Storm reports for August 18, 2005

IndependentNot affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Data through November 6, 2026. Methodology

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Other storms on August 18 →

On August 18, 2005, 31 hail, 67 damaging-wind and 28 tornado reports were logged across 15 states. The largest hail reported was 1.75″ (golf ball size) in Sauk County, WI. Tornadoes killed 1.

Storm day runs 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern (12:00–12:00 UTC), the convention the Storm Prediction Center uses. Radar hail estimates start October 2019.

Storm reports by state

Cities with hail reported within 5 miles

Hail reports (31)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $40.3 million in property damage, $1.4 million in crop damage, 27 injuries and 1 death from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (134 events in 15 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Dane County, WI (near Fitchburg) · Tornado F3 · $34.3 million · 1 death · 23 injuries
  “A strong and destructive tornado spun up at 1715CST about 2.8 miles southeast of the geographic center of Fitchburg (or 2.0 miles north of center of Oregon), about 400 yards southwest of the intersection of CTH MM and Schnieder Rd.”
• Sauk County, WI (near Leland) · Tornado F2 · $600,000
  “This tornado spun up from the same supercell thunderstorm that spawned the "Viola" tornado earlier in Vernon and Richland counties. This Sauk County tornado spun up at 1633CST about 3.6 miles northeast of Leland, or about 1/4 mile south of the intersection of Ruff and Pine Hollow Roads.”
• Lafayette County, WI (near Shullsburg) · Thunderstorm wind 81 mph · $500,000
  “Widespread tree damage, trees on homes, and barns damaged, were reported within a 5 mile corridor along Highway 11.”
• Jefferson County, WI (near Ft Atkinson) · Tornado F1 · $355,000
  “The fourth of five tornadoes in or near Fort Atkinson developed at 1837CST about 1.1 mile southwest of Fort Atkinson in a grassy area west of The Fireside Dinner Theater which is on STH 26 Business.”
• Lafayette County, WI (near Argyle) · Thunderstorm wind 81 mph · $100,000
  “A building was destroyed and numerous trees were damaged.”
• Marquette County, WI (near Westfield) · Tornado F1 · $100,000
  “This tornado spun up at 1708CST about 1.7 miles north-northeast of Westfield, or about 0.4 miles north-northwest of the intersection of CTH E and 7th Court, just east of Interstate 39/STH 51.”

Event narratives from NWS Storm Data, shortened. Up to six per day, chosen by deaths, injuries, damage and size.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Storm Events Database, as entered by National Weather Service offices; data through July 31, 2026. Damage is in dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation.

Guides: What radar-estimated hail (MESH) is and isn't · Storm reports: preliminary vs final