Tornado History

Wisconsin Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for Wisconsin. The local dataset contains 1,799 tornado records from 1950 through 2026, with a strongest listed rating of F5 (Incredible damage) and at least $1.1B in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is May 15, 2026. Across these records, NOAA lists 98 deaths and 1,646 injuries.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes1,799
Total Deaths98
Total Injuries1,646
Property Damage$1.1B
Avg Length4.6 mi
Avg Width122 yd

Key Tornado Facts for Wisconsin

Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.

Average 23.4 tornadoes per year (36.4/yr in last decade)
June is the peak tornado month with 487 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F5 in Wisconsin with 20 deaths
2005 was the most active year with 70 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (288 events)
Longest tornado: 70.7 miles in Wisconsin
Widest tornado: 3,520.0 yards in Wisconsin
Most tornadoes in one day: 33 on Aug 18, 2005

Monthly Distribution

Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Summary: In Wisconsin, June is the most active month with 487 tornadoes.

Annual Tornado Trend

Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.

7047240

Summary: 2005 was the most active year with 70 recorded tornadoes.

Tornado Intensity Distribution

Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by EF/F rating.

F0
EF0
F1
EF1
F2
EF2
F3
EF3
F4
F5
Unknown
EFU

Summary: F1 tornadoes are the most common in this group, with 437 recorded events.

Property Damage Trends

Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.

$89.5M$9.0M$895K$0

Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1985 with at least $89.5M in NOAA-listed property damage.

Tornado Count By County

Compares the counties with the most tornado records in this state dataset.

Dane
Dodge
Marathon
Fond Du Lac
Grant
Jefferson
Walworth
Clark
Waukesha
Columbia
Barron
Rock
Chippewa
Lafayette
Polk
St. Croix
Outagamie
Green Lake
Iowa
Winnebago

Summary: Dane County has the highest count in this state group with 74 tornado records.

Historical Track Sketch

F5 July 18, 19961996F5 June 4, 19581958F5 June 4, 19581958F5 June 4, 19581958F5 June 7, 19841984F5 June 7, 19841984F4 July 30, 19771977F4 April 4, 19811981F4 July 5, 19941994F4 May 10, 19531953F4 May 10, 19531953F4 May 10, 19531953F4 April 3, 19561956F4 April 3, 19561956F4 June 4, 1958F4 June 4, 1958F4 August 22, 1964F4 August 19, 1968F4 April 21, 1974F4 April 21, 1974F4 April 27, 1984F4 April 27, 1984F4 April 27, 1984F4 June 25, 1950F4 September 26, 1951F4 September 26, 1951F4 September 26, 1951F4 June 4, 1958F4 April 19, 1957F4 July 3, 1983F3 August 18, 2005F3 April 27, 1984F3 April 27, 1984F3 June 8, 1985F3 June 8, 1985F3 June 17, 1992F3 August 29, 1992F3 September 2, 2002EF3 June 16, 2014EF3 January 7, 2008EF3 April 10, 2011F3 June 18, 2001EF3 April 17, 2026F3 June 23, 2004F3 June 23, 2004F3 August 23, 1998EF3 September 24, 2019F3 June 23, 1952F3 June 4, 1958F3 May 5, 1965F3 April 16, 1967F3 June 26, 1969F3 June 26, 1969F3 December 1, 1970F3 April 21, 1974F3 April 21, 1974F3 April 21, 1974F3 April 21, 1974F3 June 5, 1977F3 June 5, 1977F3 June 5, 1977F3 July 30, 1977F3 July 30, 1977F3 July 30, 1977F3 June 5, 1980F3 July 15, 1980F3 June 8, 1984F3 June 8, 1984F3 April 27, 1984F3 April 27, 1984F3 April 27, 1984F3 May 30, 1985EF3 June 7, 2007EF3 April 14, 2026F3 June 23, 2004F3 June 23, 2004EF3 April 17, 2026F3 June 23, 2004EF3 August 7, 2021EF3 May 16, 2017© OpenStreetMap contributors
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Wisconsin.
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Notable Tornado Records

The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.

DateRatingAreaLengthWidthDeathsInjuriesMin. property damage
July 18, 1996F5Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin13.3 mi400 yd012$39.5M
June 4, 1958F5Dunn, Wisconsin11.4 mi880 yd2054$25.0M
June 4, 1958F5St. Croix, Wisconsin8.6 mi880 yd120$25.0M
June 4, 1958F5Dunn, Wisconsin13.7 mi880 yd00$25.0M
June 7, 1984F5Iowa, Wisconsin10 mi450 yd9200$250K
June 7, 1984F5Columbia, Wisconsin26 mi450 yd00$250K
April 4, 1981F4Washington, Wisconsin1.8 mi100 yd353$25.0M
July 30, 1977F4Chippewa, Wisconsin19 mi300 yd020$25.0M
July 5, 1994F4Manitowoc, Wisconsin3.5 mi150 yd02$5.0M
April 3, 1956F4Green Lake, Wisconsin1.9 mi440 yd750$2.5M
June 4, 1958F4Eau Claire, Wisconsin16.5 mi880 yd43$2.5M
August 19, 1968F4Marinette, Wisconsin21.8 mi33 yd23$2.5M
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Source And Limits

Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.

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