Tornadoes in Wisconsin
The Storm Prediction Center records 1,626 tornadoes that touched Wisconsin between 1950 and 2025, and 1,596 of them began there. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in every state it touched. They killed 105 people and injured 1,761. The busiest month is June, with 457 tornadoes.
- 1,626tornadoes
- 105deaths
- 1,761injuries
- 300per 10,000 sq mi of land
- 72counties touched
Tornadoes per 10,000 square miles lets you compare states of different sizes. It counts every tornado that touched the state.
How strong were Wisconsin's tornadoes?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 603 | 37% |
| F1 / EF1 | 655 | 40% |
| F2 / EF2 | 282 | 17% |
| F3 / EF3 | 59 | 4% |
| F4 / EF4 | 19 | 1% |
| F5 / EF5 | 3 | <1% |
| Unknown rating | 5 | <1% |
Wisconsin tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 101 |
| 1960s | 194 |
| 1970s | 191 |
| 1980s | 246 |
| 1990s | 195 |
| 2000s | 256 |
| 2010s | 249 |
| 2020s | 194 |
The record has changed over the decades as detection and reporting improved, so more weak tornadoes show up in recent years than in the 1950s. The year with the most in Wisconsin was 2005, with 64.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 3 |
| Feb | 2 |
| Mar | 32 |
| Apr | 116 |
| May | 255 |
| Jun | 457 |
| Jul | 369 |
| Aug | 232 |
| Sep | 108 |
| Oct | 31 |
| Nov | 6 |
| Dec | 15 |
Deadliest tornadoes that touched Wisconsin
- Woodville, Wisconsin tornado4 June 1958, F5, 21 deaths, 74 injuries, 33.7 miles long
- Ridgeway, Wisconsin tornado7 June 1984, F5, 9 deaths, 200 injuries, 36 miles long
- Berlin, Wisconsin tornado3 April 1956, F4, 7 deaths, 50 injuries, 11.5 miles long
- Almond, Wisconsin tornado26 September 1951, F4, 6 deaths, 3 injuries, 26.4 miles long
- Fall Creek, Wisconsin tornado4 June 1958, F4, 4 deaths, 3 injuries, 59.2 miles long
- River Falls, Wisconsin tornado10 May 1953, F2, 4 deaths, 27 injuries, 105.7 miles long
Strongest tornadoes that touched Wisconsin
- Woodville, Wisconsin tornado4 June 1958, F5, 21 deaths, 74 injuries, 33.7 miles long
- Ridgeway, Wisconsin tornado7 June 1984, F5, 9 deaths, 200 injuries, 36 miles long
- Fond du Lac, Wisconsin tornado18 July 1996, F5, 12 injuries, 13.3 miles long
- Berlin, Wisconsin tornado3 April 1956, F4, 7 deaths, 50 injuries, 11.5 miles long
- Almond, Wisconsin tornado26 September 1951, F4, 6 deaths, 3 injuries, 26.4 miles long
- Fall Creek, Wisconsin tornado4 June 1958, F4, 4 deaths, 3 injuries, 59.2 miles long
Most recent tornadoes in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin tornado22 September 2025, EF0, 0.8 miles long
- Wisconsin tornado9 August 2025, EF0, 0.3 miles long
- Wisconsin tornado23 July 2025, EF0, 2.4 miles long
- Wisconsin tornado23 July 2025, EF1, 2.3 miles long
- Wisconsin tornado23 July 2025, Unknown rating, 1.3 miles long
Notable Wisconsin tornadoes with their own pages
- Woodville, Wisconsin tornado4 June 1958, F5, 21 deaths, 74 injuries, 33.7 miles long
- Ridgeway, Wisconsin tornado7 June 1984, F5, 9 deaths, 200 injuries, 36 miles long
- Berlin, Wisconsin tornado3 April 1956, F4, 7 deaths, 50 injuries, 11.5 miles long
- Almond, Wisconsin tornado26 September 1951, F4, 6 deaths, 3 injuries, 26.4 miles long
- Fall Creek, Wisconsin tornado4 June 1958, F4, 4 deaths, 3 injuries, 59.2 miles long
- River Falls, Wisconsin tornado10 May 1953, F2, 4 deaths, 27 injuries, 105.7 miles long
- Lake Hallie, Wisconsin tornado4 June 1958, F4, 3 deaths, 50 injuries, 11.1 miles long
- West Bend, Wisconsin tornado4 April 1981, F4, 3 deaths, 53 injuries, 1.8 miles long
- Watertown, Wisconsin tornado11 April 1965, F2, 3 deaths, 28 injuries, 14.5 miles long
- Chester, Iowa tornado10 May 1953, F4, 2 deaths, 24 injuries, 162 miles long
- Coleman, Wisconsin tornado19 August 1968, F4, 2 deaths, 3 injuries, 21.8 miles long
- Rhinelander, Wisconsin tornado25 June 1950, F4, 2 deaths, 12 injuries, 13.1 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.
Wisconsin counties
Every county that a tornado has touched is listed, most tornadoes first. 72 of them have at least 3 tornadoes and their own page.