Wisconsin, 1999

Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 29, 1999

July 29, 1999 · NWS GRB · 7 events in 5 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms, that developed in response to strong southerly flow at the surface and an upper atmospheric system, moved across northern Wisconsin during the early morning hours. These storms dropped large hail and downed trees across northeast Wisconsin.

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
7

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.

Severe thunderstorms, that developed in response to strong southerly flow at the surface and an upper atmospheric system, moved across northern Wisconsin during the early morning hours. These storms dropped large hail and downed trees across northeast Wisconsin. The most significant damage was on Washington Island (Door county) where strong winds destroyed a barn and a garage, damaged a radio tower and knocked down eight large trees and 40 to 60 smaller ones.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Vilas

When
July 29, 3:20 AM CST
Where
Vilas County, 1 mi N of Sayner
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
46.020, -89.530

Hail, Forest

When
July 29, 3:50 AM CST
Where
Forest County, 5 mi N of Newald
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
45.800, -88.700

Hail, Florence

When
July 29, 3:53 AM CST
Where
Florence County, Long Lake
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.830, -88.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Florence

When
July 29, 4:10 AM CST
Where
Florence County, 7 mi SSE of Spread Eagle
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.780, -88.080

Thunderstorm Wind, Oneida

When
July 29, 4:14 AM CST
Where
Oneida County, 8 mi NE of Lake Tomahawk
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.900, -89.480

Hail, Forest

When
July 29, 4:45 AM CST
Where
Forest County, Nelma
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
46.020, -88.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Door

When
July 29, 5:20 AM CST
Where
Door County, 10 mi NE of Gills Rock
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.380, -86.870

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.
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 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, July 1999

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5711121, 5711120, 5711122, 5711193, 5711123, 5711194, 5711195.