Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Milwaukee, WI

April 2, 2026Jefferson County, Rock County, Walworth County, Wisconsin

NWS Milwaukee, WI issued this tornado warning at Apr 2, 2026, 6:39 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Rock County, Walworth County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 30 min. 4 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
Apr 2, 2026, 6:39 PM CDT (23:39 UTC)
Expired
Apr 2, 2026, 7:09 PM CDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Milwaukee, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.25 in

Counties Jefferson County, WI, Rock County, WI, Walworth County, WI

The radar

The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:40 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
Apr 2, 6:41 PM CDTHAIL 22 W Whitewater, WI
Apr 2, 6:57 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Wnw Palmyra, WIJefferson County Dispatch reports tree down on Power Line north of Palmyra.
Apr 2, 7:02 PM CDTHAIL 12 W Whitewater, WIReport from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
Apr 2, 7:19 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Ssw Whitewater, WIWalworth County Dispatch reports trees and powerlines down on northwest side of county as well as near Whitewater. Time estimated by radar.

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

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 2, 1:43 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 302 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-04-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 19 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-04-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 453 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
19 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-278 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
846 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
453 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
450 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

731 
WFUS53 KMKX 022339
TORMKX
WIC055-105-127-030045-
/O.NEW.KMKX.TO.W.0003.260402T2339Z-260403T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
639 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

The National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Walworth County in southeastern Wisconsin...
  Northeastern Rock County in south central Wisconsin...
  Southeastern Jefferson County in southeastern Wisconsin...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 639 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Whitewater, moving northeast at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters reported funnel cloud.

  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 dangerous storm will be near...
  Whitewater, Fort Atkinson, and Lake Koshkonong around 645 PM CDT.
  Palmyra around 650 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Rome,
Sullivan, Hebron, Ixonia, Helenville, Lima Center, Nws
Milwaukee/sullivan, and Lake Lac La Belle.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid 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 4273 8888 4281 8899 4320 8854 4284 8854
TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 224DEG 32KT 4281 8883 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

PATTERSON
2 follow-up statements
167 
WWUS53 KMKX 022354
SVSMKX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
654 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

WIC105-127-030004-
/O.CAN.KMKX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260403T0045Z/
Walworth WI-Rock WI-
654 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN WALWORTH AND NORTHEASTERN
ROCK COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for south central
and southeastern Wisconsin.

&&

LAT...LON 4295 8881 4320 8854 4284 8854 4284 8881
TIME...MOT...LOC 2354Z 224DEG 32KT 4291 8870 

$$

WIC055-030045-
/O.CON.KMKX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260403T0045Z/
Jefferson WI-
654 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY...

At 654 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Whitewater, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.

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 dangerous storm will be near...
  Palmyra around 700 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Rome,
Sullivan, Hebron, Ixonia, Helenville, Nws Milwaukee/sullivan, and
Lake Lac La Belle.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid 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 4295 8881 4320 8854 4284 8854 4284 8881
TIME...MOT...LOC 2354Z 224DEG 32KT 4291 8870 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

PATTERSON
080 
WWUS53 KMKX 030009
SVSMKX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
709 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

WIC055-030019-
/O.CAN.KMKX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260403T0045Z/
Jefferson WI-
709 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for south central
and southeastern Wisconsin.

&&

LAT...LON 4295 8881 4320 8854 4284 8854 4284 8881
TIME...MOT...LOC 0007Z 224DEG 32KT 4282 8885 

$$

PATTERSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 2, 11:46 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchMKXKenosha24 hr
Apr 2, 12:52 PM CDTMarine Dense Fog AdvisoryMKX6 hr
Apr 2, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXRock57 min
Apr 2, 5:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXIowa, Lafayette47 min
Apr 2, 6:03 PM CDTTornado WarningMKXJefferson, Rock42 min
Apr 2, 6:07 PM CDTTornado WarningMKXRock38 min
Apr 2, 6:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMKXGreen, Lafayette30 min
Apr 2, 6:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMKXDane, Green, Iowa40 min
Apr 2, 6:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMKXDane, Green, Jefferson, Rock32 min
Apr 2, 6:58 PM CDTTornado WarningMKXRock23 min

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.