Wisconsin, 1998

Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 26 to 27, 1998

June 26 to 27, 1998 · NWS GRB · 12 events in 7 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms moved across central Wisconsin yet again, this time producing wind gusts to 60 mph and flooding rains. ).

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
$26,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
12

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.

Scattered thunderstorms moved across central Wisconsin yet again, this time producing wind gusts to 60 mph and flooding rains. The strong winds knocked trees down onto roofs of homes in Nekoosa (Wood co.). The storms also dumped heavy rain on top of saturated ground, producing some local flooding in Wood and Portage counties. Campers in North Wood County Park had to be moved the night of the 26th because of rising waters. Numerous roads were flooded in southern Outagamie county from the heavy rains, and Mud Creek went over its banks, scattering logs and debris for 50 yards on each side of the stream. Lightning hit a home in Antigo (Langlade co.) leaving several small burn marks across the entire exterior of the house and melting wires within the home. Lightning struck a house in Kiel (Manitowoc co.), causing $20,000 in damage to walls and the electrical system. A little later in the morning, a thunderstorm over Waupaca county produced lightning which hit a house in Fremont, causing a small fire. Another storm in the county produced lightning that struck a hay barn in Iola.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 4 lightning, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marathon

When
June 26, 11:30 PM CST
Where
Marathon County, 10 mi E of Wausau
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.970, -89.430

Thunderstorm Wind, Outagamie

When
June 26, 11:30 PM CST
Where
Outagamie County, 2 mi NW of Appleton
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.280, -88.430

Lightning, Langlade

When
June 26, 11:35 PM CST
Where
Langlade County, Antigo
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
45.262, -89.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Wood

When
June 27, 12:18 AM CST
Where
Wood County, 2 mi S of Babock
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.270, -90.130

Flash Flood, Portage

When
June 27, 12:30 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Portage County, North Portion
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.476, -89.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Outagamie

When
June 27, 12:30 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Outagamie County, South Portion
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.416, -88.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Wood

When
June 27, 12:38 AM CST
Where
Wood County, Nekoosa
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.320, -89.900

Flash Flood, Wood

When
June 27, 12:45 AM CST to 2:45 AM CST
Where
Wood County, North Portion
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.455, -90.042 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Portage

When
June 27, 1:10 AM CST
Where
Portage County, 5 mi W of Stevens Pt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.520, -89.670

Lightning, Manitowoc

When
June 27, 4:15 AM CST
Where
Manitowoc County, Kiel
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.091, -87.700 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Waupaca

When
June 27, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Waupaca County, Fremont
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.470, -88.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Waupaca

When
June 27, 7:15 AM CST
Where
Waupaca County, Iola
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.470, -88.965 (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.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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, June 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: 5650079, 5650087, 5650088, 5650080, 5650084, 5650085, 5650081, 5650083, 5650082, 5650086, 5650350, 5650351.