Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1956 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
51
Tornado reports
176
Hail reports
60
Floods since 1996
1,097
All events
15
Deaths
$139.9M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Jefferson County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 51 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 F3 Tornado
Snow accumulation of 1-2 inches. A woman died in a traffic accident around 7:40 AM CDT on highway 12 northeast of Fort Atkinson ,when her car crossed into the oncoming lane and struck a truck. Law enforcement determined a shallow covering of snow on the road was a factor in the c…
One to two inches of snow accumulation. One indirect death from a car accident when one vehicle slid into an oncoming vehicle on slippery highway 12 in the Town of Oakland.
Snow accumulation of 3-4 inches. Two fatalities occurred in a snow related vehicle accident.
A motorist lost control on icy highway CW in Ixonia, and crossed the centerline striking another vehicle. One motorist was killed.
The Jefferson County Medical Examiner reported a death of man due to hypothermia. The man was found lying in his front yard at daybreak. It is unknown how many hours the man was lying in the snow. Temperatures were in the 20s Fahrenheit during the morning.
Light snow began falling late in the afternoon of Monday, December 20th and continued through the night into the morning of Tuesday, December 21st. Light freezing drizzle mixed in with the snow, creating a light glaze on untreated surfaces. Snowfall totals around 2 inches were re…
Lightning struck and killed a boy watching the storms outside. He lived on Ebenezer Road in the Civil Town of Watertown.
Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Jefferson County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. The rain on June 12th ultimately lead to record-setting crests on the Rock and Crawfish Rivers, and many farm fields remain…
Hail sizes ranged from 1.00 to 2.50 inches in diameter.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Peak heat index: 109F Watertown.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Peak Heat Index: 105F-Watertown.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter estimates 85 MPH wind gusts to the southeast of Rockdale.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter estimates 75 MPH wind gusts in Fort Atkinson.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of a 60 MPH wind gust as measured by a home weather station.
Flood Flood
The Rock River in the Fort Atkinson area continued to have impacts from high water. The floodwaters affected some park land and boat launchees, and partially flooded the following roads: Sinissippi Drive, Bark River Road from Kutz Road to Rock River Road and E Milwaukee Ave, and …
Flood Flood
The Rock River at Lake Koshkonong continued to have impacts from high water. Floodwaters reached Oxbow Bend Road in the area of the gauge on the east side of the lake. The following roads were flooded: the end of Road 9, end of Road 8 St, end of E Road 7, Lakeview Dr, Charley Blu…
Flood Flood
The Rock River at Lake Koshkonong rose to Moderate flood stage. There was widespread flooding of roads and docks in the Town of Koshkonong and Town of Sumner including Vets Lane, Blackhawk Island Road and Oxbow Bend Road. There was knee-deep water over Blackhawk Island Road. Lamp…
Flood Flood
The Rock River at Fort Atkinson rose to Moderate flood stage. Floodwaters partially covered low spots on Highway 106 near Rock River Park. A riverside walkway near South Water Street in downtown Fort Atkinson was closed. A few homes and businesses were surrounded by water at the …
Hail Hail
Public report of 1 inch diameter hail in Watertown.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reports 1.75 inch diameter hail south of Watertown.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reports 1 inch diameter hail in Waterloo.
Hail Hail
Public report of 1.25 inch diameter hail in Watertown.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reports 1.75 inch diameter hail in Watertown.
Hail Hail
Public report of 1 inch diameter hail in Waterloo.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reports 2.75 inch diameter hail southeast of Watertown.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reports 1 inch diameter hail northwest of Lake Mills.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter estimates 70 MPH wind gusts.
Lightning Lightning
Home struck by lightning and followed by a fire. The Fort Atkinson Fire Department reported it took 45 minutes to get the fire under control. No injuries, but structural and smoke and water damage displaced the 4 residents from the home.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding of streets in Watertown. A few stranded vehicles across the city. A 3 to 4 foot sinkhole occurred due to the floodwaters.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
Continuation of the Dane County/Rockdale tornado. Only briefly went into Jefferson county with a field tree line hit.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A swath of scattered tree, power line, and structural damage across northern Jefferson County. This included many uprooted and snapped trees, power lines down, and fallen trees on vehicles especially in Waterloo and Watertown. Eight power poles were snapped on East Clarkson Rd. i…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A swath of scattered tree, power line, and structural damage across central and southern Jefferson County. This included many uprooted and snapped trees, power lines down, and fallen trees on homes and vehicles especially in Fort Atkinson and Jefferson. The entire roof of a home …
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totals of 7 to 10 inches and winds of 35 to 45 mph caused frequent white-out conditions across the county. Two-foot drifts quickly developed after plowing the streets. All schools were closed. There was minor tree damage in southern portions of the county.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Measured and estimated wind gusts around 50 mph across the county. Many branches down and a small number of power outages.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulation of 1-3 inches.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Widespread wind chills between 35 and 40 below zero observed countywide. Coldest wind chill of 40 below zero observed at the Watertown AWOS.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 1 to 2 inches of snow observed countywide, with highest totals over the southern half of the county. Highest accumulation of 1.8 inches observed in Palmyra.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Total accumulations near 0.5 inches observed countywide. Highest accumulation of 0.5 inches observed in Jefferson. Blowing snow and reduced visibilities continue following the end of snowfall, leading to lingering travel impacts.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 32 | 1 |
| 2025 | 33 | 0 |
| 2024 | 25 | 5 |
| 2023 | 29 | 3 |
| 2022 | 34 | 3 |
| 2021 | 22 | 4 |
| 2020 | 11 | 0 |
| 2019 | 37 | 2 |
| 2018 | 33 | 0 |
| 2017 | 33 | 0 |
| 2016 | 24 | 0 |
| 2015 | 13 | 0 |
| 2014 | 24 | 0 |
| 2013 | 29 | 0 |
| 2012 | 49 | 0 |
| 2011 | 34 | 0 |
| 2010 | 40 | 5 |
| 2009 | 21 | 0 |
| 2008 | 54 | 1 |
| 2007 | 43 | 0 |
| 2006 | 47 | 0 |
| 2005 | 43 | 7 |
| 2004 | 36 | 2 |
| 2003 | 26 | 0 |
| 2002 | 20 | 1 |
| 2001 | 37 | 0 |
| 2000 | 36 | 0 |
| 1999 | 26 | 1 |
| 1998 | 19 | 0 |
| 1997 | 32 | 1 |
| 1996 | 20 | 0 |
| 1995 | 16 | 0 |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 9 | 1 |
| 1990 | 4 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 1 |
| 1987 | 4 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 2 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 8 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 4 | 1 |
| 1980 | 5 | 2 |
| 1979 | 4 | 1 |
| 1978 | 6 | 0 |
| 1977 | 9 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 5 | 1 |
| 1972 | 4 | 2 |
| 1971 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3 | 1 |
| 1964 | 3 | 0 |
| 1962 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | 3 | 0 |
| 1960 | 5 | 0 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Jefferson County, measured to its path.
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