Lafayette County, Wisconsin
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
36
Tornado reports
80
Hail reports
48
Floods since 1996
771
All events
2
Deaths
$25.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Lafayette County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 36 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
A supercell thunderstorm, after dropping a couple tornadoes in northeast Iowa, eventually moved northeast into Lafayette county, creating another tornado. This tornado touched down just southwest of Benton and hopped/skipped northeast for 20 miles. It caused moderate to severe da…
A narrow path of EF1 tornado damage. Numerous trees and power poles down. A large calf barn was nearly completely destroyed, killing two calves. Several pole barns were completely destroyed. Minor roof damage to a couple homes. A garage blown off the foundation.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Peak heat index: 105F Estimated.
Heat Heat
Peak Heat Index: 103F-Estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power lines were reported down south of Belmont.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
Video of a brief tornado shared with Lafayette County Emergency Management shows a narrow tornado occurring near the East Branch of the Pecatonica River south of Argyle. In the video, some tree branches and limbs are hit or downed. Storm survey wasn't able to yield any additional…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter measures 88 MPH gust on home weather station.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
Tornado appeared to start along/west of County Road J and east of Dump Rd. Some tree damage was noted along Ollie Bell Rd along a few houses on the street. Along Penny Benton Rd, it hit 6 trees, 1 uprooted, 1 snapped at the trunk but was rotted. As it tracked east, it hit some me…
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
High Wind High Wind
A Wisconet site recorded a wind gust of 58 mph.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totals of 6 to 10 inches and winds of 35 to 45 mph caused frequent white-out conditions across the county. All schools were closed.
High Wind High Wind
Measured wind gusts of 57-62 from near Platteville to Darlington. Frequent wind gusts in the 50 mph range across the county. Many branches down and a small number of power outages.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Widespread wind chills between 35 and 45 below zero countywide, with locally colder readings. Coldest wind chill of 46 below zero observed near Darlington.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Between 1 to 2 inches of snow accumulation observed countywide, with locally higher totals. Greatest accumulation of 2.5 inches observed in Darlington.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 2 to 3 inches of snow accumulation observed countywide, with locally higher totals to 4 inches near the Wisconsin-Illinois border. Highest accumulation of 4 inches observed in Gratiot.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Total accumulations near 0.5 inches observed countywide. Highest accumulation of 0.5 inches observed in Darlington. Blowing snow and reduced visibilities continue following the end of snowfall, leading to lingering travel impacts.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A glaze of ice on roads and elevated surfaces from freezing drizzle.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulation of 2-3 inches. Westerly wind gusts around 45 mph.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Wind chill temperatures 20 below to 26 below zero.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Freezing rain and a glaze of ice accumulation. Very minor snow accumulation.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulation of 4-6 inches.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow accumulation of 10-13 inches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wisconet station reported 62 MPH gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust was reported from a home weather station. Trees reported down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Widespread tree damage across the county. Corn damage in the Elk Grove area.
Flood Flood
Ingwell Rd. flooded near a creek in northeast Lafayette County. A few roads flooded and closed in the Darlington and Calamine areas. This included Ferndale Rd. and Rollercoaster Rd. near the Pecatonica River.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index values of 97-104 degrees Fahrenheit and minimums in the middle to upper 70s.
Hail Hail
Measured tennis ball sized hail.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts in the mid to upper 60 mph range were measured on a home weather station.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Widespread wind chills between -25 and -35 observed countywide. Minimum wind chill of -32 observed at a Mesonet station near Belmont.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Storm-total accumulations generally in the 1-3 inch range countywide. Highest total of 3.1 inches observed in Argyle.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Storm-total accumulations generally in the 2-6 inch range countywide. Highest total of 5.9 inches observed in Benton.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Ice accumulations from freezing drizzle ranging between 0.02 inches and 0.10 inches, resulting in slippery spots on untreated surfaces.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Widespread wind chills in the -30 to -40 degree range were observed from 2 AM January 21 through the mid morning hours of January 21. Coldest wind chill of -38 was observed in Belmont.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Long duration snowfall brings widespread trace to 2 inch accumulations countywide. Highest total of 2.3 inches observed in Darlington.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Glazing of ice on many county roads during round of light freezing rain.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Heat index up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Branches down and a shed blown over.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water flowing over a portion of highway 126 near Belmont. Portions of roads flooded in or near Benton, Shullsburg, Darlington, South Wayne and Gratiot. A culvert washed out near Benton.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
Tornado filmed by multiple storm chasers and mainly went through farmland. One barn was hit and lost sheet metal on the roof. Tree damage was noted as well.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 2 |
| 2025 | 21 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 2 |
| 2023 | 21 | 2 |
| 2022 | 20 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 0 |
| 2020 | 17 | 0 |
| 2019 | 33 | 0 |
| 2018 | 29 | 2 |
| 2017 | 25 | 0 |
| 2016 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 22 | 2 |
| 2013 | 28 | 0 |
| 2012 | 38 | 0 |
| 2011 | 19 | 0 |
| 2010 | 21 | 1 |
| 2009 | 30 | 3 |
| 2008 | 38 | 0 |
| 2007 | 34 | 2 |
| 2006 | 29 | 0 |
| 2005 | 23 | 0 |
| 2004 | 22 | 0 |
| 2003 | 16 | 1 |
| 2002 | 17 | 0 |
| 2001 | 21 | 0 |
| 2000 | 32 | 1 |
| 1999 | 16 | 0 |
| 1998 | 21 | 1 |
| 1997 | 17 | 0 |
| 1996 | 12 | 0 |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 |
| 1994 | 7 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 3 | 2 |
| 1987 | 2 | 1 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 2 |
| 1983 | 13 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 | 1 |
| 1967 | 2 | 2 |
| 1963 | 2 | 2 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Lafayette County, measured to its path.
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