Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Green Bay, WI

July 20, 2026Marathon County, Portage County, Wisconsin

NWS Green Bay, WI issued this tornado warning at Jul 20, 2026, 8:04 PM CDT for Marathon County, Portage County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 41 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 20, 2026, 8:04 PM CDT (01:04 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 2026, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Green Bay, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Marathon County, WI, Portage County, WI

The radar

The Green Bay radar (KGRB), 114 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:05 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 20, 3:49 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 115 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 2026-07-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1492 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2026-07-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 338 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1492 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-124 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1140 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
338 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
464 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.4
Supercell composite
15.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

540 
WFUS53 KGRB 210104
TORGRB
WIC073-097-210145-
/O.NEW.KGRB.TO.W.0020.260721T0104Z-260721T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
804 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

The National Weather Service in Green Bay has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Marathon County in central Wisconsin...
  Northeastern Portage County in central Wisconsin...

* Until 845 PM CDT.

* At 804 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 5 miles southwest of
  Mosinee, or 17 miles south of Wausau, moving east at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
           to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
           likely.

* This tornado will be near...
  Mosinee around 810 PM CDT. Stevens Point around 830 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by the tornado include Moon, Knowlton,
Dancy, Rocky Corners, Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area, North Star,
Shantytown, Ellis, Jordan and Polonia.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4470 8986 4480 8981 4471 8923 4453 8922
      4444 8922
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 290DEG 36KT 4473 8977

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

Kurimski
2 follow-up statements
817 
WWUS53 KGRB 210126
SVSGRB

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
826 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

WIC073-097-210145-
/O.CON.KGRB.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260721T0145Z/
Marathon WI-Portage WI-
826 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MARATHON AND NORTHEASTERN PORTAGE COUNTIES...

At 826 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 5 miles southeast of Mosinee, or 14 miles north of
Stevens Point, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
         to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
         likely.

This tornado will be near...
  Mosinee around 830 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by the tornado include Rocky Corners,
Knowlton, Dancy, Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area, Shantytown, North Star
and Holt.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4465 8974 4478 8969 4471 8923 4459 8922
      4453 8922 4454 8947
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 280DEG 26KT 4476 8983

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

Kurimski
792 
WWUS53 KGRB 210142 RRA
SVSGRB

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
842 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

WIC073-097-210152-
/O.EXP.KGRB.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260721T0145Z/
Marathon WI-Portage WI-
842 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 845 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN
MARATHON AND NORTHEASTERN PORTAGE COUNTIES...

The Tornado Warning that was previously in effect has been reissued
for Portage County and is in effect until 945 PM CDT. Please refer to
that bulletin for the latest severe weather information.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT Monday for a
portion of central Wisconsin.

&&

LAT...LON 4465 8974 4478 8969 4471 8923 4459 8922
      4453 8922 4454 8947
TIME...MOT...LOC 0126Z 280DEG 26KT 4473 8961

$$

Kurimski

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.

NWS Green Bay, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jul 20, 6:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Level 3 of 5 risk of severe storms today. Damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes all possible. Highest risk is mid afternoon to early evening (3 to 8 PM).
  • Drier and cooler for mid-week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 6:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
630 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

Updated aviation portion for 00Z TAF issuance

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Level 3 of 5 risk of severe storms today. Damaging winds, large
  hail, and a few tornadoes all possible. Highest risk is mid
  afternoon to early evening (3 to 8 PM).

- Drier and cooler for mid-week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 255 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

MLCAPE of 2500-3000 J/KG is building into north central WI at
this time on swly flow ahead of a weak sfc trough. Meanwhile 0-8km
shear has increased to 50-60 kt across the area. 994 mb low
pressure over north central Ontario will deepen slightly 991 mb
as it moves near the srn tip of James Bay by 12Z Tue. The pre-
frontal sfc trough over nw WI will move across the nrn half of
WI late this afternoon and early evening. Sfc convergence along
this feature will be modest, but aided by the main upper wave
over sw Ontario moving over nrn Lake Superior for late
afternoon, and then deepen slightly as it moves across ern Lake
Superior this evening. Overall 12hr 500 mb ht. falls of 60-80
meters are expected across the nrn half of WI. Without strong
forcing, believe the CAMs are correct with discrete supercells
after mainly 21Z into the early evening. Cannot rule out some
consolidation of cells farther to the east toward Lake MI and
will forecast 50-70 percent chances for showers and storms.
Effective SRH of 200 m2/s2 is forecast with 0-1KM SRH of 100-150
m2/s2. LCLs and LFCs will be sufficiently favorable for
tornadoes along with the aforementioned low level wind shear.
DCAPE of 1200-1600 J/KG will be a limiting factor for tornadoes,
and a stronger factor for damaging winds. Overall though, all
hazards, possibly significant severe, are forecast.

The actual cold front will then pass late tnt on increasing nwly
winds. Breezy nwly winds and cold advection will prevail into
Tue nt. Broken stratocumulus, relatively cold air aloft and lake
effect rain showers from Lake Superior may lead to a few
showers over far north central WI late tnt-Tue. Relatively cool
temps are forecast Tue-Wed but with less clouds for Wed when
high pressure approaches from the west.

Nwly flow aloft will then prevail into the weekend. High
pressure over MN and IA on Wed will track across the Ohio Valley
and into New England for Thu-Fri. Temperatures will climb back
to normal for Thu-Fri then above normal for the weekend as swly
winds return. Chances for showers and storms return to the
forecast for Sat nt-Mon as a weak Canadian cold front will pass
or stall over the region.

&&

.AVIATION...for 00Z TAF Issuance
Issued at 614 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

KOSH - Scattered thunderstorms will move into eastern WI this
evening. The highest chances of storms will be from 01-03z.
The storms will be capable of producing gusty winds, hail,
and brief heavy rain. Since the storms are scattered, will wait
closer to arrival to better pinpoint wind gusts if they should
move across the airport. Synoptic winds will gust to 20 to 25 kts
through 03z, then wind gusts diminish to around 18 knots into
early Tuesday morning. Gusty northwest winds are expected on
Tuesday, generally around 25 knots from mid morning through much
of the afternoon.

For the rest of the area, scattered thunderstorms will end from
west to east later this evening. Some of the strongest storms
could produce strong winds, hail and brief heavy rain.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 255 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

Breezy sly winds this evening will become breezy nw winds Tue-
Tnt as deep low pressure moves across srn Canada. A Small Craft
Advisory is in effect into tnt but will likely need to be
extended for Tue-Tue nt. A Beach Hazards Statement will continue
through tnt for the Lake MI beaches.

&&

.GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Beach Hazards Statement through Tuesday morning for WIZ022-040-
050.
&&

DISCUSSION.....MG
AVIATION.......Eckberg
MARINE.........MG
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 20, 2:25 PM CDT, 5 hours 39 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
225 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-211930-
Vilas-Oneida-Forest-Florence-Northern Marinette County-Lincoln-
Langlade-Menominee-Northern Oconto County-Door-Marathon-Shawano-
Wood-Portage-Waupaca-Outagamie-Brown-Kewaunee-Waushara-Winnebago-
Calumet-Manitowoc-Southern Marinette County-
Southern Oconto County-
225 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast
Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

There is a level 3 of 5 risk of severe storms with damaging
winds, large hail, tornadoes, and locally heavy rain into this
evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Monday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to report peak wind gusts to the National
Weather Service in Green Bay.

LMZ521-522-541>543-211930-
The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock
Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan-
225 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake
Michigan and the waters of Green Bay.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Conditions hazardous to small craft are expected. A Beach Hazards
Statement is also in effect.

There is a chance of thunderstorms late this afternoon and
evening that would pose a hazard to mariners

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Monday

Conditions hazardous to small craft are possible Tuesday into
Tuesday night.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 20, 6:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
600 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0535 PM     Hail             Spread Eagle            45.88N 88.13W
07/20/2026  M1.00 Inch       Florence           WI   Public

            Nickel to quarter size hail fell for about
            90 seconds in Spread Eagle.

&&

HEK
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 7:06 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
706 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

WIZ018-019-030-031-210100-
Marathon WI-Shawano WI-Langlade WI-Lincoln WI-
706 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT MARATHON...SOUTHEASTERN
LINCOLN...LANGLADE AND WESTERN SHAWANO COUNTIES UNTIL 8 PM CDT...

At 706 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 7 miles south of Parrish to over
Spencer, or extending from 17 miles northwest of Antigo to 33 miles
southwest of Wausau, moving east at 35 mph. These storms have a
history of producing funnel clouds.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and funnel clouds.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
  Wausau, Antigo, Weston, Merrill, Rib Mountain, Mosinee, Spencer,
  Bevent, Wittenberg, Parrish, Dutch Corners, Council Grounds State
  Park, Birch Trails Girl Scout Camp, Veterans Memorial County Park,
  Pearson, Ma Ka Ja Wan Scout Reservation, Rothschild, Schofield and
  Knowlton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4488 9032 4542 8957 4545 8892 4538 8893
      4538 8869 4512 8890 4512 8898 4501 8898
      4469 8923 4470 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 269DEG 30KT 4530 8942 4495 8986 4477 9026

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Kurimski
Local storm report, Jul 20, 7:36 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
736 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0658 PM     Funnel Cloud     1 WNW Little Chicago    45.05N 89.87W
07/20/2026                   Marathon           WI   Public

            Report on social media.

&&

HEK
Local storm report, Jul 20, 7:37 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
737 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0656 PM     Funnel Cloud     2 S Hamburg             45.06N 89.88W
07/20/2026                   Marathon           WI   Public

            Report on social media.

&&

HEK
Local storm report, Jul 20, 7:43 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
743 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0654 PM     Funnel Cloud     1 E Athens              45.03N 90.05W
07/20/2026                   Marathon           WI   Public

            Report on social media, location
            approximated by radar.

&&

HEK
Local storm report, Jul 20, 8:01 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
801 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0745 PM     Funnel Cloud     1 NE Aniwa              45.01N 89.20W
07/20/2026                   Shawano            WI   Public

            mPING, funnel cloud reported 2 mi NE of
            location.

&&

HEK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 20, 7:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGRBLanglade, Marathon54 min
Jul 20, 7:12 PM CDTTornado WarningGRBDoor32 min
Jul 20, 7:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRBForest, Marinette43 min
Jul 20, 7:36 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedGRBMarathon39 min
Jul 20, 7:37 PM CDTTornado WarningGRBMarathon38 min
Jul 20, 7:43 PM CDTTornado WarningGRBLanglade, Menominee, Shawano47 min
Jul 20, 7:53 PM CDTTornado WarningGRBMarinette26 min
Jul 20, 7:55 PM CDTTornado WarningGRBWood50 min
Jul 20, 8:06 PM CDTTornado WarningGRBMarathon, Shawano, Waupaca54 min
Jul 20, 8:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRBDoor29 min
Jul 20, 8:18 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningGRB42 min
Jul 20, 8:25 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGRBMarinette35 min
Jul 20, 8:41 PM CDTTornado WarningGRBPortage, Waupaca37 min
Jul 20, 8:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRBDoor40 min
Jul 20, 9:00 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningGRB45 min
Jul 20, 9:17 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningGRB43 min
Jul 20, 9:27 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningGRB63 min
Jul 20, 9:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRBDoor30 min
Jul 20, 9:43 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGRBDoor3 hr
Jul 20, 9:45 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningGRB15 min
Jul 20, 9:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGRBDoor31 min
Jul 20, 10:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGRBBrown, Outagamie27 min
Jul 21, 1:49 AM CDTSmall Craft AdvisoryGRB26 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Wisconsin, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.