National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Dangerous Heat in the Central and Eastern U.S.; Severe Thunderstorms in the Plains to the Upper Midwest

A significant and dangerous heat wave will expand from the Central U.S. into the Eastern U.S and linger through much of the work week. Numerous daily record highs and warm lows are likely. Severe thunderstorms are possible from the southern Plains through the Upper Mississippi Valley. Fire weather concerns are expected to persist across the Four Corners region. Read More >


Wisconsin Tornado Statistics (since 1950)

Most Tornadoes in a Year Least Tornadoes in a Year
(since 1982)

 1.  2005: 62 tornadoes
 2.  2010: 46 tornadoes
 3.  1980: 43 tornadoes
 4.  2008: 38 tornadoes
      2011: 38 tornadoes
 6.  1993: 37 tornadoes
 7.  2004: 36 tornadoes
 8.  1988: 35 tornadoes
      1994: 35 tornadoes
10. 1984: 34 tornadoes

 1.  2012: 4 tornadoes
 2.  1995: 7 tornadoes
 3.  1990: 9 tornadoes
 4.  1991: 10 tornadoes
 5.  1999: 11 tornadoes
 6.  2001: 12 tornadoes
 7.  2006: 13 tornadoes
 8.  2003: 14 tornadoes
      1997: 14 tornadoes
      1986: 14 tornadoes

 

Most Tornadoes in One Day
Rank and Date # Notes

 1.  Aug 18, 2005
 2.  May 8, 1988
 3.  July 3, 1983
 4.  Aug 28, 2018
 5.  Jun 8, 1993
 6.  Jun 23, 2004
 7.  Apr 10, 2011
 8.  Jun 7, 2008
 9.  Aug 9, 1979
10. Jul 18, 1996

27
24
22
19
18
17
15
13
13
12
Stoughton tornado
Mothers Day outbreak

QLCS outbreak - Preliminary 

Markensan F3 event
Biggest April outbreak
Pardeeville tornado

Oakfield tornado

 

Most Tornadoes by Month
Month Highest # of Tornadoes 2nd Highest
January 2 (2008) 1 (1967)
February 0 0
March 3 (1967) 2 (1973, 1998)
April 15 (2011) 11 (1984)
May 24 (1988) 17 (1959)
June 30 (2005) 28 (1993)
July 25 (1983) 24 (2010)
August 27 (2005) 15 (1979)
September 10 (2002, 1972) 7 (1982, 1992)
October 4 (1992) 2 (numerous)
November 2 (1960) 1 (1971)
December 5 (1970)

 

Deadliest Tornadoes*
Rank and Date # Dead # Injured Area
 1.  Jun 4, 1958 19  110 Colfax
 2.  Jun 8, 1984  9 200 Barneveld
 3.  Apr 3, 1956  7  50 Berlin
 4.  Sept 26, 1951  6   3 Waupaca
 5.  Jun 4, 1958  4  56 Chippewa Falls
 6.  May 10, 1953  4  27 NW Wisconsin
 7.  Jun 4, 1958  4   3 Ludington
 8.  Apr 4, 1981  3  53 West Bend
 9.  Apr 11, 1965    3  28 Ixonia
10. Jun 8, 1985  2  42 Wintergreen Lake

* The New Richmond tornado of Jun 12, 1899 is Wisconsin's deadliest tornado in state history, with 117 killed and 125 injured.

 

Northeast Wisconsin Severe Weather Climatology