Wisconsin, 1998

Tornado and Hail in Wisconsin, March 29, 1998

March 29, 1998 · NWS GRB · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

A large thunderstorm produced wind gusts to 70 mph and a weak tornado across north-central Wisconsin during the evening of March 29. Hundreds of trees were blown down by straight line winds, causing minor roof damage to several structures.

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
$30,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

A large thunderstorm produced wind gusts to 70 mph and a weak tornado across north-central Wisconsin during the evening of March 29. Hundreds of trees were blown down by straight line winds, causing minor roof damage to several structures. The weak tornado damaged several sheds, garages and a pole building west of Tomahawk (Lincoln co.). The storm also downed many power poles, disrupting power to thousands of customers.

The radar

The Green Bay radar (KGRB), 171 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:26 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Lincoln

When
March 29, 7:28 PM CST to 7:35 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Tomahawk to 3 mi N of Tomahawk
Rating
F0
Path length
4.5 mi
Path width
75 yd
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
45.470, -89.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When
March 29, 7:42 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Tomahawk
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
45.470, -89.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Oneida

When
March 29, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Oneida County, Harshaw
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Coordinates
45.670, -89.650

Hail, Lincoln

When
March 29, 7:47 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Tomahawk
Measured
1.25 in hail
Coordinates
45.470, -89.730

Hail, Oneida

When
March 29, 7:57 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where
Oneida County, Rhinelander to 1 mi of Rhinelander
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
45.630, -89.430

What these are

Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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 historyThe tornado archive for Wisconsin, 1998Warnings in Wisconsin, March 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: 5635414, 5635415, 5635416, 5635417, 5635418.