Bayfield County, Wisconsin
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 55007 · population 16,173 · 1,478 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 586 records for Bayfield County, Wisconsin from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 399 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (184 records). The deadliest single record is the November 13, 2010 heavy snow, filed for the forecast zone Bayfield, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1972, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on June 30, 2026.
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
- 586on 399 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 610 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $12Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 2026
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 Bayfield County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 184 since 1996. 41% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 184 | 182 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | – | 50 of 72 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 174 | 81 | 1969-2026 | 1 | 3 | $2.8M | 72 of 72 |
| Hail | 110 | 64 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 0 | $29K | 70 of 72 |
| Drought | 44 | 44 | 2006-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 72 |
| Floods | 40 | 20 | 1996-2024 | 2 | 3 | $5.1M | 55 of 72 |
| Extreme cold | 23 | 22 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | – | 66 of 72 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 4 | 1968-1988 | 0 | 4 | $3.6M | 72 of 72 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2004-2023 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 70 of 72 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2011-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 68 of 72 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 69 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 Bayfield County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Bayfield County from 1968 to 1988, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 4 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Bayfield County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Wisconsin.
Every tornado record filed for Bayfield County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-08-13 | Bayfield County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1984-04-27 | Bayfield County | F0 0.3 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-07-03 | Bayfield County | F1 3 mi x 57 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1983-07-03 | Bayfield County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1968-06-30 | Bayfield County | F2 27.6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $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 Bayfield County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 21, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindHerbster, Bayfield County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindSalmo, Bayfield County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | HailBenoit, Bayfield County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | HailIno, Bayfield County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | Thunderstorm WindBayfield County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | Thunderstorm WindWashburn, Bayfield County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | Thunderstorm WindAshland Jct, Bayfield County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | Thunderstorm WindMoquah, Bayfield County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | Heavy SnowBayfield County · forecast zone Bayfield | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Heavy SnowBayfield County · forecast zone Bayfield | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | Heavy SnowBayfield County · forecast zone Bayfield | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillBayfield County · forecast zone Bayfield | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11-13 | Heavy SnowBayfield County · forecast zone Bayfield A storm system brought widespread wet snow to much of northwest Wisconsin. Six to 10 inches of snow accumulated, with the heaviest amounts along the Upper St. Croix River Valley through Douglas County. Precipitation near the Lake Superior shoreline stayed mainly rain through the event where warmer air persisted. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-07-12 | FloodCable Union Airport, Bayfield County An 84-year-old Illinois man died when his car became partially submerged into floodwaters along a ditch along County Highway M, about 3 miles east of Cable. The man and his 84-year-old wife were attempting to turn around after encountering a washed out section of the Highway near the Namekagon River, but accidentally ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2016-07-18 | Flash FloodGrandview, Bayfield County A woman was killed when she drove past two set of barricades before her vehicle plunged 50 feet into a ditch left by a washed-out road. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-01-19 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillBayfield County · forecast zone Bayfield In Bayfield County, a 44-year old woman died of hypothermia after her car went into a ditch and she attempted to walk home. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-07-05 | Thunderstorm WindDrummond, Bayfield County An eleven-year-old boy was killed when he was struck by a falling tree as he was heading for shelter at the Chequamegon Boy's Camp. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-07-30 | Thunderstorm WindBayfield County Downburst winds hit the Bayfield waterfront where an art fair was in progress at Memorial Park. Most of the ninety fair tents were demolished and art pieces were tossed into Lake Superior. A woman broke her hand while a man received a large gash on his hand. Numerous large trees were blown down in Bayfield. The local ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $2.2M |
| 1983-07-03 | TornadoBayfield County | F1 3 mi x 57 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1968-06-30 | TornadoBayfield County | F2 27.6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-17 | Flash FloodIno, Bayfield County | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2006-07-30 | Thunderstorm WindBayfield County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $2.2M |
| 1999-07-05 | Flash FloodNorth Portion, Bayfield County | 0 | 0 | $886K | |
| 1999-07-14 | Flash FloodCentral Portion, Bayfield County | 0 | 0 | $886K | |
| 2006-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindBayfield County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $586K |
| 2005-10-04 | Flash FloodBayfield County | 0 | 0 | $521K | |
| 2024-06-19 | Flash FloodHerbster, Bayfield County | 0 | 1 | $47K | |
| 1995-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindRed Cliff, Bayfield County | 0 | 1 | $15K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 30, 1968 (tornado, Bayfield County); July 3, 1983 (tornado, Bayfield County); August 13, 1988 (tornado, Bayfield 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 Bayfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 27 | 52 | 56 | 49 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 27 | 21 | 45 | 65 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 46 | 28 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 19 | 6 | 19 z |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 3 | 28 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Drought in the 2020-26: 19 records against 6 in the decade before, 19 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Bayfield County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
41% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 50 · Feb 49 · Mar 44 · Apr 27 · May 29 · Jun 101 · Jul 140 · Aug 32 · Sep 28 · Oct 14 · Nov 26 · Dec 46 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Bayfield County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Bayfield County: 9 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | DR-4923 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4520 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3454 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-08-10 | DR-4383 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2016-08-09 | DR-4276 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2013-08-08 | DR-4141 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2012-08-02 | DR-4076 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3249 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001-05-11 | DR-1369 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1999-08-16 | DR-1284 | Flood | Wi-Flood-07/20/99 |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3014 | Drought | Drought |
| 1972-09-10 | DR-352 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
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 Bayfield County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 40 flood or flash flood records for Bayfield County from 1996 to 2024, on 20 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Bayfield County ranks 2181st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $137,000 on 16 claims filed in Bayfield County; the most in one year was 5 in 2016. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1985: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 1; 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 Bayfield County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bayfield County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.3 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 Moderate | $4.5M | 9.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $223K | 30 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $675K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $297K | 27 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $3.2M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $121K | 1.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Very Low | $95K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $183 | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Bayfield 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
- Winter storms in WisconsinThe state's winter storm records, 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 Bayfield CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Bayfield County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis