Colfax, Wisconsin tornado outbreak
Encyclopedia
The 1958 Colfax, Wisconsin tornado outbreak was a deadly tornado outbreak
that struck portions of northwestern Wisconsin
on June 4, 1958. The outbreak which started in central Minnesota
killed at least 28 people, all in Wisconsin as part of one of the worst tornado outbreaks ever to have struck the state.
es first touched down during the second half of the afternoon across central Minnesota west of St. Cloud
destroying barns and toppling trees but no fatalities were reported. The thunderstorm
s raced eastward at 50 mi/h through the Twin Cities area and intensified shortly after crossing the Minnesota-Wisconsin State line after 5:00 PM CDT.
The deadliest tornado of the outbreak was an F5 that struck the Colfax
area in Dunn County at 7:04 PM CDT. The tornado touched down south of Interstate 94
near Baldwin
in St. Croix County
the same county affected by the New Richmond Tornado
on June 12, 1899 which killed 117. The F5 storm traveled for about 33 miles (53.1 km) across St. Croix and Dunn Counties passed through or near the Wilson
, Knapp
, Tainter Lake
, Cedar Falls
and Norton
areas just north Menomonie
before producing the worst damage in Colfax. A few minutes later the tornado dissipated just west of US Route 53 near Bloomer
.
The F5 tornado itself killed at least 21 and injured 74, making it the deadliest tornadoes since 1950 and one of the deadliest of all-time in Wisconsin. 12 of the fatalities were in Colfax alone where damage was estimated at $2 million including about half of the buildings in that town flattened.
About 432 farms were damaged or destroyed while another 1032 buildings were also damaged or destroyed. 24 of the 25 homes in Cedar Falls were completely demolished as well. Debris was found as far as 75 miles away in Sheldon
. The same area was also hit by a deadly tornado in 1930 which however struck the center of Menomonie slightly to the south of the 1958 tornado track. That tornado killed at least six. An F3 tornado on May 24 also affected the immediate region causing heavy damage but no fatalities.
Seven other people in Wisconsin were killed by two other tornadoes bringing the total death toll for that day to 28 with damage estimated at $10 million. The first one occurred just 7:00 PM CDT north of Eau Claire
in the Chippewa Falls
area. The 11 miles (17.7 km) long F4 tornado killed 3 and injured 50. The second one, also an F4 affected areas east of Eau Claire
before 8:00 PM CDT. The storm traveled for nearly 60 miles (96.6 km) across Eau Claire
, Clark and Marathon
counties before lifting near Wausau
killing 4. The last tornado of the outbreak touched down in Rusk
and Sawyer
Counties north of Ladysmith
shortly after 8:00 PM CDT.
The storms, in addition to the fatalities and destruction, also cut utility and communication services through the region thus isolating many communities until help was provided from several areas including from the Twin Cities region about an hour west of the affected areas.
Then Governor of Wisconsin
Vernon Thomson ordered three groups of National Guard troops in the affected area for rescue and rehabilitation duties.
It was the first official F5 tornado to strike the state since records were made official in 1950 although the New Richmond Tornado of 1899 produced damage similar to an F5. The next F5 tornado to struck Wisconsin was on June 7, 1984
when a tornado completely destroyed Barneveld
killing 9.
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
that struck portions of northwestern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
on June 4, 1958. The outbreak which started in central Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
killed at least 28 people, all in Wisconsin as part of one of the worst tornado outbreaks ever to have struck the state.
Event
TornadoTornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es first touched down during the second half of the afternoon across central Minnesota west of St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Wisconsin
St. Cloud is a village in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Sheboygan River. The population was 497 at the 2000 census. St. Cloud is part of The Holyland region in northwestern Fond du Lac County.-Geography:St...
destroying barns and toppling trees but no fatalities were reported. The thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
s raced eastward at 50 mi/h through the Twin Cities area and intensified shortly after crossing the Minnesota-Wisconsin State line after 5:00 PM CDT.
The deadliest tornado of the outbreak was an F5 that struck the Colfax
Colfax, Wisconsin
Colfax is a village in Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Colfax.-Geography:Colfax is located at ....
area in Dunn County at 7:04 PM CDT. The tornado touched down south of Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
near Baldwin
Baldwin, Wisconsin
Baldwin is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,667 at the 2000 census, and was estimated to be 3,903 in 2008, a growth rate of 39%...
in St. Croix County
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
St. Croix County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 84,345. Its county seat is Hudson. St. Croix County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area . It is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin.-Geography:According to the U.S...
the same county affected by the New Richmond Tornado
New Richmond Tornado
The 1899 New Richmond Tornado was an unprecedented disaster in the northern Great Plains. It nearly destroyed the village of New Richmond, Wisconsin on June 12, 1899, killing 117 and injuring 125 people...
on June 12, 1899 which killed 117. The F5 storm traveled for about 33 miles (53.1 km) across St. Croix and Dunn Counties passed through or near the Wilson
Wilson, Wisconsin
Wilson is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Wisconsin:*Wilson, Dunn County, Wisconsin, a town*Wilson, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, a town**Wilson , Wisconsin, an unincorporated community*Wilson, Lincoln County, Wisconsin, a town...
, Knapp
Knapp, Dunn County, Wisconsin
Knapp is a village in Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 421 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Knapp is located at ....
, Tainter Lake
Tainter Lake, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,089 people, 846 households, and 631 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 112.2 people per square mile . There were 1,002 housing units at an average density of 53.8/sq mi...
, Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls, Wisconsin
Cedar Falls is an unincorporated community located in the town of Red Cedar, Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States. Cedar Falls is located along the Red Cedar River north-northeast of Menomonie....
and Norton
Norton, Wisconsin
Norton is an unincorporated community located in the town of Tainter, Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States....
areas just north Menomonie
Menomonie, Wisconsin
Two other spellings of the name appear elsewhere, see Menomonee and Menominee. For the town, see Menomonie .Menomonie is a city in and the county seat of Dunn County in the western part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city's population was 16,264 as of the 2010 census...
before producing the worst damage in Colfax. A few minutes later the tornado dissipated just west of US Route 53 near Bloomer
Bloomer, Wisconsin
Bloomer is a city in Chippewa County located within the Town of Woodmohr in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population of the city of Bloomer is 3,539, after the 2010 census. The city of Bloomer is located south of the Town of Bloomer, which is also in Chippewa County...
.
The F5 tornado itself killed at least 21 and injured 74, making it the deadliest tornadoes since 1950 and one of the deadliest of all-time in Wisconsin. 12 of the fatalities were in Colfax alone where damage was estimated at $2 million including about half of the buildings in that town flattened.
About 432 farms were damaged or destroyed while another 1032 buildings were also damaged or destroyed. 24 of the 25 homes in Cedar Falls were completely demolished as well. Debris was found as far as 75 miles away in Sheldon
Sheldon, Wisconsin
Sheldon is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 256 at the 2000 census.Originally named Fern, Sheldon is located on the north bank of the Jump River.-Geography:Sheldon is located at ....
. The same area was also hit by a deadly tornado in 1930 which however struck the center of Menomonie slightly to the south of the 1958 tornado track. That tornado killed at least six. An F3 tornado on May 24 also affected the immediate region causing heavy damage but no fatalities.
Seven other people in Wisconsin were killed by two other tornadoes bringing the total death toll for that day to 28 with damage estimated at $10 million. The first one occurred just 7:00 PM CDT north of Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
in the Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
area. The 11 miles (17.7 km) long F4 tornado killed 3 and injured 50. The second one, also an F4 affected areas east of Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
before 8:00 PM CDT. The storm traveled for nearly 60 miles (96.6 km) across Eau Claire
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Eau Claire County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population estimate was 98,736. Its county seat is Eau Claire....
, Clark and Marathon
Marathon County, Wisconsin
Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, WI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 134,063. Its county seat is Wausau.-Geography:...
counties before lifting near Wausau
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
killing 4. The last tornado of the outbreak touched down in Rusk
Rusk County, Wisconsin
Rusk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,347. Its county seat is Ladysmith. Founded in 1901, Rusk County was originally named "Gates" County. It was formed out of the northern portion of Chippewa County....
and Sawyer
Sawyer County, Wisconsin
Sawyer County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,196. Its county seat is Hayward.-History:The county is named for Philetus Sawyer, who represented Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in the 19th century.-Geography:According to...
Counties north of Ladysmith
Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Ladysmith is a city in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,932 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rusk County. It is the former location of Mount Senario College, which closed in 2002 due to significant debt. For the 2006-2007 school year, part of the former campus...
shortly after 8:00 PM CDT.
The storms, in addition to the fatalities and destruction, also cut utility and communication services through the region thus isolating many communities until help was provided from several areas including from the Twin Cities region about an hour west of the affected areas.
Then Governor of Wisconsin
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
Vernon Thomson ordered three groups of National Guard troops in the affected area for rescue and rehabilitation duties.
It was the first official F5 tornado to strike the state since records were made official in 1950 although the New Richmond Tornado of 1899 produced damage similar to an F5. The next F5 tornado to struck Wisconsin was on June 7, 1984
Barneveld, Wisconsin tornado outbreak
The 1984 Barneveld, Wisconsin tornado outbreak is a significant severe weather and tornado event that took place across the central United States from North Dakota to Kansas on June 7-8, 1984. The tornado outbreak produced several significant tornadoes including an F5 tornado which traveled through...
when a tornado completely destroyed Barneveld
Barneveld, Wisconsin
Barneveld is a village in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. It is the fourth most populous community in Iowa County, while the second largest village, and largest village located fully within the county. The population was 1,088 at the 2000 census...
killing 9.
Confirmed tornadoes
| F# Fujita scale The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation... |
Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state... |
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| F2 | S of Albany Albany, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 1,796 people, 708 households, and 436 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,287.6 people per square mile . There were 732 housing units at an average density of 524.8 per square mile... to N of St. Joseph St. Joseph, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 4,681 people, 1,120 households, and 712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,517.4 people per square mile . There were 1,147 housing units at an average density of 616.8 per square mile... |
Stearns Stearns County, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 133,166 people, 47,604 households, and 32,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 people per square mile . There were 50,291 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile... |
2220 | 13.3 miles (21.3 km) |
||
| F1 | W of St. Martin St. Martin, Minnesota St. Martin is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 278 at the 2000 census. It is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
Stearns Stearns County, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 133,166 people, 47,604 households, and 32,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 people per square mile . There were 50,291 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile... |
2220 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
||
| F0 | N of Roscoe Roscoe, Minnesota Roscoe is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 102 at the 2010 census. It is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
Stearns Stearns County, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 133,166 people, 47,604 households, and 32,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 people per square mile . There were 50,291 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile... |
2220 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
||
| Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... |
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| F5 | SW of Woodville Woodville, Wisconsin Woodville is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodville is located at .... to NE of Colfax Colfax, Wisconsin Colfax is a village in Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Colfax.-Geography:Colfax is located at .... |
St. Croix St. Croix County, Wisconsin St. Croix County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 84,345. Its county seat is Hudson. St. Croix County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area . It is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin.-Geography:According to the U.S... , Dunn |
2330 | 33.7 miles (53.9 km) |
21 deaths | |
| F4 | Chippewa Falls Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County.... |
Chippewa Chippewa County, Wisconsin Chippewa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 55,195. Its county seat is Chippewa Falls. The United States Census Bureau's Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Chippewa County... |
0045 | 11.1 miles (17.8 km) |
3 deaths | |
| F3 | Cadott Cadott, Wisconsin Cadott is a village in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,345 at the 2000 census.-History:Originally named "Cadotte Falls", It was founded in 1875 by Robert Marriner a Pinoeer Enterpriser. Marriner named it after Jean Baptiste Cadotte, son of French Canadian fur... area |
Chippewa Chippewa County, Wisconsin Chippewa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 55,195. Its county seat is Chippewa Falls. The United States Census Bureau's Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Chippewa County... |
0100 | 4.3 miles (6.9 km) |
||
| F4 | NE of Fall Creek Fall Creek, Wisconsin Fall Creek is a village in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,236 at the 2000 census. The village is located within and entirely surrounded by the Town of Lincoln.-Geography:Fall Creek is located at .... to W of Wien Wien, Wisconsin Wien is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 712 at the 2000 census... |
Eau Claire Eau Claire County, Wisconsin Eau Claire County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population estimate was 98,736. Its county seat is Eau Claire.... , Clark, Marathon Marathon County, Wisconsin Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, WI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 134,063. Its county seat is Wausau.-Geography:... |
0130 | 59.2 miles (94.7 km) |
4 deaths | |
| F2 | NE of New Brighton | Rusk Rusk County, Wisconsin Rusk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,347. Its county seat is Ladysmith. Founded in 1901, Rusk County was originally named "Gates" County. It was formed out of the northern portion of Chippewa County.... , Sawyer Sawyer County, Wisconsin Sawyer County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,196. Its county seat is Hayward.-History:The county is named for Philetus Sawyer, who represented Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in the 19th century.-Geography:According to... |
0210 | 13.8 miles (22.1 km) |
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| Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River.... |
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| F0 | W of Milford Milford, Nebraska Milford is a city in Seward County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,070 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Milford is located at .... |
Seward Seward County, Nebraska -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,496 people, 6,013 households, and 4,215 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 6,428 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile... |
0100 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
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| Source: Tornado History Project - June 4, 1958 Storm Data | ||||||