Wisconsin, 2013

Strong Wind in Wisconsin, April 11, 2013

April 11, 2013 · NWS MKX · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

A wake low developed behind an area of rain showers that moved through the region in the early morning hours of April 11th. There were reports of downed tree branches and scattered power outages due to downed power lines, as well as entire trees being downed by the powerful wind gusts that reached as high as 52 mph (45 knots) at Watertown Airport.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
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  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
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  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
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  • Marine and coastal
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Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$73,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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.

A wake low developed behind an area of rain showers that moved through the region in the early morning hours of April 11th. There were reports of downed tree branches and scattered power outages due to downed power lines, as well as entire trees being downed by the powerful wind gusts that reached as high as 52 mph (45 knots) at Watertown Airport.

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 Apr 10, 8:39 PM CST, 3 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 10, 8:39 PM CST, 3 hours 21 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 10, 8:01 PM CST, 3 hours 59 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 10, 6:02 PM CST, 5 hours 58 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 10, 6:12 PM CST, 5 hours 48 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 10, 6:37 PM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 10, 8:47 PM CST, 3 hours 13 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

10 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Columbia

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Columbia forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.467, -89.334 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Dodge

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Dodge forecast zone
Measured
44 kt (51 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
RAWS
Coordinates
43.416, -88.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Washington

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Measured
38 kt (44 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Ozaukee

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Ozaukee forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.403, -87.891 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Jefferson

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Measured
45 kt (52 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
43.021, -88.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A measured gust to 52 mph (45 knots) was reported by the AWOS at Watertown Airport. The NWS office in Sullivan recorded a peak gust of 51 mph (44 knots).

Strong Wind, Waukesha

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Waukesha forecast zone
Measured
42 kt (48 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$7,000
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Milwaukee

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Milwaukee forecast zone
Measured
42 kt (48 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$12,000
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
43.022, -87.929 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Walworth

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Walworth forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
42.669, -88.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Racine

When
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Racine forecast zone
Measured
41 kt (47 mph) measured 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
April 11, 12:00 AM CST to 2:34 AM CST
Where
Kenosha forecast zone
Measured
38 kt (44 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$4,000
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

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, April 2013

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: 449434, 449435, 449436, 449437, 449439, 449440, 449441, 449442, 449443, 449444.