South Milwaukee, WI (ZIP 53172) has experienced 131 recorded natural disaster events based on federal and state agency records. These include 42 extreme cold events, 32 hailstorms, and 21 blizzards. Total documented property damage amounts to $77.4M. These events have resulted in 98 recorded deaths and 273 injuries.
The dominant hazard type for South Milwaukee is extreme cold events, with 42 recorded events making up 32% of the area's disaster history. Of these, 7 (17%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for cold-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Cold-related events have caused a combined $20K in documented property damage. 47 fatalities have been attributed to extreme cold events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme cold event occurred on Jan 19, 2025.
There have been 32 recorded hailstorms in this area, representing 24% of all disaster events. Hail-related events have caused a combined $40K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on May 15, 2025.
There have been 21 recorded blizzards in this area, representing 16% of all disaster events. Of these, 8 (38%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for winter storm events here is 5/5 (extreme). Winter storm events have caused a combined $221K in documented property damage. 26 fatalities have been attributed to blizzards in this area. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Jan 12, 2024.
There have been 17 recorded extreme heat events in this area, representing 13% of all disaster events. Of these, 12 (71%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for heat-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). 21 fatalities have been attributed to extreme heat events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme heat event occurred on Jun 14, 2022.
South Milwaukee has experienced 10 floods on record. Of these, 7 (70%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $72M in documented property damage. 4 fatalities have been attributed to floods in this area. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Aug 9, 2025.
South Milwaukee has experienced 5 tornadoes on record. Tornado-related events have caused a combined $5.1M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Mar 8, 2000.
The most significant disaster event on record for South Milwaukee was Flash Flood on Aug 9, 2025, which caused $60M in property damage and was linked to 1 fatality. Another major event was Lakeshore Flood (Jan 11, 2020), causing $10.7M in damages. EF1 Tornado on Mar 8, 2000 also caused significant damage ($4.6M).
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 53172 has experienced 131 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include extreme cold events (42 events), hailstorms (32 events), blizzards (21 events), extreme heat events (17 events), floods (10 events), tornadoes (5 events), and severe wind events (4 events). The primary hazard is extreme cold events, which account for 32% of all recorded events.
Extreme cold events are the most frequently recorded hazard in South Milwaukee, WI, with 42 events documented. These events have caused a combined $20K in property damage.
Yes, South Milwaukee (ZIP 53172) has 10 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $72M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Aug 9, 2025.
South Milwaukee has 5 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 3/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $5.1M. The most recent tornado was recorded on Mar 8, 2000.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 53172 was Flash Flood, which occurred on Aug 9, 2025. This event caused $60M in documented property damage. It resulted in 1 reported fatality. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $77.4M in property damage in the South Milwaukee, WI area (ZIP 53172). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →