Another round of severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging straight-line winds affected parts of central and northeast Wisconsin during the afternoon of August 2nd. The most intense storms developed near a surface boundary that stretched from Wausau to Green Bay early in the afternoon.
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.
Another round of severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging straight-line winds affected parts of central and northeast Wisconsin during the afternoon of August 2nd. The most intense storms developed near a surface boundary that stretched from Wausau to Green Bay early in the afternoon.
Some of the first severe storms of the event developed just north of Green Bay, over parts of Oconto County and Marinette County, and produced hail in excess of three inches in diameter. These storms were part of a larger line of storms that raced eastward across the waters of Green Bay, causing widespread wind damage and knocking out power across much of Door County.
Additional storms developed westward toward the Wausau area. These storms moved southeast during the late afternoon and produced large hail and damaging winds from Marathon and Wood counties east to Lake Michigan.
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 2, 11:43 AM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 1243 PM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015 UPDATED AVIATION PORTION FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE .SHORT TERM...TODAY...TONIGHT...AND MONDAY ISSUED AT 254 AM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015 AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT FORMED ALONG AN AREA OF 1 TO 3 KM MOISTURE CONVERGENCE WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK EAST THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. ANOTHER AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...ASSOCIATED WITH A SHORTWAVE AND SEEN ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY OVER NORTHERN MINNESOTA...WILL TRACK THROUGH THE NORTHERN CWA LATER THIS MORNING. THE MAIN SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL THEN TRACK THROUGH LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THIS EVENING...COINCIDENT WITH A SURFACE COLD FRONT. THESE FEATURES WILL BRING SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRECIPITATION ACROSS NORTHEAST WISCONSIN THROUGH TONIGHT. EXACT PLACEMENT AND TIMING OF THESE ROUNDS IS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC...HOWEVER THE HI-RES MODEL RUNS DO OFFER SOME GUIDANCE IN THIS REGARD AS THEY HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON CURRENT ACTIVITY TRACKING THROUGH THE AREA. ONCE THE MAIN SHORTWAVE TRACKS OFF TO THE NORTH THIS MORNING THERE IS A BREAK IN THE ACTIVITY LATER THIS MORNING AND INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON BEFORE THE MAIN SHORTWAVE AND COLD FRONT ARRIVE. THEREFORE WILL MODEL THE POPS AFTER THESE RUNS AND ADJUST AS NECESSARY AS THE DAY GOES ON. ANY CONVECTION THAT DOES FIRE STANDS A CHANCE AT BEING SEVERE AS MUCAPES SOAR TO 2000 TO 4000 J/KG THIS AFTERNOON WITH 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR VALUES OF 40 TO 50 KNOTS...SUGGESTING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS COULD BE A THREAT. CLOSER INSPECTION OF LOW LEVEL HODOGRAPHS SHOW SIGNIFICANT WIND SHEAR...WHICH MEANS TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FOR ANY SURFACE BASED STORMS. THESE FACTORS HAVE LED TO AN UPGRADE OF THE SOUTHERN CWA TO THE ENHANCED RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER PER THE SPC DAY 1 OUTLOOK...WHICH LOOKS REASONABLE GIVEN THE FACTORS IN PLAY THIS AFTERNOON WITH BETTER CAPE AND SHEAR ACROSS THAT PORTION OF THE CWA. ALTHOUGH THE MAIN CONVECTIVE MODE APPEARS TO BE AN MCS...SUPERCELLS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE FORMING INTO A LARGE MCS. DESPITE THE ABUNDANT CHANCES FOR RAIN...HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY COULD GET TO 90 DEGREES ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHERN CWA AS 850 MB TEMPERATURES SOAR TO AROUND 20 DEGREES CELSIUS. ANY BREAK IN THIS ACTIVITY AND TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON WILL SOAR. FURTHER NORTH THERE APPEARS LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR AN APPRECIABLE BREAK IN THE ACTION. THIS WHEN COMBINED WITH LOWER 850 MB TEMPERATURES IN THE MIDDLE TEENS SHOULD LIMIT HIGHS TO AROUND 80 DEGREES. HIGHS TODAY COULD GO EITHER WAY GIVEN THE MANY COMPLICATING FACTORS IN PLAY...WITH BREAKS IN THE ACTIVITY LEADING TO HIGHER TEMPS AND MORE CLOUD COVER AND ACTIVITY LEADING TO LOWER HIGH TEMPERATURES. TEMPERATURES WILL BE MUCH COOLER ON MONDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM THE UPPER 60S ACROSS FAR NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN...TO THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 70S ACROSS CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. SOME SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTH ON MONDAY...AS A SHORTWAVE AIDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTABILITY SHOWERS. CHANCES FOR THIS LOOK FAIRLY LOW HOWEVER...WITH POPS IN THE SLIGHT CHANCE CATEGORY. .LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY ISSUED AT 254 AM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015 THE UPPER AIR PATTERN CONSISTING OF RIDGING OVER THE ROCKIES AND AN UPPER LOW FROM HUDSON BAY TO THE GREAT LAKES WILL SLOWLY TRANSLATE EAST DURING THE UPCOMING WORK WEEK. THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE LARGE SCALE THROUGH 00Z FRI BEFORE DIVERGING. THE ECMWF CONTINUES TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE ENSEMBLE MEANS...AND WILL GIVE MORE WEIGHT TO ITS SOLUTION. MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...MODELS ARE SHOWING A DEEPER TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES THAN PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED DURING THIS PERIOD. THE CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT WILL BRING PERIODS OF CLOUDS OVERHEAD...WITH SOME ENHANCEMENT DURING DAYTIME HEATING TUESDAY AFTERNOON. PROGGED SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO LOOK CAPPED DURING THIS STRETCH...BUT BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS PRODUCE LIGHT QPF ACROSS FAR NORTHERN WISCONSIN. WILL KEEP THE SMALL CHANCE TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN THIS AREA...BUT IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING TO SEE SPOTTY SHOWERS OCCUR MONDAY OR TUESDAY NIGHTS. HIGHS ON TUESDAY WILL FALL BACK INTO THE UPPER 60S NORTH TO MID 70S SOUTH. REST OF THE FORECAST...THE UPPER LOW BEGINS TO LIFT OFF INTO QUEBEC ON WEDNESDAY LEADING TO A REBOUND OF MID-LEVEL HEIGHTS. BUT MODELS ADVERTISE WEAK SHORTWAVE IMPULSES DIVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TO THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. THE GFS IS MOST AGGRESSIVE BRINGING LOW PRESSURE INTO THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES ON THURSDAY...BUT THIS LOOKS TO BE A BYPRODUCT OF CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK. WITH THE FRONT WELL SOUTH OF THE REGION...THINK PRECIP CHANCES ARE TOO LOW TO MENTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE LOOKS TO BUILD INTO THE REGION FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...POTENTIALLY PROLONGING THE DRY CONDITIONS. PERHAPS THE NEXT CHANCE OF PRECIP COULD OCCUR BY THE END OF NEXT WEEKEND. && .AVIATION...FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 1243 PM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015 SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS WISCONSIN. THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED OTHERWISE. SKIES SHOULD CLEAR OVERNIGHT AND REMAIN MOSTLY CLEAR THROUGH 15Z MONDAY. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL PRODUCE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND CLOUDS BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 FEET MONDAY AFTERNOON. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM.....KURIMSKI LONG TERM......MPC AVIATION.......RDM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 304 AM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-030815- VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-NORTHERN MARINETTE COUNTY-LINCOLN- LANGLADE-MENOMINEE-NORTHERN OCONTO COUNTY-DOOR-MARATHON-SHAWANO- WOOD-PORTAGE-WAUPACA-OUTAGAMIE-BROWN-KEWAUNEE-WAUSHARA-WINNEBAGO- CALUMET-MANITOWOC-SOUTHERN MARINETTE COUNTY- SOUTHERN OCONTO COUNTY- 304 AM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND THIS EVENING AS A COLD FRONT SWEEPS THROUGH THE REGION. THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...WITH A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN. DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH ALONG WITH LARGE HAIL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE THE MAIN THREATS ALONG WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. LMZ521-522-541>543-030815- THE BAY OF GREEN BAY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON ISLAND TO SHEBOYGAN- 304 AM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE WATERS OF GREEN BAY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND THIS EVENING AS A COLD FRONT SWEEPS THROUGH THE REGION. THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH OF STURGEON BAY AND OCONTO...WITH A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTH OF STURGEON BAY AND OCONTO. DAMAGING WINDS OF 50 TO 60 KNOTS ALONG WITH LARGE HAIL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE THE MAIN THREATS ALONG WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. KURIMSKI/MPC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
1227 PM CDT SUN AUG 02 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM HAIL 8 SE MINOCQUA 45.78N 89.57W
08/02/2015 E1.00 INCH ONEIDA WI PUBLIC
SIZE ESTIMATED BY PHOTO SENT BY SOCIAL MEDIA. AT LEAST 1
INCH IN SIZE
&&
AAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
1228 PM CDT SUN AUG 02 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1206 PM HAIL MC NAUGHTON 45.73N 89.55W
08/02/2015 E1.00 INCH ONEIDA WI UNKNOWN
LOCATION IS ESTIMATED AS THE REPORT WAS NOT MORE SPECIFIC
THAN NEWBOLD TOWNSHIP.
1208 PM HAIL HAZELHURST 45.79N 89.71W
08/02/2015 E0.25 INCH ONEIDA WI TRAINED SPOTTER
LOCATION IS ESTIMATED. REPORT ONLY MENTIONED THAT IS WAS
ALONG HIGHWAY 51.
1214 PM HAIL 8 N TOMAHAWK 45.58N 89.73W
08/02/2015 E0.88 INCH ONEIDA WI TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
&&
MGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
1230 PM CDT SUN AUG 02 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1150 AM HAIL 1 S LAKE TOMAHAWK 45.80N 89.59W
08/02/2015 E0.88 INCH ONEIDA WI STORM CHASER
PEA TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL FELL FROM 1150 TO 1155 AM.
&&
MGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
1238 PM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015
WIZ010>013-018-019-021-021815-
FLORENCE WI-NORTHERN OCONTO COUNTY WI-FOREST WI-
NORTHERN MARINETTE COUNTY WI-LINCOLN WI-LANGLADE WI-ONEIDA WI-
1238 PM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN ONEIDA...
NORTHWESTERN MARINETTE...NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN...FLORENCE...FOREST AND
NORTHERN LANGLADE COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM CDT...
AT 1236 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A BROKEN LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FELCH
TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF PEARSON...AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH SOME OF THESE THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CRANDON...GOODMAN...HOMESTEAD...TIPLER...PARRISH...POPPLE RIVER...
PEARSON...CARTER...ELCHO...LAONA...WABENO...DUNBAR...NASHVILLE...
FREEMAN...ARGONNE...ARMSTRONG CREEK...BLACKWELL...ENTERPRISE...HILES
AND MONICO.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 4602 8857 4569 8797 4524 8881 4539 8975
4601 8867 4599 8867 4599 8862 4602 8860
TIME...MOT...LOC 1736Z 262DEG 76KT 4594 8796 4546 8912
EBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
1242 PM CDT SUN AUG 02 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1238 PM HAIL ARGONNE 45.66N 88.88W
08/02/2015 E0.25 INCH FOREST WI TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA SIZE HAIL, TORRENTIAL RAIN AND GUSTS TO 30 TO 35 MPH
AT ARGONNE.
&&
MGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
105 PM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015
WIZ011-013-019-021-021845-
NORTHERN OCONTO COUNTY WI-FOREST WI-NORTHERN MARINETTE COUNTY WI-
LANGLADE WI-
105 PM CDT SUN AUG 2 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN MARINETTE...NORTHWESTERN
OCONTO...SOUTHEASTERN FOREST AND NORTHEASTERN LANGLADE COUNTIES UNTIL
145 PM CDT...
AT 102 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
NEAR PEARSON AND NORTHERN OCONTO COUNTIES...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS AS WELL
AS HAIL UP TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER.
THESE STORMS WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF WESTERN
MARINETTE...NORTHWESTERN OCONTO...SOUTHEASTERN FOREST AND
NORTHEASTERN LANGLADE COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
LOCATIONS...BOOT LAKE.
LAT...LON 4546 8919 4546 8826 4537 8827 4537 8831
4520 8831 4520 8829 4517 8829 4524 8923
TIME...MOT...LOC 1802Z 278DEG 40KT 4531 8910
EBThe Green Bay radar (KGRB), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:47 UTC.
23 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees near Peshtigo. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
A thunderstorm produced a measured wind gust to 59 mph.
Thunderstorm winds uprooted and snapped an area of trees a couple of miles either side of a west-east line from Frank E. Murphy Park to Jacksonport.
Thunderstorm winds to 70 mph downed trees and knocked out power in the Egg Harbor area. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
Hail as large as quarter size fell at Oconto.
A thunderstorm dropped penny size hail and produced wind gusts to around 50 mph, that downed small branches, west of Marshfield.
A thunderstorm dropped softball size hail as it passed through Abrams.
Softball size hail fell near Abrams, causing isolated vehicle damage.
A thunderstorm dropped tennis ball size hail near Oak Orchard Road, as it passed north of Little Suamico. This report was received via social media, and the time of the event is an estimate based on radar data.
A thunderstorm, with heavy rain, dropped nickel size hail southeast of Shawano.
A thunderstorm dropped lime size hail as it passed east of Vesper.
A thunderstorms dropped three-inch diameter hail as it passed through Rudloph. The time of this event is estimated based on radar data.
Golf ball size hail fell at Shawano High School.
A thunderstorm dropped tennis ball size hail as it passed through Krakow. Hail size is an estimated based on a photo on social media and time is estimated based on radar data.
A thunderstorm dropped golf ball size hail as it passed over Long Tail Point. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
A thunderstorm dropped ping pong ball size hail as it passed through Biron.
A thunderstorm dropped half dollar size hail as it passed through the Plover area. A wind gust to 41 mph was measured with the storm and it also produced 0.10 inch of rain in just 5 minutes.
A thunderstorm dropped golf ball size hail as it passed through the Stevens Point area.
A lightning strike caused a house fire in Suamico.
Penny to quarter size hail fell near Abrams. The time of this event is approximate.
A thunderstorm dropped quarter size hail and produced a wind gust to 40 mph as it passed through Bancroft.
Quarter size hail fell in Ashwaubenon.
A thunderstorm dropped quarter size hail and produced wind gusts to 50 mph as it passed through King.
Thunderstorm winds downed medium size trees in Wild Rose.
Quarter size hail fell at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee.
A thunderstorm dropped hail, that was a little larger than half dollar size, as it passed south of Poy Sippi.
A thunderstorm produced golf ball size hail as it passed through Auroraville.
A thunderstorm dropped quarter size hail as it passed north of Fisk. This report was received via social media and the time of the event is estimated based on radar data.
A thunderstorm produced quarter size hail and heavy rain as it passed north of Iola.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, August 2015
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: 598844, 598866, 600064, 598845, 598819, 598820, 598836, 598833, 598840, 598825, 598842, 598837, 598829, 598839, 598856, 598848, 598850, 598851, 598864, 598865, 598853, 598867, 598857, 598858, 598859, 598861, 598860, 598862, 598863.