Vernon County, Wisconsin Tornadoes

Tornadoes in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest and central Wisconsin
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Background Information

Statistics (1850-Present)

Records (1850-Present)

Vernon County (WI) Tornadoes*
1850-2006

Date			Time	Location	Other Counties Affected	Length (miles)	Width (yards)	Deaths**	Injuries**	F-Scale
Month	Day	Year	Time	Location	Other Counties Affected	Length (miles)	Width (yards)	Deaths**	Injuries**	F-Scale
8	18	2005	1505-1540 CST	Liberty 2W to Hub City 1W	Richland	20	40	0	3	F2
			This was third of 27 tornadoes to touch down in Wisconsin on this date (a single day record for the state). This was the strongest tornado in southwest Wisconsin. It touched down just west of Liberty (Vernon County), then tracked along a continous path just north of Highway 56, to the northern most block of the town of Viola (Richland County). Three people were reported injured in Viola and almost every tree in the town was damaged or downed. Most homes in the village had at least minor damage, while a few sustained major damage, including roofs blown off. Many garages facing west or southwest were destroyed by the direct impact of the winds. Wind speeds associated with the tornado were estimated at 100 to 120 mph. The tornado path became more sporadic as it moved east of Viola across northern Richland County. The damage path extended from just north of County Highway MM and Highway 56 into Bloom City (Richland County), which apparently took a direct hit from the storm. The tornado continued on an east-southeast track, before lifting just west of Hub City (Richland County). This tornado caused $3.3 million in property damage ($800,000 in Vernon County and $2.5 million in Richland County) and $268,900 in crop damage ($193,900 in Vernon County and $75,000 in Richland County). Vernon County was declared a federal disaster area.
8	18	2005	1446-1448 CST	Esofea 3.2W to Esofea 2W	None	1.2	25	0	1	F1
			This was second of 27 tornadoes to touch down in Wisconsin on this date (a single day record for the state). It touched down just north of County Highway KK, or just west of Esofea. There was tree, agricultural and structural damage. A moblie home, which was on cement blocks, was completely destroyed. The occupant of the mobile home was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Another residence sustained minor damage, with windows blown out, outbuildings destroyed and a car turned 90 degrees. Power poles were snapped, corn was flattened and there was significant tree damage. This tornado caused $150,000 in property damage and $50,000 in crop damage. Vernon County was declared a federal disaster area.
7	26	2000	1520-1523 CST	Chaseburg 3NW to Chaseburg 2.5NW	None	0.5	30	0	0	F0
			This brief touch down caused minor damage to a home and knocked down nearby trees and corn.
6	18	1998	1607-1630 CST	Retreat 1.5NE to Westby 5W	None	1.5	120	0	1	F1
			A short-lived tornado hit a dairy barn near Retreat, killing five cows and injuring 1 person. It skipped along the ground and stacked trees together after its passage.
6	8	1993	1305-1320 CST	Genoa 1E to Coon Valley 2S	None	11	100	0	0	F1
			Damage to barns, radio towers, roofs, and trees totaled $250,000.
4	20	1992	1745 CST	Hillsboro 2S	None	2	25	0	0	F1
			A 40x50 foot shed was destroyed and a nearby garage and home were damaged.
6	5	1980	2020 CST	Stoddard to Readstown	None	20	?	0	1	F3
			This tornado moved southeast from near Stoddard to Chaseburg, Viroqua, and Readstown. Eight residences, 30 barns, and 200 other rural structures were damaged or destroyed by the tornado and its accompanying downburst winds. The injury occurred when a trailer was destroyed.
6	5	1980	2010 CST	St. Joseph 2S to Coon Valley 1W	La Crosse	3	70	0	0	F2
			Several barns and four homes were damaged. One home was unroofed. One barn was destroyed and nine cattle were killed.
8	9	1979	1730-1736 CST	Hillsboro to Wonewoc 1S	Juneau	9	50	0	0	F2
			This tornado moved east and lifted just south of Wonewoc. A plane was destroyed, and barns and homes were damaged; some were leveled.
7	1	1978	1902 CST	near Viroqua	None	0.5	100	0	0	F1
			The final of three tornadoes sighted on the ground near Viroqua.
7	1	1978	1902 CST	near Viroqua	None	0.5	100	0	0	F1
			The second of three tornadoes sighted on the ground near Viroqua.
7	1	1978	1902 CST	near Viroqua	None	0.5	100	0	0	F1
			The first of three tornadoes sighted on the ground near Viroqua.
8	11	1972	1830 CST	West Lima 5W	Richland	3.8	50	0	0	F1
			The public reported a tornado about 5 miles west of West Lima.
8	6	1968	1958 CST	Viroqua 15NE	None	0.5	?	0	0	F0
			Brief touch down 15 miles northeast of Viroqua.
8	6	1968	1950 CST	Viroqua 14SE	None	14.9	?	0	0	F0
			Brief touch downs south-southwest and 14 miles southeast of Viroqua.
6	8	1967	2330 CST	Mt Tabor 1.5E to Union Center	Juneau	8.7	75	0	0	F1
			A small tornado traveled east for about 8 miles starting 1.5 miles east of Mt. Tabor to Union Center.
3	31	1967	0005 CST	Westby	None	1.9	200	0	0	F1
			A tornado travelled north-northeast west of Westby
4	19	1966	2215-2230 CST	Hillsboro 1.5W to Elroy	Juneau	8.6	10	0	0	F2
5	8	1964	1730 CST	Readstown 2E to Hillsboro 3W	Richland	35	300	0	2	F2
			This tornado tracked northeast from east of Readstown to 2 miles south of Viola, to 3 miles northwest of Yuba, to west of Hillsboro. Two people were injured in Richland County. Barns were leveled.
9	19	1957	1230 CST	Hillsboro	None	4.1	165	0	0	F1
4	26	1935	1800 CST	Viroqua 5W	None	5	100	0	0	F2
			Moving east, this tornado removed parts of a roof off a house at the edge of Viroqua and debris was carried a half mile into town. Several buildings, including three barns, were destroyed on six farms. Estimated damage was $20,000.
5	23	1933	1500 CST	Reno 5S to Sparta	Houston La Crosse Monroe	35	100	0	3	F2
			A family of two or three small tornadoes moved northeast from the southeast corner of Houston County, passing 3 miles south of Coon Valley and ending near Sparta. Two tornadoes may have actually crossed the Mississippi River. A dozen barns and farm houses were unroofed, mostly near Coon Valley.
5	1	1930	2015 CST	Westby	None	5	100	1	11	F2
			Losses in the business district were about $100,000 as 35 buildings were damaged or destroyed. A nine-year old boy was killed by a flying store front as he ran for home.
10	10	1913	1330 CST	Soldiers Grove 2W to Mauston	Crawford Juneau Richland	45	400	0	0	F2
			A complex of tornadoes and downbursts produced about $300,000 in property losses, although this tornado crossed 4 counties. Barns near Viroqua were heavily damaged.
6	7	1908	1530 CST	Hillsboro to Mauston 3SE	Juneau	17	50	2	3	F3
			About 4 miles south of Mauston (Juneau Co.), a farmer and his son were killed as their entire farm was nearly swept away. The family was hit as they ran for the storm cellar. It was moving northeast.
6	6	1906	1745 CST	Caledonia 3SW to Coon Valley 10NE	Houston La Crosse	33	300	4	26	F4
			Moved east-northeast from 3 miles southwest of Caledonia (Houston County), crossing the Mississippi River about 12 miles south of La Crosse, and ending 10 miles northeast of Coon Valley. A mother and two children were killed as their farm near Freeburg, MN was leveled. One child was carried about half a mile. Fifteen people were injured in rural Minnesota homes. Fourteen homes were damaged or destroyed in Wisconsin, with 1 death occurring 2 miles east of Stoddard.
6	7	1885	1300 CST	?	None	?	?	?	?	?
6	27	1882	?	Cashton	None	?	?	0	1	F2
			Two homes were destroyed south of Cashton.
?	?	1875	?	?	None	?	?	?	?	?
6	28	1865	1600 CST	Viroqua to just south of Rockton	None	30	300	22	100	?
			Moved east northeast from southwest of Viroqua (devastating the southern part of that town) and then moved south of Rockton before dissipating to a six-mile wide downburst near the Juneau County line. Approaching Viroqua, the funnel was accompanied by a "branch whirl holding on like a parasite." Multiple vortex "branches" and "eddies" were observed as the tornado passed through the town. "Death rode upon that sulphury siroc" as "the angry elements at the beck of an invisible power lay waste the fairest portion of the village." Ten people were killed on one street. A death total of 17 is usually given for this tornado, but according to the *History of Vernon County* at least 13 people were killed in Viroqua and as many as 12 others may have died later from injuries. The tornado was moving at an estimated 60 mph, as it approached a schoolhouse 2 miles east of Viroqua containing a teacher and 24 students. The building was lifted into the air "and dashed to ground", killing the teacher and eight students. Foot-square timbers were carried "long distances; tree tops were filled with feather beds, chairs, and clothing. All kinds of livestock were either dead or writhing on the points of broken branches; 20-ton rocks were rolled, lifted, and broken."
6	17	1864	?	?	None	?	?	?	?	?
* The data in this table came from *Storm Data,* *Significant Tornadoes--1680-1991* by Thomas P. Grazulis, and *Wisconsin Tornado Database 1950-2000* Geographic Techniques Report No. ST-WTDB01. ** Injuries and Deaths are for the entire tornado track.

Last Updated Sunday, January 22, 2006 - Jeff Boyne

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office