced the most severe damage along a path from M-50 just north of Kinsel Highway to just west of M-100 and Vermontville Highway near Potterville, Michigan. The storm survey indicated a tornado path which was 200 to 300 yards wide and 6.5 miles long. Fifteen homes were either destroyed or severely damaged. A roof was blown off a single story home and windward facing walls were blown in. The majority of the roof and garage from this home were not found. A roof was blown off of a two story home and the upper story front walls were blown in. Additional damage included the partial collapse of the upper story of a home, and another house was blown off of the foundation. Two barns were destroyed and another incurred heavy damage just west of Potterville. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An EF-3 tornado struck Eaton county and resulted in five injuries but no fatalities. An EF-1 tornado struck Ingham county but did not produce any injuries or fatalities.
49.71967-04-21242°55'N / 85°30'W0.30 Mile27 Yards0025K0Kent
49.91965-04-11441°35'N / 86°12'W41°37'N / 86°04'W6.90 Miles333 Yards0270K0St. Joseph


* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.


 
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