Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 5, 2005

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 5, 2005
Start: 2005-06-05T15:56
End: 2005-06-05T17:55
Location: Wisconsin

June 5, 2005 · NWS GRB · 8 events in 6 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed in unstable air ahead of a cold front that moved through eastern Wisconsin during the afternoon and evening hours. ) and produced a funnel cloud north of Gillett.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

Thunderstorms developed in unstable air ahead of a cold front that moved through eastern Wisconsin during the afternoon and evening hours. The storms knocked down a church steeple east of Waupaca (Waupaca co.), downed trees from Manitowish Waters to Winchester (Vilas co.), snapped small trees near Stevens Point (Portage co.), downed trees north of Shawano Lake (Shawano co.) and on state highway 47 in Keshena (Menominee co.) and produced a funnel cloud north of Gillett. Golfball size hail fell north of Stevens Point and quarter size hail still covered the ground there half an hour later.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Green Bay, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 5, 2:30 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 5, 2:30 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
330 PM CDT SUN JUN 5 2005

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND MONDAY.

UPDATED AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION TO INCLUDE TORNADO WATCH #407 FOR
OUR ENTIRE FORECAST AREA UNTIL 9 PM CDT. ZONES WILL BE OUT SHORTLY
TO REFLECT THE NEW TORNADO WATCH.

MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING. RADAR IMAGES FROM KARX SHOWING
STORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. DAMAGING
WINDS IS THE PRIMARY HAZARD ALTHOUGH THE SEVERE WEATHER CHECKLIST ALSO
INDICATED THE POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES ACROSS EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
THIS SEEMS REASONABLE WITH LAKE BREEZE BOUNDARY NEARBY ALTHOUGH 18Z GRB
SOUNDING INDICATING LCL AROUND 5000 FT WHICH COULD LIMIT THE TORNADO
POTENTIAL. SEVERE POTENTIAL WILL BE LIMITED TO THIS EVENING...ALTHOUGH
SECONDARY SHORTWAVE WILL BRING A SECONDARY CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE
REGION ON MONDAY. WENT PARTLY SUNNY AND NEAR GUIDANCE VALUES.

.LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY

CHALLENGING AND ACTIVE PATTERN EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE
WEEK WITH LARGE SCALE TROUGH OVER WESTERN US EJECTING DISTURBANCES
ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY REGION. DUE TO
IMPENDING SEVERE WEATHER AND UNCERTAINTIES WITH THE ONSET OF
PRECIPITATION ON MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...AND WITH FRONTAL POSITIONS
ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...DID NOT ALTER THE LAST MAJOR FORECAST.

.GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 9 PM CDT...
WIZ005...010>013-018>021-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074

&&

ECKBERG/AUSTIN
WEATHER.GOV/GREENBAY

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 5, 4:15 AM CST, 11 hours 41 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
515 AM CDT SUN JUN 5 2005

WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-061015-
VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-NORTHERN MARINETTE-SOUTHERN MARINETTE-
LINCOLN-LANGLADE-MENOMINEE-NORTHERN OCONTO-SOUTHERN OCONTO-DOOR-
MARATHON-SHAWANO-WOOD-PORTAGE-WAUPACA-OUTAGAMIE-BROWN-KEWAUNEE-WAUSHARA-
WINNEBAGO-CALUMET-MANITOWOC-
515 AM CDT SUN JUN 5 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH-CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING.

LINGERING SHOWERS AND CLOUDS THIS MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE WAY TO
PARTIAL SUNSHINE ALLOWING FOR THE DESTABILIZATION OF THE AIR MASS OVER
NORTHEAST AND NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN ONCE AGAIN.  AN APPROACHING COLD
FRONT AND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE IS EXPECTED TO KICK OFF MORE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS.
WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS ARE ANTICIPATED WITH THESE STORMS. A FEW
TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH NEXT SATURDAY

THE WEATHER PATTERN WILL REMAIN UNSETTLED FROM TUESDAY THROUGH NEXT
THURSDAY WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING MOST OF THE TIME PERIOD.
AT THIS TIME...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER TUESDAY NIGHT
INTO WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

LMZ521-522-541>543-564-061015-
THE BAY OF GREEN BAY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND
PASSAGE-LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON ISLAND TO SHEBOYGAN-THE ADJOINING
WISCONSIN WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN OUT TO MID-LAKE-
515 AM CDT SUN JUN 5 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WATERS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN BAY OF GREEN BAY AND LAKE MICHIGAN FROM ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE
TO SHEBOYGAN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE ARE EXPECTED TO
KICK OFF MORE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE
INTO THE EVENING HOURS. WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS ARE ANTICIPATED WITH
THESE STORMS. A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

FOG IS LIKELY THROUGH TONIGHT WITH VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN A MILE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH NEXT SATURDAY

THE WEATHER PATTERN WILL REMAIN UNSETTLED FROM TUESDAY THROUGH NEXT
THURSDAY WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING MOST OF THE TIME PERIOD.
AT THIS TIME...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER TUESDAY NIGHT
INTO WEDNESDAY.

TE/BRUSKY
WEATHER.GOV/GREENBAY

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 5, 12:00 PM CST, 3 hours 56 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
100 PM CDT SUN JUN 5 2005

WIZ005-010-018-030-035-036-060000-
VILAS-ONEIDA-LINCOLN-MARATHON-WOOD-PORTAGE-
INCLUDING EAGLE RIVER...RHINELANDER...TOMAHAWK...WAUSAU...WISCONSIN
RAPIDS AND STEVENS POINT
100 PM CDT SUN JUN 5 2005

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...VILAS...ONEIDA...LINCOLN...MARATHON...
WOOD AND PORTAGE COUNTIES.

ECKBERG
WEATHER.GOV/GREENBAY

Special weather statement, Jun 5, 2:40 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
340 PM CDT SUN JUN 5 2005

WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-052300-
VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-NORTHERN MARINETTE-SOUTHERN MARINETTE-
LINCOLN-LANGLADE-MENOMINEE-NORTHERN OCONTO-SOUTHERN OCONTO-DOOR-
MARATHON-SHAWANO-WOOD-PORTAGE-WAUPACA-OUTAGAMIE-BROWN-KEWAUNEE-WAUSHARA-
WINNEBAGO-CALUMET-MANITOWOC-
340 PM CDT SUN JUN 5 2005

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT...

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 407 IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL...NORTH-CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN UNTIL 9 PM.

THIS WATCH REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR
A PORTION OF NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO RAPIDLY DEVELOP DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON.
 STORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY.  TORNADOES ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE.  MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR
YOUR AREA.

JKL
WEATHER.GOV/GREENBAY

The radar

The Marquette radar (KMQT), 185 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:54 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Vilas

When: June 5, 3:56 PM CST to 4:01 PM CST
Where: Vilas County, Manitowish Waters
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 46.133, -89.883

Thunderstorm Wind, Portage

When: June 5, 3:57 PM CST
Where: Portage County, 1 mi NW of Stevens Pt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 44.533, -89.583

Hail, Portage

When: June 5, 3:57 PM CST to 4:01 PM CST
Where: Portage County, 1 mi N of Stevens Pt
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 44.533, -89.567

Thunderstorm Wind, Waupaca

When: June 5, 4:35 PM CST to 4:36 PM CST
Where: Waupaca County, Waupaca
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.350, -89.067

Thunderstorm Wind, Menominee (C)

When: June 5, 5:25 PM CST
Where: Menominee (C) County, Keshena
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 44.883, -88.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Shawano

When: June 5, 5:27 PM CST
Where: Shawano County, 6 mi ENE of Shawano
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.800, -88.483

Thunderstorm Wind, Oconto

When: June 5, 5:53 PM CST
Where: Oconto County, Mountain
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 45.183, -88.483

Funnel Cloud, Oconto

When: June 5, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Oconto County, 3 mi N of Gillett
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 44.999, -88.221 (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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, June 2005

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: 5458105, 5458104, 5458106, 5458107, 5458108, 5458109, 5458110, 5458111.