Michigan experiences four distinct seasons and extreme weather events such as flooding, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms. The Great Lakes State has lower precipitation year-round than the national average, but the northern part of the state has heavy lake effect snow due to its proximity to Lake Superior.
Lake Michigan also plays a significant role in the amount of snow in the lower western part of the state. The southern half of the state experiences the most severe thunderstorms during the spring and summer months.
Between 1951 and 2017, there have been 1,037 tornadoes in Michigan which resulted in 259 fatalities and 3,547 tornado-related injuries. The longest tornado path to date is a little over 90 miles, and the widest path measures 2,500 yards.
Peak tornado season in Michigan is between April and June with the state averaging around 17 tornadoes per year. Although Michigan experiences fewer tornadoes per year than other surrounding states, there have been plenty of notable twisters that resulted in significant damage.
In March of 1991, three people were killed in northern Lower Michigan after 15 tornadoes caused over $30 million in damage. Six years later, 13 tornadoes struck southeast Michigan, which is the largest single-day tornado outbreak in that region.
Since Michigan has lower than national average precipitation, climatologists predict that by 2050, a summer drought will be widespread throughout the state and more severe than the
drought that Texas is currently experiencing.
Cities like Detroit are also projected to get warmer due to stagnant air, pollution, and a worsening ozone layer. More residents will be living in a high-risk area for extreme heat.
As the atmospheric temperatures continue to rise, Michigan residents can expect to experience more severe weather events like inland flooding due to runoff. Over 300,000 people are living in
areas of Michigan that are at risk of flooding despite the state’s lower than average precipitation.
Michigan Basic Property Association, also known as Michigan FAIR Plan, offers essential property insurance to homeowners who may not be able to insurance through the voluntary
markets.
If you are looking for an alternative to the Michigan FAIR Plan, you may be able to find adequate and affordable coverage through the private insurance marketplace. The Michigan FAIR Plan does not need to be your last resort for protecting your assets in a high-risk area.