Washburn County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Washburn County is about the same as Wisconsin average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Washburn County is much lower than Wisconsin average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #29
| Washburn 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
| Washburn 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, #63
| Washburn County | 55.78 |
| 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 5,878 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Washburn 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: | 36 | Cold: | 64 | Dense Fog: | 12 | Drought: | 55 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 184 | Hail: | 2,210 | Heat: | 20 | Heavy Snow: | 237 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 21 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 49 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,585 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 169 | Winter Weather: | 3 |
| Other: | 232 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Washburn County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Washburn County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Washburn County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 29 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Washburn County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 11.0 | 2001-06-18 | 2 | 45°50'N / 92°03'W | 45°50'N / 91°58'W | 4.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Washburn |
| Brief Description: The tornado, which began near Grantsburg in Burnett County, entered Washburn County at 851 pm local daylight time, 7 miles west of Spooner, and traveled to a point about 3 miles west of Spooner, dissipating around 900 pm. The tornado was in the dissipating stage as it entered Washburn County, but the tree and structural damage that was reported was still classified as F-2. Several homes had windows blown in, roofs torn off, or were damaged by falling trees. | |||||||||||
| 12.8 | 1965-05-07 | 2 | 45°44'N / 91°56'W | 1.00 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Washburn | |
| 13.4 | 1953-05-10 | 2 | 45°54'N / 92°02'W | 46°15'N / 91°45'W | 27.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Washburn |
| 16.7 | 1953-05-10 | 2 | 45°39'N / 92°10'W | 45°54'N / 92°02'W | 18.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 9 | 2.5M | 0 | Burnett |
| 20.4 | 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 |
| 22.9 | 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 |
| 27.0 | 2001-06-18 | 3 | 45°47'N / 92°39'W | 45°49'N / 92°02'W | 30.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 2 | 16 | 10.0M | 0 | Burnett |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down at 806 pm local daylight time 1.5 miles east of Grantsburg and traveled east at an average speed of 40 mph through the village of Siren to the Washburn County line, then continued on to a point 3 miles west of Spooner. The path of the tornado averaged 1/8 to 1/4 mile, but reached its greatest width of « mile as it approached Siren around 820 pm, where it did F-3 damage. Two people were killed by the tornado, and there were 16 injuries. Four hundred homes were destroyed, 200 in Siren alone, with 280 homes damaged, and 60 businesses destroyed or damaged. Most of the damage occurred in an 8-block area of Siren. Approximately 14,000 acres of trees were leveled along the tornado path. The two people killed were in Dewey Township, about 14 miles east of Siren. An 80-year-old woman was crushed by a falling wall while trying to get to the basement, and a 77-year-old man was found dead about 100 yards from his demolished home, presumably thrown there by tornado-force winds. Many buildings in the path of the tornado through Dewey Township, including the Dewey Town Hall, were destroyed as well. Power lines, trees, and buildings were also damaged or destroyed at Alpha, Falun, and Mud Hen Lake along the path of the tornado between Grantsburg and Siren. Fifteen cows were lost when a barn collapsed near Falun. Some were killed outright. Others were injured and had to be put down. | |||||||||||
| 27.1 | 1968-06-30 | 2 | 46°15'N / 91°47'W | 46°18'N / 91°33'W | 11.40 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Douglas |
| 27.4 | 1990-09-11 | 2 | 45°30'N / 91°53'W | 1.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Barron | |
| 32.6 | 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 |
| 32.9 | 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 |
| 33.7 | 1964-06-18 | 2 | 45°25'N / 91°39'W | 45°25'N / 91°38'W | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Barron | ||
| 37.5 | 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 |
| 39.2 | 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 |
| 40.1 | 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 |
| 40.9 | 1965-05-05 | 2 | 45°46'N / 92°46'W | 45°53'N / 92°31'W | 14.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Burnett |
| 41.2 | 1968-06-30 | 2 | 46°18'N / 91°33'W | 46°26'N / 91°00'W | 27.60 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Bayfield |
| 42.8 | 1952-06-23 | 3 | 45°25'N / 92°38'W | 45°35'N / 92°20'W | 18.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 2 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Polk |
| 43.1 | 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 |
| 44.0 | 1958-06-04 | 2 | 45°35'N / 91°06'W | 45°40'N / 90°50'W | 13.80 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rusk |
| 44.1 | 1958-07-14 | 2 | 45°16'N / 91°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Barron | |
| 45.2 | 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 |
| 45.4 | 1959-05-26 | 2 | 45°20'N / 91°18'W | 2.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Rusk | |
| 45.5 | 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 |
| 46.5 | 1966-07-10 | 2 | 45°20'N / 92°20'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Polk | |
| 48.5 | 1970-07-07 | 2 | 46°24'N / 92°46'W | 46°21'N / 92°18'W | 22.30 Miles | 123 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Carlton |
| 49.3 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 49.4 | 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 |
| 49.4 | 1977-07-30 | 3 | 45°13'N / 92°11'W | 45°14'N / 92°09'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Polk | ||
* 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.