Wisconsin has a long and well-documented history of severe storms, with 1,732 confirmed tornadoes, 8,595 hailstorm events and 12,493 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950., and averages 23.1 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Wisconsin combines a continental severe-weather season with lake-effect winter storms, giving it one of the most varied weather climates in the country. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Wisconsin from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).

Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.

Wisconsin Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)

• 1,732 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
• 435 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
• 6 confirmed F5/EF5 tornadoes on record — the maximum rating on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales
• 97 direct tornado deaths and 1,640 direct injuries
• 8,595 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
• 12,493 damaging-wind events on record
• 23.1 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
• June is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 27.9% of Wisconsin tornadoes
• 353 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS

When Wisconsin Severe Weather Happens

Wisconsin tornado activity is heavily concentrated in spring. March, April, May and June account for 53% of all Wisconsin tornadoes, with June alone responsible for roughly 27.9%.

• June: 484 tornadoes (27.9%) — peak month
• July: 378 tornadoes (21.8%)
• May: 268 tornadoes (15.5%)
• August: 248 tornadoes (14.3%)
• April: 132 tornadoes (7.6%)
• September: 116 tornadoes (6.7%)

Top 10 Wisconsin Counties by Tornado Frequency

Tornado activity in Wisconsin is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.

The Deadliest Tornadoes in Wisconsin History

Wisconsin has lost 97 lives to tornadoes since the National Weather Service began systematic tornado record-keeping in 1950. The single deadliest event killed 20 people in Dunn County in 1958, rated F5 on the Fujita scale.

Wisconsin Tornado Strength Distribution

Most Wisconsin tornadoes are weak: roughly 74% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 25.8% of rated tornadoes in the state. Wisconsin is one of the few states with a confirmed F5 or EF5 tornado on record.

• F0/EF0 (weak): 576 tornadoes — 34.1% of rated events
• F1/EF1: 678 tornadoes — 40.1% of rated events
• F2/EF2 (strong): 326 tornadoes — 19.3% of rated events
• F3/EF3: 79 tornadoes — 4.7% of rated events
• F4/EF4 (violent): 24 tornadoes — 1.4% of rated events
• F5/EF5 (incredible): 6 tornadoes — 0.4% of rated events

Record-Setting Severe Weather in Wisconsin

Largest hailstone: 5.50 inches in diameter, observed in Wood County near Port Edwards on June 7, 2007. The three largest hailstones on record in Wisconsin measured 5.50″, 4.50″, 4.50″.

Highest measured wind gust: 76 knots (87 mph) recorded in La Crosse County near La Crosse on May 22, 2011. Most damaging-wind events in Wisconsin are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.

How Wisconsin Compares Nationally

Wisconsin ranks 18th nationally for tornado frequency, in the middle of the pack of US states by severe-weather activity.

• Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
• Wisconsin tornado total: 1,732 — ranked 18th nationally.
• Wisconsin hail total: 8,595 hail events on record since 1950.
• Wisconsin wind total: 12,493 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes does Wisconsin have on average per year?

Wisconsin averages 23.1 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.

What was the deadliest tornado in Wisconsin history?

The June 4, 1958 tornado, rated F5 on the Fujita scale, killed 20 people and injured 54 in Dunn County. It remains the single deadliest tornado in the Wisconsin modern record.

Where in Wisconsin are tornadoes most common?

The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Dane County with 73 events. The three most active counties overall are Dane, Dodge, Marathon.

How does Wisconsin compare to its neighbors?

Wisconsin shares a severe-weather climate with Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Wisconsin’s neighbors’ records on the same date.

How recent is the data on this map?

The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.

Compare Wisconsin to Neighboring States

Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Wisconsin tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Wisconsin’s storm history to its land neighbors:

• Michigan severe storm history — ranked 25th nationally, Great Lakes severe-weather and lake-effect winters
• Minnesota severe storm history — ranked 14th nationally
• Iowa severe storm history — ranked 5th nationally, core Tornado Alley state
• Illinois severe storm history — ranked 6th nationally, Great Lakes severe-weather and lake-effect winters

Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map