Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, August 3, 1997

Two rounds of severe thunderstorms struck southeast and south-central Wisconsin during the evening hours. The first round, consisting of short lines of storms moving southeast, produced scattered reports of damaging, powerful winds uprooting large trees, and large hail up to 3 inches in diameter. Northwest to northeast of Lebanon (Dodge Co.), a wet microburst blanketed the ground like snow with hail up to 1.75 inches in diameter. The accompanying powerful winds twisted and pushed over a cattle trailer, tipped over a corn crib, and shoved a hay wagon into the side of a home which damaged an exterior wall and window. In addition, a hay elevator was damaged and many local trees were uprooted. This microburst also extensively damaged or destroyed several corn fields. Another vicious storm generated damaging winds and large hail southeast of Loganville (Sauk Co.). Two homes sustained window and siding damaged by large hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter, which also damaged many cars. In addition, about 3500 acres of corn and soybean fields were extensively damaged or destroyed. Upstream in Rock Springs (Sauk Co.), measured 60 mph winds accompanied hail up to golf ball size. Also hard hit was southeast Waukesha County where a wet microburst swept across Little Muskego Lake and then raked the south shore of the lake. Destructive winds, estimated at 70 to 80 mph, uprooted many trees on the south shore, flipped over boats, damaged a peer, and tore shingles off roofs, Fallen trees with this storm damaged 4 homes, 2 businesses, and 2 vehicles. Hail up to 1.75 inches in diameter accompanied the Muskego microburst. The second round of scattered severe storms occurred 2 to 3 hours later in the evening. Once again, damaging winds toppeling large trees, and large hail were reported. The northeast 1/3 of Green Lake County was hard hit by a powerful wet macroburst that tore southeast from west of Berlin to southeast of the village of Green Lake. Winds were measured at 70 mph just south of Berlin while visibilities were down to only a few yards in torrential rains. About 105 farms were affected by either property (barns, silos, hog houses) damage, or crop damage (28,000 acres and $5.0 million in damage). Dozens of homes were damaged by felled trees/limbs or hail up to 2 inches in diameter, and dozens of vehicles sustained tree or hail damage. The number of power poles and lines that were downed by the winds and fallen trees was so great that it took utility crews 20 hours to restore power to eastern Green Lake County customers.