Burnett County, Wisconsin
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 55013 · population 16,515 · 822 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 482 records for Burnett County, Wisconsin from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 309 days; the most frequent are hail reports (150 records). The deadliest single record is the June 18, 2001 tornado: 2 deaths, 16 injuries and $16.7 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1976, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on August 10, 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
- 482on 309 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 425 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $46Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 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 Burnett County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 150 since 1956. 43% of its hail reports since 1956 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 150 | 84 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 33 of 72 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 148 | 79 | 1973-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 58 of 72 |
| Winter storms | 95 | 95 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $50K | 58 of 72 |
| Drought | 39 | 39 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 72 |
| Extreme cold | 18 | 18 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 of 72 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 13 | 1953-2018 | 3 | 25 | $45M | 55 of 72 |
| Floods | 11 | 10 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | $104K | 57 of 72 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2006-2011 | 1 | 0 | $6K | 51 of 72 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2011-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 of 72 |
| High wind and dust storms | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 72 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 Burnett County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Burnett County from 1953 to 2018, the strongest rated F3, with 3 deaths and 25 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 16 tornadoes whose track touched Burnett County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 6 people, 3 of them in Burnett County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-05-10 18:30, as SPC files it | New Richmond | F2 | 105.7 mi | 4 |
| 2001-06-18 19:06, as SPC files it | Grantsburg to Siren | F3 | 34 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Wisconsin.
Every tornado record filed for Burnett County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-08-07 | Branstad, Burnett County | EF0 0.01 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-06-28 | Siren, Burnett County | EF1 2.2 mi x 180 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-17 | Grantsburg, Burnett County | EF0 0.31 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-17 | Grantsburg, Burnett County | EF1 0.77 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2005-06-07 | Hertel, Burnett County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-04-18 | Trade Lake, Burnett County | F0 3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-04-18 | Trade River, Burnett County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-06-18 | Grantsburg, Burnett County | F3 30 mi x 880 yd | 2 | 16 | $17M |
| 2001-05-01 | Grantsburg, Burnett County | F0 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-07-08 | Siren, Burnett County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-07-20 | Burnett County | F0 0.1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-05-05 | Burnett County | F2 14.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-08-02 | Burnett County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1959-09-06 | Burnett County | F1 3.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1953-05-10 | Burnett County | F2 18.2 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 9 | $2.5M 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 Burnett County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 4, 2025 heavy snow ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindWebster, Burnett County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-03 | Ice StormBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-14 | Heavy SnowBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-28 | Heavy SnowBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-09 | Heavy SnowBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | DroughtBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Heavy SnowBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-25 | Heavy SnowBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-06-18 | TornadoGrantsburg, Burnett County The tornado touched down at 806 pm local daylight time 1.5 miles east of Grantsburg and traveled east at an average speed of 40 mph through the village of Siren to the Washburn County line, then continued on to a point 3 miles west of Spooner. The path of the tornado averaged 1/8 to 1/4 mile, but reached its greatest ... | F3 30 mi x 880 yd | 2 | 16 | $17M |
| 1953-05-10 | TornadoBurnett County | F2 18.2 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 9 | $2.5M step |
| 2011-07-01 | LightningHertel, Burnett County An eleven year old girl was killed while trying to escape the approaching storm. Lightning struck a tree and the tree fell on the girl, killing her. The tree was so large that it took 20 men to remove it. | 1 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-06-18 | TornadoGrantsburg, Burnett County | F3 30 mi x 880 yd | 2 | 16 | $17M |
| 1995-08-18 | Thunderstorm WindWebster, Burnett County | 0 | 0 | $484K | |
| 2025-03-04 | Heavy SnowBurnett County · forecast zone Burnett | 0 | 0 | $50K | |
| 2011-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindSiren Burnett Co Arp, Burnett County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 2010-06-17 | TornadoGrantsburg, Burnett County | EF1 0.77 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2011-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindDanbury, Burnett County | 96 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $13K |
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: May 10, 1953 (tornado, Burnett County, 1 killed).
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 Burnett 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 52 | 38 | 39 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 30 | 50 | 26 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 27 | 30 | 27 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 18 | 9 | 12 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
43% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 23 · Feb 33 · Mar 22 · Apr 25 · May 42 · Jun 62 · Jul 123 · Aug 62 · Sep 37 · Oct 11 · Nov 14 · Dec 28 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Burnett County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Burnett County: 6 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3249 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-09-10 | DR-1432 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes 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 |
| 1977-10-03 | EM-3048 | Severe Storm | Winds, Hail & Rain |
| 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 Burnett County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 11 flood or flash flood records for Burnett County from 2000 to 2025, on 10 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Burnett County ranks 1823rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $280,000 on 36 claims filed in Burnett County; the most in one year was 12 in 2001. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1996: 2 · 1997: 2 · 2000: 3 · 2001: 12 · 2002: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2025: 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 Burnett County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Burnett County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.6 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 | $3.2M | 10 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $501K | 32 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $506K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $464K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $119K | once in about 1,750 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.8M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $814K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $36K | 18 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 Burnett 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
- Hail in WisconsinThe state's hail reports, 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 Burnett CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Burnett County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis