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Tornado in Chippewa County, Wisconsin
35 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Chippewa County, Wisconsin, has 35 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 22 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 3 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.9% of the 1,820 tornado events recorded in Wisconsin; its 3.5 per 100 square miles compares with 3.4 statewide.
NCEI attributes 5 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 3 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Wisconsin
| Measure | Chippewa County | Wisconsin | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 35 | 1,820 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.2 | 3.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 5 | 98 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
5Jun
10Jul
10Aug
3Sep
5Oct
0Nov
0Dec
2
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 35 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2019 | Tornado | EF3 | $3.0M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 12 Jul 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 5 | County |
| 15 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1977 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 30 Jul 1977 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | 20 | County |
| 30 Jul 1977 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 8 | County |
| 15 Jun 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 23 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1967 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1959 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1959 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1958 | Tornado | F4 | $250K | — | 3 | 50 | County |
| 4 Jun 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 10 May 1953 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Chippewa County had?
35 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Chippewa County?
15 Dec 2021 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Chippewa County?
The tornado of 30 Jul 1977, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Chippewa County compare with Wisconsin for tornado?
3.5 events per 100 square miles against 3.4 statewide; the county holds 35 of the state's 1,820 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.