Wisconsin, 1996

Damaging Wind in Wisconsin, May 19, 1996

May 19, 1996 · NWS GRB · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Strong straight line winds with speeds up to 80 mph produced a swath of damage across east central Wood county. The path of damage was up to 3700 feet wide in some areas.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GRB wrote it up.

Strong straight line winds with speeds up to 80 mph produced a swath of damage across east central Wood county. The path of damage was up to 3700 feet wide in some areas. A greenhouse was flattened, barns damaged, part of a roof blown off of a metal building and a parked semi trailer knocked over. In addition, numerous trees were blown over or snapped off.

The radar

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

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wood

When
May 19, 1:35 PM CST
Where
Wood County, 4 mi NE of Wisconsin Rapids
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
44.420, -89.770

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, May 1996

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: 5554138.