Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1992

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 8, NWS Milwaukee, WI

May 16, 1992Portage County, Wood County, Wisconsin

NWS Milwaukee, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 16, 1992, 6:12 PM CDT for Portage County, Wood County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 48 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 1992, 6:12 PM CDT (23:12 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 1992, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Milwaukee, WI
Area
Whole counties

Counties Portage County, WI, Wood County, WI

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 16, 7:10 PM CDTTornado F2Portage, WI

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 133 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 12:00Z on 1992-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 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 12:00Z on 1992-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 141 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
NaN m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
141 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
169 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMKE 162317
SVRMKE
WIC097-141-170000-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
612 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  700 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN
 
   ...PORTAGE COUNTY...WOOD COUNTY
 
AT 610 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
OVER WESTERN WOOD COUNTY FROM NEAR MARSHFIELD TO SOUTH OF LINDSEY OR
ABOUT 25 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF WISCONSIN RAPIDS.
 
THE LINE IS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 TO 40 MPH AND WILL BE AFFECTING
THE TOWNS OF AUBURNDALE...BETHEL AND HEWIT.
 
IN ADDITION A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN WOOD
AND NORTHERN PORTAGE COUNTIES. PERSONS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR FLASH
FLOODING FROM THESE STORMS.
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
 
ZAJDEL

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, May 16, 4:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
WIZ010-011-014-015-170000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MADISON WI
415 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 1992

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN JUNEAU COUNTY UNTIL 415PM...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN NORTHERN JUNEAU COUNTY WAS LOCATED JUST
NORTH OF THE PETENWELL RESEVOIR AT 410 PM MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
AT AROUND 40 MILES AN HOUR.  THE STORM WILL EXIT NORTHEAST JUNEAU
COUNTY BY 420 PM AND SKIM THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF ADAMS COUNTY.
NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAIABLE FROM THE JUNEAU COUNTY SHERIFF
ABOUT THIS STORM BUT IT HAD A HISTORY OF 1 INCH HAIL IN MONROE COUNTY.

THE WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 415 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR JUNEAU AND ADAMS COUNTY UNTIL          [ ]9PM CDT.

MOONEY
Special weather statement, May 16, 4:31 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
WIZ007-162230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
423 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 1992

AT 415 PM...RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHERN MARATHON
COUNTY NEAR MOSINEE...OR ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WAUSAU. HAIL UP TO
1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER AND WINDS UP TO 50 MPH WERE REPORTED WITH THIS STORAT 425 PM.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST NEAR 40 MPH...AND WILL PASS THROUGH OR
CLOSE TO SCHOFIELD...KELLY...RINGLE...AND HATLEY BETWEEN 435 AND 515 PM.
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS.

MORE STORMS WERE DEVELOPING IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND HEADED TOWARD
CLARK...MARATHON...WOOD...AND PORTAGE COUNTIES.  THESE STORMS ALSO^
APPEAR CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL AND STRONG WINDS.  FURTHER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

JOHNSTON
Special weather statement, May 16, 4:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
WIZ010-011-014-015-170000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MADISON WI
440 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 1992

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN EXTREME NORTHERN JUNEAU COUNTY...

ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS PUSHING NORTHEAST THROUGH EXTREME
NORTHERN JUNEAU COUNTY AT THIS TIME.  RADAR INDICATES THAT VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND POSSIBLY SOME SMALL HAIL IS FALLING FROM THIS STORM.
NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THE JUNEAU COUNTY SHERIFF
CONCERNING STORM ACTIVITY OR STORM DAMAGE YET THIS AFTERNOON.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WISCONSIN INCLUDING
JUNEAU COUNTY UNTIL 9PM CDT.

MOONEY
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:40 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
WIZ007-170200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
535 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 1992

...THE CALM BEFORE THE STORMS...

PARTLY SUNNY SKIES AND WARM SOUTHERLY WINDS COVER SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN
THIS EVENING.  WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER
CENTRAL WISCONSIN...BUT NO ACTIVITY HERE IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE
STATE.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE MILWAUKEE AREA AFTER
1000 PM.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
AND WEST-CENTRAL WISCONSIN UNTIL 900 PM.  THE ONLY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN THAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS WATCH IS FOND DU LAC.  OTHER SEVERE
WEATHER WATCHES MAY BE NEEDED LATER...SO STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

J LAST
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:41 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
WIZ012-013-017-020-170200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
535 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 1992

...THE CALM BEFORE THE STORMS...

PARTLY SUNNY SKIES AND WARM SOUTHERLY WINDS COVER SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN
THIS EVENING.  WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER
CENTRAL WISCONSIN...BUT NO ACTIVITY HERE IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE
STATE.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE MILWAUKEE AREA AFTER
1000 PM.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
AND WEST-CENTRAL WISCONSIN UNTIL 900 PM.  THE ONLY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN THAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS WATCH IS FOND DU LAC.  OTHER SEVERE
WEATHER WAT9CHES MAY BE NEEDED LATER...SO STAY TUNED TO NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

J LAST
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:59 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
WIZ010-011-014-015-018-019-170000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT RANGE WEATHER SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MADISON WI
600 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 1992

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WISCONSIN UNTIL 9PM...

WINDY AND WARM WEATHER ACROSS WISCONSIN THIS AFTERNOON HAS PRODUCED
SOME SEVERE WEATHER IN WESTERN AND NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE STATE.
SOUTHERN WISCONSIN HAS BEEN PARTLY SUNNY AND DRY WITH A RECORD HIGH
TEMPERATURE OF 87 DEGREES IN MADISON.

AREAS WEST AND NORTH OF DANE COUNTY ARE UNDER A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL
9PM THIS EVENING.  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF
SOUTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN AFTER SUNSET.  UNTIL THEN..TEMPERATURES WILL STAY
IN THE 80S WITH WINDS FROM TH'E SOUTH BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MILES AN HOUR.

BE ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER.

MOONEY

The office that day

Everything else NWS Milwaukee, WI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 2:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXMarathon, Wood45 min
May 16, 2:36 PM CDTTornado WarningMKXMarathon39 min
May 16, 2:57 PM CDTTornado WarningMKXLincoln, Taylor30 min
May 16, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXWood26 min
May 16, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXPortage50 min
May 16, 3:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXMarathon45 min
May 16, 5:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXPortage66 min
May 16, 5:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXWood33 min
May 16, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXMarathon60 min
May 16, 5:59 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMKXMarathon, Portage, Wood3 hr
May 16, 6:09 PM CDTTornado WarningMKXMarathon51 min
May 16, 6:23 PM CDTTornado WarningMKXWood37 min
May 16, 6:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXPortage47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 1992Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1992

Sources

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