Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1986

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 36, NWS Milwaukee, WI

July 28, 1986Kenosha County, Racine County, Wisconsin

NWS Milwaukee, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 28, 1986, 12:01 AM CDT for Kenosha County, Racine County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 29 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 28, 1986, 12:01 AM CDT (05:01 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 1986, 12:30 AM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Milwaukee, WI
Area
Whole counties

Counties Kenosha County, WI, Racine County, WI

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 00:00Z, 5.0 hours before the alert went out and 205 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 00:00Z on 1986-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1274 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 00:00Z on 1986-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 123 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1274 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1172 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
123 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
146 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
5.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KMKE 280501
SVRMKE
WIC059-101-280530-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE WI
1201 AM CDT MON JUL 28 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND 
SPECIAL MARINE WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1230 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE 
FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...KENOSHA AND RACINE
...INCLUDING THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN.       
.                      

THUNDERSTORMS ROLLED THROUGH MILWAUKEE..WAUKESHA AND WALWORTH
COUNTIES BETWEEN 1140PM AND MIDNIGHT WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND SOME DAMAGE TO TREES..POWELINES AND HOMES
ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE COUNTIES TILL 1230AM WHEN THE STORMS SHOULD
HAVE ROLLED INTO LAKE MICHIGAN.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN GENERATE STRONG WINDS WHICH CAUSE OBJECTS TO
BECOME DEADLY AIRBORNE MISSILES.  WIND DRIVEN HAIL OF ANY SIZE CAN
CAUSE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. TAKE SHELTER WHEN] WEATHER IS THREATENING.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 11:11 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MADISON WI
11:10 PM CDT SUNDAY JULY 27, 1986

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 400 AM CDT MON...

AT 1100 PM CDT RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
THAT JUST PASSED THROUGH MADISON..OR ABOUT 10:50 PM CDT. THE LINE
OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS JUST NORTH OF A LINE LOCATED FROM PORT
WASHINGTON..TO SOUTH OF MADISON..TO WEST OF DUBUQUE IOWA.
MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS WAS TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT4 35 MILES
AN HOUR. THE HEAVIEST STORM APPEARS NOW TO BE NEAR OREGON OR
10 MILES SOUTH OF MADISON.

GJG
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 11:12 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE WI
1110 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 1986

...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...

AT 1110 PM...RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST
WEST OF SHEBOYGAN IN EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN ACROSS NORTHERN OZAUKEE
WASHINGTON NORTHWEST WAUKESHA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. THE LINE OF STORMS
THEN EXTENDED BACK TO JANESVILLE.

THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE INTENSE LIGHTNING..BRIEF HEAVY RAINS AND
POSSIBLY STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE
INTO THE COUNTIES OF OZAUKEE..WAUKESHA AND WALWORTH COUNTIES
BY 1130 PM AND MILWAUKEE COUNTY SHORTLY AFTER. RACINE AND
KENOSHA COUNTIES WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED LATER.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY NEAR JEFFERSON 35 TO 40
MILES WEST OF MILWAUKEE.
^
PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN IN THE PATHS OF THESE STORMS SHOULD
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER.

BOATERS OFF THE SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN CO5ASTAL WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN
AND ON INLAND LAKES SHOULD PREPARE FOR THESE STORMS OR SEEK SAFE
HARBOR.

HENTZ
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 11:20 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE WI
1120 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 1986

...PARTS OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWEST AND
   SOUTHCENTRAL WISCONSIN...

THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED OUT OF PARTS OF SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN. AS A RESULT THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
IS CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHCENTRAL
WISCONSIN.

DANE..GRANT..IOWA..AND LAFAYETTE.
:
THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN UNTIL
4AM.

HENTZ
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 11:34 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MADISON WI
11:30 PM CDT SUNDAY JULY 27, 1986

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELED FOR DANE..GRANT..IOWA..AND
LAFEYETTE COUNTY AS OF 1120 PM CDT..

AT 1120 PM CDT RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
FROM 30 MILES EAST OF MADISON NEAR WATERTOWN TO JANESVILLE THEN
THROUGH SOUTHERN GREEN COUNTY.  THE STORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 35 MPH.  BRIEF HEAVY RAIN..SOME PEA SIZE HAIL AND GUSTY KWINDS
ARE ACCOMPANING THE STORMS.  NO REAL SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN
REPORTED..HOWEVER THE LIGHTNING HAS BEEN INTENSE AND LONG LASTING.
CAUTION SHOULD BE USED AS LIGHTNING IS A DANGER TO ALL.

SWENSON
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 11:42 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE WI
1140 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 1986

...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...

AT 1140 PM...RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST
NORTH OF MILWAUKEE TO WAUKESHA..SOUTHWEST TO JANESVILLE. STRONG
GUSTY WINDS AHEAD OF THESE STORMS WERE IN THE NORTHERN MILWAUKEE
METROPOLITAN AREA TO FAR NORTHWEST RACINE COUNTY.

THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE INTENSE LIGHTNING..BRIEF HEAVY RAINS..
STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE
INTO THE COUNTIES OF MILWAUKEE RACINE AND KENOSHA COUNTIES BY OR JUST
AFTER MIDNIGHT. WINDS OF 45 TO 50 MPH WERE REPORTED IN THE CITY OF
WAUKESHA AND ALSO IN WALWORTH COUNTY AROUND 1130 PM.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN WAUKESHA COUNTY JUST WEST OF MILWAUKEE.
^
PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN IN THE PATHS OF THESE STORMS SHOULD
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER.

BOATERS OFF THE SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN COASTAOL WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN
AND ON INLAND LAKES SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR.

HENTZ
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 11:55 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE WI
1155 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 1986

A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH EASTERN WALWORTH COUNTY
HAS KNOCKED DOWN SOME TREES IN DELEVAN..ACCORDING TO THE WALWORTH COUNTY
SHERIFF. STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO 55 MPH ARE POSSIBLE FROM STORMS AS THEY
MOVE THROUGH MILWAUKEE..RACINE AND KENOSHA COUNTY BETWEEN NOW AND 1230
AM.

PERSONS ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN INDOORS IN EXTREME SOUTHEAST WISCWONSIN
TILL AFTER 1230AM WHEN THE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE MOVED INTO LAKE
MICHIGAN.
DRAG

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 1986Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.