Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 27, NWS Milwaukee, WI

May 20, 2012Kenosha County, Racine County, Walworth County, Wisconsin

NWS Milwaukee, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2012, 4:25 PM CDT for Kenosha County, Racine County, Walworth County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 35 min. 7 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 20, 2012, 4:25 PM CDT (21:25 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2012, 5:00 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Milwaukee, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Kenosha County, WI, Racine County, WI, Walworth County, WI

The radar

The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 47 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:29 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 20, 4:37 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 Ne Lake Geneva, WIA TREE AND POWERLINE REPORTED DOWN IN THE LYONS AREA...NORTHEAST OF LAKE GENEVA.
May 20, 4:37 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGPell Lake, WITREE DOWN IN BLOOMFIELD WHICH IS IN THE PELL LAKE AREA.
May 20, 4:42 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Ese Twin Lakes, WIWIRES DOWN.
May 20, 4:42 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 N Paddock Lake, WITREE DOWN
May 20, 4:42 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGBristol, WIWIRES DOWN
May 20, 4:43 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 51Bassett, WI
May 20, 4:54 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 54Kenosha Airport, WI

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 203 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 2012-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 752 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°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 2012-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 51 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
752 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-121 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1614 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
51 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
31 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.

467 
WUUS53 KMKX 202125
SVRMKX
WIC059-101-127-202200-
/O.NEW.KMKX.SV.W.0027.120520T2125Z-120520T2200Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
425 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SULLIVAN HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  KENOSHA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...
  WESTERN RACINE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...
  SOUTHEASTERN WALWORTH COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...

* UNTIL 500 PM CDT

* AT 419 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  HEBRON...OR 7 MILES EAST OF HARVARD...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45
  MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  PELL LAKE...GENOA CITY AND LAKE GENEVA AROUND 430 PM CDT.
  POWERS LAKE AND TWIN LAKES AROUND 435 PM CDT.
  BOHNERS LAKE...SILVER LAKE AND CAMP LAKE AROUND 440 PM CDT.
  BURLINGTON AIRPORT AND PADDOCK LAKE AROUND 445 PM CDT.
  BROWNS LAKE AND ROCHESTER AROUND 450 PM CDT.
  EAGLE LAKE...UNION GROVE AND WATERFORD NORTH AROUND 455 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
BASSETT...SLADES CORNERS...NEW MUNSTER...BURLINGTON AND KANSASVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4284 8819 4261 8784 4249 8806 4249 8858
TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 226DEG 37KT 4248 8842
WIND...HAIL 60MPH 1.00IN

$$

BROOKS
3 follow-up statements
958 
WWUS53 KMKX 202137
SVSMKX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
437 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2012

WIC059-101-127-202200-
/O.CON.KMKX.SV.W.0027.000000T0000Z-120520T2200Z/
RACINE WI-WALWORTH WI-KENOSHA WI-
437 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR KENOSHA...
SOUTHEASTERN WALWORTH AND WESTERN RACINE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...

AT 433 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF
60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR POWERS LAKE...OR NEAR TWIN
LAKES...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  BURLINGTON AIRPORT AND PADDOCK LAKE AROUND 445 PM CDT.
  BROWNS LAKE AND ROCHESTER AROUND 450 PM CDT.
  EAGLE LAKE...UNION GROVE AND WATERFORD NORTH AROUND 455 PM CDT.
  KENOSHA AIRPORT AROUND 500 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
BURLINGTON AND KANSASVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4284 8819 4261 8784 4249 8806 4249 8858
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 226DEG 37KT 4258 8828
WIND...HAIL 60MPH <.75IN

$$

KAPELA
007 
WWUS53 KMKX 202151
SVSMKX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
451 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2012

WIC059-101-127-202200-
/O.CON.KMKX.SV.W.0027.000000T0000Z-120520T2200Z/
RACINE WI-WALWORTH WI-KENOSHA WI-
451 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR KENOSHA...EAST
CENTRAL WALWORTH AND WESTERN RACINE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...

AT 447 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
BROWNS LAKE...OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF PADDOCK LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 60 MPH.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES REPORTED VERY WINDY CONDITIONS AS THE STORM 
MOVED THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN WALWORTH COUNTY INTO WESTERN KENOSHA 
COUNTY.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  EAGLE LAKE...WATERFORD NORTH...UNION GROVE AND KENOSHA AIRPORT
  AROUND 455 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4283 8819 4261 8784 4249 8826 4262 8844
      4274 8830
TIME...MOT...LOC 2150Z 222DEG 52KT 4269 8820
WIND...HAIL 60MPH 1.00IN

$$

KAPELA
056 
WWUS53 KMKX 202205
SVSMKX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
505 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2012

WIC059-101-127-202212-
/O.EXP.KMKX.SV.W.0027.000000T0000Z-120520T2200Z/
RACINE WI-WALWORTH WI-KENOSHA WI-
505 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR KENOSHA...EAST CENTRAL
WALWORTH AND WESTERN RACINE COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AS IT MOVED 
NORTHEAST THROUGH PORTIONS OF KENOSHA AND RACINE COUNTY. 

THE ORIGINAL STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING WAS ABOUT 5 MILES 
NORTHEAST OF BURLINGTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST. OTHER SCATTERED 
STORMS WERE FOUND IN RACINE AND KENOSHA COUNTIES.

THE GUST FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH ALL OF THESE STORMS REACHED THE LAKE 
MICHIGAN SHORELINE AROUND 5 PM IN THE KENOSHA AREA. WIND GUSTS WERE 
ON THE ORDER OF 50 MPH. 

WIND GUSTS OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST FROM 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED IN 
THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTIES OF RACINE AND KENOSHA COUNTY 
THROUGH ABOUT 515 PM.

LAT...LON 4283 8819 4261 8784 4249 8826 4262 8844
      4274 8830
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 222DEG 52KT 4270 8818

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 3:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXFond du Lac, Green Lake16 min
May 20, 4:30 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMKX58 min
May 20, 5:43 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMKX62 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 2012Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.