Storm Record · Dodge, Sauk, Walworth, Waukesha Counties
April 17, 2026: Tornadoes across four counties
What the National Weather Service recorded
A round of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding occurred as a strong cold front approached and tracked across southern WI. More specifically, supercell thunderstorms developed from northeast IA into southwest WI and far southern WI during the late afternoon and evening hours. Eventually these storms transitioned to a squall line which had a number of tornadoes associated with it, as it tracked through southeast Wisconsin. Flash flooding affected much of the same region especially in Janesville. Many large hail reports and a small number of downburst damaging wind reports were also received.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database · episode 212527
Every report, in the Weather Service's words
Where It Hit
| Location | County | Hazard | Size | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richwood (.85 NW) | Dodge | Wind | 64 mph wind | A barn wall was blown down. |
| East Troy (.69 N) | Walworth | Wind | 64 mph wind | An uprooted tree. |
| Eagle | Waukesha | Hail | 1" hail | |
| Eagle (2.07 S) | Waukesha | Hail | 1" hail | |
| Little Prairie (1.52 W) | Walworth | Hail | 1" hail | |
| Prairie Du Sac Arpt | Sauk | Hail | 0.75" hail | |
| Delavan (3.36 WNW) | Walworth | Tornado | EF1 | Tornado appeared to begin along Turtle Creek west of Klug Rd and south of County Road M. The tornado destroyed an open facing barn shed along Klug Rd. It then tracked to the northeast and caused damage to 3 barns, a garage and a house along County Road P. It then continued to the northeast and crossed Dam Rd before ending near Turtle Creek again. |
| Richmond (3.97 SW) | Walworth | Tornado | EF1 | Multivortex tornado documented southwest of Richmond. Multiple sheds with sheet metal damage along County Highway M before entering Walworth County. |
| Darien (2.74 NNW) | Walworth | Tornado | EF1 | The tornado appeared to start north of School Section Rd and west of Old 89 Rd with mainly tree damage going to the east-northeast. The tornado then tracked along State Road 11 going east toward Delavan. About 4 farmsteads had damage to them, including one empty silo that was blown down from about halfway up. The tornado then continued east-southeast along Hwy 11 and ended near Redwood Ct on the west side of Delavan where it caused some tree damage. |
| Lyons Arpt (1.96 N) | Walworth | Tornado | EF0 | The tornado began along Spring Prairie Rd and moved to the southeast. The tornado had an intermittent path with a few trees uprooted, some shingles peeled from the south side of a roof, another roof peeled back on the southeast corner, and siding damage to a garage. The track continued to the southeast with several limbs snapped from the tops of trees, ending near Old County Highway DD north of Highway 11. |
| Muskego Lake (1.81 SW) | Waukesha | Tornado | EF0 | The tornado began over a farm field where a few small limbs were downed. The tornado continued to the northeast, snapping a few trees and downing several large limbs. Further to the northeast, the view was not accessible with the tornado ending southwest of Big Muskego Lake, south of the Big Muskego Lake Wildlife area. |