Strong Wind in Wisconsin, May 5, 2010

Name: Strong Wind in Wisconsin, May 5, 2010
Start: 2010-05-05T13:00
End: 2010-05-05T18:00
Location: Wisconsin

May 5, 2010 · NWS MKX · 20 events in 20 counties and zones

Strong southwest to west winds affected all of south-central and southeast Wisconsin on May 5th. Maximum wind gusts were 39 to 45 knots (45 to 52 mph).

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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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: 3
Property damage: $240,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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 MKX wrote it up.

Strong southwest to west winds affected all of south-central and southeast Wisconsin on May 5th. Maximum wind gusts were 39 to 45 knots (45 to 52 mph). Small trees were knocked down or tree limbs were broken. Some of these fell on power-lines resulting in scattered power outages, especially in the counties of Green Lake and Columbia. The strong winds were generated by a deepening low pressure over Lake Superior moving eastward. The atmosphere mixed all the way up to 8 to 10 thousand feet above the ground which allowed for the mixing down of higher momentum air to the surface. The strong winds affected the nearshore waters of Lake Michigan east of Sheboygan to Kenosha, but no damage was reported.

Three Fitchburg (Dane Co.) police officers were injured (direct injury) when they were hit by an 8-foot-by-8-foot section of wall that was wind-blown off a trailer being used for training purposes. In the Township of Albion (southeast Dane Co.) a man-made debris fire got out of control when the wind pushed the flames onto a nearby barn. The barn and contents were a total loss. Inside the barn were stored 5 boats, 3 classic cars, farm machinery, and tools. The barn and contents loss (estimated at $300,00) would be indirectly related to this strong wind event. Consequently, the $300K in damage is not part of the $240K in property damage listed in the header strip of this strong wind event. Elsewhere, it was assumed that there were at least a couple power-lines down in each county listed in this event (loss of $10K), and damage amounts are estimated.

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 Milwaukee, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 5, 2:31 AM CST, 10 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 5, 2:31 AM CST, 10 hours 29 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
331 AM CDT WED MAY 5 2010

.SHORT TERM...

TODAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...HIGH

POST FRONTAL SHOWERS CURRENTLY ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHERN
WISCONSIN...WITH THE FRONT HAVING JUST MOVED SOUTH OF THE STATE.
HAVE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THROUGH MID MORNING ACROSS THE FAR
SOUTHEAST...AS SHOWERS MAY LINGER. OTHERWISE...EXPECT A GOOD
AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE TODAY AS DRIER AIR FILTERS IN. A QUICK RETURN
TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL PULL MILDER AIR BACK INTO WI. WITH
FAVORABLE SOUTHWEST FLOW AND PLENTY OF HEATING...WENT A BIT ABOVE
GUIDANCE FOR HIGHS. WENT THE HIGHEST ABOVE MODELS NEAR THE
LAKE...AS WINDS WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP ANY LAKE INFLUENCE
OFFSHORE.

THURSDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...HIGH

HIGH PRESSURE WILL PASS THROUGH THE STATE ON THURSDAY...WITH
COOLER TEMPERATURES BEHIND EXITING LOW PRESSURE. HIGHS SHOULD
STILL BE NEAR NORMAL AWAY FROM THE LAKE THOUGH...WITH ONSHORE
WINDS PUSHING THINGS A BIT BELOW NORMAL NEAR THE LAKE.

THURSDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...MEDIUM

THINGS GET A BIT COMPLICATED THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...AS THERE
REMAINS A SPLIT AMONG MODELS WITH THE NEXT SYSTEM. THE GFS
AND CANADIAN CONTINUE TO BE THE QUICKER SOLUTIONS...PUSHING THE
PRECIP THROUGH THE CWA THURSDAY NIGHT. MEANWHILE...THE
NAM/ECMWF/UKMET KEEP MUCH OF SRN WI DRY THROUGH THURSDAY
NIGHT...PARTICULARLY IN THE EAST. IN GENERAL...FAVOR THE SLOWER
SOLUTION...THOUGH COULD NOT IGNORE THE FASTER ONE. OPTED TO CUT
POPS BACK IN THE EAST TO CHANCE FOR THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH LIKELY
TO CATEGORICAL POPS ON FRIDAY. HAVE THE HIGHEST POPS THE FIRST
PART OF FRIDAY...MAINLY AS AN INTERSECT OF THE TWO SOLUTIONS.
REGARDLESS OF TIMING...DOES SEEM LIKE A GOOD SHOT OF RAIN FOR
SOUTHERN WISCONSIN...WITH WIDESPREAD HALF INCH TO INCH AMOUNTS
POSSIBLE. COMPARED TO 80 DEGREES TUESDAY...TEMPERATURES WILL FEEL
A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOW 50S.

LOOKS TO GET A BIT CHILLY FRIDAY NIGHT AS COLDER AIR POURS INTO
THE STATE BEHIND THE LOW. LEFT MENTION OF SNOW MIXING IN ACROSS
THE NORTHWEST CWA AS PRECIP EXITS.

.LONG TERM...

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...MEDIUM

HIGH PRESSURE WILL MORE PLEASANT WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND...WITH
PLENTY OF SUNSHINE AND SLOWLY WARMING TEMPS EXPECTED.

&&

.AVIATION...RADAR TRACKING INDICATES SHOWERS WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE
WILL CLEAR KMKE AROUND 12Z AND KENW AROUND 13Z. DRY AIR WRAPPING
OVER REGION BEHIND FRONT BRINGS BACK EDGE OF VFR CLOUD DECK CLOSE
BEHIND BACK EDGE OF PCPN WITH SKC-SCT060-080 THRU THE LATE MORNING
INTO THE AFTERNOON. DEEP MIXING WITH DRY AIR BRINGS GUSTY WEST WINDS
TO ALL TAF SITES BY MIDDAY...WITH GUSTY NATURE TO WINDS ENDING WITH
SUNSET. LOW LVL RH FCSTS INDICATE STRATUS SPREADING OVER REGION
TONIGHT WITH COLD POOL ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH UPPER TROUGH...BUT
CLOUD HEIGHTS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT VFR LEVELS.

&&

.MARINE...WILL BE ISSUING A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR TODAY AS
FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW DEEP MIXING BRING GUSTY WEST WINDS UP TO
CRITERIA BY MID MORNING IN NRN ZONES CLOSER TO TIGHTER PRESSURE
GRADIENT...AND BY MIDDAY IN THE SOUTH. WILL RUN IT UNTIL 03Z TO
ALLOW NOCTURNAL INVERSION TO BECOME FIRMLY ESTABLISHED AGAINST 29 KT
WINDS AROUND 700 FT ON FCST SOUNDINGS. NEXT SHIFT WILL HAVE TO
ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT TURBULENT MIXING WILL ALLOW SOME TAPPING OF
THESE HIGHER WINDS THAT WILL REQUIRE A LATER END TIME.

&&

.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...NONE.
LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 PM CDT THIS
     EVENING FOR LMZ645-646.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM CDT THIS
     EVENING FOR LMZ643-644.

&&

SHORT/LONG TERM...DDV/07
AVIATION/MARINE...REM/09

Hazardous weather outlook, May 5, 12:35 PM CST, 25 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
135 PM CDT WED MAY 5 2010

WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-060945-
MARQUETTE-GREEN LAKE-FOND DU LAC-SHEBOYGAN-SAUK-COLUMBIA-DODGE-
WASHINGTON-OZAUKEE-IOWA-DANE-JEFFERSON-WAUKESHA-MILWAUKEE-
LAFAYETTE-GREEN-ROCK-WALWORTH-RACINE-KENOSHA-
135 PM CDT WED MAY 5 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN...SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF FROST MAINLY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHTS. SOME
FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT.

LMZ643>646-060945-
SHEBOYGAN TO PORT WASHINGTON WI-
PORT WASHINGTON TO NORTH POINT LIGHT WI-
NORTH POINT LIGHT TO WIND POINT WI-
WIND POINT WI TO WINTHROP HARBOR IL-
135 PM CDT WED MAY 5 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS MAY BE MET AGAIN FRIDAY AND FRIDAY
NIGHT.

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MKX

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Marquette

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Marquette forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.820, -89.399 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Green Lake

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Green Lake forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.800, -89.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Fond du Lac

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Fond du Lac forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.754, -88.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Sheboygan

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sheboygan forecast zone
Measured: 41 kt (47 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.756, -87.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Sauk

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sauk forecast zone
Measured: 41 kt (47 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.427, -89.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Columbia

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Columbia forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.467, -89.334 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Dodge

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Dodge forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.416, -88.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Washington

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Ozaukee

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Ozaukee forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.403, -87.891 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Iowa

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Iowa forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.001, -90.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Dane

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Dane forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.067, -89.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Jefferson

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.021, -88.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Waukesha

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Waukesha forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Milwaukee

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Milwaukee forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.022, -87.929 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Lafayette

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lafayette forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.661, -90.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Green

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Green forecast zone
Measured: 44 kt (51 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.680, -89.602 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Rock

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Rock forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.671, -89.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Walworth

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Walworth forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.669, -88.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Racine

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Racine forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.730, -87.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Kenosha

When: May 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Kenosha forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.573, -87.840 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, May 2010

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: 237388, 237389, 237390, 237394, 237395, 237398, 237399, 237400, 237402, 237404, 237405, 237406, 237409, 237410, 237411, 237413, 237414, 237415, 237416, 237417.