Wisconsin, 1997

Lightning Strikes and Heavy Rain in Wisconsin, July 20 to 21, 1997

July 20 to 21, 1997 · NWS MKX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

3 lightning, 1 heavy rain, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
$222,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 19 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:31 UTC.

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Event by event

3 lightning, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Jefferson

When
July 20, 1:30 AM CST
Where
Jefferson County, Waterloo
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
43.021, -88.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A bolt of lightning struck a home, starting a fire that made the upper story unlivable until repair.

Heavy Rain, Kenosha

When
July 21, 1:50 AM CST to 3:50 AM CST
Where
Kenosha County, Kenosha
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
42.573, -87.840 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rains in excess of two inches over two hours caused partial collapse of a warehouse roof.

Lightning, Waukesha

When
July 21, 2:05 AM CST
Where
Waukesha County, Pewaukee
Property damage
$12,000
Coordinates
43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck two homes . One sustained a 2' by 2' hole in the roof, followed by burned holes in the ceiling and floors and damage to personal property. The second home had a burned wall, fan burned, and T.V. blew out.

Lightning, Washington

When
July 21, 5:45 AM CST
Where
Washington County, West Bend
Property damage
$150,000
Coordinates
43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a business building and ignited an attic fire. Walls needed to reinforced and much of the business equipment was ruined.

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, July 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: 5612376, 5612377, 5612379, 5612378.