Marinette County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Wisconsin Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Marinette County is about the same as Wisconsin average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Marinette County is much lower than Wisconsin average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #29
| Marinette County | 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
| Marinette County | 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, #61
| Marinette County | 62.82 |
| 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 4,501 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Marinette County 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: | 14 | Cold: | 33 | Dense Fog: | 25 | Drought: | 36 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 133 | Hail: | 1,457 | Heat: | 16 | Heavy Snow: | 166 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 17 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 61 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,071 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 7 | Winter Storm: | 108 | Winter Weather: | 36 |
| Other: | 321 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Marinette County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Marinette County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Marinette County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 27 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Marinette County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 2.4 | 1958-05-17 | 2 | 45°21'N / 88°00'W | 45°23'N / 87°54'W | 4.70 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Marinette |
| 3.8 | 1974-04-21 | 2 | 45°17'N / 88°04'W | 45°19'N / 88°00'W | 2.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Marinette |
| 11.0 | 1972-09-16 | 2 | 45°27'N / 88°45'W | 45°20'N / 87°40'W | 53.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Forest |
| 11.0 | 1971-09-28 | 3 | 45°13'N / 88°18'W | 45°15'N / 88°00'W | 14.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Marinette |
| 15.9 | 1964-06-09 | 2 | 45°06'N / 88°03'W | 45°08'N / 87°59'W | 3.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Marinette |
| 16.3 | 1991-05-28 | 3 | 45°29'N / 87°44'W | 45°28'N / 87°41'W | 10.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Menominee |
| 18.5 | 1972-09-16 | 2 | 45°27'N / 87°44'W | 45°21'N / 87°30'W | 13.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Menominee |
| 19.9 | 1968-08-19 | 4 | 45°05'N / 88°05'W | 45°04'N / 87°38'W | 21.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 2 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Marinette |
| 24.2 | 2007-06-07 | 2 | 45°10'N / 88°38'W | 45°19'N / 88°18'W | 19.00 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 2 | 10.5M | 0K | Oconto |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The long-track tornado moved from Langlade Co. into Oconto Co. about 8 miles west of Mountain at 4:58 PM CDT. The tornado reached a width of three-quarters of a mile wide as it flattened over 7000 acres of trees in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (DI 27, DOD4). The tornado destroyed or heavily damaged 12 homes (DI 4, DOD 11), with 14 others sustaining damage of varying degrees. Nearly all of the damaged homes were either manufactured homes or vacation cottages. Two people sustained minor injuries as they sought shelter in a bedroom of their home. The tornado dissipated about 10 miles east-northeast of Lakewood, near the Marinette County line, at 5:18 PM CDT. The tornado was rated EF2 in Langlade Co., with estimated winds of 125 to 135 mph, and an average path length of 1000 yards. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An unseasonably strong upper level storm system and deep surface low pressure (with central pressure as low as 979 mb) interacted with a cold front that moved from west to east across the area during the late afternoon and evening. A moist and unstable airmass ahead of the cold front provided the fuel to generate severe thunderstorms that included five tornadoes, near record-size hail and damaging winds. Thousands of homes sustained damage and about 15,000 customers lost power during the storms, some for almost 3 days as trees blocked roads and slowed repair work to power lines. Four people sustained minor injuries, and total damage from the storms exceeded $60 million. The first tornado of the outbreak moved across eastern Marathon County shortly after 4:00 PM CDT, producing damage to several homes. The tornado was rated EF2. A second thunderstorm produced a weak tornado in Wood County, which was rated EF0. The same storm responsible for this tornado produced softball size hail that damaged thousands of homes, several businesses and hundreds of vehicles. One hailstone that fell in Port Edwards measured 5.50 inches in diameter, making it the second largest hailstone on record in Wisconsin. The same supercell thunderstorm that produced the Marathon County tornado also produced a long-track tornado across northeast Shawano, northwest Menominee, southeast Langlade and northern Oconto counties. This tornado was on the ground for 47 minutes, covering 40.1 miles, and destroyed 14,400 acres of woodlands (timber loss was estimated at $12.5 million) and dozens of buildings along its path. The twister, which was over one-half mile at times, was rated EF3, with peak winds estimated of 150 to 160 mph. The storm responsible for the tornado also produced significant straight-line wind damage as it moved into western Marinette County. The fourth tornado of the outbreak, rated EF1, developed near Cedarville in Marinette Co., which was from the same thunderstorm that produced the long-track tornado. The final tornado of the afternoon and evening touched down near Harmony in Marinette Co. This tornado was rated EF1. Details of the tornadoes, hail, and wind damage can be found in the event narratives of the affected counties. | |||||||||||
| 25.5 | 1971-09-28 | 3 | 45°10'N / 88°38'W | 45°13'N / 88°18'W | 16.40 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Oconto |
| 26.5 | 1986-07-04 | 3 | 45°44'N / 87°46'W | 45°41'N / 87°51'W | 8.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Marinette |
| 27.1 | 1966-06-04 | 2 | 45°01'N / 88°23'W | 45°03'N / 88°16'W | 5.40 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Oconto |
| 28.9 | 1991-05-28 | 2 | 45°42'N / 87°47'W | 45°43'N / 87°36'W | 12.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Menominee |
| 29.1 | 1986-07-04 | 3 | 45°41'N / 87°46'W | 45°39'N / 87°26'W | 16.30 Miles | 750 Yards | 0 | 12 | 2.5M | 0 | Menominee |
| 29.7 | 1979-06-16 | 2 | 44°53'N / 88°18'W | 44°59'N / 88°01'W | 15.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Oconto |
| 29.9 | 1966-06-04 | 2 | 44°57'N / 88°20'W | 44°59'N / 88°14'W | 4.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Oconto |
| 30.1 | 1959-07-08 | 2 | 45°47'N / 88°00'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Marinette | |
| 30.4 | 1987-07-11 | 3 | 45°46'N / 87°52'W | 45°45'N / 87°40'W | 7.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Dickinson |
| 33.3 | 1966-06-04 | 2 | 44°53'N / 88°18'W | 44°55'N / 88°12'W | 4.70 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Oconto |
| 37.3 | 2007-06-07 | 3 | 45°07'N / 88°46'W | 45°10'N / 88°38'W | 7.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.2M | 0K | Langlade |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The long-track tornado moved from Menominee Co. into Langlade Co. about three miles south of White Lake at 4:48 PM CDT. Significant damage occurred as the tornado grew to just over one-half mile. The Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort sustained severe damage with nearly every building (ten) damaged or destroyed, including a three-story inn that was pushed over by the high winds. Only nine people were on site at the time of the tornado; hundreds were expected the next day for the upcoming weekend. One employee at the resort was injured, suffering minor cuts to the head. Hundreds of acres of trees were flattened, and nine homes sustained damage. The average width of the tornado was 700 yards as it moved across the county. The tornado was rated EF3 (DI 6, DOD 9; poorly anchored buildings) with winds estimated of 150 to 160 mph. The tornado exited Langlade Co., around 6 miles east-northeast of White Lake, and moved into Oconto Co. at 4:58 PM CDT. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An unseasonably strong upper level storm system and deep surface low pressure (with central pressure as low as 979 mb) interacted with a cold front that moved from west to east across the area during the late afternoon and evening. A moist and unstable airmass ahead of the cold front provided the fuel to generate severe thunderstorms that included five tornadoes, near record-size hail and damaging winds. Thousands of homes sustained damage and about 15,000 customers lost power during the storms, some for almost 3 days as trees blocked roads and slowed repair work to power lines. Four people sustained minor injuries, and total damage from the storms exceeded $60 million. The first tornado of the outbreak moved across eastern Marathon County shortly after 4:00 PM CDT, producing damage to several homes. The tornado was rated EF2. A second thunderstorm produced a weak tornado in Wood County, which was rated EF0. The same storm responsible for this tornado produced softball size hail that damaged thousands of homes, several businesses and hundreds of vehicles. One hailstone that fell in Port Edwards measured 5.50 inches in diameter, making it the second largest hailstone on record in Wisconsin. The same supercell thunderstorm that produced the Marathon County tornado also produced a long-track tornado across northeast Shawano, northwest Menominee, southeast Langlade and northern Oconto counties. This tornado was on the ground for 47 minutes, covering 40.1 miles, and destroyed 14,400 acres of woodlands (timber loss was estimated at $12.5 million) and dozens of buildings along its path. The twister, which was over one-half mile at times, was rated EF3, with peak winds estimated of 150 to 160 mph. The storm responsible for the tornado also produced significant straight-line wind damage as it moved into western Marinette County. The fourth tornado of the outbreak, rated EF1, developed near Cedarville in Marinette Co., which was from the same thunderstorm that produced the long-track tornado. The final tornado of the afternoon and evening touched down near Harmony in Marinette Co. This tornado was rated EF1. Details of the tornadoes, hail, and wind damage can be found in the event narratives of the affected counties. | |||||||||||
| 38.0 | 1987-07-11 | 3 | 45°45'N / 87°40'W | 45°47'N / 87°18'W | 20.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Menominee |
| 40.8 | 1968-06-30 | 2 | 45°40'N / 88°42'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Forest | |
| 42.0 | 1998-08-23 | 3 | 45°01'N / 87°20'W | 45°00'N / 87°13'W | 5.10 Miles | 1300 Yards | 0 | 2 | 4.7M | 1.8M | Door |
| Brief Description: Three supercell thunderstorms dropped large hail and tornadoes across northeast and central Wisconsin during the afternoon and early evening. The first two storms developed quickly over central Wisconsin and then tracked east-southeast through the Fox Cities. These two storms primarily produced large hail (1 to 2 inches in diameter) and some wind damage. A brief tornado touched down with the first storm near Menasha (Winnebago co.). The third storm developed farther north in the northeast part of the state. This storm evolved more slowly, but went through the classic life-cycle of a tornadic supercell and spawned an F3 tornado in Door county. Large hail struck the Fox Cities, especially Appleton, producing over $5 million in damage to vehicles and roofs of buildings. This was the second multi-million dollar hailstorm this year in Appleton. In Sherwood (Calumet co.), hail damage to a golf course was so severe that it did not open until two days later. In Brillion (Calumet co.), hail shattered large glass panels of a church. The most severe damage occurred when a tornado tore a path 5.1 miles long and over a half-mile wide across Door county. The tornado came onshore from Green Bay at Murphy Park, on the Door county west coast at 630 pm. Thousands of trees were flattened in the heavily wooded area. About 30 homes, businesses and barns were destroyed or heavily damaged by the storm, but only two minor injuries were reported. Some livestock, however, including five horses, were lost. The tornado knocked down seven power poles holding electrical transmission lines, bringing blackouts to most of the north half of Door county. Thirty adults and 17 children at a campground found refuge in a concrete building as the tornado approached the grounds. Two minor injuries occurred at the camping resort as it took a direct hit. The twister made it almost two-thirds of the way across the county, before dissipating about 3 miles west of the Door county east coast. | |||||||||||
| 42.4 | 1994-05-30 | 2 | 45°33'N / 88°56'W | 45°35'N / 88°41'W | 12.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 3 | 5.0M | 50K | Forest |
| Brief Description: Severe thunderstorms raked west-central and northern Wisconsin with violent damaging winds up to 61 mph, hail up to tennis ball-size, and two tornadoes. A tornado set down just east of Woodville in St Croix County damaging eight farm dwellings and structures along its one-mile path causing $55,000 damage. Another tornado cut a 12-mile path from just southwest of Crandon to just north of Laona in Forest County causing $1 million damage. It destroyed three mobile homes, damaged or destroyed 25 homes and leveled 600 acres of timber. Three people were injured in a mobile home that was destroyed by the tornado. Widespread hail up to tennis ball-size fell over the Rhinelander area damaging hundreds of vehicles as well as roofs and windows. A severe thunderstorm with damaging winds knocked down about 3,000 trees and damaged several homes and cabins seven miles southeast of Seeley, Sawyer County. | |||||||||||
| 46.1 | 1984-04-27 | 3 | 44°56'N / 88°49'W | 45°04'N / 88°47'W | 7.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Menominee (c) |
| 46.1 | 1985-06-08 | 2 | 44°48'N / 87°28'W | 44°50'N / 87°22'W | 5.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Door |
| 46.8 | 2007-06-07 | 2 | 45°01'N / 88°58'W | 45°07'N / 88°46'W | 13.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.7M | 0K | Menominee (c) |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The long-track tornado moved into Menominee Co. from Shawano Co. about 7.8 miles west-northwest of Neopit at 4:32 PM CDT. Three thousand acres of trees were snapped or uprooted, many in prime stands of maples, some 150 to 200 years old. The tornado exited Menominee Co. and moved into Langlade Co. at 4:48 PM CDT. The average path width of the tornado in Menominee Co. was 500 yards wide, and damage was rated EF2 (DI 27, DOD 4) in this segment, with estimated winds of 120 to 130 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An unseasonably strong upper level storm system and deep surface low pressure (with central pressure as low as 979 mb) interacted with a cold front that moved from west to east across the area during the late afternoon and evening. A moist and unstable airmass ahead of the cold front provided the fuel to generate severe thunderstorms that included five tornadoes, near record-size hail and damaging winds. Thousands of homes sustained damage and about 15,000 customers lost power during the storms, some for almost 3 days as trees blocked roads and slowed repair work to power lines. Four people sustained minor injuries, and total damage from the storms exceeded $60 million. The first tornado of the outbreak moved across eastern Marathon County shortly after 4:00 PM CDT, producing damage to several homes. The tornado was rated EF2. A second thunderstorm produced a weak tornado in Wood County, which was rated EF0. The same storm responsible for this tornado produced softball size hail that damaged thousands of homes, several businesses and hundreds of vehicles. One hailstone that fell in Port Edwards measured 5.50 inches in diameter, making it the second largest hailstone on record in Wisconsin. The same supercell thunderstorm that produced the Marathon County tornado also produced a long-track tornado across northeast Shawano, northwest Menominee, southeast Langlade and northern Oconto counties. This tornado was on the ground for 47 minutes, covering 40.1 miles, and destroyed 14,400 acres of woodlands (timber loss was estimated at $12.5 million) and dozens of buildings along its path. The twister, which was over one-half mile at times, was rated EF3, with peak winds estimated of 150 to 160 mph. The storm responsible for the tornado also produced significant straight-line wind damage as it moved into western Marinette County. The fourth tornado of the outbreak, rated EF1, developed near Cedarville in Marinette Co., which was from the same thunderstorm that produced the long-track tornado. The final tornado of the afternoon and evening touched down near Harmony in Marinette Co. This tornado was rated EF1. Details of the tornadoes, hail, and wind damage can be found in the event narratives of the affected counties. | |||||||||||
* 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.