1899 New Richmond tornado
| F5 tornado | |
|---|---|
Ruins of the town's Methodist Church following this deadly tornado | |
| Formed | June 12, 1899, 6:00 PM CST |
| Max. rating1 | F5 tornado |
| Fatalities | 117 fatalities, 150 injuries |
| Damage | $300,000 ($11.3 million in 2024 dollars) |
| Areas affected | West-central Wisconsin |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
The 1899 New Richmond tornado was an estimated F5 tornado that formed in the early evening of Monday, June 12, 1899, leaving a 45-mile-long (72 km) path of destruction through St. Croix, Polk, and Barron counties in west-central Wisconsin. There were a total of 117 fatalities and 150 injuries, with hundreds more reported as displaced. The worst devastation occurred in the city of New Richmond, which took a direct hit from the storm. Over half of New Richmond was left in ruins due to the tornado, which also caused minor damage to surrounding communities. The damage was reported to be over $300,000 (USD) ($11,339,000 in 2024). As of 2019, it is ranked as the ninth deadliest tornado in United States history, as well as the deadliest tornado ever recorded in Wisconsin.