Bayfield County, Wisconsin
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1965 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
5
Tornado reports
110
Hail reports
40
Floods since 1996
586
All events
6
Deaths
$6.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Bayfield County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 5 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
An 84-year-old Illinois man died when his car became partially submerged into floodwaters along a ditch along County Highway M, about 3 miles east of Cable. The man and his 84-year-old wife were attempting to turn around after encountering a washed out section of the Highway near…
In Bayfield County, a 44-year old woman died of hypothermia after her car went into a ditch and she attempted to walk home.
US Highway 2 was washed out at North Fish Creek west of Tomich Road east of Ino. The culvert failed and eroded the road on both sides.
Downburst winds hit the Bayfield waterfront where an art fair was in progress at Memorial Park. Most of the ninety fair tents were demolished and art pieces were tossed into Lake Superior. A woman broke her hand while a man received a large gash on his hand. Numerous large trees …
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large trees around 12 inches in diameter were down on the highway between Bayfield and Washburn.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was reported down south of Herbster.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were down in the vicinity of Fish Creek Hill on Old US 2. Some of the trees were tall pine trees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Many dead branches were down that were approximately 2 inches in diameter.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Nevers Road reported impassable with photos of trees completely blocking the road. Several trees were also damaged at corner of Nevers Road and Highway 13.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous reports were received of several tall pine trees uprooted in Washburn including several that blocked Highway 13.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals for the event were in the 6 to 10 inch range. A high report of 12 inches was received from about 10 miles northeast of Cable.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals across the county were in the 4 to 8 inch range for the event with the highest totals across the northern part of the county. A high report of 10 inches was received from just southwest of Washburn.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals across the county were in the 10 to 14 inch range across the northern part of the county. A high amount of 15 inches was reported 3 miles southwest of Washburn.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills as low as -43F were reported at the WIFD mesonet site near Bayfield.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A long duration snowfall event featuring lake enhancement led to snowfall totals of 6 to 9 inches across the county. A high report of 9.7 inches was reported about 10 miles east-northeast of Cable.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals were in the 5 to 8 inch range across the county with the highest amounts across the Bayfield Peninsula. A report of 9 inches was received from 3 miles south of Cornucopia.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A band of lake effect moved across the Bayfield Peninsula during the evening and early morning hours of the 29th into the 30th. This band was fairly transient by this point, but was still able to produce some very heavy snowfall in the Cornucopia area. Snowfall totals of 5 to 9 i…
Blizzard Blizzard
Heavy snow and winds gusting in excess of 35 mph created whiteout conditions across mainly the northern part of the county where state patrol reported visibilities of less than a quarter of a mile for about 7 hours on the 26th. Snowfall totals for the event also ended up in the 1…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees were down across a roadway.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Three large trees were down along Scenic Drive.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two medium spruce trees were snapped near their bases.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
One large birch tree was down partially across Highway 13.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was down at the spotter's location.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Hundreds of big oak and maple trees were uprooted and snapped. Observer reports nearly all trees in about a five acre area around their house were destroyed with car and house damage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Three large poplar and one partially dead pine tree were snapped part way up the trunk.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several hundreds trees down in the woods and across Echo Valley Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several hundred trees down with approximately 70 percent uprooted and the rest snapped four to eight feet up, some higher. All were down in approximately the same direction. There was also some damage to trail infrastructure at Beaver Hollow.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Five to ten medium to large poplar trees were snapped approximately four to eight feet up and were across the road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Approximately 20 to 30 trees were snapped near the base and partially across the road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree fell on a powerline bringing the powerline down and across a road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 12-inch diameter live and healthy oak tree was snapped.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wisconsin Mesonet site BYFD Bayfield recorded a 78 mph wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Port Wing station PNGW3 recorded a gust of 61 mph.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two balsam trees were downed by the storm.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by an anemometer located 90 feet above the ground and above the tree tops.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by an anemometer located 90 feet above the ground and above the tree tops.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals across the county were in the 2 to 6 inch range with a high report of 7.5 inches in Mason.
Hail Hail
Hail accumulated to a depth of 1 inch.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 39 | 0 |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 36 | 0 |
| 2022 | 25 | 0 |
| 2021 | 20 | 0 |
| 2020 | 28 | 0 |
| 2019 | 18 | 0 |
| 2018 | 37 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | 29 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 18 | 0 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 | 12 | 0 |
| 2011 | 24 | 0 |
| 2010 | 35 | 0 |
| 2009 | 10 | 0 |
| 2008 | 13 | 0 |
| 2007 | 24 | 0 |
| 2006 | 23 | 0 |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 |
| 2004 | 7 | 0 |
| 2003 | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | 12 | 0 |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 | 23 | 0 |
| 1998 | 8 | 0 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 | 15 | 0 |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 1 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 1 |
| 1983 | 4 | 2 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Bayfield County, measured to its path.
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