High Surf in Wisconsin
Every high surf event the National Weather Service has filed in Wisconsin, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.
The most significant on the map
The most significant high surf episodes in Wisconsin.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 3
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 0
- Damage
- None recorded
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- High Surf in Wisconsin, August 7, 2022Strong north-northeasterly winds across western Lake Superior led to waves of 2 to 4 feet along the eastern facing shores of Madeline Island. A man cliff jumping at the cliffs in Big Bay State Park on the southeast corner of the island was overcome by the surf and drowned.
- High Surf in Wisconsin, August 24 to 25, 2022A boat capsized in rough water conditions off Iron County the morning of the 25th. Of the two occupants in the boat, one had already passed by the time rescuers reached the capsized boat off Marble Point.
- Lakeshore Flood and High Surf in Wisconsin, October 24 to 25, 2021Persistent strong east to northeast winds of 20 to 30 knots with frequent gusts of 30 to 40 knots resulted in high waves of 8 to 12 feet for a 12 to 18 hour period from the evening of October 24th through the afternoon of October 25th.
More
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.