CBS 58 Severe Weather Awareness Week for 2026 took place from April 13-17, and while this week is normally meant to prepare Wisconsin for the chance of stronger storms for the warmer months to come, it prepared us with record amounts of rain and tornadoes.
Prior to the 13th, Wisconsin had severe warnings (including tornado warnings) issued, but no confirmed tornadoes. 1 week later, and the statewide total has jumped up to 24 confirmed tornadoes, with 14 of those being in Southeast Wisconsin, but none specifically in Milwaukee County. Normally, in an entire year, the state averages a total of 23 confirmed tornadoes. Moreso, last year we totaled 38 tornadoes, and that put the state tied for 6th on record for most tornadoes confirmed in a year, and in just a week, we are only 14 away from that number.
The National Weather Service has detailed tornado data dating as far back as 2014. So, using that data, the most statistical data (prior to this week) took place in August of 2018. During that month, 23 tornadoes were confirmed statewide, with 15 happening here in SE WI. In the most active week then, 20 of those tornadoes occurred with 14 in southeast Wisconsin. With our event alone, the 24 we have confirmed this week beats the 20 confirmed in one week, as well as the 23 confirmed in one month. 14 of our confirmed tornadoes were in our viewing area keeping that stat tied.
In one day during the historical week and month of August in 2018, a total of 19 of those tornadoes were recorded with still 14 being in Southeast Wisconsin. Luckily, we stayed away from a new record this week with us staying at 14 confirmed tornadoes in one day, and 7 being in our area, from our most active day this past week, which was Friday, April 17.
Most reports from this week for SE WI were either an EF-0 (65-85mph winds) or an EF-1 (86-110mph winds), with one outlier in Waukesha County from Monday, April 13th confirmed at an EF-2 (111-135mph winds). However, farther north and west of us, 3 EF-3 (136-165mph winds) were confirmed, which is very rare for Wisconsin. Prior to this week, only 4 other tornadoes have been confirmed at EF-3 in the past 12 years, keeping Wisconsin at an average less than 1 EF-3 expected per year, and none of those 4 had occurred in our area. We do keep this statistic going with the new 3 confirmed still away from us, but we are now up to 7 EF-3's confirmed since 2014 which is very sparse.
Another rarity that puts us in a record is just even seeing tornadoes in the month of April. Typically, our severe weather season happens in the summer, and prior to this week, only 8 tornadoes had ever been confirmed in April from recent data, with all 8 not being in Southeast Wisconsin. Our first tornadoes for us last year were confirmed on May 15 in Dodge County.
While this event did cover plenty of tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings were also issued, and for the month of April so far, 287 warnings have been issued statewide, when the month of April usually sees 22 warnings issued across the state.
Finally, this week has significantly contributed to a historical wet April with us racking up over 9" of rain for the city of Milwaukee, putting us first on record for most rain recorded in April, and the month is not over yet. Flood warnings still hold for all of our local river until, hopefully, this mostly quiet week ahead can help dry us out.
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Here is a list of the confirmed tornadoes across the state from this week in best approximate order. Please note, any data stated here can be adjusted in the future if new data comes in.
1. Sussex, EF-2 at 120mph (Waukesha Co.)
2. Endeavor, EF-1 at 110mph (Marquette Co.)
3. Union City, EF-3 at 140mph (Juneau Co.)
4. Beaver Dam, EF-0 at 85mph (Dodge Co.)
5. East Troy, EF-1 at 100mph (Walworth Co.)
6. Gilman, EF-0 at 80mph (Taylor Co.)
7. Waterford, EF-1 at 100mph (Racine Co.)
8. Kansasville, EF-0 at 80mph (Racine Co.)
9. Somers, EF-1 at 105mph (Kenosha Co.)
10. Elkhorn, EF-1 at 100mph (Walworth Co.)
11. Wind Lake, EF-1 at 100mph (Racine Co.)
12. Wind Lake, EF-0 at 80 mph (Racine Co.)
13. Cream, EF-3 at 140mph (Buffalo Co.)
14. Weston, EF-3 at 140mph (Marathon Co.)
15. Waterford, EF-0 at 70mph (Racine Co.)
16. Wind Lake, EF-0 at 70mph (Waukesha Co.)
17. Blair, EF-1 at 110mph (Trempealeau Co.)
18. Burlington, EF-0 at 70mph (Walworth Co.)
19. Requa, EF-1 at 100mph (Trempealeau Co.)
20. Janesville, EF-1 at 100mph (Rock Co.)
21. Glandon, EF-1 at 110mph (Marathon Co.)
22. Darien, EF-1 at 100mph (Walworth Co.)
23. Hatfield, EF-1 at 100mph (Jackson Co.)
24. Delavan, EF-1 at 100mph (Walworth Co.)
