High Wind, Jefferson
- When
- April 6, 8:30 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jefferson forecast zone
- Measured
- 63 kt (72 mph)
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Coordinates
- 43.021, -88.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind in Wisconsin, April 6, 1997
Strong gradient winds, enhanced by higher gusts associated with snow showers, resulted in periods of high winds across the county. Wind damage was noted across different parts of the county.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $100,000
- 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 MKX wrote it up.
Strong gradient winds, enhanced by higher gusts associated with snow showers, resulted in periods of high winds across the county. Wind damage was noted across different parts of the county. The high winds were estimated to be gusting in the 60 to 75 mph range. At the Watertown Airport, a peak gust of 73 mph was clocked at 1250 CST. The NWS Forecast Office near Sullivan had a measured gust of 63 mph at 1700 CST. At the Palmyra Airport around 1400 CST, the high winds completely demolished two hangers under construction, and damaged 3 others. An airplane and pickup truck at this airport were also damaged by flying debris. The Fort Atkinson area was periodically raked by the high winds which blew over large trees, some which damaged nearby homes. It was the same story in and around the city of Jefferson where large trees were toppled, and some damage was noted to TV antennas and business signs. Many other communities in this county also reported large trees blown down.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- High Wind in Wisconsin, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in Wisconsin, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in Iowa, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in Michigan, April 6 to 7, 1997
- High Wind in Iowa, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in Michigan, April 6 to 7, 1997
- High Wind in Illinois, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in South Dakota, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in Wisconsin, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in Wisconsin, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in Wisconsin, April 6, 1997
- High Wind in Wisconsin, April 6, 1997
More
Every storm in Wisconsin in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, April 1997
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: 5593885.