At least nine tornadoes touched down across Wisconsin on April 17, including several EF-1s with damage reported from Rock to Racine County. If you have damage, here’s some information to may need to share with your insurance company.
3 Things to Know
- At least nine tornadoes confirmed across southern Wisconsin Friday evening
- Peak intensity reached EF-1 with winds near 100 mph in several locations
- Damage included snapped trees, roof loss, and structural impacts from Rock to Racine counties
Storm Summary: A Busy Evening of Tornadoes
A round of severe storms on the evening of April 17 produced a cluster of tornadoes across southern Wisconsin, with damage surveys confirming multiple tracks from Rock and Walworth counties into Racine and Milwaukee counties.
The first tornado reports came in shortly after 6 PM near Janesville, with activity steadily increasing through the evening as storms tracked northeast.
Early Development: Rock and Walworth Counties
The event began around 6:05 PM near Janesville, where an EF-1 tornado with estimated winds of 100 mph was confirmed. The storm damaged farm structures, snapped trees, and caused roof damage as it tracked toward Lake Lorraine.
Just minutes later, additional tornado damage was noted near Avalon and Emerald Grove, with snapped trees, structural damage, and debris wrapped around trees indicating a continued tornadic path in the same general corridor.
By 6:40 PM to 6:46 PM, two more EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed near Darien and Delavan. These storms caused widespread tree damage, impacted outbuildings, and even toppled a concrete silo. One survey noted:
“Pine trees uprooted and snapped, a few outbuildings having sheet metal removed from the roof and walls, empty concrete silo toppled.” – NWS Storm Report
Expansion Northeast: Burlington to Waterford
As storms intensified and moved northeast, additional EF-0 tornadoes developed between 7:20 PM and 7:30 PM near Burlington and Waterford.
These tornadoes were generally weaker but still caused tree damage, roof shingle loss, and minor structural impacts. One storm even lofted a porta-potty onto a building, highlighting the chaotic nature of the winds.
Stronger Tornadoes Near Wind Lake
The most concentrated tornado activity occurred between 7:50 PM and 8:00 PM near Wind Lake, where three separate tornadoes were confirmed in close proximity.
- An EF-0 tornado (70 mph) caused tree damage and tracked into the Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area
- Another EF-0 (80 mph) damaged trees and a barn, tearing off part of the roof
- The strongest was an EF-1 tornado (100 mph) that tracked into southern Milwaukee County
This EF-1 caused the most significant damage of the evening, including:
- Numerous snapped and uprooted trees
- Roof damage to homes
- A warehouse losing 50 percent of its roof
“Many snapped and uprooted trees, barn damage, house roof damage, and a warehouse lost 50 percent of its roof.” – NWS Storm Report
Additional Torondo Reports
There was also a funnel cloud report near White Lake in Shawano County earlier in the evening, though no tornado touchdown was confirmed there.
Update: More Strong Tornadoes Confirmed Across Wisconsin
New survey data from the National Weather Service is expanding the scope of Friday’s severe weather outbreak.
Key Updates
- Two EF-3 tornadoes confirmed in western and north-central Wisconsin
- Several additional EF-1 tornadoes documented across central and southern parts of the state
- No injuries or fatalities reported despite significant damage potential
EF-3 Tornadoes Highlight Statewide Impact
While earlier reports focused on southern Wisconsin, updated damage surveys now confirm two powerful EF-3 tornadoes elsewhere in the state.
In Buffalo County near Cream, a tornado tracked for nearly 9 miles with peak winds around 140 mph. It remained on the ground for several minutes and reached a width of more than 100 yards.
Farther east, in Marathon County near Wausau, another EF-3 carved a much longer path. This tornado stayed on the ground for over 15 minutes, traveled nearly 14 miles, and expanded to a width of about 600 yards at its peak, with winds estimated around 145 mph.
Additional Tornadoes Across Central and Western Wisconsin
Beyond the EF-3s, multiple EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed across central and western Wisconsin:
- Near Merrill (Lincoln County), a tornado tracked for more than 4 miles with winds around 110 mph
- In Osseo (Jackson County), a shorter-lived tornado still produced a path over 4 miles long
- Near Blair (Trempealeau County), another EF-1 traveled nearly 6 miles with moderate damage potential
Southern Wisconsin Tracks Hold Steady
The newly released data also reinforces earlier findings across southern Wisconsin, where several EF-1 tornadoes with peak winds near 100 mph were confirmed:
- Wind Lake (Racine/Milwaukee counties) with notable structural and tree damage
- Emerald Grove (Rock County) tracking toward Lake Lorraine
- Darien to Delavan (Walworth County) with damage extending into residential areas
- Turtle Creek to Comus Lake with consistent tree and building impacts
In addition, several EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed in the same general corridor, including near Wind Lake, Waterford, and Burlington, with winds ranging from 70 to 80 mph.
Despite the strength of some of these tornadoes, particularly the EF-3s, it is notable that:
No injuries or fatalities have been reported from any of the confirmed tornadoes.
Additional refinements to tornado paths and damage details may still come in, but this update solidifies April 17, 2026 as a significant tornado day across Wisconsin.
Final Thoughts
In total, at least nine tornadoes were confirmed across southern Wisconsin, making this one of the more active severe weather days of the early 2026 season.
While most tornadoes were on the lower end of the scale, the presence of multiple EF-1s and two EF-3, the concentration of damage serves as a reminder that all tornadoes are dangerous and even “weaker” tornadoes can produce significant impacts.
More survey updates could refine track details in the coming days, but the overall picture is clear: Friday evening delivered a widespread and impactful tornado event across southern Wisconsin.
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