MADISON, WI — April has rewritten the weather record book in Wisconsin, with state climatology data showing the month has already become the wettest on record. The state has also recorded more tornadoes than usual, along with an unusually heavy run of severe weather warnings.
By April 22, Wisconsin had logged 25 tornadoes this month, topping the state’s typical annual average of 23. State climatologist Steve Vavrus said the combination of storm counts and intensity made the month stand out.
Rain and tornado totals
The state climatology office said April has brought a level of rain that no previous April has matched in Wisconsin. The same data showed tornado activity well above normal for this point in the year.
One of those storms was an EF-3 tornado, the first in Wisconsin in five years. Vavrus said the number of tornadoes was notable, but the strength of some of them was also a major factor.
Warnings hit unusual levels
Wisconsin has tracked severe weather warnings since 1986, and officials say this April has produced the highest number on record over that span. That total includes warnings for severe thunderstorms, flash floods and tornadoes.
The climatology office said the state has already seen about 70% of the average yearly number of severe weather warnings, even though April is not usually the peak of the season.
Why this month stands out
Vavrus said Wisconsin’s usual severe weather season runs from May through August, but the calendar is only part of the story. He said warm, unusually humid air can supply the energy storms need, even in April.
He also noted that modern technology affects how storms are documented. With cellphones and easier photo sharing, tornadoes and other events are reported in ways that would have been far less common decades ago.
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