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Wind in Polk County, Wisconsin
215 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.
Polk County, Wisconsin, has 215 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 44 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 84 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 119 events against 59 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.5% of the 14,734 wind events recorded in Wisconsin; its 23.5 per 100 square miles compares with 27.2 statewide.
134 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 8 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 | Polk County | Wisconsin | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 215 | 14,734 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 23.5 | 27.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 47.3 | 25.0 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 42 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
6May
32Jun
34Jul
84Aug
38Sep
17Oct
3Nov
0Dec
0
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 176 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 215. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $4.1M | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $800K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | $50K | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
215 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 Polk County?
19 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Polk County?
The thunderstorm wind of 12 Sep 2005, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $4.1M.
How does Polk County compare with Wisconsin for wind?
23.5 events per 100 square miles against 27.2 statewide; the county holds 215 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.