MADISON, WI — The Midwest is seeing a heavy tornado season, and Wisconsin is among the states running well above its usual pace. National Weather Service data shows the state has logged 39 documented tornadoes so far this year, tying 2025 for the sixth-most tornadoes in a single year since 1950.
That puts Wisconsin well above its average of 23 tornadoes in a calendar year. The broader pattern also fits research showing more tornado activity in parts of the Midwest and fewer outbreaks in the traditional Great Plains core.
Records And Recent Years
Wisconsin’s storm season has already stood out for how often warnings have been issued. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office said June brought 183 severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings, nearly double the monthly average, making it the state’s most active June since 2008.
By July, Wisconsin had already matched its 2025 tornado total, according to National Weather Service data. The state has also recorded three EF3 tornadoes this year, including storms near Union Center, Buffalo County and Ringle.
Midwest Numbers Keep Rising
Wisconsin is not alone. Illinois has led the nation with 178 tornadoes so far this year, far above its annual average of 54, while Indiana has reached 77 tornadoes, a new state record. Iowa has logged 68 tornadoes so far this year, compared with an annual average of 50.
Researchers say the center of tornado activity has been edging east since at least 1979. Victor Gensini of Northern Illinois University said tornadoes have become less frequent in the Great Plains while showing up more often in Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and nearby regions.
Safety And Forecast Concerns
Experts say warmer and more humid conditions may be part of the reason the Midwest is seeing more severe-weather setups, but they caution that no single tornado can be tied directly to climate change. They also note that tornado risk has not gone away in the Great Plains, which still sees the highest density of these storms each year.
Gensini urged people across the Midwest to have a tornado plan, know where to shelter and keep a safety kit ready, including a bike helmet. He also warned that cuts to the National Weather Service could hurt forecasting because fewer weather balloon launches may weaken severe-storm predictions.
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