Rock 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.
38
Tornado reports
174
Hail reports
90
Floods since 1996
1,215
All events
14
Deaths
$99.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Rock County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 38 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.
Dense fog was a factor in a head-on-collision on highway 14 in the Janesville Township. One fatality and one seriously injured person were reported.
The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office determined hypothermia was a contributing factor in the death of a man found frozen outside in Beloit.
The frozen body of a woman was found next to her car outside her rural home. Temperatures were slightly below zero early that morning and the Medical Examiner's Office determined that hypothermia contributed to her death.
Areas of ice and snow on roadways resulted in a head-on collision on highway 14. The drivers of both vehicles were killed.
A man was struck by lightning and killed when he got out of his vehicle on highway 14 to correct the windshield wiper. A line of severe thunderstorms was moving through the area at the time.
High winds out of the northwest were a factor in a multi-vehicle accident that killed a 86 year old man near the intersection of Highway 11 and Dunbar Road in the Town of Plymouth. The car driven by the 86 year old man crossed the center-line going westbound and collided with an …
Wind chill temperatures ranged from 20 below to 30 below zero. One cold weather death was reported by the Rock County Coroner. A man collapsed outside due to a heart attack and the extreme cold.
Gusty winds to 50 mph combined with heavy snow to produce visibilities of 1/4 mile or less, as well as blowing and drifting snow. Snowfall totals only ranged between 2 and 5 inches, but the blowing and drifting snow caused State Highway 14, between State Highway 140 in Rock Count…
A brief period of snow showers with reduced visibility and accumulating snow resulted in two large vehicle pile-ups on both sides of I-39/90 near Beloit and Janesville. Approximately 85 vehicles were involved in the pile-ups and around 50 people were injured and treated in area h…
Around 700 911 calls mainly attributed to flash flooding. Flash flooding of streets and yards in Janesville with basement flooding in many homes. Many vehicles stranded in deep water. A bridge was washed out due to the flooding of Fisher Creek over Rockport Rd. Severe flooding of…
The tornado began just west of Murray Rd, north of Bass Creek where portions of several trees were snapped. The tornado quickly grew, moved to the east-northeast and produced damage rated EF-1 neighborhoods near Loch Lomond park. EF-2 damage was noted at a residence on the east s…
Beginning section of the second tornado to ever occur in February in Wisconsin. Storm chaser/spotter/public videos show the tornado beginning around 5:39pm south of Evansville. The tornado intensified as it tracked to the east of Evansville where it impacted 30 primary residences…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Peak heat index: 106F Janesville.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Peak Heat Index: 106F-Estimated.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
A funnel cloud was reported near Fulton.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There was a report of three large tree limbs down from a healthy tree in Milton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter estimates 85 MPH wind gusts from observations and home weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter estimates 80 MPH wind gusts just west of Edgerton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter estimates 80 MPH wind gusts near Milton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of a large downed tree branch in Edgerton. Wind gust estimated from radar data and damage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of a large downed tree branch. Wind gust estimated from radar data and damage.
Flood Flood
The Rock River at Newville rose to Moderate flood stage. Flood waters surrounded some homes near East Mallwood Drive and were into yards and roads across eastern Newville. Floodwaters affected a riverside restaurant and its parking lot on the south side of the river.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Brief tornado that caused damage near Maple Lane southeast of Janesville. Storm chaser video confirmed a brief tornado in this area. More widespread damage occurred west and east of this track due to downburst winds.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Brief tornado went through Emerald Grove, destroying a barn and causing damage to an antique store. Significant tree damage along the path as well with debris lofted well to the ENE from the structures.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Multivortex tornado documented southwest of Richmond. Multiple sheds with sheet metal damage along County Highway M before entering Walworth County.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Flood Flood
The Rock River at Afton rose to Moderate flood stage. Floodwaters affected Riverside Park and several blocks of Joseph and Charles Streets on the north side of Janesville and South River Road on the south side of Janesville. Traxler Park off of Memorial Drive in Janesville was fl…
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Public report of a funnel cloud near Janesville.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager reports water over the road at County Highway A and Austin Road. Start and end times estimated from radar data.
Flood Flood
Floodwaters over a portion of highway 140 on the north side of Clinton.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totals of 6 to 10 inches and winds of 35 to 45 mph caused heavy drifting and frequent white-out conditions across the county. All schools were closed.
High Wind High Wind
Measured wind gust of 58 mph from the Janesville Airport. Many branches down and a small number of power outages across the county.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 36 | 3 |
| 2025 | 45 | 0 |
| 2024 | 52 | 5 |
| 2023 | 19 | 3 |
| 2022 | 35 | 1 |
| 2021 | 20 | 1 |
| 2020 | 21 | 0 |
| 2019 | 36 | 0 |
| 2018 | 43 | 0 |
| 2017 | 25 | 1 |
| 2016 | 31 | 0 |
| 2015 | 18 | 1 |
| 2014 | 32 | 0 |
| 2013 | 42 | 0 |
| 2012 | 52 | 0 |
| 2011 | 29 | 0 |
| 2010 | 34 | 1 |
| 2009 | 30 | 1 |
| 2008 | 56 | 0 |
| 2007 | 40 | 0 |
| 2006 | 48 | 1 |
| 2005 | 45 | 1 |
| 2004 | 34 | 0 |
| 2003 | 28 | 1 |
| 2002 | 32 | 0 |
| 2001 | 39 | 0 |
| 2000 | 35 | 1 |
| 1999 | 37 | 0 |
| 1998 | 40 | 1 |
| 1997 | 23 | 0 |
| 1996 | 26 | 0 |
| 1995 | 14 | 0 |
| 1994 | 8 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | 5 | 2 |
| 1990 | 7 | 0 |
| 1989 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | 6 | 1 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 7 | 0 |
| 1983 | 10 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 4 | 1 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 6 | 1 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | 2 | 1 |
| 1971 | 5 | 1 |
| 1970 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 1 | 1 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 3 | 1 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3 | 2 |
| 1962 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | 2 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 2 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Rock County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.