Rusk County, Wisconsin
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1950 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
16
Tornado reports
77
Hail reports
10
Floods since 1996
324
All events
0
Deaths
$28.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Rusk County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 16 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 EF3 Tornado
The long-track tornado continued from Barron County into Rusk County and produced EF3 damage in the Conrath area. It entered Rusk County with an east-northeast track, but shortly thereafter began a gradual turn to the east and barely missed the village of Weyerhaeuser. Soon after…
The first tornadic supercell to rake Wisconsin this day started just west of Ladysmith and tore through the downtown before moving into rural parts of eastern Rusk County. Injury totals fluctuated at first, but Rusk County Emergency Management stated there were approximately 27 i…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
CoCoRaHS observer 2 miles WNW of Ladysmith reported a small amount of sleet mixed in with freezing rain.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Visibilities were dramatically reduced, reaching below 1 mile at times, as heavy snow fell and sustained winds were 15 to 25 mph with frequent gusts over 30 mph. The 2-day snowfall reports ranged from about 6 to 10 inches throughout the county. The DOT issued a travel advisory on…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The heaviest snow fell during the evening of the 10th and early morning of the 11th. Interpolated snow amounts ranged from 4 inches in the northern part of the county to 1 inch in the southern part of the county. The highest report was 1.4 inches in Ladysmith.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
KRCX reported wind gusts as high as 30 mph during the evening as air temperatures dropped from -15F to -27F overnight. The lowest measured wind chill was -49F at 5AM on the 23rd.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall reports ranged from 7 to 8 inches, and the highest report was 8.0 inches near Ladysmith. Winds became breezy at times, dropping surface visibilities at KRCX to 1 mile or less at times while snow was falling.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS at Rusk County Airport reported multiple hours of freezing drizzle. A CoCoRaHS observer reported that freezing drizzle produced a very slippery glaze of ice.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Between 4 to 6 inches of snow fell across the county. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 4.4 inches of snow 2 miles WNW of Ladysmith.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were estimated around 2 to 4 inches. The highest report was 2.8 inches 3 miles NW of Ladysmith. The snow was generally light and fluffy, and fell over a period longer than 24 hours.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall amounts around 1 to 7 inches were estimated across the county, with the greatest amounts to the northwest and lower amounts to the southeast. Winds also increased Wednesday morning, with gusts up to 35 mph measured at Rusk County Regional Airport into Wednesday afternoon…
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A storm survey determined an area of significant thunderstorm wind damage along County Highway P southeast of Ladysmith. There were several downed trees and snapped or leaning power poles. The most significant damage was near the intersection of Roses Road and County Highway P wh…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A storm survey determined significant thunderstorm wind damage near the Flambeau River and Dairyland Reservoir. There were several downed trees as well as twisted and moved docks. A pontoon had been partially lifted onto a nearby pontoon in Groothousen Bay.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Several hours of light freezing rain resulted in accumulations around 0.1 to 0.2 inches of flat ice across the county. A narrow band of heavy snow resulted in accumulations around 1 to 3 inches on top of the ice, leading to hazardous travel conditions Sunday.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
An estimated 4 to 8 inches of snowfall was measured across the county.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
A couple hours with wind chill below -35 observed at KRCX each morning.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
An estimated 3 to 5.5 inches of snowfall was measured across the county. The highest snowfall observation was 4.5 inches near Bruce, WI.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Multiple bands of snow moved through and produced an estimated 5 to 7 inches of light fluffy snow, based on surrounding reports.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The AWOS located at the Rusk County Airport recorded several hours of extreme wind chills with a minimum recording of -42 degrees.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
An estimated area of 2 to 4 inches fell across the county. 3.1 inches of snow was measured 3 miles NW of Ladysmith, WI.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Two to three inches of snowfall was measured across the county. The highest snowfall observation was three inches in Big Falls, WI.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were down. There was minor damage to a hoop barn greenhouse.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Multiple bands of snow moved through and produced generally 9 to 11 inches of heavy wet snow and 30 mph wind gusts. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 11.3 inches of snow 2 miles WNW of Ladysmith, WI.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
CoCoRaHS observers measured three to five inches of snow across the county.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several reports were received near the town of Hawkins, WI that trees and powerlines were downed by strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A nearly stationary deformation band over Central Wisconsin provided a well-defined gradient of heavy snowfall. The highest snowfall totals were confined to the eastern region of Rusk County. COOP observers measured 10 inches of snowfall at the Big Falls Hydroelectric Station or …
Winter Storm Winter Storm
This is a continuation of the winter storm that began on March 31. A wintry mix with a couple hours of very heavy snow and strong northwest winds produced hazardous driving conditions. Based on surrounding reports, radar, ASOS observations, and WIDOT road conditions, this event v…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A wintry mix with a couple hours of very heavy snow and strong northwest winds produced hazardous driving conditions. Based on surrounding reports, radar, ASOS observations, and WIDOT road conditions, this event verified at 0300 CST on April 01, before the snow ended during the e…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Rusk County Sheriff's Office reported that numerous deputies measured 9+ inches of snowfall.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Multiple bands of snow moved across the county. Sustained winds increased out of the northeast to 20 mph with gusts near 30 mph. Across the county, Interpolated Snowfall Analysis using the National Gridded Snowfall Analysis (NGSA) map detailed that at least 1-3 inches fell in 24 …
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A band of heavy snow lifted up from the south and produced 5 to 6 inches across the county, with the heaviest amounts in the southeast part of the county. Most of the snow fell between midnight and 6 AM on the 19th.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
There were several reports of 5 to 7 inches across the county during an 24 hour period from January 03 to January 04.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Areas of blowing snow and hazardous travel was expected from a deep fresh snow pack and forecast winds of 30 to 40 mph. However, wind gusts ended up being less than forecast, so this event did not verify the Winter Storm Warning. Roads were ice-covered, and very cold wind chills …
Winter Storm Winter Storm
There were multiple reports of 5 to 6 inches in neighboring counties to the southwest and northeast of Rusk County within a 12-hour period. One report received near Ladysmith, WI observed 5 inches of snowfall. This verifies the winter storm warning.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Light snow began Tuesday morning, February 22nd. However, the bulk of the heavier snowfall, and higher snowfall rates, occurred during the afternoon hours. By the time the light snow tapered off, locally 6 to 8 inches fell across the county. Possibly locally higher snowfall amoun…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Light snow developed Friday afternoon. During the late afternoon, through the mid evening, occasional light to moderate snow fell. Total snowfall amounts across the county averaged between 9 to 11 inches. Lesser amounts were noted in the far northwest part of the county where loc…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There were approximately 20-30 trees that were blown down on the roadways with most being poplar or dead hardwoods. There were also some houses that were damaged from downed trees in Bruce.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado moved toward the north-northwest and struck a farm toward the end of its path. The roof of a shed was lifted up and pushed, some concrete blocks were knocked over. Siding of a house was ripped off. A few trees were downed. The starting point was based on video. Three vi…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 15 | 0 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 14 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 8 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 1 |
| 2018 | 10 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 10 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 8 | 0 |
| 2007 | 14 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 |
| 2005 | 16 | 0 |
| 2004 | 7 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 12 | 1 |
| 2001 | 18 | 0 |
| 2000 | 19 | 0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 1 |
| 1998 | 7 | 2 |
| 1997 | 5 | 1 |
| 1996 | 14 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 5 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |
| 1950 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Rusk County, measured to its path.
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