A thunderstorm that produced large hail and wind damage in southwest Wisconsin moved northeast and merged with another storm that developed in the vicinity of a stationary front. The storm produced heavy rain, isolated wind damage, and large hail as it moved across Waushara County.
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 thunderstorm that produced large hail and wind damage in southwest Wisconsin moved northeast and merged with another storm that developed in the vicinity of a stationary front. The storm produced heavy rain, isolated wind damage, and large hail as it moved across Waushara 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 25, 1:17 PM CST, 2 hours 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 217 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016 Forecast discussion for routine afternoon forecast issuance .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Thursday Issued at 216 PM CDT Wed May 25 2016 The latest RAP analysis and satellite/radar imagery show low pressure centered over northeast South Dakota early this afternoon. A stationary front stretches east-southeast across southern Minnesota to just north of Milwaukee. With southwest flow aloft...shortwave activity is moving across Minnesota and Iowa...and is helping to generate clusters of showers and storms...with some support from moisture convergence along the front. ML capes are approaching 1000 J/kg over southwest Wisconsin early this afternoon where the first severe thunderstorm warning has been issued. As storms move northeast this afternoon...potential exists for a severe storm to carry into central WI. Severe and heavy rain potential are the main forecast concerns in the short-term. Tonight...The stationary front will return northward tonight as a warm front...with some forward push provided by shortwave energy moving northeast over the northern Mississippi valley. As pwats climb to 1.6 inches ahead of the wave...the hi res models continue to indicate that a swath of showers and storms will shift northeast across the forecast area this evening. But these models have a slightly different playbook for tonight...some giving north-central WI decent rainfall...while others show the heaviest rainfall moving over central and northeast WI. Sided with the former of the two scenarios based on recent radar trends. Regardless...rainfalls of a half inch to an inch will be possible...locally over an inch in the stronger storms. If there is a severe weather threat...best chances appear to be over central WI later this afternoon into early this evening. Progged RAP soundings near Wisconsin Rapids show ML capes are expected to range from 800-1000 J/kg later this afternoon...with 0-6km bulk shear of 35 kts...and mid-level lapse rates greater than 7 C/km. These parameters suggest a low end damaging wind and large hail threat are possible. The threat of severe weather will diminish rather quickly farther north and east...where the airmass is more stable. The showers and storms will be exiting northern WI late in the evening...then a low overcast will settle in as a warmer airmass arrives. Some potential for a shower or storm to pop up late tonight...but warm advection is relatively weak...and the atmosphere will have been worked over for the most part. Rather muggy lows in the upper 50s to low 60s. Thursday...Northern Wisconsin will begin the day in the warm sector...with rather cloudy/foggy skies. The small chance of a shower/storm will carry over from late tonight into Thursday morning. Then should see clouds give way to increasing sunshine from late morning thru early afternoon. This will promote temps warming into the low to mid 80s at most locations in the afternoon. Combined with dewpoints in the low to mid 60s...ML capes are expected to rise between 1500 and 2500 J/kg during peak heating...with bulk shears upwards of 35 kts. However...tough to find a trigger for any storms. Will go with a slight chance...though highest over north-central WI...closer to shortwave activity. If any storms fire...pulse severe is possible. .LONG TERM...Thursday Night Through Wednesday Issued at 216 PM CDT Wed May 25 2016 An upper-level low pressure trough over the western U.S. will continue to generate warm and moist southerly winds in Wisconsin Friday through Sunday...with mild temperatures and a round or two of showers and thunderstorms during that time. Severe thunderstorms are possible but will generally be isolated. The upper level trough will gradually expand east and weaken by early next week...producing a more zonal pattern and somewhat cooler temperatures. && .AVIATION...for 18Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1202 PM CDT Wed May 25 2016 A warm front will lift northeast across the region later this afternoon and this evening. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage through the day...as they move into central Wisconsin this afternoon and northern Wisconsin this evening. Some strong storms cannot be ruled out...which could generate wind gusts above 40 mph and dime size hail. Some uncertainty with the timing of the arrival of the storms...but IFR conditions will be possible as the storms pass. In the wake of the precipitation...LIFR/IFR cigs and IFR/MVFR vsbys are anticipated to impact the taf sites from late tonight thru mid-morning before the clouds scatter. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM.....MPC LONG TERM......ML AVIATION.......MPC
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 213 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-261915- 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- 213 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY OVERSPREAD THE REGION FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND HEAVY RAINFALL. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK AND THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. SOME ISOLATED STORMS COULD POSE A RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER, BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFICS OF ANY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. LMZ521-522-541>543-261915- THE BAY OF GREEN BAY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON ISLAND TO SHEBOYGAN- 213 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE WATERS OF GREEN BAY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON, WITH STORMS BECOMING LIKELY TONIGHT. SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS COULD PRODUCE HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL. AREAS OF MARINE FOG MAY CAUSE A NAVIGATION HAZARD FOR MARINERS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MARINE FOG MAY RESTRICT VISIBILITY AND POSE A HAZARD TO BOATERS THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO PERSIST THROUGH REST OF THE WEEK AND THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. MPC/ML
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
235 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016
WIZ030-035-036-045-252030-
PORTAGE WI-WOOD WI-MARATHON WI-WAUSHARA WI-
235 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MARATHON...WESTERN
WAUSHARA...WOOD AND WESTERN PORTAGE COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT...
AT 235 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF AUGUSTA TO 10 MILES
TO NEAR PORTAGE. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE
HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
MARSHFIELD AROUND 300 PM CDT.
SPENCER AROUND 315 PM CDT.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS AROUND 320 PM CDT.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE RUDOLPH...KELLNER...
CRANMOOR...POWERS BLUFF COUNTY PARK...BIG EAU PLEINE COUNTY PARK...
LINDSEY...BETHEL...PORT EDWARDS...FENWOOD AND COLOMA.
LAT...LON 4503 9031 4503 9021 4453 8951 4398 8946
4398 8960 4425 8960 4425 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 1930Z 202DEG 26KT 4472 9100 4435 9047 4349 8953
ECKBERGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
354 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016
WIZ018-030-031-035>037-045-048-252130-
WAUPACA WI-SHAWANO WI-LINCOLN WI-PORTAGE WI-WOOD WI-WINNEBAGO WI-
MARATHON WI-WAUSHARA WI-
354 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARATHON...EASTERN WAUSHARA...
NORTHEASTERN WOOD...WESTERN SHAWANO...PORTAGE...WAUPACA...
SOUTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND WESTERN WINNEBAGO COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM
CDT...
AT 351 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF MARSHFIELD TO NEAR AMHERST
TO BERLIN. MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 25 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE
STRONGER STORMS.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
AMHERST AROUND 405 PM CDT.
LAKE POYGAN AROUND 420 PM CDT.
RANDOLPH AND FREMONT AROUND 430 PM CDT.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE ELLIS...TUSTIN...
PEPLIN...POY SIPPI...BIG EAU PLEINE COUNTY PARK...NORTHPORT...PINE RIVER...
RIB FALLS...FENWOOD AND KING.
LAT...LON 4398 8889 4398 8898 4433 8929 4470 9014
4512 9008 4512 9004 4529 9004 4491 8919
4442 8873 4427 8874 4390 8887
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 172DEG 21KT 4471 9005 4438 8929 4398 8894
ECKBERGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
407 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM HAIL WISCONSIN RAPIDS 44.40N 89.84W
05/25/2016 E0.25 INCH WOOD WI TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
LUCHSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
424 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016
WIZ045-048-252215-
WINNEBAGO WI-WAUSHARA WI-
424 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2016
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
AT 423 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
BERLIN...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
LAKE POYGAN AROUND 450 PM CDT.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE RIVERMOOR...METZ...
TUSTIN...AURORAVILLE...PICKETT...OMRO...MIKESVILLE...HARBOR SPRINGS...
ORIHULA AND EUREKA.
LAT...LON 4398 8889 4398 8908 4424 8888 4420 8859
4390 8872 4390 8889
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 202DEG 25KT 4398 8890
MPCThe Green Bay radar (KGRB), 123 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:24 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds downed a tree and several 2 to 3 inch diameter branches near Coloma on County Road FF.
Several trees were knocked down by thunderstorm winds estimated near 65 mph northwest of Wautoma. The storm also dropped pea size hail as it passed.
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: 627161, 627162.