Wade seemed set to cruise into his first World Championship final when he won the game's first two sets before a brief suspension of play, when the pair were affected by a crosswind on stage to win the third, saw play delayed for 20 minutes.
Although Lewis won the third set, Wade turned on the style to win nine out of the next 11 legs to assume a 5-1 lead - only to miss one match dart at double 18.
Lewis fought back to level the match with a run of seven successive legs, and after Wade missed one match dart he then extended the run of winning legs to ten by taking the deciding set 3-0 - sealing an amazing comeback with a stunning 161 checkout.
"This is probably my greatest ever win," said a triumphant Lewis, who will now face Andy Hamilton in an all-Stoke final for the £200,000 first prize.
"The problems with the draught coming on to the stage did affect me for a time, but I think tonight I showed that I'm a true champion.
"I do not want to lose my grip on this trophy. I'm going to get a good night's sleep now, relax, and prepare myself properly before I play Andy in the final."
Lewis won the first leg of the match on double top, before Wade converted a 76 finish which was followed by a fantastic 157 as he took the third.
Wade then won the set in the next by hitting double top at the first time of asking, before starting the second set in positive fashion, courtesy of a 96 finish.
Lewis hit back superbly by taking the next two legs with ton-plus finishes of 105 and 130, before Wade took the fourth after Lewis was off-target with three darts at double top for the set.
The decider saw Wade land double ten for the second successive leg to win the set and establish early command of the contest, although play was halted for around 20 minutes as the source of an on-stage draught was identified.
Following the resumption, Wade continued his dominance by winning the opening two legs of set three before Lewis produced a superb 11-darter in the third to kick-start his challenge.
He then levelled in the fourth, hitting a maximum in a 13-darter, before taking out 114 to win the set and halve the deficit.
Wade, though, found another gear himself to power through the fourth set in only 44 darts, finishing 104 and 143 as well as hitting a 14-dart finish to break Lewis' throw in restoring a two-set cushion.
Lewis posted double top to win the first leg of set five, but Wade levelled with an 80 finish before recording a 126 checkout to break throw with a 12-darter.
The number three seed hit double top in the fourth leg to complete a 13-dart finish and win his fourth set to leave Lewis with an increasingly difficult task.
The sixth set began with Wade missing a dart at double top for a 120 checkout, allowing Lewis to hit double five and secure a break of throw with a 14-dart leg.
However, Wade immediately hit back by landing double top to win the second leg against the throw in 14 darts, and that was bettered when he took the third in just 13 darts on double 14.
The fourth leg saw Wade hit double seven to take his third successive set and move 5-1 clear - and only a set away from a place in the final.
Lewis won the opening leg of set seven, but wasted three chances to take the next and Wade capitalised with a successful attempt at double two.
Lewis won the third leg with a 70 finish, before taking the set in clinical fashion by following a 180 by taking out 94 in two darts to keep the match alive.
The world number two maintained the momentum at the start of the set eight by taking out an 85 finish to win the first leg in 12 darts, and then won the second with the aid of a 180.
Wade hit double top to win the third leg and also took the fourth by landing double five with a pressure third dart, after Lewis missed a dart at double top for the set.
The deciding leg saw Wade miss an opportunity at double 18 for the match, and Lewis took out 98 with two superbly placed darts to win his third set and crucially deny Wade a second chance to take victory.
Lewis won the ninth set without reply to reduce the gap to just one set, leaving Wade with something to think about as he took out double top twice and double 19 once.
The tenth set began in amazing fashion as Lewis hit back-to-back maximums to leave the opportunity of a nine-dart finish to repeat the feat he achieved 12 months ago in the final.
That was not to be as Lewis missed a seventh treble 20, and he then missed three darts at doubles before being handed a reprieve when Wade was unable to capitalise with two darts at doubles, returning to hit double one to end a dramatic leg.
Wade was unable to stem the tide as Lewis hit an 81 finish to take the second leg in 12 darts, and he hit double top to send the match into a deciding set.
Lewis made a winning start to set eleven by hitting double top, but a dramatic second leg saw him miss six darts at doubles.
However, Wade was guilty of missing seven chances of his own to level, and Lewis landed double one to move a leg away from the victory with his ninth successive leg.
The pair both hit two 140s in leaving 161 after nine darts in the next, and Lewis completed a remarkable comeback in emphatic style as he hit the showpiece finish.
Lewis added: "I think Andy's been the best player in the tournament so far, but I've won it before and I think I'll turn him over on Monday.
"It will be a great game and I'm pleased for him to have got this far - but friendship goes out of the window when we get on stage!"
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