Saint Joseph, MI Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Saint Joseph is about the same as Michigan average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Saint Joseph is about the same as Michigan average and is about the same as the national average.
Earthquake Index, #380
| Saint Joseph, MI | 0.01 |
| 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
| Saint Joseph, 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, #489
| Saint Joseph, MI | 138.11 |
| 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 1,930 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Saint Joseph, MI were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 19 | Cold: | 11 | Dense Fog: | 4 | Drought: | 1 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 70 | Hail: | 329 | Heat: | 5 | Heavy Snow: | 203 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 26 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 51 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,008 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 127 | Winter Weather: | 14 |
| Other: | 62 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Saint Joseph, MI.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Saint Joseph, MI.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Saint Joseph, MI.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 62 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Saint Joseph, MI.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 5.7 | 1967-04-21 | 2 | 42°01'N / 86°30'W | 1.00 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berrien | |
| 7.6 | 1976-03-04 | 2 | 41°57'N / 86°34'W | 42°05'N / 86°13'W | 20.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 9 | 250K | 0 | Berrien |
| 8.6 | 2010-06-05 | 2 | 41°58'N / 86°30'W | 41°59'N / 86°26'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0K | Berrien |
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 8.7 | 1972-06-14 | 2 | 41°58'N / 86°29'W | 41°59'N / 86°26'W | 1.30 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Berrien |
| 10.3 | 1974-06-20 | 2 | 42°03'N / 86°18'W | 0.80 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Berrien | |
| 12.5 | 1981-06-20 | 2 | 41°57'N / 86°21'W | 1.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berrien | |
| 15.7 | 1979-06-07 | 2 | 42°05'N / 86°11'W | 2.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Van Buren | |
| 16.9 | 1979-04-12 | 2 | 41°51'N / 86°23'W | 41°54'N / 86°20'W | 3.30 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Berrien |
| 17.9 | 1956-05-09 | 2 | 42°12'N / 86°10'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Van Buren | |
| 18.5 | 1992-07-13 | 2 | 42°02'N / 86°10'W | 42°04'N / 86°06'W | 4.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 25 | 250K | 0 | Cass |
| 21.0 | 1976-03-12 | 2 | 41°46'N / 86°43'W | 41°52'N / 86°34'W | 10.10 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Berrien |
| 21.6 | 1960-06-16 | 2 | 41°50'N / 86°16'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Berrien | |||
| 22.6 | 1956-06-26 | 2 | 41°49'N / 86°16'W | 0.10 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Berrien | |
| 23.3 | 1961-03-04 | 2 | 41°46'N / 86°45'W | 41°50'N / 86°39'W | 6.50 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berrien |
| 24.4 | 2010-06-05 | 2 | 41°57'N / 86°05'W | 41°57'N / 86°02'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0K | Cass |
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 25.1 | 1954-05-31 | 2 | 42°18'N / 86°12'W | 42°24'N / 86°04'W | 9.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren |
| 25.5 | 1976-03-04 | 2 | 42°05'N / 86°13'W | 42°15'N / 85°47'W | 24.80 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren |
| 26.2 | 1989-05-30 | 2 | 42°24'N / 86°12'W | 42°25'N / 86°11'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren |
| 26.6 | 1980-05-13 | 3 | 42°13'N / 86°13'W | 42°18'N / 85°49'W | 21.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Van Buren |
| 27.6 | 1965-11-26 | 3 | 41°42'N / 86°30'W | 1.00 Mile | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | St. Joseph | |
| 27.6 | 1998-08-25 | 2 | 41°51'N / 86°14'W | 41°47'N / 85°59'W | 9.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Cass |
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 27.7 | 1956-04-03 | 3 | 42°16'N / 86°08'W | 42°23'N / 85°57'W | 12.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 9 | 2.5M | 0 | Van Buren |
| 28.1 | 1986-06-19 | 2 | 41°55'N / 86°00'W | 1.30 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cass | |
| 29.4 | 2001-10-24 | 3 | 41°37'N / 86°26'W | 41°45'N / 86°18'W | 15.00 Miles | 1320 Yards | 1 | 2 | 3.0M | 0 | St. Joseph |
| Brief Description: This tornado touched down just southwest of Crumstown in St Joseph county Indiana and moved northeast into Berrien county Michigan (see Storm Data for Michigan, Extreme Southwest for more information on the end portion of this tornado). In St Joseph county Indiana the most significant damage was across Crumstown, where F3 damage with a path width up to 3/4 mile occurred. The tornado then moved to near the Michiana Regional Airport and across the Indiana Turnpike causing F0-F1 damage. Two men were injured northwest of South Bend. One man later died from his injuries. The tornado moved into Berrien county Michigan 6 miles NNW of South Bend. | |||||||||||
| 30.4 | 1958-05-31 | 2 | 41°40'N / 86°36'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | La Porte | |
| 30.4 | 1962-04-30 | 3 | 41°40'N / 86°31'W | 41°42'N / 86°04'W | 23.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 49 | 250K | 0 | St. Joseph |
| 30.5 | 1989-05-30 | 2 | 42°23'N / 86°02'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Van Buren | |
| 31.7 | 1989-05-30 | 2 | 42°25'N / 86°11'W | 42°32'N / 86°05'W | 9.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Allegan |
| 32.3 | 1980-06-28 | 2 | 41°40'N / 86°15'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | St. Joseph | |||
| 33.3 | 1958-05-31 | 2 | 41°43'N / 86°53'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | La Porte | |||
| 33.3 | 1958-06-24 | 2 | 41°45'N / 86°07'W | 41°45'N / 85°58'W | 7.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Joseph |
| 33.5 | 1957-03-14 | 2 | 41°39'N / 86°44'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | La Porte | |||
| 35.1 | 1986-09-29 | 2 | 42°12'N / 85°51'W | 42°12'N / 85°47'W | 3.80 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren |
| 35.2 | 1956-04-03 | 3 | 42°23'N / 85°57'W | 42°26'N / 85°56'W | 2.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Van Buren |
| 35.3 | 1976-03-12 | 3 | 41°41'N / 86°56'W | 41°37'N / 86°42'W | 12.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 7 | 250K | 0 | La Porte |
| 36.2 | 2001-10-24 | 2 | 41°39'N / 86°08'W | 41°42'N / 86°01'W | 4.50 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.3M | 0 | St. Joseph |
| 36.8 | 1976-03-12 | 3 | 41°42'N / 86°58'W | 41°41'N / 86°56'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Porter | ||
| 37.8 | 2009-06-19 | 2 | 42°28'N / 86°00'W | 42°28'N / 85°53'W | 6.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Allegan |
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 37.8 | 1962-04-30 | 3 | 41°42'N / 86°04'W | 41°46'N / 85°49'W | 13.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Elkhart |
| 39.0 | 1965-04-11 | 4 | 41°35'N / 86°12'W | 41°37'N / 86°04'W | 6.90 Miles | 333 Yards | 0 | 27 | 0K | 0 | St. Joseph |
| 39.4 | 1960-05-21 | 2 | 41°34'N / 86°46'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | La Porte | |||
| 39.7 | 2001-10-24 | 2 | 41°26'N / 86°54'W | 41°40'N / 86°32'W | 33.00 Miles | 1760 Yards | 1 | 0 | 750K | 0 | La Porte |
| 40.0 | 1954-06-12 | 2 | 41°34'N / 86°11'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | St. Joseph | |||
| 40.0 | 1983-07-21 | 2 | 42°40'N / 86°12'W | 42°35'N / 86°07'W | 13.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Allegan |
| 40.8 | 1956-04-03 | 3 | 42°26'N / 85°56'W | 42°32'N / 85°50'W | 8.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Allegan |
| 41.7 | 1965-04-11 | 3 | 41°35'N / 86°04'W | 41°38'N / 85°58'W | 5.60 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Elkhart |
| 42.3 | 1965-04-11 | 3 | 41°29'N / 86°17'W | 41°35'N / 86°04'W | 12.90 Miles | 250 Yards | 3 | 27 | 25.0M | 0 | St. Joseph |
| 42.4 | 1967-04-21 | 2 | 42°30'N / 86°08'W | 42°42'N / 85°53'W | 18.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Allegan |
| 43.1 | 1967-10-24 | 2 | 41°35'N / 86°01'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Elkhart | |||
| 43.3 | 2009-08-19 | 2 | 41°36'N / 87°04'W | 41°39'N / 87°01'W | 4.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.5M | 0K | Porter |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down in southern Chesterton east of 11th Street and southwest of South Park Drive. The tornado quickly intensified as it moved to the northeast and caused the partial collapse of a gymnasium roof at the Chesterton Junior High School. A wind gust to 105 mph was measured by an anemometer near the school. This damage along with numerous trees that were either uprooted or sheared off was caused by tornado winds reaching 110 mph. The tornado was rated EF1 at this point with a path width of 40 yards. The tornado continued to track to the northeast across the New York Central railroad tracks toward Grant Avenue where the roof of a warehouse had been peeled off and thrown about 15 yards behind the building to the north. The tornado continued to the northeast where an apartment building on Brown Avenue lost its entire roof. This damage was caused by tornado winds reaching 120 mph. The tornado damage was rated EF2 through this area with a path width of 60 yards. In the city of Chesterton, 211 structures sustained damage; 8 were completely destroyed; 54 suffered major damage, such as trees falling through roofs. The remaining 149 structures sustained damage such as missing shingles or damaged gutters. Multiple vehicles were damaged by falling debris from buildings or trees. Numerous power lines were blown down along with utility poles blown down or snapped. This EF2 damage continued northeast where an entire field of healthy old hardwood tree trunks were snapped off or uprooted. The tornado then started to slightly weaken as it approached the Interstate 94 eastbound exit/westbound entrance ramps at Indiana Highway 49. A home south of the interstate had a garage roof blown off with still numerous trees uprooted or sheared off. Tornado wind speeds here were estimated at 100 mph with an EF1 rating. Similar tree damage was noted along a path that continued to go to the northeast across Highway 49 and toward Highway 20 near Hadenfelt Road where some aluminum roofing material of a storage facility had been peeled off. Tornado wind speeds were estimated at 95 mph here and was rated EF1 with a path width of 30 yards. The tornado continued to move through a heavily forested area in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, eventually crossing Highway 12. Radar imagery and an aerial survey suggests that the tornado dissipated north of Highway 12. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across parts of northwest Indiana during the late afternoon and evening hours of August 19th, producing one tornado in Chesterton. | |||||||||||
| 43.5 | 1980-07-05 | 2 | 41°43'N / 85°49'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Elkhart | |||
| 43.8 | 1965-04-11 | 4 | 41°37'N / 86°04'W | 41°43'N / 85°40'W | 21.60 Miles | 333 Yards | 31 | 252 | 0K | 0 | Elkhart |
| 44.2 | 1953-05-17 | 2 | 41°47'N / 85°46'W | 41°51'N / 85°40'W | 6.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | St. Joseph |
| 45.5 | 1965-04-11 | 4 | 41°31'N / 86°04'W | 41°42'N / 85°44'W | 21.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 31 | 252 | 0K | 0 | Elkhart |
| 45.8 | 1965-04-11 | 3 | 41°24'N / 86°28'W | 41°29'N / 86°17'W | 10.70 Miles | 250 Yards | 3 | 28 | 25.0M | 0 | Marshall |
| 46.8 | 1965-04-11 | 3 | 41°24'N / 86°55'W | 41°30'N / 86°35'W | 18.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | La Porte |
| 47.0 | 1980-05-13 | 3 | 42°18'N / 85°43'W | 42°17'N / 85°30'W | 10.60 Miles | 450 Yards | 5 | 79 | 25.0M | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 47.0 | 1956-04-03 | 5 | 42°40'N / 86°13'W | 42°46'N / 85°59'W | 13.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 10 | 25K | 0 | Allegan |
| 47.5 | 1954-05-31 | 2 | 42°32'N / 85°46'W | 0.30 Mile | 110 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Allegan | |
| 48.9 | 1988-10-16 | 2 | 41°28'N / 86°00'W | 41°33'N / 85°56'W | 6.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Elkhart |
| 49.7 | 1958-07-29 | 2 | 41°23'N / 86°35'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Starke | |||
| 49.7 | 1965-09-14 | 2 | 41°23'N / 86°35'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Starke | |||
* 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.