Skip to content

NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Wisconsin Dells, WI

Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.

No tropical storm or hurricane has passed within 75 miles of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin since records began in 1851. Since 1950, 88 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
0

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
0

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
88

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
3

no recorded deaths

Tornadoes within 25 miles of Wisconsin Dells

By decade

  • 2020s2
  • 2010s4
  • 2000s15
  • 1990s16
  • 1980s21
  • 1970s11
  • 1960s15(3 EF3+)
  • 1950s4
Strongest tornadoes near Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Aug 16, 1963F324 mi9.6 mi0 / 13
Aug 16, 1963F324 mi9.6 mi0 / 13
Aug 16, 1963F324 mi9.6 mi0 / 13
Aug 18, 2005F220 mi14.5 mi0 / 0
Jun 23, 2004F219 mi11 mi0 / 0
Jul 4, 1994F221 mi8 mi0 / 0
Jun 8, 1993F223 mi28 mi0 / 0
Jun 26, 1989F223 mi0.3 mi0 / 0
May 8, 1988F224 mi20 mi0 / 0
Oct 16, 1984F217 mi17 mi0 / 3
Jul 10, 1984F223 mi4 mi0 / 0
Jul 19, 1980F219 mi2 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 88, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

How to read this page

A storm is listed when the centre of its track passed within 75 miles of Wisconsin Dells while it was at least a tropical storm, which is the reach of damaging wind and rain for a typical hurricane. Being on the list does not mean the city took a direct hit; the "closest" column says how near the centre came. Tornadoes are counted when any part of the path came within 25 miles.

Tornado records before the 1990s are thinner, because weak tornadoes in open country often went unreported before Doppler radar and mobile phones. A rise in the decade counts is mostly better reporting, not a change in the weather.

Tracks come from the National Hurricane Center's HURDAT2 database, tornadoes from the Storm Prediction Center's database. Both are the official federal records and both are revised as old storms are re-analysed.

Other cities in Wisconsin