Sawyer County, Wisconsin
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1960 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
8
Tornado reports
174
Hail reports
21
Floods since 1996
559
All events
5
Deaths
$1.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Sawyer County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 8 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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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.
Strong thunderstorm winds blew over an oak tree onto an occupied camper, killing one of the occupants and injuring 3 others. Numerous trees were blown over roadways in the area as well.
A 55 year-old man was killed after a thunderstorm toppled a tree onto the tent where he and his 7 year-old grandson were sleeping on Loon Point Island in the Chippewa Flowage. Rescuers found the man alive the following morning, but he died before he reached the hospital.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A photo was received of a 10 to 12 inch diameter maple tree that was snapped 15 feet off the ground.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Size was estimated to be around quarter-sized, but the appearance of the hail in photos suggested slightly larger.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Largest hail was half-dollar size with lots of smaller hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Hayward Laundry on Dakota Ave had its roof torn off by the wind.
Ice Storm Ice Storm
Freezing rain began during the evening of the 3rd and continued through around sunrise on the 4th. Ice accumulations up to a quarter of an inch were reported across the county.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals for the event were in the 5 to 9 inch range. A high report of 9.7 inches was received from near Northwoods Beach.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills as low as -48F were reported in the county.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals around the county were in generally in the 4 to 8 inch range with higher amounts in the eastern reaches of the county. A high report of 10.5 inches was reported in Winter.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals of 4 to 8 inches were reported across Sawyer County for the event. A high report of 10.5 inches was recorded just to the south-southeast of Hayward.
Flood Flood
Three to six inches of water was covering both lanes of Wisconsin 70 between Main and 1st Street North in Stone Lake.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two aspen trees ten inches in diameter were uprooted.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees were down completely blocking Peninsula and Linden Road six miles east of Hayward. Roads were completely impassible.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were snapped along Sawmill Road on the northeast side of Hayward Lake. At least one of the trees was larger than two feet in diameter per photos. One of the trees fell onto a home causing damage.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Winds damaged vendor pop up tents in downtown Hayward. About 25 to 30 percent of the tents set up experienced wind damage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large branches were broken and an aspen tree was snapped towards the top.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were broken off halfway up the trunk.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A six inch diameter tree was down on the eastbound lane of Highway 70.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was down along with light outdoor furniture and tools tossed around. The wind also shredded a tarp garage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree fell onto a cabin roof and twisted and broke an antenna.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A messy spring storm brought a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation during the first part of the storm. Heavy snow then followed with 3 to 6 inches of snow falling in about 6 hours. A high report of 6.5 inches of snow was recorded.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals were in the 3 to 6 inch range across the county. A high report of 7.2 inches was received from Northwoods Beach.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills as low as -36F were reported in the county.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Most snowfall totals in the county were under 6 inches, but a few locations in the the county reached 6 inches with a high report of 6 inches near Hayward.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow Squall. Visibilities quickly dropped to around 1/4 mile or less as the squall slowly passed through the northern and central parts of the county.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills as low as -46F were reported at the KHYR Sawyer County airport in Hayward.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow Squall. Visibilities quickly dropped to around 1/4 mile or less with wind gusts to 30 mph as the squall passed over the Hayward Airport.
Drought Drought
November began with D2 Severe Drought conditions across the northwestern half of the county. Precipitation during the middle of the month led to the complete removal of D2 Moderate Drought with the update on the 26th, leaving D1 Moderate Drought across the county. Overall precipi…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several hardwood and softwood trees were blown down in Reserve.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees reported down and on a local county road on the northwest side of Lake Chetac.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Sawyer County dispatch reported multiple downed power lines on the east side of Sand Lake along County Highway F.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree branch 8-12 inches in diameter was snapped off about 15-20 feet up and was down across Highway 27 near County Road K.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
All lanes of US 63 were covered with 6 to 10 inches of rushing water in Hayward. There were some localized areas where water was up to 2 feet deep.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A photo was received showing the top two-thirds of a tree that had been snapped off.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall began during the morning on the 24th and continued through the afternoon of the 25th across Sawyer County. Snowfall over the first 24 hours or so amounted to around 7 to 9 inches with snowfall totals of 10-14 inches. A high report of 14.4 inches was reported near Hayward…
Drought Drought
D2 Severe Drought persisted across the northeastern corner of the county with a small tail into the central part of the county to begin March with the remainder of the county covered by D1 Moderate Drought. A system brought significant precipitation to the region during the middl…
Drought Drought
D2 Severe Drought persisted across the northeastern corner of the county with a small tail into the central part of the county for the month of February. The remainder of the county was covered by D1 Moderate Drought. Precipitation for the month was up to three-quarters of an inc…
Drought Drought
D2 Severe Drought persisted across the northeastern corner of the county with a small tail into the central part of the county for the month of January. The remainder of the county was covered by D1 Moderate Drought with a few very small areas of D0 Abnormally Dry across the far …
Drought Drought
D2 Severe Drought persisted across the northeastern corner of the county with a small tail into the central part of the county for the month of December. The remainder of the county was covered by D1 Moderate Drought with a few very small areas of D0 Abnormally Dry across the far…
High Wind High Wind
Gusty southwest winds during the day ahead of a cold front followed by gusty northwest winds behind the front during the late afternoon and early evening hours led to a few reports of downed trees and branches across northern Sawyer County during the event. There was a lull in th…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 0 |
| 2025 | 20 | 0 |
| 2024 | 12 | 0 |
| 2023 | 39 | 0 |
| 2022 | 33 | 0 |
| 2021 | 20 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 28 | 0 |
| 2018 | 24 | 0 |
| 2017 | 28 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 0 |
| 2015 | 21 | 0 |
| 2014 | 22 | 0 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 | 7 | 0 |
| 2011 | 34 | 0 |
| 2010 | 22 | 0 |
| 2009 | 19 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 0 |
| 2007 | 12 | 0 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 13 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 | 11 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 0 |
| 2000 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 20 | 0 |
| 1998 | 6 | 2 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11 | 0 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 2 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 2 |
| 1985 | 6 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Sawyer County, measured to its path.
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