Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Wisconsin, June 12 to 13, 2008

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees and power-lines.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees and power-lines.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across mostly the northeast part of Walworth County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Soem roads were closed. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 23 with minor damage (total of $183 thousand for home losses). There were no business losses. Crop losses were estimated at $4.254 million. Public sector damage was about $342.6 thousand. Some roads and bridges sustained damage.

Powerful, hurricane-force thunderstorms winds knocked down many trees, power-lines, and an old silo. Additionally, part of a roof of a barn was ripped off, a concrete wall of a machine shed was blown in, and 2 semi tractor-trailers were blown over on Interstate-43. Peak wind gusts were estimated at 78 knots (90 mph), but this number could be 9 knots (10 mph) too low or too high.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding from the Cobb to Arena area. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. At least one hundred homes were affected with at least some flooding. Ninty-five homes had minor damage, and 5 homes were destroyed (total of $1.5 million for all home property losses). No business losses were reported. Crops losses were estimated at $500 thousand. Public sector damage was about $1.325 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding from the Darlington area to Yellowstone Lake State Park. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Home damage totaled about $200 thousand. Business damage totaled about $100 thousand. Crop losses totaled about $300 thousand. Public sector damage totaled about $162,160. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees, and two sheds blown down.

Measured 2.5 inches of rain over 2 hours 10 miles west of Poynette.

Powerful thunderstorm winds gusts, measured at 56 knots (65 mph) occurred at the DNR RAWS weather observation site.

Hail ranging from 0.75 to 1.75 inches in diameter was reported just north of Beaver Dam. There were no damage reports, although there could have been, considering the size of the hail stones.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down a few large trees.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of western Fond du Lac County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Manhole covers popped in Ripon. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 1000 minimally affected, 500 with minor damage, 25 with major damage, and 5 destroyed (total of $1 million for home losses). The breakdown for business losses were: 15 with minor damage (total of $50 thousand). Crop losses were estimated at 17 million. Public sector damage was about $1.3 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Hail fell at Lake Como.

This tornado affected only agricultural land and resulted in crop and tree damage as it moved east. This tornado spun up on a creek just northeast of the intersection of Vaugn Road and Engleheart Road, and dissipated about 1/4 mile east of the intersection of STH 33 and Dillman Road. The starting and ending locations, with respect to pairs of lat/long numbers, were 43.56074/-89.12348 and 43.56435/-8901686. Average path width was about 30 yards. DI#28 (TS), DOD2. Wind speed estimated at about 65 knots (75 mph).

This weak, brief tornado lasted less than a minute and resulted in only minor tree damage. It spun up near a creek bounded by CTH S (Friesland Rd.), CTH X, and STH 73, or about 3/4 mile south of the village of Manchester. The starting and ending locations, with respect to lat/long pairs of numbers, were 43.67052/-89.03653 and 43.67038/-89.03166. Average path width was about 10 yards. DI#28 (TS), DOD2. Wind speeds estimated at about 65 knots (75 mph).

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding as water reached depths of 3 feet or more and several cars stalled. This was the 4th of 6 flash floods in Dane County on 3 different days. The first one occurred on June 7th, the next two on June 8th, and the last three on June 12th. In all six cases, damage to homes, businesses, and crops was noted. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown is provided in the last June 12th flash flood StormData entry for Dane County. On June 12th, 2.57 inches of rain fell at Madison Truax Field, breaking the old record rainfall for the date which was 1.20 inches (June 8, 1877).

This weak tornado resulted in only tree damage - of the uprooted and broken branch type. It spun up just southwest of the intersection of CTH C and CTH M, moved northeast and crossed CTH C and then Puddle Dock Road and then dissipated about 1/2 mile northeast of Puddle Dock Road. The starting and ending locations, with respect to lat/long pairs of numbers, were 42.70442/-89.79324 and 42.72338/-89.77464. DI#27 (TH), DOD3. Average path width was about 30 yards.

This weak tornado spun up in the rural area roughly mid-way between New Glarus and Postville, just northeast of Zentner Road about 0.8 miles north-northwest of the intersection of CTH H and Zentner Road. It moved northeast, clipping the northwest part of the city of New Glarus, and exited Green County going through the western edge of the city of Belleville. Luckily only uprooted trees or snapped-off tree damage was noted. This tornado finally dissipated about 2 miles south-southeast of the village of Paoli in south-central Dane County near CTH A. The path length was about 7.84 miles in Green County and 4.41 miles in Dane County, for a total path length of about 12.25 miles. The starting and ending locations in Green County, with respect to lat/long pairs of numbers, were 42.80215/-89.69455 and 42.85690/-89.55898. DI#27 (TH), DOD3. Wind speeds estimated at 83-87 knots (95-100 mph). Average path width in Green County was about 75 yards.

This tornado in south-central Dane County was a continuation of a tornado that spun up mid-way between the city of New Glarus and the village of Postville in northwest Green County. It entered Dane County on the west side of the city of Belleville and then moved northeast through the Lake Belle View area and drossed STH 69 about 1 mile north of the county line, and ultimately dissipated southeast of Basco, near CTH A. Luckily only tree damage occurred - of the uprooted tree or broken tree branch variety. The starting and ending locations in Dane County, with respect to lat/long pairs of numbers, were 42.85690/-89.55898 and 42.90230/-89.49764. DI#27 (TH), DOD3. Wind speed estimated at 83-87 knots (95-100 mph). The average path width in Dane County was about 60 yards.

This weak tornado resulted in only minor tree damage (large branches broken). It spun up near a ridge top just south of Nye Road about 3/4 mile east of CTH D, and moved east-northeast and dissipated about 1/3 mile northeast of the intersection of CTH X and Nye Road near the Sugar River. The starting and ending locations, with respect to lat/long pairs of numbers, were 42.77474/-89.50520 and 42.78138/-89.48163. DI#28 (TS), DOD2. Wind speed estimated at 65 knots (75 mph). Average path width was about 30 yards.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of the northwest half of the county. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Two hundred thirty-nine homes had minor damage, 9 homes had major damage, and 26 were destroyed (total of $7.46 million for all home property losses). Fifty-four businesses had minor damage, and 24 had major damage (total business losses were about $810 thousand. Crops losses were estimated at $15 million). Public sector damage was about $10.3 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across parts of eastern Sheboygan County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Erosion damage was noted at Kohler Andrae State Park. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 30 minimally affected, and 30 with minor damage (total of $148.5 thousand for home losses). There were no business losses. Crop losses were estimated at $300 thousand. Public sector damage was about $253.9 thousand. A couple roads and bridges sustained minor damage.

This weak tornado spun up in a rural area south-southwest of Utica near Tower Drive, and moved northeast and crossed Washington Road about 1/2 mile north of Kaas Road, and dissipated near an old quarry near the intersection of Washington Road and East Church Road. It resulted in only minor tree damage - of the broken tree branch variety. The starting and ending locations, with respect to lat/long pairs of numbers, were 42.92758/-89.14221 and 43.95491/-89.10805. DI#28 (TS), DOD2. Wind speed estimated at about 75 mph.

This weak tornado lasted less than a minute and resulted in only broken tree limbs. It spun up southwest of the intersection of Polk Road and Madison Rd. The starting and ending locations, with respect to lat/long pairs of numbers, were 43.46927/-88.52612 and 43.47016/-88.52494. DI#28 (TS), DOD2. Wind speed estimated at about 75 mph. Average path width about was about 10 yards.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding from the Mequon area northeast to the Belgium to Port Washington area. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. One hundred twenty-seven homes had minor damage, and 191 homes had major damage (total of $3.765 million for all home property losses). Business losses were about $810 thousand. Crops losses were estimated at $500 thousand. Public sector damage was about $1.1 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding as water reached depths of 3 feet or more and several cars stalled. This was the 5th of 6 flash floods in Dane County on 3 different days. The first one occurred on June 7th, the next two on June 8th, and the last three on June 12th. In all six cases, damage to homes, businesses, and crops was noted. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown is provided in the last June 12th flash flood StormData entry for Dane County.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked large branches out of several trees.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding as water reached depths of 3 feet or more and several cars stalled. This was the last of 6 flash floods in Dane County on 3 different days. The first one occurred on June 7th, the next two on June 8th, and the last three on June 12th. In all six cases, damage to homes, businesses, and crops was noted. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown is provided in this last June 12th flash flood StormData entry for Dane County.

Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 2020 minimally affected, 248 with minor damage, 109 with major damage, and 3 destroyed (total of $6.797 million). The breakdown for business losses were: 152 with minor damage, and 3 with major damage (total of $677 thousand). Crop losses were estimated at $64.6 million. Public sector damage was about $6.067 million. Several roads and bridges sustained damage.

Heavy rains led to widespread flash flooding around the city of Fond du Lac. The river flowing through downtown rose out of its banks up to the bridges and most roads were under 2 to 4 feet of water. Several vehciles stalled in the deep water and sustained water damage.

Heavy rains led to flash flooding that generated water levels of 2 to 4 feet deep on many low-lying roads, especially near existing lakes. Several vehicles stalled in the deep water and were damaged. A 68-year-old man left a tavern around 2245 CST and drove into a flooded area. He attempted to walk/swim away from his vehicle and drowned.