A large convective system, that moved across Minnesota overnight, continued east and southeast into unstable air across the area. Thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage, downing trees and power lines as they passed.
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 large convective system, that moved across Minnesota overnight, continued east and southeast into unstable air across the area. Thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage, downing trees and power lines as they passed. Embedded bowing line segments along the main line of storms caused the worst of the damage. Hail to quarter size fell at a few locations in central Wisconsin.
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 Jul 21, 2:48 AM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 348 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2016 Forecast discussion for routine morning forecast issuance .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 345 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2016 A round of thunderstorms this morning...otherwise very warm and humid the next several days. a little cooler and not as humid next week. The main band of westerlies will sag south a bit and deamplify during the period. The warm and very humid air across the area will gradually get displaced to the south by a series of frontal systems and thunderstorm outflows. That will allow temperatures to settle back closer to, but still above, normal levels by early next week. Given the available moisture and numerous opportunities for convection, precipitation amounts for the next week are likely to be above normal. && .SHORT TERM...Today...Tonight...and Friday Issued at 345 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2016 Large, mature MCS is barreling southeast toward the area from northwest Wisconsin. It is likely to affect the entire forecast area this morning. Morning PoPs were based on radar trends. Severe potential is a little less clear. System may tend to weaken as it arrives. But any upticks in intensity could certainly result in a threat for damaging winds. The forecast becomes much less certain after the MCS moves through. The models that were handling it (and it was certainly a minority of them) suggest it will be the main show and the potential for redevelopment this afternoon and evening is minimal. Hard to completely go with that, so PoPs were trimmed back in the wake of the MCS, but left some 20-30 PoPs in for the afternoon and evening in case there is redevelopment. After the arrival of rain-cooled air with the MCS outflow and having considerable debris clouds to break through, max temps needed to be trimmed. Updated apparent temperatures for the afternoon were marginal at best for a Heat Advisory. After talking things over with the forecaster at MKX, decided to drop the advisory. Friday looks to be a lull in the thunderstorm potential as the boundary sags a little farther south of us with upper flow tilting a little more WNW in advance of shortwave ridging approaching from the west. .LONG TERM...Friday Night Through Wednesday Issued at 345 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2016 Zonal upper level flow across southern Canada and the northern CONUS is expected during this part of the forecast. Though the models continued to show some differences in the timing of a mid level trough and surface system moving through the area, Saturday night appears to be the most likely time for thunderstorms over the weekend. There should be plenty of time for the atmosphere to destabilize Saturday afternoon ahead of the approaching cold front so it looks like some of the storms will be strong, possibly severe. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will be above normal, but temperatures should be closer to normal for the early part of next week, in the wake of the cold front. The best bet for showers and storms during the rest of the long term forecast looks to be on Wednesday with the approach of the next significant mid level short wave. && .AVIATION...for 12Z TAF Issuance Issued at 345 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2016 Stratus deck with IFR and some low-end MVFR or IFR ceilings has overspread the NW part of the forecast area. It looks like that will advance across the rest of the area as well. Otherwise, the main aviation hazard will be the thunderstorms this morning. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS.......Skowronski SHORT TERM.....Skowronski LONG TERM......MG AVIATION.......Skowronski
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 427 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2016 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-221100- 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- 427 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN. A LARGE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL SURGE ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS. THE STRONGEST PORTION OF THE CLUSTER WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTHERN WISCONSIN...SO THE GREATEST RISK OF DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE IN THAT AREA. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THE RISK OF ADDITIONAL SEVERE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING IS SOMEWHAT UNCLEAR. IF ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE ABLE TO FORM THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING...THEY COULD ALSO PRODUCE STRONG WINDS AND HAIL. HOWEVER...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE MORNING STORMS USE UP MOST OF THE AVAILABLE ENERGY IN THE ATMOSPHERE...AND THAT THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL BE LIMITED. COOLER AIR AND CLOUDS FROM THE MORNING THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIMIT HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY. SO THE POTENTIAL FOR A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY THIS AFTERNOON IS LOWER THAN EARLIER ANTICIPATED. IT WILL STILL BE VERY HUMID...AND ANYONE WITH A HEAT-SENSITIVE HEALTH CONDITION SHOULD PLAN ON TAKING APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS TO REMAIN SAFE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY DURING THE REST OF THE WORK WEEK AND INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND COULD RESULT IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AT TIMES FOR PERSONS WITH CERTAIN HEALTH ISSUES. THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THE STRONGEST STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR STORMS AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY...BUT IT IS TOO SOON TO DETERMINE THEIR SEVERE POTENTIAL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS MORNING. LMZ521-522-541>543-221100- THE BAY OF GREEN BAY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON ISLAND TO SHEBOYGAN- 427 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE WATERS OF GREEN BAY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS COULD POSE A HAZARD TO BOATERS...ESPECIALLY DURING THE MIDDLE MORNING HOURS. PATCHY FOG COULD ALSO POSE A HAZARD...ESPECIALLY ON LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES LATE THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND. THE MOST LIKELY TIME PERIOD FOR STORMS IS ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY. IN ADDITION...HUMID AIR FLOWING OVER THE COOLER WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN COULD RESULT IN DENSE FOG WHICH WILL POSE A HAZARD TO BOATERS AT TIMES. SKOWRONSKI/MG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
449 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2016
WIZ005-010-018-211100-
LINCOLN WI-ONEIDA WI-VILAS WI-
449 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2016
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HEADED FOR VILAS...ONEIDA AND NORTHWESTERN
LINCOLN COUNTIES...
AT 447 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES EAST OF ODANAH TO NEAR CLAM LAKE TO
NEAR COUDERAY. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 50 MPH.
THE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OVER 50 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RHINELANDER...EAGLE RIVER...LAC DU FLAMBEAU...TOMAHAWK...BOULDER
JUNCTION...WOODBORO...WINCHESTER...TRIPOLI...SQUIRREL LAKE AND WILLOW
RESERVOIR.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PERSONS IN CAMPGROUNDS SHOULD CONSIDER SEEKING STURDY SHELTER UNTIL
THESE STORMS PASS.
&&
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM CDT FOR
NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
LAT...LON 4614 8911 4568 8940 4526 9003 4527 9005
4598 9005 4598 8993 4630 8993
TIME...MOT...LOC 0947Z 295DEG 45KT 4664 9050 4617 9080 4585 9127
SKOWRONSKISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
530 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2016
WIZ010-011-018-019-211200-
LANGLADE WI-LINCOLN WI-ONEIDA WI-FOREST WI-
530 AM CDT THU JUL 21 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LANGLADE...SOUTHERN
ONEIDA...SOUTHWESTERN FOREST AND LINCOLN COUNTIES UNTIL 700 AM CDT...
AT 530 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF PHILLIPS TO NEAR
LADYSMITH. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 55 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RHINELANDER...MERRILL...TOMAHAWK...WOODBORO...PARRISH...TRIPOLI...
COUNCIL GROUNDS STATE PARK...NEW WOOD WILDLIFE AREA...
BRADLEY AND ELCHO.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO
STATIONS AND AVAILABLE TELEVISION STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
&&
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM CDT FOR
NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN.
LAT...LON 4573 9004 4552 8872 4512 8955 4512 8974
4519 9004
TIME...MOT...LOC 1030Z 283DEG 46KT 4576 9061 4549 9116
KURIMSKIThe Marquette radar (KMQT), 169 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:37 UTC.
24 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds downed hundreds of trees just southeast of Presque Isle, from Crab Lake to Lynx Lake. Five homes sustained damage from fallen trees.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in the Tomahawk area. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in the Phelps area. One building sustained damage from a fallen tree.
Thunderstorm winds downed power lines in the Alvin area. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in the Rhinelander area. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines in the western part of Florence County, in the Tipler, Long Lake and Fern areas. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines in the Summit Lake area.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines from the Pearson area east to Highway 55, near Pickerel. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines from the Pickerel area east to Highway 52. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines in the far south and southwest parts of Forest County, west of Carter and about 2 miles north of the Pickerel area.
Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees in the Dunbar area.
Quarter size hail fell in Wausau.
Thunderstorm winds of 60 mph were measured at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee.
Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees in the Pembine area.
Quarter size hail fell in Marshfield. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Quarter size hail fell in Biron.
Quarter size hail fell in Wisconsin Rapids.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Bowler.
Nickel size hail fell in the Amherst area.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees near County Road VV in Peshtigo. Some of the trees took down power lines as they fell.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Waupaca. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees in Marinette.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in the towns of Oconto, Little River and Pensaukee. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds caused widespread damage west of Waupaca, around King, downing trees and power lines, and tearing shingles from roofs.
Thunderstorm winds downed two large trees and several large branches in Green Bay.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees just north of Sturgeon Bay, on Reynolds Road, and just south of Sturgeon Bay, near Clay Banks.
Thunderstorm winds downed scattered trees and power lines in the Luxemburg and Casco areas. The time of this event was estimated based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed a couple of trees and some tree limbs in Manitowoc.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, July 2016
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: 650141, 650144, 650146, 650149, 650152, 650153, 650154, 650155, 650157, 650159, 650161, 650162, 650128, 653145, 650164, 650130, 650131, 650132, 650165, 653179, 650167, 650168, 650169, 650171, 650173, 650174, 650175, 650176, 650177.