Wood County, Wisconsin
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 55141 · population 74,164 · 793 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 541 records for Wood County, Wisconsin from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 380 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (166 records). The deadliest single record is the December 11, 2010 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Wood, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1969, 11 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on August 27, 2019.
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
- 541on 380 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 132 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $148Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 19strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 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 Wood County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 166 since 1956. 55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 166 | 108 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 1 | $1.0M | 40 of 72 |
| Hail | 139 | 83 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $64M | 29 of 72 |
| Winter storms | 93 | 93 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | – | 56 of 72 |
| Floods | 25 | 23 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.9M | 36 of 72 |
| High wind and dust storms | 24 | 24 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $63K | 32 of 72 |
| Drought | 21 | 21 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 72 |
| Extreme cold | 19 | 19 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 72 |
| Tornadoes | 19 | 19 | 1964-2011 | 0 | 31 | $79M | 41 of 72 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 14 | 14 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 72 |
| Heat | 9 | 9 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 72 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 5 | 1997-2015 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 41 of 72 |
| Lightning | 5 | 5 | 1997-2021 | 0 | 0 | $356K | 38 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 Wood County had?
NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Wood County from 1964 to 2011, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 31 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 19 tornadoes whose track touched Wood County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Wisconsin.
Every tornado record filed for Wood County (19)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-08-23 | Arpin, Wood County | EF0 0.01 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-05-22 | Cranmoor, Wood County | EF1 12.55 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.3M |
| 2010-07-14 | Veedum, Wood County | EF0 0.26 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-07-29 | Nasonville, Wood County | EF0 1.57 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-06-07 | Wisc Rpds South Co A, Wood County | EF0 0.04 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-06-08 | Marshfield Municipal Airport, Wood County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1999-08-03 | Pittsville, Wood County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-04-20 | Wood County | F1 9.5 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1985-08-12 | Wood County | F2 10 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 14 | $25M step |
| 1984-04-27 | Wood County | F0 1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-07-03 | Wood County | F0 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-03-30 | Wood County | F1 10 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1976-06-13 | Wood County | F1 11.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1971-07-08 | Wood County | F1 2 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1970-12-01 | Wood County | F2 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1970-06-17 | Wood County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-07-22 | Wood County | F2 12.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1967-03-31 | Wood County | F2 1.9 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1964-05-07 | Wood County | F2 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 14 | $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 Wood County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 25, 2021 lightning ($327,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Lightning struck the Verso Paper Mill at 7:30 pm CDT, producing $300,000 worth of damage.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 953461)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | Excessive HeatWood County · forecast zone Wood | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-24 | HailRudolph, Wood County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | HailMarshfield Municipal Airport, Wood County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | HailMarshfield, Wood County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | Flash FloodMarshfield, Wood County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-13 | Flash FloodAuburndale, Wood County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-13 | HailMarshfield, Wood County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailVesper, Wood County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Ice StormWood County · forecast zone Wood | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-14 | Winter StormWood County · forecast zone Wood | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Winter StormWood County · forecast zone Wood | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillWood County · forecast zone Wood | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-12-11 | Winter StormWood County · forecast zone Wood A Marshfield man, 37, died of cardiac arrest due to hypothermia after leaving his stranded van and attempting to walk home. His body was found in deep snow just one-third of a mile from his house. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1985-08-12 | TornadoWood County | F2 10 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 14 | $25M step |
| 1964-05-07 | TornadoWood County | F2 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 14 | $250K step |
| 1967-07-22 | TornadoWood County | F2 12.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2011-05-22 | TornadoCranmoor, Wood County The tornado moved out of Juneau County at 6:03 pm CDT (1703 CST) and moved east-northeast across southern Wood County. The storm hit a campground on the east shore of the Wisconsin River about three miles south of Nekoosa. Over 100 pine trees were snapped and uprooted on the campground, some two feet in diameter (DI ... | EF1 12.55 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.3M |
| 2004-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindVesper, Wood County Thunderstorms that developed ahead of a strong cold front that moved through Wisconsin produced severe weather in the central and east central parts of the state during the evening. A line of thunderstorms tore the roof from a barn, downed numerous trees and power lines and blew a pickup truck into a ditch as the ... | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-06-07 | HailPort Edwards, Wood County | 5.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $64M |
| 2010-09-23 | Flash FloodKellner, Wood County | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | |
| 2002-06-22 | Flash FloodCountywide, Wood County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2011-05-22 | TornadoCranmoor, Wood County | EF1 12.55 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.3M |
| 2021-05-25 | LightningWisconsin Rapids, Wood County | 0 | 0 | $327K | |
| 2019-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindWisconsin Rapids, Wood County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $289K |
| 1996-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindWisconsin Rapids, Wood County | 0 | 0 | $94K | |
| 1998-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindRudolph, Wood County | 0 | 0 | $91K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: August 12, 1985 (tornado, Wood 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 Wood 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 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 51 | 20 | 44 | 20 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 34 | 41 | 36 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 23 | 27 | 22 | 21 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 11 | 6 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 43 · Mar 35 · Apr 41 · May 75 · Jun 84 · Jul 91 · Aug 54 · Sep 31 · Oct 17 · Nov 7 · Dec 31 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wood County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Wood County: 10 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (4) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4520 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3454 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-08-27 | DR-4459 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2010-10-21 | DR-1944 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3249 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-18 | DR-1526 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2002-09-10 | DR-1432 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2002-07-19 | DR-1429 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-05-11 | DR-1369 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1993-07-02 | DR-994 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3014 | Drought | Drought |
| 1973-04-27 | DR-376 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1969-05-01 | DR-260 | Flood | 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 Wood County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 25 flood or flash flood records for Wood County from 1996 to 2026, on 23 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wood County ranks 1678th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $727,000 on 48 claims filed in Wood County; the most in one year was 17 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1986: 3 · 1989: 2 · 1993: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 5 · 2004: 1 · 2010: 17 · 2011: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 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 Wood County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wood County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $39.4 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 | $12M | 8.4 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $2.2M | 2.7 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $4.2M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $20M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $461K | 33 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $82K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $406K | 1.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $74K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Wood 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 Wood CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wood County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis