Wisconsin, 1998

Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, August 14, 1998

August 14, 1998 · NWS GRB · 6 events in 4 counties and zones

Several thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds over northern and east-central Wisconsin. The strongest storm hit northern Winnebago and Calumet counties, where wind gusts near 70 mph and large hail occurred.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
None recorded
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 GRB wrote it up.

Several thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds over northern and east-central Wisconsin. The strongest storm hit northern Winnebago and Calumet counties, where wind gusts near 70 mph and large hail occurred. Seven 40-foot-tall power distribution poles were blown over near near Menasha (Winnebago co.). The strong winds also blew down trees and power lines around Menasha. On Doty Island, near Neenah (Winnebago co.), several trees fell onto homes.

The radar

The Marquette radar (KMQT), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Hail, Vilas

When
August 14, 1:20 PM CST
Where
Vilas County, Phelps
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
46.070, -89.080

Thunderstorm Wind, Marinette

When
August 14, 2:50 PM CST
Where
Marinette County, Goodman
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
45.630, -88.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Winnebago

When
August 14, 3:38 PM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where
Winnebago County, Menasha to 2 mi E of Neenah
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
44.220, -88.480

Hail, Winnebago

When
August 14, 3:40 PM CST
Where
Winnebago County, Menasha
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
44.200, -88.450

Hail, Calumet

When
August 14, 3:52 PM CST
Where
Calumet County, Appleton
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.270, -88.400

Hail, Calumet

When
August 14, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Calumet County, 3 mi S of Sherwood
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
44.130, -88.270

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, August 1998

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: 5665404, 5665405, 5665406, 5665407, 5665408, 5665482.