Madison, WI Tornado History — 116 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Madison, WI had?
Madison has had 116 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Madison?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Madison was an EF0 on July 16, 2025.
When is tornado season in Madison?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Madison, with 44 on record. April through June account for 62 of the 116 tornadoes on record near Madison.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Madison
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 41 total, averaging 2.0 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Madison since December 29, 2025
These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
NWS storm survey confirms a tornado rated EF-1 in Belleville... WI with max wind speeds of 110mph. The path was 2.75 miles long and 300 yards wide. Tornado began west o (MKX)
NWS Storm Survey: EF-1 tornado... estimated peak winds of 105 mph. 75 yards wide. Tornado appears to have started west of I-39 along Church Rd where it tracked to the n (MKX)
Within 25 miles of Madison. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Madison
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Madison and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on July 16, 2025 and the most recent on July 16, 2025. It is already counted in the Madison totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Crossing WI HWY 78. (MKX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Madison
13 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Madison since 1950, across 4 events. 348 injuries have been reported across all events. 1984 was the deadliest year on record near Madison.
The deadliest single event was an F5 on June 7, 1984, which caused 9 fatalities along a 36.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Madison
What the record shows near Madison
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Madison, with 23 of the 116 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 14 so far. The Madison record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Madison, 82 reached EF0 or EF1 and 33 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Madison is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Madison is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Madison has averaged 2.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 41 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 8, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.