Wednesday was a stormy day across northern Wisconsin, filled with thunderstorm and tornado warnings. And if you feel like you’ve seen an uptick in those warnings in Wisconsin this year compared to recent years, you’re not going entirely crazy.
So far in 2025, the National Weather Service has officially documented 31 tornadoes across the Dairy State, a number that does not include July 23’s likely tornado in Oconto County or any other possible twisters from that day. That number of 31 equals the average tornadoes per year since 2020 — and it’s not even August.
So how does 2025 compare to the past few years individually?
There’s not a large difference compared to 2024, in which there were 45 total. But this year more damaging tornadoes have come at a higher frequency, with four EF2 tornadoes already compared to three in all of last year.
Where you see a large jump is compared to 2023, when there were 21 total and zero EF2s. It only took until May 15 for that number to be beaten in 2025, when a flurry of tornadoes popped up all over the state.
In 2022, 28 tornadoes touched down, over 10 less than the 41 which came in 2021 but more than the 2020, which had 20.
Tornado safety tips
During a tornado, the NWS recommends:
What should you do if you’re driving during a tornado warning?
If you’re driving, particularly on interstates or highways, do not try to outrun a tornado.
If you are driving in an area with a tornado warning, you should look for ways to safely get off the road and out of your vehicle, preferably by seeking refuge in a sturdy building.
As a last resort, lie flat in the nearest depression, ditch or culvert and cover your head with your arms.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin has had over 30 tornadoes in 2025. How does that number compare to past years?
Reporting by Jack Albright, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
