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April 13–17, 2026 Severe Weather Outbreak: By the Numbers

All figures preliminary/as reported. NWS damage surveys ongoing.


Tornadoes

DateReportsNotable
April 1314+ preliminaryKS, MN, IA, WI
April 13–14 (confirmed)39 confirmed7 states, 21 NWS offices
April 14Multiple additionalWI, IA — PDS warning near Union Center, WI
April 1720+WI, IL, MN, MO, IA — 3 PDS warnings
Week total~70+ reports

Strongest tornado: EF3, La Crosse WI area — 8.8-mile track Most destructive (damage): EF2, Ottawa/Miami County, Kansas — 125 mph winds, 7-mile path, ~50–60 structures destroyed or significantly damaged


Hail

StatValue
Total hail reports (Apr 13–14 alone)785 across 21 NWS offices
Reports of 6.0" (grapefruit-sized) hail2 — historically rare
Reports of 3"+ hailMultiple (5 in MN alone on Apr 13)
Largest confirmed stone3.8" (just under softball)
Largest in Minnesota3.5" in Lake Crystal, Blue Earth County

6-inch hail is classified as "giant hail" by NWS and can penetrate standard roofing materials, shatter windshields, and cause injuries. Two reports in a single outbreak is extraordinarily rare.


Wind / Watches / Warnings

StatValue
PDS Tornado Warnings issued (week total)4 (1 on Apr 14 near Union Center WI, 3 on Apr 17)
Peak people under tornado watch (Apr 17)26 million
Peak people under tornado watch (Apr 14)22 million
Maximum wind gust potential (Apr 17)Up to 90 mph
Tornado watch numbers issued (week)Multiple — including Watch #129 covering IA, IL, MN, MO, WI

Flooding

StatValue
River gauges at major or record flood stage (MI + WI)20+
Wolf River, WI crest above previous record~1 foot
Water rescues (Chicago + Milwaukee area)Dozens
Village of Shiocton, WI streets floodedUp to 1 foot of water
Evacuations orderedShiocton + Waupaca County, WI

Structures / Damage

LocationDamage
Hillsdale/Miami County, KS~50–60 structures destroyed or significantly damaged
Ringle/Marathon County, WI (Apr 17)~75 homes damaged, several demolished
Union Center, WI (Apr 14)1 home destroyed by EF3, multiple structures along path
Lena, IL (Apr 17)Significant damage including school buildings
Rochester/Olmsted County, MN (Apr 17)Multiple homes damaged, temporary shelter opened

Fatalities / Injuries

StatValue
Confirmed fatalities (week)0 — remarkable given outbreak scope
Confirmed injuriesAt least 1 (Howard County, IA — April 17)
People trapped in basements (Ringle, WI)Several — all rescued

Season Context (2026 YTD)

StatValue
Preliminary US tornadoes Jan–Mar 202675 (JAN: 23, FEB: 52)
March 2026 tornado count (preliminary)Extremely active — included nation's first EF5 since 2013
April 2026 (prior 3yr average for full month)286
NWS offices engaged in Apr 13–14 outbreak alone21

A few caveats worth noting: many of these figures are still preliminary — NWS damage surveys are ongoing for multiple events, particularly April 17. Final confirmed tornado counts, EF ratings, and path lengths will be updated by local NWS offices over the coming days and weeks. The zero fatality count through the week is genuinely extraordinary given the scope, and reflects both forecast lead time and public response to warnings.

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