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Wind in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
325 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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.
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, has 325 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 64 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 77 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 155 events against 109 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.2% of the 14,734 wind events recorded in Wisconsin; its 134.6 per 100 square miles compares with 27.2 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
152 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 19 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Wisconsin
| Measure | Milwaukee County | Wisconsin | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 325 | 14,734 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 134.6 | 27.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 3.5 | 25.0 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 42 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
6Mar
16Apr
26May
25Jun
77Jul
69Aug
40Sep
28Oct
11Nov
15Dec
6
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
The 175 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 325. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 2026 | High Wind | 77 mph | $250K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 68 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2025 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2023 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 61 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2022 | Strong Wind | 56 mph | $7K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2019 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Oct 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2019 | High Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Oct 2018 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2018 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2017 | High Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 59 mph | $40K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2016 | High Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 63 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2015 | Strong Wind | 56 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2013 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $12K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2013 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2013 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $8K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2012 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2012 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2012 | Strong Wind | 30 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2012 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2012 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2012 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2012 | Strong Wind | 33 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 2012 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2011 | Strong Wind | 56 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2011 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Oct 2011 | High Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Sep 2011 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $2K | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2011 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 2011 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 2011 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $4K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 61 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Sep 2010 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Sep 2010 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2010 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $5K | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 May 2010 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2007 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Aug 2007 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Strong Wind | 56 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 May 2003 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $5.1M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $75K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2001 | High Wind | — | $75K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | — | $1.0M | — | 1 | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 31 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | $19M | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 5 May 1997 | High Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | — | $300K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $11K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Milwaukee County had?
325 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Milwaukee County?
27 Apr 2026 (High Wind, 77 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Milwaukee County?
The thunderstorm wind of 31 May 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $19M.
How does Milwaukee County compare with Wisconsin for wind?
134.6 events per 100 square miles against 27.2 statewide; the county holds 325 of the state's 14,734 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 Wind hub and the county page.