Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2002

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 19, NWS Milwaukee, WI

April 18, 2002Columbia County, Wisconsin

NWS Milwaukee, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 18, 2002, 8:44 PM CDT for Columbia County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 61 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: Apr 18, 2002, 8:44 PM CDT (01:44 UTC)
Expired: Apr 18, 2002, 9:45 PM CDT
In force: 61 min
Issued by: NWS Milwaukee, WI
Area: Whole counties

County Columbia County, WI

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 18, 9:05 PM CDT	Thunderstorm Wind 52 E	Poynette, 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 18, 8:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 00:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 150 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 188 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -106 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2321 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 216 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 288 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 
WUUS53 KMKX 190144
SVRMKE
WIC021-190245-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
844 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SULLIVAN HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  COLUMBIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN

* UNTIL 945 PM CDT

* AT 844 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF PORTAGE TO
  11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LAKE WISCONSIN...OR FROM 8 MILES EAST OF
  WISCONSIN DELLS TO PRAIRIE DU SAC...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  LAKE WISCONSIN AT 905 PM CDT.
  PORTAGE AT 915 PM CDT.
  ARLINGTON AT 925 PM CDT.
  POYNETTE AT 930 PM CDT.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...YOU SHOULD PREPARE FOR
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY

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.

NWS Milwaukee, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 18, 11:20 AM CDT, 9 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 18, 11:20 AM CDT, 9 hours 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1120 AM CDT THU APR 18 2002

FORECAST FOCUS IS ON SEVERE POTENTIAL THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF
APPROACHING CDFNT.

LINE OF DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS JUST AHEAD OF NOSE OF LOW LEVEL
JET.  SOUNDINGS SHOW LOW LEVEL CAP IN PLACE AT THIS MOMENT...BUT
FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW CAP TO RAPIDLY DISSIPATE...SO THIS LINE MAY
RAPIDLY INTENSIFY OVER SOUTHCENTRAL WI EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.  CAPES
RISE TO OVER 2000 J/KG.  FLOW IS RATHER UNIDIRECTIONAL NOW...BUT ANY
LAKE BREEZE FRONT WOULD PRODUCE MODERATE HELICITIES...AND EHI VALUES
TO NEAR 3...SO BOUNDAIES WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED CLOSELY. DEW POINTS
ALREADY IN LOWER 60S...WITH MID 60S ALREADY OVER N IL.

MAIN COLD FRONT DOES NOT COME THROUGH SE WI UNTIL AFTER
MIDNIGHT...AND MODELS SHOW WEAK MID LEVEL TROUGH THAT MAY PRODUCE
ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING.

VERY COOL HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER CWA AFTER EXIT OF CDFNT. QUITE A
CHG AFTER RECENT RECORD HEAT.

.MKX...NONE.

HENTZ

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 18, 5:30 PM CDT, 3 hours 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
530 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0433 PM    MERRIMAC                  WI   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   SAUK                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0453 PM    ENDEAVOR                  WI   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   MARQUETTE                      REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0510 PM    1 SW MADISON              WI   1 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   DANE                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

Local storm report, Apr 18, 5:49 PM CDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
549 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0510 PM    MADISON                   WI   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   DANE                           REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0529 PM    MADISON                   WI   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   DANE                           REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0530 PM    MADISON                   WI   .88 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   DANE                           REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0534 PM    BERLIN                    WI   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   GREEN LAKE                     REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0535 PM    MONONA                    WI   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   DANE                           REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

Special weather statement, Apr 18, 6:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before

WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062-066>068-071-072-190115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
625 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN
UNTIL 8 PM CDT...

AT 624 PM CDT...NUMEROUS STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED
TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN AND A SMALL
PORTION OF
SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE STORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY
OF PRODUCING LARGE DAMAGING HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH.

MORE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTHEAST IOWA MOVING EAST. THESE
STORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN BY 8 PM CDT. THE STORMS
ARE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

PERSONS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK STURDY SHELTER INDOORS AWAY FROM
WINDOWS IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

GD

Special weather statement, Apr 18, 7:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before

WIZ046-047-051-052-056>059-062-065>067-070-071-190100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
735 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN
UNTIL 8 PM CDT...

AT 730 PM CDT...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER THE SOUTH
PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE STORMS
HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF LARGE DAMAGING HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH.

MORE THUNDERSTORMS WERE APPROACHING SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN FROM
NORTHEAST IOWA. THESE STORMS WILL ENTER SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN
AFTER 830 PM CDT.

PERSONS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK STURDY SHELTER INDOORS AWAY FROM
WINDOWS IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

GD

Local storm report, Apr 18, 8:13 PM CDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
813 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0700 PM    EVANSVILLE                WI   1 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   ROCK                           REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0714 PM    LAKE GENEVA               WI   50 MPH TSTM GUST
04/18/02   WALWORTH                       REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0730 PM    DEERFIELD                 WI   2 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   DANE                           REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0740 PM    JANESVILLE                WI   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   ROCK                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

Special weather statement, Apr 18, 8:21 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

WIZ046-047-051-052-057>060-063>071-190215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
821 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN UNTIL 1 AM CDT...

AT 820 PM CDT...CLUSTERS OF STRONG TO OCCASIONALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE ENTERING SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE STORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF LARGE DAMAGING
HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH.

RESIDENTS OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK STURDY SHELTER INDOORS AWAY FROM
WINDOWS SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH.

GD

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 18, 7:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Kenosha	42 min
Apr 18, 7:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Dane, Jefferson	39 min
Apr 18, 7:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Rock	62 min
Apr 18, 7:29 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		61 min
Apr 18, 7:29 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		61 min
Apr 18, 7:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Sauk	61 min
Apr 18, 8:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Iowa	65 min
Apr 18, 8:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Green Lake, Marquette	60 min
Apr 18, 8:34 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		56 min
Apr 18, 8:34 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		56 min
Apr 18, 8:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Dane	68 min
Apr 18, 8:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Fond du Lac, Sheboygan	64 min
Apr 18, 8:50 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		100 min
Apr 18, 8:50 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		100 min
Apr 18, 8:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Sauk	33 min
Apr 18, 9:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Jefferson	74 min
Apr 18, 9:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Dodge	64 min
Apr 18, 9:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Green	54 min
Apr 18, 9:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Fond du Lac	32 min
Apr 18, 9:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Dane, Rock	61 min
Apr 18, 9:45 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		2 hr
Apr 18, 9:45 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		2 hr
Apr 18, 9:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington	57 min
Apr 18, 10:04 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		116 min
Apr 18, 10:04 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	MKX		116 min
Apr 18, 10:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Walworth	55 min
Apr 18, 10:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Kenosha, Racine	37 min
Apr 18, 11:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MKX	Iowa, Lafayette, Sauk	16 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 2002 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2002

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.