Isolated thunderstorms, in the vicinity of a weak stationary front, developed in north central Wisconsin and moved along the Wisconsin/Michigan border. The storms downed 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.
Isolated thunderstorms, in the vicinity of a weak stationary front, developed in north central Wisconsin and moved along the Wisconsin/Michigan border. The storms downed trees and power lines as they passed. Trees on power lines started fires at many locations in Florence County.
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 May 24, 1:42 PM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 242 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 Forecast discussion for routine afternoon forecast issuance .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 238 PM CDT Tue May 24 2016 A much wetter weather pattern is settling in over the area. The sharp upper ridge which brought a prolonged period of very dry conditions to the area is now to our east, while an upstream trough is located over the southwest United States. Southwest upper flow between these features has become established across the forecast area, and is likely to remain in place throughout the forecast period. The newly established pattern favors much wetter weather than it's predecessor. Though timing remains in doubt, several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are likely during the period--resulting in above normal precipitation. Daytime temperatures will vary between normal and above normal depending on the amount of clouds and precipitation. The increased humidity will keep overnight lows well above normal. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Wednesday Issued at 238 PM CDT Tue May 24 2016 Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms continued across north-central and northeast Wisconsin this afternoon. Some of the stronger storms were producing gusty winds, locally heavy rainfall and small hail. A weak surface front will drop southward across the area late this afternoon and tonight. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will come to an end this evening across much of the area. Left a lingering chance of showers after midnight across the south with the passage of the front. With 35 to 45 knots of wind shear, still some heating of the day and boundary dropping south, did not feel comfortable in removing the possibility of an isolated severe storm. For Wednesday, main problem is timing the arrival of the next chance of showers and thunderstorms. Have trended slower from previous forecast, but the midnight shift may need to slow it down even more. High temperatures will again be on the warm side if the rain arrives later in the day. The only exception will be across eastern Wisconsin near Lake Michigan where an easterly wind will keep it cooler. Not expecting any severe weather on Wednesday. .LONG TERM...Wednesday Night Through Tuesday Issued at 238 PM CDT Tue May 24 2016 Long-term forecast challenges continue to be the specifics of the precipitation chances, and the risk of severe weather. Typical forecast issues with southwest flow continue today. Confidence is high that it is going to rain at times, and that significant rainfalls will occur. But the details of when it will rain remain elusive. Will continue to carry chance-likely PoPs throughout the long-term portion of the forecast and hope we can add additional resolution as each day shifts in the short-term part of the forecast. Expect widespread 1 to 2 inch rainfalls across the area during the next week, with some locations probably getting over 3 inches. The air mass across the area will become increasingly unstable as gulf moisture arrives in the area. A marginal/limited severe threat could develop during almost any of the long-term forecast periods depending on the position of the main frontal boundary and small scale shortwaves riding northeast in the upper flow. Much of the medium range guidance shows a somewhat stronger/larger scale shortwave crossing the region during the first half of the upcoming weekend. If that feature evolves as now shown on the guidance, it could lead to a more substantial risk for severe weather when it arrives. Of course, that is still several days away and a lot can change between now and then. && .AVIATION...for 18Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1209 PM CDT Tue May 24 2016 A weak cold front will drop south across the area later this afternoon and tonight. The front will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to much of the region this afternoon into this evening. Some of the stronger storms could produce strong gusty winds and hail. Later tonight, low clouds and fog are expected to develop across much of the region. Any low clouds and fog should burn off by 15z. Another round of showers and thunderstorms will move across the area Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS.......Skowronski SHORT TERM.....Eckberg LONG TERM......Skowronski AVIATION.......Eckberg
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 239 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-251100- 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- 239 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS STILL POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO PERSIST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK AND THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. SOME OF THE STORMS DURING THE MIDDLE TO LATTER PART OF THE WEEK COULD POSE A RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER, BUT IT IS TO EARLY TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFICS OF ANY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT HAIL A HALF INCH IN DIAMETER OR GREATER...AND WIND GUSTS OVER 35 MPH. LMZ521-522-541>543-251100- THE BAY OF GREEN BAY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON ISLAND TO SHEBOYGAN- 239 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE WATERS OF GREEN BAY. .DAY ONE...REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS COULD PRODUCE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. FOG MAY POSE A HAZARD TO MARINERS LATER TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MARINE FOG MAY RESTRICT VISIBILITY AND POSE A HAZARD TO BOATERS DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK. THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO PERSIST THROUGH REST OF THE WEEK AND THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. ECKBERG/SKOWRONSKI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
428 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
WIZ005-242230-
VILAS WI-
428 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR VILAS COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM CDT...
AT 426 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES EAST OF MARENISCO TO 9 MILES
SOUTH OF UPSON. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AS THEY ENTER NORTHWEST VILAS
COUNTY WITH ONE INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.
THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
LAC DU FLAMBEAU AROUND 510 PM CDT.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE STAR LAKE...PRESQUE
ISLE...MANITOWISH WATERS...SAYNER AND TROUT LAKE.
IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA...SEEK STURDY SHELTER UNTIL THE
STORMS PASS.
LAT...LON 4619 8936 4597 8932 4590 8992 4590 9004
4598 9005 4598 8993 4630 8993
TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 317DEG 31KT 4637 8952 4625 9033
ECKBERGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
504 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
WIZ022-242245-
DOOR WI-
504 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
...STORMS OVER THE BAY REACHING THE DOOR PENINSULA...
AT 502 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STORM NEAR EPHRAIM...OR
17 MILES EAST OF MARINETTE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM
POTENTIALLY ALONG WITH SOME VERY SMALL HAIL.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
EPHRAIM...EGG HARBOR...BAILEYS HARBOR...SISTER BAY...FISH CREEK...
PENINSULA CENTER AND PENINSULA STATE PARK.
LAT...LON 4519 8692 4516 8697 4510 8695 4501 8710
4500 8710 4503 8736 4521 8734 4521 8692
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 274DEG 25KT 4512 8726
LUCHSThe Marquette radar (KMQT), 184 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:05 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines as the storms passed through the Winchester area.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines as the storms passed through the Boulder Junction area.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines west of Florence, starting fires at many locations.
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, May 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: 627158, 627159, 627160.