Wisconsin recorded 1,579 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 21 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 100 people. The busiest year was 2005, with 63.
Tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950: none under 10 10 to 25 25 to 50 50 to 75 75 to 100 over 100. Tap a county for its history.
Tornadoes by year
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in Wisconsin
June is the peak, with 452 tornadoes since 1950 (29% of the total).
How strong
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 586 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 635 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 276 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 58 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 18 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 3 |
| EF-U | Unknown: no damage to rate (mostly since 2016) | 3 |
Wisconsin has had 3 F5 or EF5 tornadoes, the top of the scale.
The deadliest tornadoes in Wisconsin
| Date | Rating | Deaths in Wisconsin | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 4, 1958 | F5 | 21 | Dunn County, St. Croix County |
| June 7, 1984 | F5 | 9 | Columbia County, Iowa County |
| April 3, 1956 | F4 | 7 | Green Lake County, Waushara County, Winnebago County |
| September 26, 1951 | F4 | 6 | Portage County, Waupaca County |
| May 10, 1953 | F2 | 4 | Burnett County, Douglas County, Pierce County, Polk County, St. Croix County, Washburn County |
| June 4, 1958 | F4 | 4 | Clark County, Eau Claire County, Marathon County |
| June 4, 1958 | F4 | 3 | Chippewa County |
| April 11, 1965 | F2 | 3 | Jefferson County |
| April 4, 1981 | F4 | 3 | Washington County |
| June 25, 1950 | F4 | 2 | Oneida County |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County | 77 | 62 | EF3 |
| Grant County | 62 | 52 | EF3 |
| Marathon County | 61 | 39 | F4 |
| Dodge County | 60 | 66 | F3 |
| Fond du Lac County | 58 | 76 | F5 |
| Jefferson County | 50 | 86 | F3 |
| Barron County | 43 | 48 | EF3 |
| Walworth County | 41 | 71 | EF3 |
| Clark County | 40 | 33 | F4 |
| Green Lake County | 40 | 106 | F4 |
| Chippewa County | 39 | 37 | F4 |
| Waukesha County | 39 | 67 | F4 |
| Columbia County | 38 | 48 | F5 |
| Lafayette County | 38 | 60 | F3 |
| Rock County | 36 | 50 | F3 |
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Green Lake County (106 per 1,000 sq mi), Milwaukee County (88 per 1,000 sq mi), Jefferson County (86 per 1,000 sq mi), Fond du Lac County (76 per 1,000 sq mi), Walworth County (71 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in Wisconsin
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many tornadoes does Wisconsin get a year?
About 21 on average from 1950 to 2024; recent years run higher because weak tornadoes are better detected.
When is tornado season in Wisconsin?
June has had the most. Spring and early summer bring most of them.
What was the deadliest tornado in Wisconsin?
June 4, 1958: 21 deaths in Wisconsin.