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Middleton, WI Tornado History — 113 Tornadoes Since 1950

Wisconsin · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Middleton, WI had?

Middleton has had 113 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Middleton?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Middleton was an EF0 on July 16, 2025.

When is tornado season in Middleton?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Middleton, with 48 on record. April through June account for 68 of the 113 tornadoes on record near Middleton.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
113
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
10
8.8% of total
Peak Month
June
48 on record
Per Year Avg
1.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Middleton

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 38 total, averaging 1.9 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 1
2024 3
2023 2
2022 1
2021 4
2020 0
2019 0
2018 2
2017 1
2016 0
2015 0
2014 9
2013 1
2012 0
2011 2
2010 6
2009 0
2008 6
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Middleton 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF1° June 18, 2026
1 N Belleville, Dane County, WI
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)
Preliminary EF1° April 14, 2026
4 WSW Rockdale, Dane County, WI
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 Middleton. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Middleton

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Middleton 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 Middleton totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

July 16, 2025
2 S Sauk City, Dane County, WI
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

1950s 5
1960s 16
1970s 9
1980s 16
1990s 11
2000s 24
2010s 21
2020s 11

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.

EF0 40
EF1 40
EF2 22
EF3 9
EF5 1
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 5
Apr 4
May 16
Jun 48
Jul 20
Aug 12
Sep 4
Oct 3
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Middleton

13 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Middleton since 1950, across 4 events. 309 injuries have been reported across all events. 1984 was the deadliest year on record near Middleton.

The deadliest single event was an F5 on June 7, 1984, which caused 9 fatalities along a 36.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Middleton

Deadliest Tornado
F5 on June 7, 1984 — 9 fatalities, 36.0 mi path, 450 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on June 17, 1992 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F3 on August 18, 2005 — 600 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on September 2, 1963 — 70.7 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on July 16, 2025.

What the record shows near Middleton

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Middleton, with 24 of the 113 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 11 so far. The Middleton record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Middleton, 80 reached EF0 or EF1 and 32 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Middleton is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Middleton is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Middleton has averaged 1.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 38 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 9, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Middleton, WI had?
Since 1950, 113 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Middleton. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Middleton?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Middleton was an F5 on June 7, 1984, which caused 9 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Middleton?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Middleton, with 48 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Middleton been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Middleton, there has been 1 EF5 and 0 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Middleton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Middleton was an EF0 on July 16, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Middleton?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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