Wisconsin, 1988

Tornadoes and Hail in Wisconsin, May 8, 1988

May 8, 1988 · NWS MKE · 79 events in 35 counties and zones

45 thunderstorm wind, 26 tornado, 8 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
5
Property damage
$5.3 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
79

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

45 thunderstorm wind, 26 tornado, 8 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iowa

When
May 8, 1:53 AM CST
Where
Iowa County
Coordinates
43.180, -90.520

Tornado, Monroe

When
May 8, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Monroe County
Rating
F2
Path length
27 mi
Path width
800 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
43.750, -90.770

Hail, La Crosse

When
May 8, 2:45 PM CST
Where
La Crosse County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
43.800, -91.250

Tornado, Grant

When
May 8, 2:48 PM CST
Where
Grant County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
20 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
42.720, -90.680

Hail, Vernon

When
May 8, 2:50 PM CST
Where
Vernon County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
43.650, -90.850

Tornado, Grant

When
May 8, 2:52 PM CST
Where
Grant County
Rating
F1
Path length
1.5 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
42.820, -90.870

Tornado, Grant

When
May 8, 2:54 PM CST
Where
Grant County
Rating
F1
Path length
10 mi
Path width
40 yd
Coordinates
42.900, -90.870

Tornado, Grant

When
May 8, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Grant County
Rating
F2
Path length
10 mi
Path width
40 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
42.980, -90.850

Hail, Clark

When
May 8, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Clark County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.970, -90.800

Tornado, Grant

When
May 8, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Grant County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
33 yd
Property damage
$250
Coordinates
42.800, -90.500

Tornado, Lafayette

When
May 8, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County
Rating
F3
Path length
16 mi
Path width
123 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
42.580, -90.230

Tornado, Lafayette

When
May 8, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County
Rating
F1
Path length
9 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
42.550, -90.120

Hail, Monroe

When
May 8, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Monroe County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
44.130, -90.620

Tornado, Grant

When
May 8, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Grant County
Rating
F1
Path length
1.2 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
43.150, -90.670

Tornado, Grant

When
May 8, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Grant County
Rating
F2
Path length
7.5 mi
Path width
200 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
42.930, -90.580

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When
May 8, 3:28 PM CST
Where
Grant County
Coordinates
43.170, -90.450

Tornado, Richland

When
May 8, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Richland County
Rating
F2
Path length
20 mi
Path width
150 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
43.280, -90.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Lafayette

When
May 8, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County
Coordinates
42.730, -89.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When
May 8, 3:35 PM CST
Where
Taylor County
Coordinates
45.130, -90.330

Thunderstorm Wind, Green

When
May 8, 3:42 PM CST
Where
Green County
Coordinates
42.800, -89.800

Tornado, Iowa

When
May 8, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Iowa County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.8 mi
Path width
20 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
42.880, -89.880

Hail, Jackson

When
May 8, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Jackson County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.200, -90.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Sauk

When
May 8, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Sauk County
Coordinates
43.320, -90.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Sauk

When
May 8, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Sauk County
Coordinates
43.180, -90.070

Thunderstorm Wind, Dane

When
May 8, 3:54 PM CST
Where
Dane County
Coordinates
43.170, -89.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Dane

When
May 8, 3:55 PM CST
Where
Dane County
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
42.920, -89.820

Tornado, Dane

When
May 8, 3:56 PM CST
Where
Dane County
Rating
F2
Path length
7 mi
Path width
100 yd
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
43.170, -89.330

Thunderstorm Wind, Green

When
May 8, 3:57 PM CST
Where
Green County
Coordinates
42.820, -89.630

Hail, Clark

When
May 8, 4:04 PM CST
Where
Clark County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.770, -90.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Dane

When
May 8, 4:05 PM CST
Where
Dane County
Coordinates
42.920, -89.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Sauk

When
May 8, 4:05 PM CST
Where
Sauk County
Coordinates
43.530, -90.000

Tornado, Juneau

When
May 8, 4:08 PM CST
Where
Juneau County
Rating
F1
Path length
5 mi
Path width
73 yd
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
43.750, -90.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Green

When
May 8, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Green County
Coordinates
42.580, -89.630

Tornado, Columbia

When
May 8, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Columbia County
Rating
F1
Path length
2 mi
Path width
73 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
43.320, -89.520

Tornado, Juneau

When
May 8, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Juneau County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.7 mi
Path width
20 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
43.730, -90.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Sauk

When
May 8, 4:18 PM CST
Where
Sauk County
Coordinates
43.530, -89.650

Tornado, Rock

When
May 8, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Rock County
Rating
F2
Path length
5 mi
Path width
173 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
42.800, -89.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Wood

When
May 8, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Wood County
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
44.320, -89.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Columbia

When
May 8, 4:33 PM CST
Where
Columbia County
Coordinates
43.620, -89.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Douglas

When
May 8, 4:33 PM CST
Where
Douglas County
Coordinates
46.620, -92.070

Hail, Wood

When
May 8, 4:34 PM CST
Where
Wood County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.670, -90.170

Thunderstorm Wind, Rock

When
May 8, 4:35 PM CST
Where
Rock County
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
42.670, -89.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When
May 8, 4:37 PM CST
Where
Adams County
Coordinates
44.000, -89.780

Tornado, Dane

When
May 8, 4:38 PM CST
Where
Dane County
Rating
F2
Path length
16 mi
Path width
173 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
42.880, -89.300

Tornado, Columbia

When
May 8, 4:40 PM CST
Where
Columbia County
Rating
F1
Path length
5 mi
Path width
73 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
43.430, -89.230

Tornado, Marquette

When
May 8, 4:40 PM CST
Where
Marquette County
Rating
F1
Path length
1.1 mi
Path width
40 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
43.770, -89.570

Thunderstorm Wind, Rock

When
May 8, 4:42 PM CST
Where
Rock County
Coordinates
42.550, -89.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Green Lake

When
May 8, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Green Lake County
Coordinates
43.650, -89.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When
May 8, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Jefferson County
Coordinates
43.180, -88.980

Thunderstorm Wind, Dodge

When
May 8, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Dodge County
Coordinates
43.200, -88.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Dane

When
May 8, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Dane County
Coordinates
43.170, -89.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Columbia

When
May 8, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Columbia County
Coordinates
43.580, -89.070

Thunderstorm Wind, Marquette

When
May 8, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Marquette County
Coordinates
43.970, -89.270

Thunderstorm Wind, Waushara

When
May 8, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Waushara County
Coordinates
44.130, -89.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
May 8, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Washington County
Coordinates
43.250, -88.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Dodge

When
May 8, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Dodge County
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates
43.220, -88.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Portage

When
May 8, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Portage County
Coordinates
44.570, -89.780

Tornado, Jefferson

When
May 8, 5:05 PM CST
Where
Jefferson County
Rating
F2
Path length
6 mi
Path width
173 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
42.980, -89.000

Tornado, Waushara

When
May 8, 5:06 PM CST
Where
Waushara County
Rating
F1
Path length
5 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
44.050, -89.250

Tornado, Marathon

When
May 8, 5:10 PM CST
Where
Marathon County
Rating
F2
Path length
13 mi
Path width
250 yd
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$2.5 million
Coordinates
44.730, -89.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Dodge

When
May 8, 5:10 PM CST
Where
Dodge County
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates
43.400, -88.700

Thunderstorm Wind, Portage

When
May 8, 5:10 PM CST
Where
Portage County
Coordinates
44.520, -89.570

Tornado, Portage

When
May 8, 5:12 PM CST
Where
Portage County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
44.370, -89.530

Tornado, Dodge

When
May 8, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Dodge County
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
43.550, -88.700

Thunderstorm Wind, Green Lake

When
May 8, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Green Lake County
Coordinates
43.970, -89.070

Thunderstorm Wind, Waushara

When
May 8, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Waushara County
Coordinates
44.220, -89.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Waushara

When
May 8, 5:20 PM CST
Where
Waushara County
Coordinates
44.080, -88.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Fond du Lac

When
May 8, 5:20 PM CST
Where
Fond du Lac County
Coordinates
43.630, -88.680

Thunderstorm Wind, Fond du Lac

When
May 8, 5:31 PM CST
Where
Fond du Lac County
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates
43.780, -88.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Waupaca

When
May 8, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Waupaca County
Coordinates
44.470, -89.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Waukesha

When
May 8, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Waukesha County
Coordinates
42.930, -88.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Winnebago

When
May 8, 5:50 PM CST
Where
Winnebago County
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
44.120, -88.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Outagamie

When
May 8, 5:50 PM CST
Where
Outagamie County
Coordinates
44.280, -88.320

Tornado, Waukesha

When
May 8, 5:52 PM CST
Where
Waukesha County
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Coordinates
43.100, -88.350

Hail, Langlade

When
May 8, 6:05 PM CST
Where
Langlade County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.150, -89.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Waukesha

When
May 8, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Waukesha County
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
43.020, -88.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
May 8, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Washington County
Coordinates
43.370, -88.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Milwaukee

When
May 8, 6:35 PM CST
Where
Milwaukee County
Coordinates
43.120, -88.080

Thunderstorm Wind, Sheboygan

When
May 8, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Sheboygan County
Coordinates
43.730, -87.820

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 1988Every state in 1988This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Wisconsin, 1988Warnings in Wisconsin, May 1988

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10161216, 10161217, 10161218, 10161219, 10161220, 10161221, 10161222, 10161223, 10161224, 10161225, 10161439, 10161440, 10161441, 10161442, 10161443, 10161444, 10161445, 10161446, 10161447, 10161448, 10161449, 10161450, 10161451, 10161452, 10161453, 10161454, 10161455, 10161456, 10161457, 10161458, 10161459, 10161460, 10161461, 10161462, 10161463, 10161464, 10161465, 10161466, 10161467, 10161468, and more.