Wisconsin Power Outage Season
When outages happen most in Wisconsin, and what to expect.
July is historically Wisconsin's busiest month for recorded power outages, part of a summer season (June–August) that accounts for about 40% of all recorded outages statewide, averaging 2.8 hours per event. 7 of Wisconsin's 72 tracked counties currently carry a Reliability Grade of F.
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Wisconsin outages by month
Total recorded events and average duration per event, summed across every tracked county in Wisconsin.
Peak season insight
Wisconsin's outage season runs June–August, accounting for 40% of all recorded outages. July has the highest frequency.
Month-by-month data table
| Month | Events | Avg duration |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,207 | 2.0 hrs |
| February | 1,239 | 2.2 hrs |
| March | 1,898 | 2.7 hrs |
| April | 2,117 | 2.7 hrs |
| May | 2,695 | 2.6 hrs |
| June | 4,055 | 3.1 hrs |
| July | 4,176 | 3.6 hrs |
| August | 3,252 | 2.7 hrs |
| September | 2,280 | 2.0 hrs |
| October | 2,221 | 1.9 hrs |
| November | 2,001 | 2.3 hrs |
| December | 1,882 | 4.3 hrs |
This month in Wisconsin
October has historically recorded 2,221 outage events across Wisconsin, below the state's typical monthly average. Outages that start in October have averaged 1.9 hours.
Main causes by season
Named storms behind Wisconsin's worst recorded outages, from the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Winter (December–February)
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
- Winter Storm
- High Wind
- Winter Weather
- Heavy Snow
Spring (March–May)
- Winter Storm
- Heavy Snow
- Hail
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Strong Wind
Summer (June–August)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Hail
- Drought
- Flash Flood
- Tornado
Fall (September–November)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winter Weather
- Drought
- Winter Storm
- Heavy Snow
Wisconsin's worst outage events on record
The five largest outages in Wisconsin by duration and customers affected.
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 2023 | 47 hrs | 89,708 (15%) | Winter Storm |
| Jul 20, 2019 | 70 hrs | 42,869 (56%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Jun 15, 2022 | 70 hrs | 36,455 (18%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Apr 2, 2024 | 116 hrs | 19,800 (58%) | Drought |
| Jun 15, 2022 | 102 hrs | 22,173 (29%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
Highest-risk counties in Wisconsin
Lowest reliability percentile among Wisconsin's tracked counties.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Vilas County | F | 8th |
| Oneida County | F | 12th |
| Forest County | F | 14th |
| Menominee County | F | 15th |
| Marinette County | F | 15th |
Live weather alerts for Wisconsin
Flood Advisory
Flood Advisory issued October 1 at 7:08AM CDT until October 1 at 10:15AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Read the official NWS alert →Frost Advisory
Frost Advisory issued September 30 at 11:58PM CDT until October 2 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Read the official NWS alert →These live alerts come from the National Weather Service. They are public-safety information, not an outage prediction.
Wisconsin power outage FAQ
When do power outages happen most in Wisconsin?
July is historically the busiest single month for recorded outages in Wisconsin, and Summer (June–August) accounts for about 40% of all recorded outages across the state.
How long do power outages in Wisconsin typically last?
Across Wisconsin's tracked counties, the average recorded outage lasts about 2.8 hours, though individual events -- especially named storms -- can run much longer.
Which counties in Wisconsin have the highest outage risk?
Vilas County, Oneida County, Forest County, Menominee County, Marinette County currently rank lowest for reliability in Wisconsin. See each county's page for its full history.
Does this page predict a power outage in Wisconsin?
No. It describes patterns in recorded county-level outage history, not a guaranteed future event. Check the live National Weather Service alerts below for current conditions.
Prepare for Wisconsin's outage season
Sized for Wisconsin's recorded outage frequency and duration.
