Adams County, Wisconsin
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 55001 · population 20,645 · 646 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 477 records for Adams County, Wisconsin from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 331 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (171 records). The deadliest single record is the December 24, 2020 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Adams, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1976, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides” on October 18, 2018.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 477on 331 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 340 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $33Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 2020
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Adams County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 171 since 1971. 58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1971 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Wisconsin's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 171 | 108 | 1971-2026 | 0 | 8 | $9.1M | 28 of 72 |
| Hail | 109 | 68 | 1966-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.5M | 28 of 72 |
| Winter storms | 88 | 86 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $39K | 46 of 72 |
| Floods | 21 | 18 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 1 | $3.8M | 38 of 72 |
| Extreme cold | 20 | 20 | 1997-2026 | 1 | 0 | – | 29 of 72 |
| Drought | 18 | 18 | 2012-2024 | 0 | 1 | – | 31 of 72 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 14 | 1971-2011 | 0 | 18 | $15M | 47 of 72 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 72 |
| Lightning | 6 | 5 | 1997-2019 | 0 | 0 | $92K | 34 of 72 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | $240K | 53 of 72 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2009-2022 | 0 | 11 | $13K | 55 of 72 |
| Wildfires | 4 | 4 | 1998-2020 | 1 | 1 | $2.3M | 4 of 72 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2012-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 of 72 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Adams County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Adams County from 1971 to 2011, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 18 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 25 tornadoes whose track touched Adams County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 0 of them in Adams County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-08-27 20:41, as SPC files it | Lake Arrowhead to Lake Camelot | F3 | 10.5 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Wisconsin.
Every tornado record filed for Adams County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-10 | Big Flats, Adams County | EF1 3.86 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $559K |
| 2011-04-10 | Causeway, Adams County | EF2 17.08 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $4.3M |
| 2008-06-07 | Big Spg, Adams County | EF0 2.91 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2005-08-18 | Adams County | F1 0.8 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2004-06-23 | White Creek, Adams County | F1 16 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 13 | $156K |
| 1992-08-29 | Adams County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1989-05-24 | Adams County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1984-07-10 | Adams County | F2 4 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1984-04-27 | Adams County | F1 2 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-07-03 | Adams County | F1 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-07-03 | Adams County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1983-07-03 | Adams County | F0 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-07-19 | Adams County | F2 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1979-05-18 | Adams County | F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1975-04-17 | Adams County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-06-09 | Adams County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-05-18 | Adams County | F1 11.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Adams County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 10, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | Excessive HeatAdams County · forecast zone Adams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindBig Flats, Adams County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindGrand Marsh, Adams County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindAdams County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindFrndshp Adams Co Arp, Adams County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-14 | HailPlainville, Adams County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-14 | Winter StormAdams County · forecast zone Adams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Winter WeatherAdams County · forecast zone Adams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAdams County · forecast zone Adams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-09 | Winter WeatherAdams County · forecast zone Adams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormAdams County · forecast zone Adams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-19 | HailArkdale, Adams County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-12-24 | Cold/Wind ChillAdams County · forecast zone Adams A western Wisconsin woman died in northern Adams County as a result of hypothermia. Local officials found the woman's car submerged up to the roof in a water filled ditch. The woman escape from the car but with soaking wet clothes and temperatures in the single digits above zero, hypothermia quickly set in and her ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-05-06 | WildfireAdams County · forecast zone Adams One person died as a result of a small wildfire east of Cottonville. The cause of death was cardiac arrest related to extreme stress or exertion from the fire. The fire only burned about 3 acres and started as a result of burning debris. | 1 | 0 | $3K | |
| 2013-02-10 | Winter WeatherAdams County · forecast zone Adams One person was killed in a two vehicle accident on State Highway 82 in the Township of Jackson. The accident occurred as a result of icy roads from freezing rain that was occurring at the time. | 1 | 0 | $25K | |
| 2004-06-23 | TornadoWhite Creek, Adams County A line of thunderstorms that moved out of Minnesota produced wind damage, hail and several tornadoes. The first tornado touched down about 1.5 miles north of Taylor (Jackson County) around 6:22 p.m. It caused intermittent damage during the first two miles of its path as it moved east southeastward across Highway 95. ... | F1 16 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 13 | $156K |
| 2013-07-24 | Dense FogAdams County · forecast zone Adams Eleven farm workers were injured when the van they were riding in was rear ended by a semi-truck. The accident occurred in dense fog, with the visibility near zero, when the van slowed to turn off State Highway 82 and the driver of the semi-truck did not see that the van was slowing down. | 0 | 11 | $13K | |
| 2004-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindBrooks, Adams County A line of thunderstorms that moved out of Minnesota produced wind damage, hail and several tornadoes. The first tornado touched down about 1.5 miles north of Taylor (Jackson County) around 6:22 p.m. It caused intermittent damage during the first two miles of its path as it moved east southeastward across Highway 95. ... | 56 kt wind | 0 | 5 | $94K |
| 1971-05-18 | TornadoAdams County | F1 11.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 2000-09-01 | Thunderstorm WindEaston, Adams County Winds estimated at 75 mph completely destroyed one mobile home, while flipping another on its top at Edgewood Estates in central Adams County. Two small children and an elderly woman sustained minor injuries. There were numerous large trees blown down nearby and to the west toward County Road Z. | 65 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $86K |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-08-28 | Thunderstorm WindPlainville, Adams County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $7.1M |
| 2011-04-10 | TornadoCauseway, Adams County | EF2 17.08 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $4.3M |
| 2005-05-05 | WildfireAdams County · forecast zone Adams | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2017-07-06 | HailBig Flats, Adams County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2002-06-22 | Flash FloodNortheast Portion, Adams County | 0 | 0 | $979K | |
| 2018-08-28 | Flash FloodEaston, Adams County | 0 | 0 | $946K | |
| 2019-03-14 | FloodNew Rome, Adams County | 0 | 1 | $866K | |
| 2009-04-17 | WildfireAdams County · forecast zone Adams | 0 | 1 | $688K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 10, 1984 (tornado, Adams County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Adams County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 35 | 44 | 48 | 25 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 37 | 39 | 12 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 38 | 23 | 20 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | 10 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1971 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 33 · Feb 30 · Mar 23 · Apr 30 · May 55 · Jun 71 · Jul 95 · Aug 54 · Sep 36 · Oct 12 · Nov 5 · Dec 33 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Adams County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Adams County: 9 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (5) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4520 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3454 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-10-18 | DR-4402 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2016-10-20 | DR-4288 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2008-06-14 | DR-1768 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3249 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-18 | DR-1526 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2002-07-19 | DR-1429 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-05-11 | DR-1369 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 2000-06-24 | DR-1332 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1993-07-02 | DR-994 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3014 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Adams County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 21 flood or flash flood records for Adams County from 1997 to 2024, on 18 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Adams County ranks 1874th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $90,000 on 32 claims filed in Adams County; the most in one year was 9 in 2020. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1986: 1 · 1993: 5 · 2002: 1 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 3; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Adams County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Adams County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $19.7 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $5.0M | 6.8 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.4M | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $773K | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $9.6M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $678K | 3 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $47K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $36K | 16 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Adams County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in WisconsinEvery Wisconsin tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in WisconsinThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Wisconsin recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Adams CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Adams County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis