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Oshkosh, WI Tornado History — 120 Tornadoes Since 1950

Wisconsin · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Oshkosh, WI had?

Oshkosh has had 120 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Oshkosh?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Oshkosh was an EF1 on May 21, 2024.

When is tornado season in Oshkosh?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Oshkosh, with 39 on record. April through June account for 70 of the 120 tornadoes on record near Oshkosh.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
120
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
8
6.7% of total
Peak Month
June
39 on record
Per Year Avg
1.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Oshkosh

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 34 total, averaging 1.7 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 0
2024 1
2023 0
2022 1
2021 1
2020 3
2019 2
2018 3
2017 2
2016 3
2015 0
2014 2
2013 4
2012 0
2011 8
2010 3
2009 0
2008 1
2007 0

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Oshkosh since December 29, 2025

This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 EF3° July 27, 2026
2 WNW Appleton, Outagamie County, WI
A tornado... preliminarily EF-3 with estimated winds up to 140 mph... developed 2 miles WNW of Appleton and tracked southward into Fox Crossing and Menasha with damage (GRB)

Within 25 miles of Oshkosh. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 6
1960s 11
1970s 9
1980s 14
1990s 22
2000s 25
2010s 27
2020s 6

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 50
EF1 41
EF2 20
EF3 4
EF4 3
EF5 1
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 1
Apr 11
May 20
Jun 39
Jul 19
Aug 24
Sep 4
Oct 1
Nov 0
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Oshkosh

11 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Oshkosh since 1950, across 5 events. 177 injuries have been reported across all events. 1956 was the deadliest year on record near Oshkosh.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1956, which caused 7 fatalities along a 11.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Oshkosh

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 3, 1956 — 7 fatalities, 11.5 mi path, 440 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on August 29, 1992 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on August 27, 1994 — 1,740 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on June 5, 1977 — 69.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on May 21, 2024.

What the record shows near Oshkosh

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Oshkosh, with 27 of the 120 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 6 so far. The Oshkosh record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Oshkosh, 91 reached EF0 or EF1 and 28 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Oshkosh is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Oshkosh is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Oshkosh has averaged 1.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 34 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 8, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Oshkosh, WI had?
Since 1950, 120 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Oshkosh. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Oshkosh?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Oshkosh was an F4 on April 3, 1956, which caused 7 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Oshkosh?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Oshkosh, with 39 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 Oshkosh been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Oshkosh, there have been 1 EF5 and 3 EF4 tornadoes 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 Oshkosh?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Oshkosh was an EF1 on May 21, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Oshkosh?
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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