Tornadoes in Polk County
The Storm Prediction Center records 38 tornadoes whose paths touched Polk County, Wisconsin between 1952 and 2024. They killed 7 people and injured 63. The busiest month is July, with 16 tornadoes. The strongest was an F4 on 21 May 1957. The most recent was on 18 June 2024.
- 38tornadoes
- 7deaths
- 63injuries
- 416per 10,000 sq mi of land
A tornado that crossed several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
How strong were the tornadoes in Polk County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 22 | 58% |
| F1 / EF1 | 9 | 24% |
| F2 / EF2 | 3 | 8% |
| F3 / EF3 | 3 | 8% |
| F4 / EF4 | 1 | 3% |
| F5 / EF5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown rating | 0 | 0% |
Polk County tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 3 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 3 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 1 |
| May | 8 |
| Jun | 5 |
| Jul | 16 |
| Aug | 6 |
| Sep | 1 |
| Oct | 1 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Records for Polk County
- Deadliest and Longest path: River Falls, Wisconsin tornado10 May 1953, F2, 4 deaths, 27 injuries, 105.7 miles long
- Strongest: Harris, Minnesota tornado21 May 1957, F4, 2 injuries, 9.2 miles long
- Most recent: Wisconsin tornado18 June 2024, EF1, 5 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Polk County
- River Falls, Wisconsin tornado10 May 1953, F2, 4 deaths, 27 injuries, 105.7 miles long
- St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin tornado23 June 1952, F3, 2 deaths, 6 injuries, 18.2 miles long
- Clayton, Wisconsin tornado16 May 2017, EF3, 1 death, 25 injuries, 82.5 miles long
- Harris, Minnesota tornado21 May 1957, F4, 2 injuries, 9.2 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.