12,869
Recorded events
72
Counties affected
18
Direct deaths
$317.9M
Property damage
Wisconsin thunderstorm wind history: 12,869 recorded events across 72 counties between 1955 and 2026.
Decade by decade
Wisconsin thunderstorm wind history by decade
The 2010s are the busiest decade on record with 3,312 reported thunderstorm wind events across Wisconsin. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.
County ranking
Counties with the most thunderstorm wind events in Wisconsin
| Rank | County | Events | Deaths | Damage | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dane County | 480 | 0 | $14.2M | 1956–2026 |
| #2 | Rock County | 375 | 0 | $10.6M | 1955–2025 |
| #3 | Waukesha County | 349 | 0 | $11.8M | 1955–2026 |
| #4 | Grant County | 331 | 1 | $6.3M | 1958–2026 |
| #5 | Walworth County | 325 | 0 | $7.2M | 1955–2026 |
| #6 | Jefferson County | 301 | 0 | $4.6M | 1960–2026 |
| #7 | La Crosse County | 300 | 0 | $2.4M | 1956–2025 |
| #8 | Marathon County | 287 | 0 | $2.8M | 1961–2025 |
| #9 | Dodge County | 281 | 0 | $5.9M | 1955–2026 |
| #10 | Milwaukee County | 250 | 0 | $25.9M | 1960–2026 |
| #11 | Sauk County | 242 | 0 | $3.0M | 1957–2026 |
| #12 | Columbia County | 236 | 0 | $9.6M | 1973–2026 |
| #13 | Monroe County | 231 | 0 | $4.7M | 1955–2026 |
| #14 | Chippewa County | 224 | 1 | $4.3M | 1955–2025 |
| #15 | Fond du Lac County | 222 | 0 | $12.0M | 1956–2026 |
| #16 | Outagamie County | 218 | 1 | $10.2M | 1959–2025 |
| #17 | Green County | 217 | 0 | $4.0M | 1965–2025 |
| #18 | Clark County | 216 | 0 | $1.8M | 1964–2025 |
| #19 | Vernon County | 213 | 0 | $2.1M | 1962–2025 |
| #20 | Polk County | 207 | 0 | $6.1M | 1966–2025 |
| #21 | Trempealeau County | 199 | 0 | $6.6M | 1968–2025 |
| #22 | Washington County | 197 | 1 | $10.2M | 1965–2026 |
| #23 | Iowa County | 195 | 0 | $3.8M | 1955–2026 |
| #24 | Racine County | 191 | 0 | $4.9M | 1961–2026 |
| #25 | Winnebago County | 190 | 2 | $10.8M | 1964–2025 |
Significant events
Deadliest thunderstorm wind events in Wisconsin
| Date | County | Scale | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 1999 | Vilas County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 20, 2006 | Grant County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1996 | Jackson County | — | 1 | 4 |
| May 31, 1998 | Washington County | — | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 1, 2011 | Kenosha County | — | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 31, 2002 | Waushara County | — | 1 | 1 |
| Aug 22, 2013 | Menominee County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 16, 1997 | Winnebago County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1999 | Bayfield County | — | 1 | 0 |
| May 25, 1989 | Outagamie County | — | 1 | 5 |
All hazards in Wisconsin · Thunderstorm Wind across the U.S.