Wisconsin, 2011

Strong Wind in Wisconsin, October 19, 2011

October 19, 2011 · NWS MKX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Rapidly developing low pressure moved across western Ohio and southeast Lower Michigan during the overnight period of October 19th and morning of October 20th. An associated strong pressure gradient produced strong gusty north to northeast winds over Washington, Waukesha and Walworth Counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
$6,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

Rapidly developing low pressure moved across western Ohio and southeast Lower Michigan during the overnight period of October 19th and morning of October 20th. An associated strong pressure gradient produced strong gusty north to northeast winds over Washington, Waukesha and Walworth Counties. Sustained winds reached 30 mph, with estimated gusts up to 45 mph. The persistent strong winds downed weak trees and tree limbs which then snapped power-lines, causing scattered power outages.

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 Oct 19, 2:39 PM CST, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 19, 2:39 PM CST, 1 hour 21 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 19, 3:09 PM CST, 51 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 19, 3:56 PM CST, 4 minutes before
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Local storm report, Oct 19, 3:57 PM CST, 3 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Washington

When
October 19, 4:00 PM CST to 7:53 PM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Waukesha

When
October 19, 4:00 PM CST to 7:53 PM CST
Where
Waukesha forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Walworth

When
October 19, 4:00 PM CST to 7:53 PM CST
Where
Walworth forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
42.669, -88.542 (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

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, October 2011

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: 351841, 351842, 351843.