Beaver Dam

Population 16,542 (2025)

143 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Beaver Dam since 1950, 12 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on July 16, 2025.

Hazard fingerprint for Beaver Dam Tornado: 88th percentile. Tropical: 0th percentile. Wildfire: 21th percentile. Flood: 37th percentile. Hail & wind: 60th percentile. Heat: 81th percentile. Cold: 86th percentile. Winter: 92th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950143
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19843

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Dodge County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Dodge County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

143

12 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Flood insurance claims

46

Dodge County

$205,000 paid since 1978

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

3

Largest: Sommers, 1994

Details

Strongest tornado

F5

July 18, 1996, 13.3 mile path

Federal disaster declarations

13

Most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, 2020

Details

Record high

102°F

Reached 2 times, most recently July 7, 2012

Details

Record low

−36°F

January 15, 1963

Details

Snowiest season

103.3in

Winter of 2007-08

Tornadoes

About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 12 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

July 18, 1996

F5, 13.3 mile path

400 yards wide.

Deadliest

April 11, 1965

3 killed, F2

28 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

EF0, 3.0 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 7 7 1960s: 12 12 1970s: 17 17 1980s: 34 34 1990s: 8 8 2000s: 31 31 2010s: 21 21 2020s: 13 13 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 0 F: 0 M: 0 A: 14 M: 21 J: 44 44 J: 33 A: 24 S: 3 O: 3 N: 0 D: 1 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Jul 16, 2025EF03.05000
Jul 16, 2025EF00.13000
May 15, 2025EF11.55000
May 15, 2025EF12.15000
May 15, 2025EF28.330000
May 15, 2025EF14.27500
May 15, 2025EF211.550010
May 15, 2025EF16.610000
Jun 22, 2024EF12.015000
Jun 22, 2024EF14.530000
Oct 12, 2022EF00.52500
Jul 29, 2021EF06.010000
Jul 28, 2021EF00.45000
Aug 28, 2018EF12.810000
Aug 28, 2018EF12.710000
Aug 28, 2018EF10.18000
Aug 28, 2018EF23.915000
Aug 28, 2018EF10.910000
Aug 28, 2018EF00.15000
Aug 28, 2018EF14.410000
Aug 28, 2018EF00.65000
Aug 28, 2018EF14.617500
Aug 28, 2018EF02.15000
May 27, 2016EF14.533000
Jun 21, 2011EF11.610000
Jun 21, 2011EF10.910000
Jun 21, 2011EF12.215000
Jun 21, 2011EF12.615000
Jun 19, 2011EF00.12000
May 22, 2011EF04.25000
May 22, 2011EF00.43000
Jul 22, 2010EF05.73000
Jul 22, 2010EF03.03000
Jul 7, 2010EF14.212500
Jul 27, 2009EF19.615000
Jul 10, 2008EF11.05000
Jul 10, 2008EF11.15000
Jul 7, 2008EF11.17500
Jun 12, 2008EF00.12000
Jun 12, 2008EF00.22000
Jun 12, 2008EF05.35000
Jun 7, 2008EF12.97500
Jun 7, 2008EF02.22500
Jun 7, 2008EF28.63,52060
Apr 25, 2008EF07.13000
Apr 25, 2008EF121.17500
Jul 3, 2006F00.11000
Jun 18, 2006F15.840010
Jul 16, 2004F00.53000
Jul 11, 2004F00.12500
Jul 11, 2004F00.12500
Jun 23, 2004F17.615000
Jun 23, 2004F37.630011
Jun 23, 2004F333.340000
May 23, 2004F00.12500
Jul 6, 2003F00.12500
Jul 6, 2003F00.12500
Jul 6, 2003F00.12500
Sep 2, 2002F00.13000
Aug 21, 2002F00.63000
Jun 11, 2001F16.37500
Jun 11, 2001F18.07500
Jun 11, 2001F00.23000
Jun 1, 2000F00.12000
Jun 1, 2000F217.012000
Jul 18, 1996F00.15000
Jul 18, 1996F00.65000
Jul 18, 1996F513.3400120
Aug 16, 1995F00.210000
Jun 17, 1993F11.010000
Jun 8, 1993F04.05000
Jun 8, 1993F228.01,00000
Jun 7, 1993F00.12300
May 24, 1989F12.27300
May 24, 1989F11.57300
Jun 22, 1988F12.010000
May 8, 1988F00.55000
May 8, 1988F15.07300
Jul 21, 1987F00.12300
Jul 12, 1986F00.12300
Jul 12, 1986F00.12300
Jul 12, 1986F00.22300
May 11, 1985F12.020010
Oct 16, 1984F10.52000
Jul 23, 1984F12.55000
Jun 8, 1984F211.05010
Jun 8, 1984F19.03000
Jun 8, 1984F329.020010
Jun 8, 1984F216.05000
Jun 8, 1984F218.05000
Aug 21, 1983F00.12000
Jul 19, 1983F00.11000
Jul 14, 1982F10.16700
May 17, 1982F00.11000
Jul 20, 1981F00.11000
Jun 15, 1981F10.11700
Apr 3, 1981F10.11000
Aug 7, 1980F16.66700
Jul 29, 1980F10.11000
Jul 29, 1980F10.11000
Jun 5, 1980F310.710000
Jun 5, 1980F26.21000
Jun 5, 1980F18.71000
Apr 7, 1980F26.16720
Apr 7, 1980F210.25000
Apr 7, 1980F211.570160
Apr 7, 1980F31.26740
Aug 9, 1979F10.11000
Aug 9, 1979F00.11000
Aug 9, 1979F00.11000
Aug 9, 1979F00.11000
Aug 9, 1979F00.11000
Aug 9, 1979F00.11000
Jun 17, 1978F216.51000
Aug 13, 1977F00.11000
Jun 5, 1977F369.540080
Jun 5, 1977F18.210000
May 31, 1977F12.010000
Apr 15, 1976F125.215000
Jun 4, 1975F32.33300
Apr 21, 1974F358.6200182
Apr 21, 1974F322.220000
Apr 21, 1974F426.0200350
Dec 3, 1970F13.05000
May 31, 1969F11.95000
Aug 19, 1968F228.75020
Apr 20, 1968F12.010000
May 23, 1966F24.35030
Apr 11, 1965F214.51,320283
Sep 3, 1964F13.31000
Aug 22, 1964F11.01000
Jun 13, 1963F13.83300
Jun 8, 1963F24.13300
Jun 17, 1962F21.01000
Aug 8, 1960F14.11000
May 21, 1960F02.01000
Oct 8, 1959F21.01000
May 28, 1959F00.11000
Jul 21, 1956F00.11000
Jul 30, 1954F225.210000
Apr 7, 1954F21.93300
Sep 26, 1951F49.010091
Jun 19, 1951F21.046700
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.

Wildfire and smoke

3 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

April 2, 1994

Sommers Fire, 937 acres

8.9 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

May 8, 2007

Tower Rd 2 Fire

588 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1988: 8141994: 9372007: 588 2,339 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Tower Rd 220078.1588
Sommers19948.9937
Peachy Rd19888.1814
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 73 days

Heavy smoke on 23 days in 2021, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

26.4 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

22 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 40 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 7 2012: 16 2013: 14 2014: 14 2015: 18 2016: 5 2017: 12 2018: 19 2019: 16 2020: 23 2021: 46 2022: 16 2023: 73 73 2024: 32 2025: 22 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

46 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $205,000 paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Dodge County, the county that contains Beaver Dam.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 2008: 16 16 2019: 7 2008
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2008: 16 claims

$79,000 paid.

2nd most

2019: 7 claims

$82,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
5305014$52,000
5309811$23,000
530915$12,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood22
  • Flood21
  • Heavy Rain5

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Dodge County, the county that contains Beaver Dam.

Most severe crest

June 15, 2008

Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge, 14.01 ft

4.01 feet above the 10.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

April 20, 2026

Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge, 12.02 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Jun 15, 2008Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge14.01+4.01Major
Apr 21, 2013Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge12.54+2.54Moderate
Sep 7, 2018Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge12.29+2.29Moderate
Oct 5, 2019Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge12.15+2.15Moderate
Jun 7, 2024Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge12.13+2.13Moderate
Jul 4, 2014Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge12.12+2.12Moderate
Jun 16, 2008Beaverdam River at Beaver Dam845.53+2.03Moderate
Apr 20, 2026Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge12.02+2.02Moderate
Apr 17, 2014Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge11.56+1.56Moderate
Apr 11, 2016Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge11.43+1.43Minor
Sep 28, 2016Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge11.35+1.35Minor
Apr 14, 2008Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge11.14+1.14Minor
Mar 18, 2019Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.98+0.98Minor
Apr 4, 2007Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.92+0.92Minor
Jul 25, 2010Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.87+0.87Minor
Apr 7, 2024Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.74+0.74Minor
Jul 6, 2024Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.74+0.74Minor
Mar 12, 2009Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.68+0.68Minor
Mar 17, 2010Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.66+0.66Minor
Mar 24, 2023Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.60+0.60Minor
Apr 13, 2015Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.59+0.59Minor
Mar 26, 2011Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.57+0.57Minor
May 17, 2018Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.47+0.47Minor
May 4, 2017Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.42+0.42Minor
Dec 18, 2015Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.37+0.37Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Beaverdam River at Beaver Dam843.5845.53 ftJun 16, 20080
Rock River at Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridge10.014.01 ftJun 15, 20081
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 105 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 28 months.

The drought index is for Dodge County, the county that contains Beaver Dam.

105

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

46

Months in extreme drought

7%

Share of all months, severe or worse

18

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

February 1964

−5.93, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

28 months

December 1962 to March 1965.

Latest month

September 2026

+1.16, slightly wet

Last severe month: February 2022.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 4 1896: 3 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 5 1902: 4 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 3 1911: 5 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 1 1931: 8 1932: 1 1933: 0 1934: 6 1935: 0 1936: 2 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 2 1940: 4 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 3 1949: 2 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 3 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 1 1963: 12 12 1964: 12 1965: 5 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 7 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 2 1977: 6 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 2 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 1 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 1 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes

No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the city centre in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.

Severe weather and other events

1,092 events in the National Weather Service record for Dodge County, 937 of them since 1996.

124

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

7

Hail, 2 inches or larger

209

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

237

Winter weather events since 1996

41

Heat events since 1996

37

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

July 27, 2026

2.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

May 31, 1998

128 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning802Jul 9, 2020
Dense fog and smoke7020Dec 3, 2013

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Jun 23, 2004Tornado$8.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    This tornado was a continuation of the tornado that moved east-southeast from Markesan (Green Lake Co.) through the southwest corner of Fond du Lac County (civil Town of Alto). In Dodge County it maintained its F3 strength (175-200 mph) as it moved east-southeast through the city of Waupun and through rural areas of northern Dodge County to a point 2 miles southeast of Lomira, where it dissipated just west of U.S. Highway 41. Many homes and vehicles in the Dodge County portion of Waupun were damaged. Toward Lomira, several dozens of agricultural buildings and homes were damage. Numerous trees were uprooted from Waupun to near Lomira, and some crop damage was noted. Estimated…

  2. Jun 7, 2008Flash Flood$6.6 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of south-central Dodge County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 75 with minor damage, and 7 destroyed (total of $4.065 million). The breakdown for business losses were: 12 with minor damage, 6 with major damage, and 2 destroyed (total of $1.1 million). Crop losses were estimated at 8 million. Public sector damage was about $1.4 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

  3. May 31, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$3.7 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    During the early morning hours of Sunday, May 31st, southcentral and southeast Wisconsin experienced an unprecedented, widespread downburst wind event known as a "derecho." Incredibly powerful, hurricane-force straight-line winds, with peak gusts of 100 to 128 mph tore through 12 counties in this part of the state, while another 8 counties had peak gusts of 60 to 80 mph. Residents noted that the strongest winds only lasted a minute or two, but gusty winds hung on for 15 to 30 minutes. Meteorologically, a solid squall line developed in southern Minnesota and gathered strength as it raced east with a translational speed of 50 to 60 mph across southcentral and southeast Wisconsin.…

  4. May 15, 2025Tornado$3.4 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tornado began southwest of Mayville just west of Highway 28 which was also captured on video as a potential multi-vortex tornado. Some of the more intense damage occurred shortly after the tornado developed and crossed County Rd TW on into southwest Mayville in an industrial area. A farmhouse on Cty RW lost a portion of its roof and some farm sheds. The tornado then moved through the industrial area in southwest Mayville. The Mayville Engineering Company was hit on its northwest corner. The winds from the tornado breached a large garage door on the west side which then pushed the large north end wall down. The tornado then went through the Gleason Reel Corporation and destroyed…

  5. Apr 13, 2006Hail$3.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Wild weather occurred over parts of south-central and southeast Wisconsin on April 13, 2005. Wisconsin's most-costly hailstorm pummeled a large swath from around Mineral Point (Iowa Co.) to north of Milwaukee (Milwaukee Co.), while hurricane-force thunderstorm winds raked parts of Fond du Lac and Sheboygan Counties. Here's what happened: scattered supercells developed in eastern Iowa during the late afternoon hours of April 13th and pushed east-northeastward through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois during the evening. Three main hailstorms affected southern Wisconsin. The first hailstorm left a swath of hail and hail damage from southern Iowa County (around 1945CST),…

  6. Jun 1, 2004Flood, Dodge$2.8 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Scattered to widespread heavy rains across south-central and southeast Wisconsin during the period of June 9-12, 2004 kept many rivers and streams at or above flood stage for a good part, or most of the month. Monthly rainfall totals generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches across south-central and southeast Wisconsin, with some scattered spots in Sauk, Columbia, Dodge, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha Counties picking up 7 to 9.5 inches, or 50 to 100% above normal. In some cases, stretches of some rivers actually went above flood stage in May, 2004. Refer to flood and flash flood events in May, 2004, for additional information. During June, 2004, the high water levels kept much of the…

  7. May 15, 2025Tornado$2.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Extensive damage path from this tornado which started southwest of Juneau, went through the north side of downtown Juneau, to the south of Horicon, hitting the Horicon Hills Golf Club, before ending east of Horicon along Highway 33. The most intense damage was in the city of Juneau where about 10 structures hit EF-2 levels of damage. The one minor injury from this tornado occurred in downtown Juneau where a man was sleeping in his bedroom when the roof blew off and a tree fell into the house. The Clearview facility had windows blown out and one housing building lost it's roof. Another residential building, which looked like a motel, lost a long section of its roof, but was poorly…

  8. Jun 9, 2004Flash Flood$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Clusters of thunderstorms with heavy rains generated WSR-88D Doppler Radar rainfall estimates of 5 to 6 inches within 4 to 6 hours in Cambria (Columbia Co.), resulting in flash flooding. Further east, Randolph (Dodge Co.) was hit with a flash flood after torrential rainfalls (unofficial) of 8.6 inches fell during the evening hours of June 9th, followed by another 2.20 inches overnight. Interestingly, Randolph picked up 13.6 inches of rain in May, 2004, and 13 inches in June, 2004. Between May 7, 2004 and June 11, 2004, this city measured 25.60 inches of rain (normal for the entire year is bout 33 inches). Randolph sits a large bowl-shaped depression that has no outside drainage,…

  9. Jun 8, 2008Flash Flood$1.9 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of central Dodge County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The Rock and Crawfish Rivers set all-time crest records in June, 2008. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 8 with minor damage, and 3 destroyed (total of $1 million for home losses). The breakdown for business losses were: 3 with minor damage, and 5 with major damage (total of $100 thousand). Crop losses were estimated at 8 million. Public sector damage was about $184 thousand. There were a couple roads and bridges that sustained damage.

  10. Jun 7, 2008Flash Flood$1.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding over parts of southeastern Dodge County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses was: 10 with minor damage (total of $1 million). The breakdown for business losses was: 1 with minor damage (total of $100 thousand). Crop losses were estimated at 5 million. Public sector damage was about $100 thousand. There were a couple roads that sustained damage.

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Beaver Dam Wwtp, 2.4 miles from the city centre, with records from 1893.

All-time high
102°F2 times, most recently Jul 7, 2012
All-time low
−36°FJan 15, 1963
Warmest night
82°FJun 20, 1953
Coldest day
−13°F2 times, most recently Jan 31, 2019
Wettest day
5.80 inJul 20, 1983
Snowiest day
14.0 inFeb 17, 2006
Hottest year
2024mean 50.1°F
Coldest year
2014mean 42.0°F
Wettest year
201851.35 in
Driest year
195820.27 in
Snowiest season
103.3 in2007-08
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Beaver Dam Wwtp 32°F 26° 11° 1.4 Jan 30° 13° 1.4 Feb 43° 24° 2.4 Mar 56° 35° 3.7 Apr 68° 47° 4.1 May 78° 57° 5.3 Jun 82° 61° 3.8 Jul 80° 59° 4.3 Aug 74° 51° 3.2 Sep 60° 40° 2.8 Oct 45° 28° 2.0 Nov 32° 17° 1.7 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Nights at or below freezing per year 1976: 169 1977: 144 1978: 168 1979: 163 1980: 166 1981: 149 1982: 146 1983: 145 1984: 143 1985: 131 1986: 142 1987: 147 1988: 149 1989: 157 1990: 143 1991: 153 1992: 151 1993: 153 1994: 141 1995: 150 1996: 166 1997: 167 1998: 131 1999: 144 2000: 150 2001: 141 2002: 152 2003: 147 2004: 142 2005: 144 2006: 143 2007: 141 2008: 152 2009: 161 2010: 142 2011: 155 2012: 144 2013: 166 2014: 172 2015: 141 2016: 140 2017: 148 2018: 182 182 2019: 161 2020: 158 2021: 136 2022: 153 2023: 142 2024: 136 2025: 151 19761986199620062016
Nights at or below freezing each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 150.3.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 19.0 in 1977: 49.9 in 1978: 61.8 in 1979: 21.8 in 1980: 21.1 in 1981: 47.3 in 1982: 31.5 in 1983: 34.2 in 1984: 40.5 in 1985: 44.5 in 1986: 17.7 in 1987: 34.5 in 1988: 24.3 in 1989: 27.0 in 1990: 32.6 in 1991: 38.5 in 1992: 51.0 in 1993: 58.0 in 1994: 37.5 in 1995: 41.0 in 1996: 64.8 in 1997: 49.5 in 1998: 40.0 in 1999: 10.3 in 2000: 31.8 in 2001: 12.8 in 2003: 23.4 in 2004: 16.9 in 2005: 25.8 in 2006: 36.5 in 2007: 103.3 in 103.3 2008: 74.8 in 2009: 41.9 in 2010: 56.6 in 2012: 70.3 in 2013: 47.5 in 2014: 23.0 in 2015: 36.5 in 2016: 43.5 in 2017: 41.1 in 2018: 52.9 in 2019: 50.2 in 2020: 37.5 in 2021: 21.0 in 2022: 58.0 in 2023: 41.2 in 2024: 31.8 in 2025: 41.4 in 19761986199620072018
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

November 23

Earliest: October 19, 1991

Median last snow

March 27

Latest: May 1, 1994

0 of 68 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Beaver Dam Wwtp (USC00470645), 861 ft elevation, 2.4 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 28, 2026; 98.6% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

13 since 1953. The most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, April 4, 2020.

Declarations for Dodge County.

Federal disaster declarations
Apr 4, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4520-WI
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3454-WI
Apr 5, 2011SnowstormSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disasterDR-1966-WI
Jun 14, 2008Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1768-WI
Mar 19, 2008SnowstormRecord Snow and Near Record SnowEmergencyEM-3285-WI
Sep 13, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3249-WI
Jun 18, 2004Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1526-WI
Jun 24, 2000Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1332-WI
Jul 2, 1993Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-994-WI
Oct 7, 1986FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-775-WI
Jun 17, 1976DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3014-WI
Mar 23, 1976FloodSevere Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disasterDR-496-WI
Apr 26, 1974TornadoTornadoesMajor disasterDR-431-WI

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00470645.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.