Rip Current in Wisconsin

Events

16

Deaths

17

Injuries

2

Damage

None recorded

• Rip Currents in Wisconsin, August 20, 20182 deaths · 2 eventsA pair of swimmers drown after going swimming at Harrington Beach State Park during a period of dangerous swimming conditions.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, August 8, 20202 deaths · 1 eventA young swimmer and the man who tried to save him perished off McKinley Beach at the Milwaukee lakeshore. Breezy south winds resulted in moderate waves and dangerous underwater currents along the shore, and near piers and breakwalls. Wave heights were estimated to be 2 to 4 feet.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, July 12, 20221 death · 1 injured · 1 eventA river outlet current from the Pike River pulled two children in the Lake Michigan. One child was able to safely make it back to shore on their own, while one child drowned.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, June 26, 20241 death · 1 injured · 1 eventModerate Swim risk with 2-3ft waves and onshore winds.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, August 10, 20161 death · 1 eventA teenage boy drowned in the water of Lake Superior in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore after being pulled into deeper water by a rip current.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, August 7, 20171 death · 1 eventAn 18 year old man drowned in Kenosha harbor after jumping into Lake Michigan from North Pier. Structural currents likely contributed to the man being pulled underwater.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, September 6 to 12, 20181 death · 1 eventA teenager drowns in Lake Michigan during a period of dangerous swimming conditions due to high winds and waves.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, July 18, 20201 death · 1 eventMan rescues family members from deep water, waves and currents at Milwaukee Beach but was unable to exit water before drowning.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, June 19, 20211 death · 1 eventA young teenage swimmer at North Beach along the Racine lakefront was found unconscious about 200 yards from shore. The swimmer was flown to a local hospital but succumbed to injuries sustained from drowning two days later.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, June 19, 20211 death · 1 eventA young woman succumbed to drowning injuries shortly after being pulled from the water at Zoo Beach along the Racine Wisconsin lakefront. Northeast onshore winds of 10 to 15 mph caused waves of 1 to 3 feet.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, June 21, 20211 death · 1 eventA young woman pulled from the waters of Lake Michigan in Racine WI died about two weeks later on July 1st. Emergency crews responded to North Beach in Racine late in the afternoon on June 21st, to two teenage girls who were experiencing an emergency in Lake Michigan.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, August 22, 20211 death · 1 eventMan rescues two children from high waves and likely structural and long shore currents near North Pier, just south of North Beach on Racine Wisconsin coastline. However he succumbed to rough and choppy waters and never emerged from the water.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, May 23, 20221 death · 1 eventA young lady drowned in Lake Michigan, at McKinley Marina. Winds were around 10 mph during the afternoon, with an onshore component. Lake water temperatures were dangerously cold in the 40s. The young lady was found 30 to 40 feet outside of the breakwater.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, July 29, 20231 death · 1 eventA cold front moved through on July 29th 2023 kicking waves up to around 3 feet during the afternoon. Winds relaxed to around 1 foot at the time of the incident, but lingering currents were present.
• Rip Current in Wisconsin, July 31, 20251 death · 1 eventStrong northeasterly, onshore winds and waves of 3-7 ft occurred along Lake Michigan beaches across southeastern WI resulting in conditions for dangerous currents.

Rip Current everywhereEvery kind of event in Wisconsin

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.