Columbia County, Wisconsin
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1951 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
39
Tornado reports
138
Hail reports
71
Floods since 1996
928
All events
13
Deaths
$553.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Columbia County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 39 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
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.
Tornado F5 Tornado
There was a fatal two-car crash Wednesday, April 10th in the afternoon near the intersection of Hwy CS and Wilson Road in the town of Dekorra. Law enforcement said roadway conditions appeard to have been a factor in the crash, and weather reports showed it was snowing at the time…
A light glaze of ice from freezing rain followed by 3 to 6 inches of sleet and snow accumulation.
A missing rural Portage woman was found dead near a frozen stream. She had been missing since Jan. 28th. The Columbia County Medical Examiner's office reported Hypothermia was a major factor in her death with alcohol a contributing factor. Low temperatures the morning of Jan. 29t…
An icy roadway from freezing drizzle led to a fatal car accident around 5:45 am in the Town of Leeds. The man was killed when his car slid into an oncoming pickup truck.
Maximum daily heat index values ranged from 106 to 109 over the four days of July 17th through July 20th. A 65-year-old male, residing near Fall River, died from the heat. The county medical examiner said the man had underlying medical conditions, that combined with the heat, con…
This tornado was extremely wide since the thunderstorm cloud base was very low and the meso-cyclone that is usually aloft was well-formed all the way to the ground. Within a broad 1 to 2 mile wide area of EF0 to EF1 damage, there were several small swaths of EF2 damage due to mul…
The river at the gage in Portage was in flood from the evening of September 24th through the morning of September 30th, and reached a record flood level of 20.66 feet during the evening of Monday, September 27th. The old record crest at Portage was 20.50 feet on 09/14/1938. The f…
Heavy rains resulted in a flash flood event that washed out some raods and gravel shoulders in the western part of the county. This event was one of 3 flash flood events over parts of Columbia County on 3 separate days. Two started on June 7th, and one on June 8th. In all 3 flash…
A slow-moving thunderstorm moved from the Dekorra area southeast through the Poynette area to the North Leeds area, leaving in its wake a lot of crop damage due to hail. A roughly 40 to 45-minute hail shower (stones up to the size of quarters) fell in a band from about 3 miles so…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Peak heat index: 106F-Lodi 105F-Pardeeville.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Peak Heat Index: 105F-Pardeeville.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of a 63 MPH wind gust as measured by a home weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of many downed tree branches. Wind speed estimated from radar data, nearby observations, and damage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Reports of a few trees down in northwestern Columbia county.
Flood Flood
The Wisconsin River at Portage rose to Major flood stage. Indian trail in Lake Delton area was flooded. Other roads that were flooded included River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, Levee Road, Cty V, Cty J, Wood Street, Summit St, Carr…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two large trees blown down and a pine tree snapped at 80 feet high in a neighborhood. Additional trees and tree limbs down in the neighborhood and across Columbus. One tree felled on a home causing roof damage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Dozens of trees snapped, uprooted, or downed in Lodi. Powerlines down as well. A small portion of a roof collapsed at a nursing home.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple barns with roof damage, and scattered trees and powerlines down throughout the county.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A glaze of ice on trees, power lines and some roads from light freezing rain, mainly over the northern portion of the county.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totals of 10 to 11 inches and winds of 35 to 40 mph caused frequent white-out conditions across the county. Many rural roads were impassable until the afternoon due to blowing and drifting snow. All schools were closed.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulation of a half inch and a light glaze due to freezing rain in Portage. Highest snowfall amounts of up to 1 inch were in the northern portion of the county.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Measured wind gusts of 46 mph in Pardeeville and near WI Dells, but may have reached 50 mph over southern Columbia County. Branches down and a small number of power outages.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulation of 1-2 inches in the far southern portion of the county.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Widespread wind chills between 35 and 40 below zero countywide. Coldest wind chill of 41 below observed at the Pardeeville mesonet.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Totals near 0.5 inches countywide, with locally higher totals. Highest accumulation of 0.6 inches observed near Portage. Blowing snow & reduced visibilities lead to lingering travel impacts after snow ends.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulation generally an inch or less countywide; numerous reported crashes on roadways.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A glaze of ice on roads and elevated surfaces from freezing drizzle. I-90/94 westbound was closed for a time around mile marker 118 due to an accident.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulation of 1-3 inches. Westerly wind gusts of 35-40 mph.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Wind chill temperatures 20 below to 31 below zero.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulation of 3-4 inches. Some blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow accumulation of 9-12 inches.
Flood Flood
Multiple reports of minor street flooding in the city of Portage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large branches down and corn bent over.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree uprooted along Highway 16 in Portage. A branch down in the city.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few tree limbs down on campsites near Pardeeville.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 0 |
| 2025 | 24 | 1 |
| 2024 | 27 | 0 |
| 2023 | 25 | 0 |
| 2022 | 35 | 0 |
| 2021 | 18 | 2 |
| 2020 | 24 | 0 |
| 2019 | 34 | 0 |
| 2018 | 42 | 1 |
| 2017 | 24 | 0 |
| 2016 | 25 | 0 |
| 2015 | 16 | 0 |
| 2014 | 23 | 0 |
| 2013 | 24 | 1 |
| 2012 | 32 | 0 |
| 2011 | 18 | 0 |
| 2010 | 24 | 1 |
| 2009 | 21 | 0 |
| 2008 | 51 | 6 |
| 2007 | 37 | 0 |
| 2006 | 59 | 2 |
| 2005 | 33 | 2 |
| 2004 | 29 | 2 |
| 2003 | 24 | 0 |
| 2002 | 21 | 0 |
| 2001 | 32 | 0 |
| 2000 | 24 | 0 |
| 1999 | 24 | 0 |
| 1998 | 17 | 0 |
| 1997 | 19 | 0 |
| 1996 | 15 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 10 | 0 |
| 1988 | 4 | 2 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | 11 | 5 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 |
| 1982 | 4 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 9 | 2 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 1 |
| 1976 | 3 | 1 |
| 1975 | 3 | 1 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 |
| 1966 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | 3 | 3 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Columbia County, measured to its path.
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