West Allis

Every recorded tornado

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.

Smoke overhead

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.

Flood insurance figures are for Milwaukee County, the county that contains West Allis.

Claims by ZIP code

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 Milwaukee County, the county that contains West Allis.

River gauges

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.

The drought index is for Milwaukee County, the county that contains West Allis.

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.

1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in Milwaukee County.

Mapped by NASA (1).

1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Jun 21, 1997Flash Flood$78.7 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Severe flash flooding occurred in Milwaukee county as a result of heavy rainfall amounts of up to nearly 10 inches over a 30 hour period ending about 1200CST. This flash flooding was greater than a "100 year rainfall" based on rainfall frequency maps. No one was injured or killed by the flood waters, thanks to superb rescue efforts by local law enforcement officials and firefighters. Firefighters in boats recued 20 people from their flooded homes. Besides public sector damage in county/city parks, there was widespread private and business damages. The hardest hit areas were the cities of Brown Deer, Wauwatosa, and the Piggsville, Lincoln Creek, Sherman Park, and Menomonee Valley…

2. Jun 8, 2008Flash Flood$78.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Milwaukee County. Water depths on some roads reached 3 to 4 feet and many cars stalled. Water entered many homes and businesses. Two other flash flood event occurred in Milwaukee County on June 7th. Collectively, these 3 flash floods resulted in home and business damage along with some crop losses. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown for the 3 flash flood events is provided in the June 8th StormData entry for Milwaukee County.||The collective breakdown for residential home losses were: 3957 minimally affected, 2583 with minor damage, and 1135 with major…

3. Aug 9, 2025Flash Flood$60.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Widespread and numerous reports of flash flooding in streets, in addition to rivers, creeks, and streams across the southern two thirds of Milwaukee County. 1800 homes were classified as major damage or destroyed due to flash flooding of the Lincoln and Honey Creeks. Many instances of flooded basements across the impacted area. Six foundations collapsed into basements of homes in the 60th street neighborhood near Lincoln Creek, with two homes being condemned. Additional basement collapse reported in West Allis near Honey Creek. Many vehicles stranded in flood waters, with multiple water rescues conducted by the Milwaukee Fire Department. Water reached the bottom of car doors at…

4. Jul 22, 2010Flash Flood$24.1 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Thunderstorms training over the region produced flooding rains over all of Milwaukee County...causing massive flooding, shutting down streets and the freeway system at rush hour with up to 4 feet of rushing water.||There was one fatality - the body of a 19-year-old male was found in Lincoln Creek near N. 32nd St. and W. Hampton Ave. in Milwaukee. He was swept from his vehicle when Lincoln Creek flooded. ||County Executive Scott Walker issued a Declaration of a Major Disaster for Milwaukee County since more than 7 inches of rain fell around the county, and an estimated $24.1 million in damage in the private sector, and nearly $11.6 million in public sector costs, which includes…

5. Aug 6, 1998Flash Flood$22.1 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A monumental flash flood event ravaged adjacent portions of Milwaukee and Waukesha counties during the afternoon and evening hours. For the northwest quarter of Milwaukee Co., and the northeast/ eastcentral parts of Waukesha Co., it was the second year in row (press headline - "deja vu all over again"). In Milwaukee Co., the damage wasn't as bad as that in June 1997, but for Waukesha Co. it was the worst flooding ever. Here are the details broken down by county: 1) Milwaukee County...The flash flood was the result of 5 to almost 9 inches of rain, between 1330CST (230pm) and 2000CST (9pm), falling on top of 1 to 3 inches that fell the previous two days. Maximum storm rainfall was…

6. May 31, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$19.2 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.…

7. Jun 19, 2009Flash Flood$13.1 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding ini parts of Milwaukee County, especially in the West Allis to Wauwatosa area east to the Downtown Milwaukee area. Many roads were covered with water to a depth of 1 to 3 feet. Basement flooding was reported. Milwaukee Mitchell Field measured 3.65 inches of rain in the 24-hour period ending 2000 CST. WSR-88D Doppler radar rainfall estimates were in the 3 to 5 inch range over parts of Milwaukee County. The City of Milwaukee sewer system was overwhelmed. High water levels on the Menomonee River jsut east of Miller Park resulted in part of an earthen berm being washed away. The subsequent flood water moved west to Miller Park and extensively…

8. Jan 11, 2020Lakeshore Flood, Milwaukee$10.7 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Flood waters due to high waves estimated 6 to 8 feet and near record Lake Michigan water levels spread across the Port of Milwaukee, causing the Port to close late in the morning on January 11th. Carferry Drive and Lincoln Memorial Drive were closed leading into the Port of Milwaukee. About 60 to 70 percent of Jones Island where Port of Milwaukee is located was flooded. The flood water stripped dock wall material and covered railroad tracks with a foot of ice on Jones Island. The Port of Milwaukee reopened 48 hours later on Monday, January 13th. Flood erosion damage took place at other locations along the Milwaukee County shore: ||- South Shore Yacht Club: Damage to piers and…

9. Jul 2, 2000Flash Flood$6.8 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Severe weather in the form of a tornado, damaging straight-line downburst winds, large hail, and flash flooding hammered a small piece of south-central and much of southeast Wisconsin during the late afternoon and evening hours. The most significant cluster of thunderstorms developed over southern Columbia county and proceded to move east/southeast through Dodge, Jefferson, Waukesha, Milwaukee, and Racine counties. A supercell on the west end of this cluster, with a well-defined mesocyclone, produced some damaging straight-line winds and large hail up to 2.25 inches in diameter in Jefferson County, but could only generate a rotating wall cloud at its base in that county. This…

10. Aug 10, 2025Flash Flood$5.8 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Continuation of widespread flash flooding impacts occurring countywide. Delayed flash flooding onset across far northern portions of Milwaukee County, where heavy rain arrived later in the overnight hours of August 9-10, 2025. Additional numerous reports of flash flooding near rivers, creeks, and streams. Numerous reports of water in basements across the impacted area. Portion of 47th street between Churchill Ln & Willow Rd completely washed away from flooding of an unnamed creek in Brown Deer. Flooding impacts contribute to an estimated $65,813,855 in public and individual infrastructure damage across Milwaukee County.

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.

All-time high

103°F3 times, most recently Jul 5, 2012

All-time low

−26°F2 times, most recently Feb 3, 1996

Warmest night

84°FJul 14, 1995

Coldest day

−13°FJan 15, 1972

Wettest day

6.81 inAug 6, 1986

Snowiest day

16.7 inFeb 10, 1960

Hottest year

2024mean 52.8°F

Coldest year

1972mean 43.6°F

Wettest year

201946.01 in

Driest year

196319.10 in

Snowiest season

99.1 in2007-08

Station Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (USW00014839), 667 ft elevation, 7.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1938 to October 27, 2026; 100.0% 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.

Declarations for Milwaukee County.

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.

• 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 USW00014839.
• 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.
• Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
• 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.