Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, August 28, 1995

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, August 28, 1995
Start: 1995-08-28T02:33
End: 1995-08-28T21:25
Location: Wisconsin

August 28, 1995 · 39 events in 22 counties and zones

36 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 39 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $436,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Events: 39

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

36 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Price

When: August 28, 2:33 AM CST
Where: Price County, Phillips
Coordinates: 45.680, -90.361 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Price

When: August 28, 2:33 AM CST
Where: Price County, Phillips
Coordinates: 45.680, -90.361 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees up to one foot in diameter were blown down. Some structures received roof damage and a few trees were blown on to houses.

Hail, Price

When: August 28, 2:33 AM CST
Where: Price County, Phillips
Coordinates: 45.680, -90.361 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees up to one foot in diameter were blown down. Some structures received roof damage and a few trees were blown on to houses.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oneida

When: August 28, 2:50 AM CST
Where: Oneida County, Tripoli
Coordinates: 45.706, -89.522 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: August 28, 3:10 AM CST
Where: Lincoln County, Tomahawk
Coordinates: 45.338, -89.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: August 28, 3:40 AM CST
Where: Lincoln County, Merrill
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 45.338, -89.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When: August 28, 3:50 AM CST
Where: Taylor County, Rib Lake
Coordinates: 45.212, -90.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: August 28, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lincoln County, E Merrill
Coordinates: 45.338, -89.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Marathon

When: August 28, 4:05 AM CST
Where: Marathon County, Hamburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 44.898, -89.759 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Marathon

When: August 28, 4:15 AM CST
Where: Marathon County, Wausau
Coordinates: 44.898, -89.759 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: August 28, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Washington County, Germantown
Coordinates: 43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Oconto

When: August 28, 5:30 AM CST
Where: Oconto County, Oconto
Coordinates: 44.999, -88.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Waupaca

When: August 28, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Waupaca County, Waupaca
Coordinates: 44.470, -88.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Green Lake

When: August 28, 6:20 AM CST
Where: Green Lake County, Berlin
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $160,000
Coordinates: 43.800, -89.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Fond du Lac

When: August 28, 6:30 AM CST
Where: Fond du Lac County, Ripen
Coordinates: 43.754, -88.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Winnebago

When: August 28, 6:35 AM CST
Where: Winnebago County, Oshkosh
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph)
Property damage: $175,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 44.069, -88.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Winnebago

When: August 28, 6:52 AM CST
Where: Winnebago County, Oshkosh
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 44.069, -88.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Marquette

When: August 28, 7:20 AM CST
Where: Marquette County, Westfeild
Coordinates: 43.820, -89.399 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: August 28, 7:35 AM CST
Where: Washington County, Kewauskum
Coordinates: 43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Waukesha

When: August 28, 8:28 AM CST
Where: Waukesha County, Hartland
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Milwaukee

When: August 28, 8:30 AM CST
Where: Milwaukee County, River Hills
Coordinates: 43.022, -87.929 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Waukesha

When: August 28, 8:35 AM CST
Where: Waukesha County, Butler
Coordinates: 43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: August 28, 8:35 AM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Watertown
Coordinates: 43.021, -88.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Rock

When: August 28, 8:40 AM CST
Where: Rock County, Milton
Coordinates: 42.671, -89.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Walworth

When: August 28, 8:40 AM CST
Where: Walworth County, Whitewater
Coordinates: 42.669, -88.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Waukesha

When: August 28, 8:40 AM CST
Where: Waukesha County, Muckwanogo
Coordinates: 43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Milwaukee

When: August 28, 8:43 AM CST
Where: Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Airport
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 43.022, -87.929 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: August 28, 8:45 AM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Ft. Atkinson
Coordinates: 43.021, -88.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Walworth

When: August 28, 8:50 AM CST
Where: Walworth County, Elkhorn
Coordinates: 42.669, -88.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Racine

When: August 28, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Racine County, Caledonia
Coordinates: 42.730, -87.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Walworth

When: August 28, 9:10 AM CST
Where: Walworth County, Genoa City
Coordinates: 42.669, -88.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Racine

When: August 28, 9:11 AM CST
Where: Racine County, Racine
Measured: 73 kt (84 mph)
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 42.730, -87.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Kenosha

When: August 28, 9:25 AM CST
Where: Kenosha County, Kenosha
Coordinates: 42.573, -87.840 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A fast moving squall line, originating in Northeast Minnesota, pummled a good part of the eastern two-thirds of Wisconsin with some of the wildest weather seen in 10 years. Feeding on deep tropical moisture, the squall line generated violent winds, hail, lightning, and torrential rainfalls that flooded urban areas. Downed powerlines cut off power to some 140,000 residents at one time or another. In Price County east of Phillips the winds toppled large trees, some which fell on the roofs of homes. Hail up to 1.25 inches in diameter also fell east of Phillips. Large trees were felled west of Tripoli (Oneida County). The powerful winds toppled large trees and/or power lines in Tomahawk, Merrill, and southeast of Merrill, all in Marathon county. Also, two barns were flattened by the intense winds east of Merrill. The violent winds toppled large trees and power lines in Rib Lake (Taylor County). Four inches of rain in one hour resulted in flash flooding which washed out County Highway C south of State Highway 102 near Rib Lake. The extreme winds blew down large trees around Wausau (Marathon County), as well as in Oconto (Oconto County). A lightning strike killed 19 head of cattle near Waupaca (Waupaca County), worth about $30 thousand, as the associated powerful winds blew trees down around Waupaca. Lightning also did some minor fire damage to a home in Hortonville (Outagamie County). Further south, a severe microburst's 75 mph winds did considerable tree and building damage ($160 thousand) in Berlin (Green Lake County). This storm appeared to have developed quickly just north of Berlin, and dumped two inches of rain in just 20 minutes. The storms generated wind gusts to 65 mph as they moved into Winnebago County around Oshkosh. Numerous trees and large limbs were knocked down causing minor damage to 17 homes. Telephone and power lines were also blown down. At the Experimental Aircraft Association museum in Oshkosh a light plane was blown into a window. Lightning strikes did some minor fire damage to a home in Menasha (Winnebago County), and a home in Appleton (Outagamie County). Total damage in Winnebago County was estimated at about $226 thousand. Numerous large tree branches were torn out of trees in Westfield (Marquette County). Powerful winds toppled trees in Ripon (Fond du Lac County) where a home under construction was damaged. Ripon also had urban flooding due to 1.5 inches of rain in less than 30 minutes. Lightning started a fire which damaged a home in Brandon. As the squall line moved south, it's violent winds blew over numerous trees in the Kewauskum/West Bend area, as wells in Germantown, all in Washington County. In this same county, thunderstorm winds blew a barn down north of Allenton. Lightning struck a substation near St. Lawrence, while intense rains of 1.95 inches in less than one hour created urban flooding in West Bend, both in Washington county. In Ozaukee County, urban flooding took place in the Port Washington to Grafton area thanks to 2.25 inches of rain in less than 40 minutes, while lightning damaged a middle school in Port Washington. Further west, the squall line's severe winds toppled large trees in Watertown, and in the city of Jefferson to Fort Atkinson area, all in Jefferson County. Lightning killed eight cows ($11 thousand) on a farm near Cambridge, as well as started a fire which severely damaged a barn northwest of Fort Atkinson, both in Jefferson County. Waukesha County was raked hard as powerful winds toppled many large trees in Butler and Muckwanago, as well as at scattered points in between. Another group of intense wet microbursts tore through Milwaukee County and left a trail of damage over many parts of the the county as winds gusted to at least 60 mph. Hundreds of trees were toppled from River Hills in the north part of Milwaukee County to Oak Creek in the southeast corner. Some schools in the county sustained window damage. Widespread urban flooding was reported throughout the city of Milwaukee. At least 600 basements flooded, as well as numerous underpasses, thanks to rains up to 1.75 inches in 30 minutes. In downtown Milwaukee, the rainfall rate was estimated to be six inches per hour, at one point, although it lasted only a few minutes. Meanwhile, further southwest, violent winds toppled large trees south of Milton (Rock County). Urban flooding was reported in Beloit thanks to the intense rains. Large trees were blown over by powerful winds in Whitewater, around Elkhorn, and in Genoa City, all in Walworth County. A roof was torn off a feeder building in Genoa City, and some siding of a home in Whitewater was ripped off by the thunderstorm winds. The squall line took the shape of a bow echo as it tore through Racine County where hundreds of trees were toppled in the Caledonia to Racine area. Measured gusts at the Racine Yahct Club reached 84 mph as windows were blown out of downtown buildings. Urban flooding occurred in the city of Racine due to the torential rains. A business park in Racine sustained major damage to its buildings. Damage in the City of Racine was estimated at about $100 thousand. A lighting bolt damaged computers in the Racine Department of Transportation Emissions building. As the squall line exited Wisconsin, it's severe winds toppled large trees around a golf course in northeastern Kenosha County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When: August 28, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Grant County, Boscobel
Coordinates: 42.868, -90.706 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Richland

When: August 28, 6:08 PM CST
Where: Richland County, Richland Center
Coordinates: 43.376, -90.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sauk

When: August 28, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Sauk County, Spring Green
Coordinates: 43.427, -89.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Racine

When: August 28, 9:18 PM CST
Where: Racine County, Burlington
Coordinates: 42.730, -87.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Racine

When: August 28, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Racine County, Union Grove
Coordinates: 42.730, -87.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Kenosha

When: August 28, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Kenosha County, Salem
Coordinates: 42.573, -87.840 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Scattered severe thunderstorms moved east across southern Wisconsin during the evening hours of the 28th. Powerful winds knocked over large trees and power lines in Boscobel (Grant County), and Richland Center (Richland County). Another storm developed intense winds which knocked down many large limbs out of trees in the Wisconsin River Valley near Spring Green (Sauk County). This storm weakened as it moved east but re-intensified as it's powerful winds toppled large trees or broke large branches around Burlington and Union in Racine County, and around Salem (Kenosha County).

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 1995 Every state in 1995 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, August 1995

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10357293, 10357331, 10358448, 10357058, 10357317, 10357318, 10357306, 10357319, 10357389, 10357390, 10357577, 10357606, 10357632, 10357994, 10357880, 10357567, 10357568, 10357468, 10357578, 10357618, 10357518, 10357619, 10357947, 10357425, 10357501, 10357620, 10357519, 10357948, 10357502, 10357341, 10357503, 10357342, 10357906, 10357935, 10357353, 10357491, 10357343, 10357344, 10357907.