A broken line of severe storms developed in an unstable air mass ahead of an advancing cold front. The storms produced large hail and damaging wind gusts, at times in excess of 70 mph.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GRB wrote it up.
A broken line of severe storms developed in an unstable air mass ahead of an advancing cold front. The storms produced large hail and damaging wind gusts, at times in excess of 70 mph.
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 Aug 21, 1:10 PM CST, 3 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 210 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR ROUTINE AFTERNOON FORECAST ISSUANCE .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND THURSDAY ISSUED AT 206 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 LATEST RUC ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE/RADAR IMAGERY SHOW A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVING OVER THE FAR WESTERN UPPER PENINSULA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. MOISTURE CONVERGENCE ALONG THE FRONT LOOKS GOOD...AND ML CAPES ARE BUILDING BETWEEN 2K-3K J/KG AHEAD OF THE BOUNDARY. RETURNS ON RADAR ARE PICKING UP ALONG THE FRONT AS INHIBITION ERODES BELOW 50 J/KG. WITH 0-6KM BULK SHEAR VALUES AROUND 25-30 KTS...CONDITIONS REMAIN CONDUCIVE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THE NSSL WRF SEEMS TO BE DOING THE BEST OUT OF THE MESOMODELS...AND SHOWS CONVECTION RAMPING UP IN A LINEAR FASHION BETWEEN 19-21Z. BY THE END OF THIS PERIOD...CONVECTION WILL BE MOVING INTO N-C WISCONSIN BEFORE PROGRESSING INTO CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN BY 00Z. STILL LOOKING AT MULTI-CELLS AND SMALL BOWING SEGMENTS AS THE STORM MODE...WHICH WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. ANOTHER WRINKLE IS THE WEAK LITTLE SHORTWAVE OVER SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. THE RUC TAKES THIS FEATURE INTO SW WISCONSIN THIS EVENING...AND NOT SURE HOW MUCH THIS WILL IMPACT THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE FRONT. SEVERE WEATHER IS THE OBVIOUS FORECAST CONCERN. TONIGHT...SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING ACROSS ONTARIO WILL PUSH A COLD FRONT SOUTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN THIS EVENING. SOUTH SOUTHWEST FLOW AHEAD OF THE FRONT WITH PWATS UPWARDS OF 1.75 INCHES WILL PREVENT TEMPS FROM FALLING TOO FAST THIS EVENING...WHICH SHOULD PROLONG THE SEVERE THREAT UNTIL THE FRONT CLEARS THE AREA. BECAUSE INSTABILITY WILL BE DECREASING...THE LARGE HAIL THREAT WILL DIMINISH AS WELL THROUGH THE EVENING. BUT THINK THERE IS ENOUGH POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS TO REACH EAST-CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. PRECIP WILL BE EXITING EAST-CENTRAL EARLY OVERNIGHT AS MUCH DRIER AIR WILL FILTER SOUTH BEHIND THE FRONT. TEMPS WILL BE A LITTLE SLOWER TO COOL OFF...BUT LOWS SHOULD STILL FALL INTO THE LOWER OR MIDDLE 50S NORTH...BUT HANG IN THE MID 60S SOUTH. THURSDAY...THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE TO THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES BY THE START OF THE PERIOD WHILE CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE BUILDING SOUTHEAST FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS. THIS AIRMASS WILL BE COOLER AND SIGNIFICANTLY LESS HUMID THAN THE ONE IT REPLACED. UNDER PLENTY OF SUN...HIGH TEMPS WILL REACH FROM THE MID 70S NORTH TO THE LOW 80S SOUTH. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY ISSUED AT 206 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 PATTERN TO BECOME RATHER AMPLIFIED AS MOVE THROUGH THIS PERIOD AS UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE CENTRAL US...INTO WESTERN LAKES. MODELS HAVE GOOD CONTINUITY IN BIG PICTURE...BUT TEND TO DIFFER IN CONVECTIVE DETAILS SUN ONWARD. MAIN ISSUE WILL BE HEAT LATER PERIODS. ILL-DEFINED WARM FRONT EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTH INTO/THROUGH STATE SUN. 850 MB TEMPS EXPECTED TO WARM SAT ONWARD HITTING 20C EARLY IN WORK WEEK. IF MODELS SOUNDINGS CORRECT...WOULD MIX UP TO THAT LEVEL YIELDING TEMPS AROUND 90 NEXT MON THROUGH WED. QUESTION IS EFFECTS OF CLOUDS AND PCPN. LIKELY TO BE ON EDGE OF CAP WITH CONVECTION NEAR OR OVER REGION. HAVE TRENDED HIGHER POPS OVER NORTHERN WI WHERE ECMWF LINGERS FRONT. HAVE USED BEST PERFORMING BLEND FOR TEMPS...BUMPING THEM UP A DEGREE TO LESSEN CLIMO BIAS. EARLY PERIODS/THU NIGHT INTO FRI NIGHT/PLEASANT WITH COOLER HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE OVER REGION. CLEAR SKIES AND DRY CONDITIONS TO LEAD TO COOLER NIGHTS AND MILD DAYS. HAVE SLOWED APPROACH OF PCPN SAT GIVEN MODEL TRENDS. && .AVIATION...FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 1210 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 MAINLY VFR WEATHER EXPECTED TODAY UNTIL A COLD FRONT ARRIVES IN NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS AND MOVES ACROSS THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE BY EARLY EVENING. IT WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEF IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES. THE FRONT WILL EXIT TONIGHT WITH CLEARING EXPECTED BY THURSDAY MORNING. GOOD FLYING WEATHER IS EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM.....MPC LONG TERM......TE AVIATION.......MPC
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 248 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-222000- VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-NORTHERN MARINETTE-LINCOLN-LANGLADE- MENOMINEE-NORTHERN OCONTO-DOOR-MARATHON-SHAWANO-WOOD-PORTAGE- WAUPACA-OUTAGAMIE-BROWN-KEWAUNEE-WAUSHARA-WINNEBAGO-CALUMET- MANITOWOC-SOUTHERN MARINETTE-SOUTHERN OCONTO- 248 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. STORMS WILL MOVE OVER NORTH- CENTRAL WISCONSIN THIS AFTERNOON...AND THEN MOVE INTO NORTHEAST WISCONSIN AND THE FOX VALLEY EARLY THIS EVENING. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE GREATEST THREATS. IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...HEAT INDICES WILL CLIMB INTO THE 90S OVER MOST OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN THIS AFTERNOON...WITH A FEW PLACES APPROACHING 100. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND INTO THE MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK. IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE IF ANY OF THESE STORMS WOULD BECOME SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LMZ521-522-541>543-222000- THE BAY OF GREEN BAY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON ISLAND TO SHEBOYGAN- 248 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE WATERS OF GREEN BAY. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT GUSTY SOUTH WINDS AND LARGE WAVES MAY BE A HAZARD TO SMALL CRAFT IN THE LAKE MICHIGAN NEAR SHORE WATERS NORTH OF STURGEON BAY THROUGH THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION...STRONG OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND AND INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE IF ANY OF THESE STORMS WOULD BECOME SEVERE. MPC/TE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 230 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 WIZ005-010>012-018-019-212045- VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-LINCOLN-LANGLADE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...EAGLE RIVER...RHINELANDER...CRANDON... TOMAHAWK...ANTIGO 230 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 ...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN AND WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN THIS AFTERNOON... STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED ACROSS ASHLAND AND BAYFIELD COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...AND ACROSS FAR WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN THIS AFTERNOON. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MPH. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN BETWEEN 3 PM AND 6 PM. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. BOATERS AND CAMPERS SHOULD CONSIDER SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THE STORMS PASS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM. ECKBERG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 301 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 WIZ005-010>012-018-019-212215- VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-LINCOLN-LANGLADE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...EAGLE RIVER...RHINELANDER...CRANDON... TOMAHAWK...ANTIGO 301 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 ...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN AND WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN THIS AFTERNOON... STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED ACROSS ASHLAND AND BAYFIELD COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...AND ACROSS FAR WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN THIS AFTERNOON. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MPH. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REACH WINCHESTER BY 345 PM CDT...AND BOULDER JUNCTION AND LAC DU FLAMBEAU BY 430 PM CDT. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. BOATERS AND CAMPERS SHOULD CONSIDER SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THE STORMS PASS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM. WOLF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
459 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0454 PM HAIL EAGLE RIVER 45.91N 89.25W
08/21/2013 M0.50 INCH VILAS WI LAW ENFORCEMENT
DIME SIZE HAIL
0454 PM TSTM WND GST EAGLE RIVER 45.91N 89.25W
08/21/2013 M38 MPH VILAS WI LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
ASHLEYWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 459 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 WIZ005-010-011-212300- FOREST-ONEIDA-VILAS- 459 PM CDT WED AUG 21 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EASTERN VILAS COUNTY... AT 454 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EAST CENTRAL VILAS COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE...ALONG WITH HALF INCH HAIL. ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. * THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... PHELPS BY 510 PM CDT... SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. ECKBERG/BERSCH
The Marquette radar (KMQT), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:09 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 lightning, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported 1.00 inch diameter hail at Lost Lake or approximately 4 miles East-Southeast of the town of Tipler.
A trained spotter reported 1.00 inch diameter hail near the town of Argonne. The report was received via local television station WSAW-TV.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees 10 miles northwest of Merrill.
A thunderstorm wind gust in excess of 60 mph knocked down numerous trees near Athelstane.
A trained spotter reported trees down in the town of Wagner.
A trained spotter reported an estimated 60 mph wind gust 3 miles NE of the town of Lena.
A severe thunderstorm with estimated winds of 85 to 95 mph, caused damage to trees and two houses in Gresham. Both houses lost portions of the roof deck, in addition to several dozen trees on the property.
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees west of Shawano.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down power lines and tree branches near Baileys Harbor.
Thunderstorm winds either uprooted or snapped many trees in Shawano.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Keshena. One tree fell onto a car and killed a 39 year old woman.
A trained spotter reported trees down on 14th Street in Clintonville. Time of event was estimated based on radar data.
A trained spotter reported a thunderstorm wind gust estimated at 70 mph.
A lightning strike sparked a fire which destroyed a duplex on Wausau's east side. No one was injured in the blaze. The time of this event was estimated based on news reports and radar data.
A funnel cloud was spotted by local fire department personnel in Bonduel.
Thunderstorm winds, estimated at 80 mph, took down several trees, numerous large limbs and blew off pieces of siding and shingles of several houses on the west side of Green Bay.
A thunderstorm wind gust of 62 mph was recorded at Austin Straubel Airport on the southwest side of Green Bay.
A trained weather spotter reported 1.00 inch diameter hail at the intersection of Highway 441 and East College Avenue.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 65 mph, knocked down several trees and tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds downed powerlines at the intersection of County Highway C and County Highway H.
Thunderstorm winds uprooted several 3 to 4 foot diameter trees.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Menominee (C) | 2013-08-21 | 39 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, August 2013
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: 470435, 470437, 470447, 470448, 470450, 470467, 470453, 470455, 470456, 470458, 470468, 470459, 470469, 470569, 470434, 470460, 470470, 470442, 470463, 470465, 470466.