Wisconsin, 1997

Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Wisconsin, September 18, 1997

September 18, 1997 · NWS MKX · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms with severe winds toppled large trees southeast of Oakfield and in Taycheedah, both in Fond du Lac county. In addition, associated lightning knocked out a power transformer in the city of Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac Co), leaving 2200 customers without electricity.

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

Scattered thunderstorms with severe winds toppled large trees southeast of Oakfield and in Taycheedah, both in Fond du Lac county. In addition, associated lightning knocked out a power transformer in the city of Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac Co), leaving 2200 customers without electricity. Elsewhere in the city of Fond du Lac, lightning was responsible for starting a garage fire at one residence ($4,000) and damaging appliances in another home. The thunderstorms pushed east into Sheboygan county where lightning hit and splintered a tree next to a home in Plymouth. The lightning then jumped to the home's wires and blew out a TV and a personal computer.

The radar

The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:31 UTC.

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Event by event

4 lightning, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fond du Lac

When
September 18, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Fond du Lac County, 2 mi SE of Oakfield
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
43.670, -88.520

Lightning, Fond du Lac

When
September 18, 6:40 PM CST
Where
Fond du Lac County, Fond du Lac
Property damage
$4,000
Coordinates
43.754, -88.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Fond du Lac

When
September 18, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Fond du Lac County, Taycheedah
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
43.800, -88.400

Lightning, Fond du Lac

When
September 18, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Fond du Lac County, Fond du Lac
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
43.754, -88.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Sheboygan

When
September 18, 7:35 PM CST
Where
Sheboygan County, Plymouth
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
43.756, -87.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Fond du Lac

When
September 18, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Fond du Lac County, Fond du Lac
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
43.754, -88.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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, September 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: 5616540, 5616543, 5616541, 5616545, 5616542, 5616544.