Colfax, WI Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Colfax is about the same as Wisconsin average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Colfax is higher than Wisconsin average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #365
| Colfax, WI | 0.00 |
| Wisconsin | 0.00 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Colfax, WI | 0.0000 |
| Wisconsin | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #346
| Colfax, WI | 166.59 |
| Wisconsin | 153.98 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 2,118 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Colfax, WI were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 9 | Cold: | 30 | Dense Fog: | 10 | Drought: | 16 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 93 | Hail: | 733 | Heat: | 17 | Heavy Snow: | 55 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 13 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 24 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 914 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 97 | Winter Weather: | 4 |
| Other: | 102 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Colfax, WI.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Colfax, WI.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Colfax, WI.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 67 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Colfax, WI.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.2 | 1958-06-04 | 5 | 44°57'N / 91°55'W | 45°03'N / 91°40'W | 13.70 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Dunn |
| 7.9 | 1971-07-18 | 2 | 45°01'N / 92°12'W | 44°52'N / 91°32'W | 34.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Dunn |
| 9.8 | 1998-05-30 | 2 | 44°53'N / 91°46'W | 44°50'N / 91°46'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 8 | 400K | 0 | Dunn |
| Brief Description: Two people severely injured during house collapse. Two homes destroyed. Several barns and sheds were also demolished. 6 people suffered minor injuries. One mobile home destroyed. | |||||||||||
| 15.0 | 1980-07-15 | 2 | 44°52'N / 91°29'W | 0.20 Mile | 67 Yards | 1 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Chippewa | |
| 15.3 | 1980-07-15 | 3 | 44°50'N / 91°31'W | 1.00 Mile | 440 Yards | 1 | 10 | 2.5M | 0 | Eau Claire | |
| 15.6 | 1958-06-04 | 5 | 44°55'N / 92°09'W | 44°57'N / 91°55'W | 11.40 Miles | 880 Yards | 20 | 54 | 25.0M | 0 | Dunn |
| 15.7 | 1971-07-18 | 2 | 44°52'N / 91°32'W | 44°50'N / 91°26'W | 4.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Eau Claire |
| 15.9 | 1951-09-12 | 3 | 44°41'N / 92°02'W | 44°55'N / 91°45'W | 21.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Dunn |
| 15.9 | 1971-09-28 | 2 | 44°49'N / 92°01'W | 44°52'N / 91°55'W | 5.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Dunn |
| 16.5 | 1976-06-12 | 2 | 44°50'N / 91°29'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Croix | |
| 16.7 | 1982-09-12 | 2 | 44°48'N / 91°33'W | 44°50'N / 91°27'W | 5.00 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Eau Claire |
| 17.3 | 1983-07-03 | 2 | 44°49'N / 91°29'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Eau Claire | |
| 18.1 | 1958-06-04 | 4 | 44°56'N / 91°28'W | 45°00'N / 91°15'W | 11.10 Miles | 600 Yards | 3 | 50 | 250K | 0 | Chippewa |
| 18.9 | 1982-09-12 | 2 | 44°46'N / 91°56'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Dunn | |
| 19.4 | 1982-09-12 | 2 | 44°46'N / 91°30'W | 44°49'N / 91°25'W | 5.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Eau Claire |
| 21.1 | 1980-07-15 | 2 | 45°05'N / 92°09'W | 45°05'N / 92°08'W | 1 | 12 | 2.5M | 0 | Dunn | ||
| 21.4 | 1977-07-30 | 4 | 45°06'N / 91°32'W | 45°16'N / 91°13'W | 19.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Chippewa |
| 21.6 | 1997-06-15 | 2 | 44°46'N / 92°02'W | 44°46'N / 92°01'W | 1.00 Mile | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0 | Dunn |
| Brief Description: Three silos, machine shed, barn and several trees damaged or destroyed. Pieces of shed found 1 mile away. Numerous trees and power lines down. | |||||||||||
| 21.9 | 1980-07-15 | 2 | 45°05'N / 92°10'W | 45°05'N / 92°09'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | St. Croix | ||
| 22.4 | 1958-07-14 | 2 | 45°16'N / 91°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Barron | |
| 23.2 | 1986-09-03 | 2 | 45°19'N / 91°38'W | 45°20'N / 91°36'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Barron |
| 24.7 | 1967-07-22 | 2 | 45°24'N / 92°06'W | 45°18'N / 91°32'W | 28.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Barron |
| 25.7 | 1998-05-15 | 3 | 44°36'N / 91°50'W | 44°40'N / 91°50'W | 5.00 Miles | 66 Yards | 0 | 6 | 100K | 0 | Pepin |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down in northern Buffalo County, and continued on ground for 9 miles into eastern Pepin County. Two homes were destroyed in Pepin County. House collapse injured 6 family members. Trailer home also damaged. Tornado rated F3 for a brief time east of Durand, however most of its damage track rated F1. | |||||||||||
| 25.9 | 1958-06-04 | 5 | 44°54'N / 92°20'W | 44°55'N / 92°09'W | 8.60 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | St. Croix |
| 26.6 | 1977-07-30 | 3 | 45°13'N / 92°11'W | 45°14'N / 92°09'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Polk | ||
| 26.6 | 1967-07-22 | 2 | 45°18'N / 91°32'W | 45°13'N / 91°07'W | 20.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rusk |
| 26.7 | 1977-07-30 | 3 | 45°10'N / 92°13'W | 45°13'N / 92°11'W | 2.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | St. Croix |
| 26.7 | 1977-07-30 | 3 | 45°14'N / 92°09'W | 45°19'N / 92°04'W | 6.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Barron |
| 27.5 | 1981-06-14 | 2 | 44°51'N / 92°15'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pierce | |
| 28.5 | 1951-09-12 | 3 | 44°38'N / 92°05'W | 44°41'N / 92°02'W | 3.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pepin |
| 29.2 | 1964-06-18 | 2 | 45°25'N / 91°39'W | 45°25'N / 91°38'W | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Barron | ||
| 29.5 | 1964-06-18 | 2 | 45°26'N / 91°45'W | 45°25'N / 91°39'W | 4.10 Miles | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Barron |
| 29.9 | 1958-06-04 | 3 | 44°57'N / 91°10'W | 44°58'N / 91°04'W | 4.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Chippewa |
| 30.5 | 1990-09-11 | 2 | 45°26'N / 91°39'W | 45°26'N / 91°35'W | 3.00 Miles | 2500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Barron |
| 30.9 | 1953-05-10 | 4 | 44°36'N / 91°22'W | 44°52'N / 91°04'W | 23.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Eau Claire |
| 31.1 | 1967-07-22 | 2 | 44°49'N / 92°23'W | 44°46'N / 92°12'W | 9.20 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Pierce |
| 31.1 | 1959-05-26 | 2 | 45°20'N / 91°18'W | 2.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Rusk | |
| 31.7 | 2010-07-14 | 2 | 44°45'N / 92°21'W | 44°49'N / 92°15'W | 6.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Pierce |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Several sheds and outbuildings were destroyed, as were a couple of barns. Hundreds of trees were snapped. The tornado was accompanied by strong rear flank downdraft winds that also knocked down numerous trees. EPISODE NARRATIVE: The morning of Wednesday July 14th had a complex of severe thunderstorms moving across eastern North Dakota, into portions of west-central and central Minnesota. This complex moved eastward during the morning, and intensified across portions of east-central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. Several waves of severe thunderstorms developed across west-central Wisconsin and began to reform westward into Minnesota by the early afternoon. These severe storms that reformed in east-central Minnesota, quickly moved into west-central Wisconsin by the mid afternoon and caused tornadoes and damaging straight-line winds. In addition to the winds and hail, several inches of rainfall caused flooding in Polk, Barron, St Croix and Rusk Counties. | |||||||||||
| 32.1 | 1958-05-24 | 3 | 44°51'N / 92°32'W | 44°37'N / 92°00'W | 30.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pierce |
| 32.4 | 1970-09-21 | 2 | 44°42'N / 91°13'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Eau Claire | |
| 33.6 | 1960-06-28 | 2 | 44°34'N / 91°35'W | 44°32'N / 91°20'W | 12.20 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Buffalo |
| 33.8 | 1958-06-04 | 4 | 44°46'N / 91°16'W | 44°49'N / 90°56'W | 16.50 Miles | 880 Yards | 4 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Eau Claire |
| 34.1 | 1983-07-03 | 2 | 44°38'N / 91°15'W | 44°43'N / 91°09'W | 8.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Eau Claire |
| 35.5 | 1990-09-11 | 2 | 45°30'N / 91°53'W | 1.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Barron | |
| 36.3 | 1977-07-30 | 2 | 45°11'N / 91°13'W | 45°18'N / 90°55'W | 16.50 Miles | 1000 Yards | 1 | 8 | 2.5M | 0 | Chippewa |
| 36.9 | 2010-07-14 | 2 | 44°46'N / 92°34'W | 44°48'N / 92°16'W | 15.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Pierce |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Several barns and sheds were destroyed, and structural damage was noted at some homes. Many trees were broken or snapped. This tornado was accompanied by strong rear flank downdraft winds, which also knocked down trees and damaged some sheds. EPISODE NARRATIVE: The morning of Wednesday July 14th had a complex of severe thunderstorms moving across eastern North Dakota, into portions of west-central and central Minnesota. This complex moved eastward during the morning, and intensified across portions of east-central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. Several waves of severe thunderstorms developed across west-central Wisconsin and began to reform westward into Minnesota by the early afternoon. These severe storms that reformed in east-central Minnesota, quickly moved into west-central Wisconsin by the mid afternoon and caused tornadoes and damaging straight-line winds. In addition to the winds and hail, several inches of rainfall caused flooding in Polk, Barron, St Croix and Rusk Counties. | |||||||||||
| 37.1 | 1971-09-28 | 3 | 44°55'N / 91°02'W | 44°52'N / 90°56'W | 5.40 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Chippewa |
| 37.5 | 1966-07-10 | 2 | 45°20'N / 92°20'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Polk | |
| 38.6 | 1980-07-15 | 2 | 44°37'N / 91°11'W | 44°37'N / 91°07'W | 2.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Eau Claire |
| 38.6 | 1953-05-10 | 2 | 44°51'N / 92°39'W | 45°13'N / 92°23'W | 28.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 9 | 2.5M | 0 | St. Croix |
| 39.2 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 44°58'N / 90°56'W | 44°59'N / 90°55'W | 1.00 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chippewa |
| 39.6 | 1975-08-24 | 2 | 45°16'N / 91°27'W | 45°33'N / 90°52'W | 34.20 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 6 | 25K | 0 | Rusk |
| 40.2 | 1953-05-10 | 2 | 45°13'N / 92°23'W | 45°39'N / 92°10'W | 31.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 2 | 9 | 2.5M | 0 | Polk |
| 40.4 | 1979-10-03 | 2 | 44°43'N / 92°27'W | 2.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Pierce | |
| 40.7 | 1954-08-15 | 2 | 45°07'N / 92°35'W | 45°08'N / 92°30'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | St. Croix |
| 41.4 | 1982-09-12 | 2 | 45°22'N / 91°12'W | 45°32'N / 91°08'W | 12.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rusk |
| 41.6 | 1957-07-04 | 2 | 45°36'N / 91°46'W | 45°36'N / 91°42'W | 1.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Barron |
| 41.7 | 1953-05-10 | 4 | 44°12'N / 91°51'W | 44°36'N / 91°22'W | 36.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Buffalo |
| 43.3 | 1971-09-28 | 3 | 44°52'N / 90°56'W | 44°50'N / 90°48'W | 6.20 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Clark |
| 44.0 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 44°59'N / 90°55'W | 45°01'N / 90°44'W | 11.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Clark |
| 44.8 | 1965-05-05 | 2 | 45°35'N / 92°05'W | 45°38'N / 92°00'W | 4.50 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Barron |
| 46.0 | 1964-05-23 | 2 | 44°27'N / 91°20'W | 44°32'N / 90°54'W | 21.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Trempealeau |
| 46.3 | 1969-06-26 | 2 | 44°26'N / 91°08'W | 44°40'N / 90°55'W | 19.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Jackson |
| 47.7 | 1959-05-26 | 3 | 44°28'N / 91°06'W | 44°35'N / 90°56'W | 11.30 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
| 47.8 | 1977-07-30 | 2 | 45°18'N / 90°55'W | 45°23'N / 90°50'W | 6.50 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Taylor |
| 48.0 | 1959-05-26 | 3 | 44°35'N / 90°56'W | 44°39'N / 90°53'W | 4.30 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Clark |
| 48.8 | 2002-09-02 | 3 | 45°28'N / 91°08'W | 45°28'N / 90°49'W | 16.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 27 | 25.0M | 0 | Rusk |
| Brief Description: The first tornadic supercell to rake Wisconsin this day started just west of Ladysmith and tore through the downtown before moving into rural parts of eastern Rusk County. Injury totals fluctuated at first, but Rusk County Emergency Management stated there were approximately 27 injuries, none more serious than a broken leg. The NWS performed a damage survey the next day, and the most severe damage, rated F3, was in downtown Ladysmith. In this area 4 blocks wide and 16 blocks long, 40 buildings were destroyed and 159 damaged. One church was blown off its foundation, although during the damage survey, it was apparent that it had been barely attached to the foundation. A pickup truck was also picked up and thrown into a tree. Two old brick buildings collapsed. As the tornado reached the east side of Ladysmith, it weakened to F2 status. Once it left Ladysmith, the tornado continued on an eastward path, striking a number of rural farm houses and producing mostly F1 damage until it dissipated. | |||||||||||
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.