Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 1992

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Milwaukee, WI

October 8, 1992Portage County, Wisconsin

NWS Milwaukee, WI issued this tornado warning at Oct 8, 1992, 6:12 PM CDT for Portage County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 33 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
Oct 8, 1992, 6:12 PM CDT (23:12 UTC)
Expired
Oct 8, 1992, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Milwaukee, WI
Area
Whole counties

County Portage County, WI

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Oct 8, 6:12 PM CDTTornado F1Portage, 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 111 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 1992-10-08Temperature 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 1992-10-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 58 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
997 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
58 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
213 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 082313
TORMKE
WIC097-082345-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
612 PM CDT THU OCT 8 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  645 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN
 
   ...PORTAGE COUNTY
 
A TORNADO WAS REPORTED ON THE GROUND NEAR HIGHWAY 54 AND TT IN SOUTHEAST
PORTAGE COUNTY JUST SOUTH OF AMHERST. HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN
SOUTHEAST PORTAGE COUNTY.
 
THE TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTH-NORTHWEST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.  IF YOU
LIVE IN OR NEAR THE TOWNS OF AMHERST...ARNOTT AND CUSTER...GET TO
SHELTER NOW.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
J LAST
&

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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, Oct 8, 4:34 PM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
WIZ007-011-012-082300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
430 PM CDT THU OCT 8 1992

...POTENTIAL FOR WEAK TORNADOS IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

AT 430 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
ROTATING NORTHWARD INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN.  THESE STORMS ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH A STRONG UPPER AIR LOW.

IN THESE SITUATIONS THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE FUNNEL CLOUDS AND
MAYBE EVEN SOME BRIEF WEAK TORNADO
TOUCHDOWNS.

PERSONS IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION
DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS.  IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU...
MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.

HENTZ
Special weather statement, Oct 8, 4:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
WIZ011-082245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MADISON WI
436 PM CDT THU OCT 8 1992

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL RAINS IN PARTS OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

AT 430 PM RADAR DETECTED NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF
LA CROSSE NEAR BLACK RIVER FALLS TO MILWAUKEE.  MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS
WERE NORTH AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

REPORTS OUT OF WAUSHARA COUNTY INDICATES PEA-SIZED HAIL AND TORRENTIAL
RAINS BETWEEN PLAIN FIELD AND COLOMA...ABOUT 70 MILES NORTH OF MADISON.
EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED WITH SOME OF
THESE STORMS AS WELL AS POSSIBLE FUNNELS.

PERSONS BETWEEN BLACK RIVER FALLS AND OSHKOSH SHOULD BE ON THE LOOK OUT
FOR THREATENING WEATHER UNTIL ABOUT 6 OR 7  PM.   THE REPORTS SO FAR HAVINDICATED MAINLY JUST HEAVY RAINS AND SMALL HAIL BUT A FEW OF THE
REPORTS HAVE INDICATED SMALL BUILDING AND TREE DAMAGE.

THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR WEAK TORNADOES IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN FO^R THE
NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.  LISTEN TO LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATIONS FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

NOAH
Local storm report, Oct 8, 4:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MADISON WI
455 PM CDT THU OCT 8 1992

WW# NONE ISSUED

TIMES ARE ESTIMATED...
330 PM CDT  JUNEAU COUNTY...MAUSTON RADIO STATION WRJC CALLED IN THIS
            REPORT ABOUT 430 PM (ACTUAL DAMAGE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN)
               ...4 FARM BUILDINGS AND 8 TREES HAD SOME DAMAGE 6 MILES
                  EAST SOUTHEAST OF MAUSTON.
               ...1 BARN AND 4 TREES HAD SOME DAMAGE ABOUT 1 MILE EAST
                  NORTHEAST OF MAUSTON.
            EVENT LASTED ONLY ABOUT 3 SECONDS IN BOTH CASES.
345 PM CDT  JUNEAU COUNTY...UNCONFIRMED TORNADO 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF
            MAUSTON NEAR THE JUNCTION OF COUNTY G AND HH.  RELAYED BY
            JUNEAU COUNTY SHERIFF.  PUBLIC REPORT.  GARAGE DAMAGE.
NOTE:  NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON INDICATED BRIEF
       HEAVY RAINS AND NO HAIL OR IN SOME CASES PEA-SIZED HAIL.
NOAH
Special weather statement, Oct 8, 5:08 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
WIZ007-011-012-016-017-090015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
508 PM CDT THU OCT 8 1992

AT 505 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ROTATING
NORTHWARD ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN.

THESE STORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR MILWAUKEE NORTHWEST ACRROSS DODGE AND
FOND DU LAC COUNTIES...THEN INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN NEAR WISCONSIN
RAPIDS.  SOME OF THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL AND GUSTY
WINDS.

IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN THE STRONGEST STORM WAS OVER WESTERN DODGE COUNTY
APPROACHING FOX LAKE 35 MILES NORTHEAST OF MADISON.

IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST
PORTAGE COUNTY 20 MILES SOUTH:EAST OF WISCOSNIN RAPIDS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHWEST AT 35 MPH.

IF THRATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING.
Special weather statement, Oct 8, 5:42 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
WIZ007-011-012-016-017-082345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
542 PM CDT THU OCT 8 1992

...THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...

AT 540 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING
TO ROTATE NORTHWARD THROUGH CENTRAL AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN.
THESE STORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST NORTH OF MILWAUKEE TO FOND DU LAC...
THEN NORTHWEST TO NEAR WISCONSIN RAPIDS...THEN WEST TO NEAR EAU CLAIRE.

IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN A THUNDERSTORM WHICH EARLIER PRODUCED 3/4 INCH HAIL
WAS MOVING INTO SOUTHERN PORTAGE AND SOUTHEAST WOOD COUNTY JUST SOUTHEASOF WISCONSIN RAPIDS.

IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN MOST STORMS WERE IN THE FOND DU LAC...NORTHEAST
DODGE AND NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY AREA.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE FROM HAIL AS THE
STORMS MOVE NORTH AND NORTHWEST AT 35 MPH.

IF THREATENING STORMS APPROACH SEEK SAFE SHELTER IN A ST`UDY BUILDING.

HENTZ
Special weather statement, Oct 8, 5:46 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
WIZ007-011-012-016-017-082345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT  ...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
542 PM CDT THU OCT 8 1992

...THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...

AT 540 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING
TO ROTATE NORTHWARD THROUGH CENTRAL AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN.
THESE STORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST NORTH OF MILWAUKEE TO FOND DU LAC...
THEN NORTHWEST TO NEAR WISCONSIN RAPIDS...THEN WEST TO NEAR EAU CLAIRE.

IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN A THUNDERSTORM WHICH EARLIER PRODUCED 3/4 INCH HAIL
WAS MOVING INTO SOUTHERN PORTAGE AND SOUTHEAST WOOD COUNTY JUST
SOUTHEAST OF WISCONSIN RAPIDS.

IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN MOST STORMS WERE IN THE FOND DU LAC...NORTHEAST
DODGE AND NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY AREA.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE FROM HAIL AS THE
STORMS MOVE NORTH AND NORTHWEST AT 35 MPH.

IF THREATENING STORMS APPROACH SEEK SAFE SvHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING.

HENTZ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 8, 6:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXPortage56 min
Oct 8, 6:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXMarathon64 min
Oct 8, 6:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXPortage58 min
Oct 8, 6:53 PM CDTTornado WarningMKXMarathon37 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Wisconsin, 1992Every tornado warning in 1992Tornadoes 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.