Wisconsin, 2019

Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 15, 2019

July 15, 2019 · NWS DLH · 6 events in 4 counties and zones

An area of low pressure over southern Manitoba the morning of the 15th moved to near southern Hudson Bay by the morning of the 16th. A cold front associated with this low moved across the Northland during the afternoon and evening hours of the 15th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS DLH wrote it up.

An area of low pressure over southern Manitoba the morning of the 15th moved to near southern Hudson Bay by the morning of the 16th. A cold front associated with this low moved across the Northland during the afternoon and evening hours of the 15th. A warm front had moved through on the previous day brought a warm and unstable airmass in its wake. The cold front then worked with this airmass to create severe storms from northeast Minnesota into northwest Wisconsin and western Lake Superior. Damaging winds accounted for most of the reports with these storms, although there was some marginally severe hail as well.

What forecasters said that day

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 Duluth, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 15, 11:47 AM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 11:47 AM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
1247 PM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1247 PM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

Updated to lower precipitation chances initially early afternoon,
except along the international border where a thunderstorm complex
is ongoing. Storms are already beginning to develop along a line
to the southwest of this complex, and additional storms may
develop ahead of the line due to diurnal heating of the unstable
airmass across the region. Introduced severe thunderstorm wording
for most of the forecast area. Also updated aviation forecast
discussion below.

UPDATE Issued at 633 AM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

Updated for the 12z Aviation Discussion below.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(Today through Tuesday)
Issued at 413 AM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

The concern in the short term will again revolve around
thunderstorm chances, their strength, and the amount of rain they
produce.

The MCV that produces the storms overnight continued to move
through northern Wisconsin. There has been some renewed
shower/storm development further west over Washburn County and
storms have been forming over parts of west central Minnesota as
well. MUCAPE values across the Northland remain from 1000-2000
J/KG and with continued moisture transport into the Northland,
albeit not very strong, additional showers/storms will likely form
and dissipate through the morning. The main threat with these
storms will be more heavy rain and small hail due to limited deep
layer shear which was less than 30 knots. A stronger shortwave
will move through southern Manitoba into northwest Ontario today.
This will aid in moving a trough/weak cold front into the
Northland later today into tonight. A better chance for showers
and storms will occur this afternoon into the evening and much of
the guidance is in general agreement on this. MUCAPE values will
increase further this afternoon to 3000-4000 J/KG and plenty of
moisture will be present with surface dew points in the upper
sixties to lower seventies. Deep layer shear will be from 30 to 35
knots, adequate for strong to severe storms given the
instability. The CAMS are in decent agreement with two areas of
focused convection today/this evening. One is over northwest
Wisconsin north of an outflow boundary and in an area of
increasing moisture transport. Storms will likely be present
through much of the day there. The second area will be along the
low level trough/front. Storms are expected to form along this
feature this afternoon then move southeast through the Northland
through the evening. There is decent agreement most of northern
Minnesota will be dry late evening and overnight as the
trough/front passes and low level convergence weakens as winds
veer to northwest. Storm coverage should decrease across our
southern zones as well later tonight but the low level boundary
will remain through northwest Wisconsin into southwest Minnesota
so we will keep at least some low POPs through the night from the
Brainerd Lakes into northern Wisconsin.

The low level boundary will remain near or just south of the
Northland on Tuesday so there will be a chance for more
showers/storms over all but far northern Minnesota through the
day.

Temperatures today will reach the lower eighties to around ninety.
It will be muggy and heat indices will be from 90 to 100 across
much of the area. Highs Tuesday will be in the eighties but the
humidity will be lower, especially across most of northern
Minnesota which will see surface dew points in the lower to middle
sixties with some upper fifties in the Arrowhead.

.LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Sunday)
Issued at 413 AM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

Warm and muggy conditions to continue through much of the extended
with some additional rounds of showers and storms, some of which
could be strong to severe Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning.

The overall pattern continues to show numerous mid-level shortwaves
that will translate through the region during the Tuesday night
through Thursday night time frame. Similar to the last few days,
there continues to be some discrepancies between the forecast
guidance, but there is some consensus for a strong system to move
through the Northland Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning,
possibly in the form of an MCS. A mid-level shortwave, with some
deep large-scale lift, will advance through the region Wednesday
afternoon and evening. During the evening hours, a 30 to 40 knot
nocturnal low-level jet should be in play to support strong moisture
transport, which should lead to the threat for flash flooding
Wednesday evening through the overnight hours Thursday morning. Pwat
values could range between 1.7" to 2.2", which would be >97% of
climatology per the NAEFS precipitable water climate anomalies.
Moreover, moderate instability could be possible as well, with
values of mixed-layer CAPE in the 2000 to 3000 J/kg range, as well
as favorable effective bulk shear values. There is some uncertainty
regarding the potential for severe storms and flash flooding as this
will depend on the influence of previous storm coverage and
convective feedback. Both the 15.00z GFS and ECMWF models have high
localized QPF amounts, while the 15.00z NAM has very little in the
way of QPF, so it is unclear how this scenario will pan out.

Chances for showers and storms will continue for Thursday and early
Friday, but the instability doesn't appear to be quite as high as
for Wednesday into Thursday morning. Gusty westerly winds are
expected on Friday as the region becomes sandwiched between low
pressure to the east and high pressure building in from the west,
tightening the surface pressure gradient. Some drier conditions
could move back in for Friday afternoon through Saturday as the high
pressure builds into the region.

Heat indices will hover around the mid to upper 80s away from Lake
Superior over much of the extended forecast period. Some relief from
the heat and humidity is possible over the upcoming weekend, with
dew points dipping back into the upper 50s to lower 60s, quite a bit
lower than the upper 60s and lower 70s we have been experiencing. High
temperatures could fall to closer to seasonal averages, with values
in the upper 70s and lower 80s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon)
Issued at 1247 PM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

Mainly VFR conditions through early afternoon, but becoming MVFR
to IFR at times through the day and into the early evening due to
scattered thunderstorms developing along and ahead of a cold
front. During storms conditions may become IFR for a period of
time with gusty winds possible. As the cold front moves from north
to south this evening skies will gradually clear out, with fog
developing towards midnight and later at some sites. Went with fog
at most sites with MVFR to IFR visibility based on anticipated
widespread rainfall coverage. Skies clear out and VFR conditions
will prevail for most of the day Tuesday at most sites. Winds
southwest gusting to near 20 knots ahead of the cold front today,
then northwest 5 to 10 knots this evening after the cold front
passes. Becoming calm late night, then a weak northwest to west
wind around 5 knots on Tuesday.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 413 AM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

The main concern over western Lake Superior today continues to be
for chances of strong to severe thunderstorms, mainly late this
afternoon through the evening hours. The main threats will be large
hail and strong gusty winds in excess of 33 knots, along with
frequent cloud-to-water lightning. Aside from the storms, winds will
mainly be from the south to southeast today between 5 to 10 knots,
becoming more southwesterly this evening. Winds should increase to
between 10 to 15 knots along the South Shore this evening. Waves 2
feet or less. Some smaller chances of showers and thunderstorms will
be possible for Tuesday, but will mainly be confined to the South
Shore. Severe weather is not expected at this time for Tuesday.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DLH  86  63  85  62 /  50  50  20  30
INL  89  58  82  60 /  90  30  10  30
BRD  90  66  84  67 /  40  40  20  40
HYR  85  64  84  64 /  70  70  30  30
ASX  88  66  84  63 /  60  60  20  30

&&

.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...None.
LS...None.
&&

UPDATE...JJM
SHORT TERM...Melde
LONG TERM...JTS
AVIATION...JJM
MARINE...JTS
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 15, 3:32 AM CST, 10 hours 58 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Duluth MN
432 AM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-161030-
Koochiching-North St. Louis-Northern Cook/Northern Lake-
North Itasca-Central St. Louis-Southern Lake/North Shore-
Southern Cook/North Shore-North Cass-South Itasca-South Cass-
Crow Wing-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin-Carlton/South St. Louis-
Pine-Douglas-Bayfield-Ashland-Iron-Burnett-Washburn-Sawyer-Price-
432 AM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Thunderstorms will occur again today into tonight across the
Northland. Thunderstorms this morning will pose mainly a heavy
rain and pea to dime size hail threat but storms this afternoon
through late evening will be capable of producing large hail,
damaging wind, and more heavy rainfall.

Heat indices will be from 90 to 100 this afternoon over much of
the area.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Thunderstorms will be possible through much of the upcoming week,
some strong to severe, especially Wednesday afternoon through
Wednesday night. The main threats will be large hail, damaging
winds, and frequent lightning. Flash flooding will also be
possible Wednesday night.

Conditions will remain warm and muggy through the week, with heat
indicies approaching 90 degrees for areas away from Lake Superior.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Skywarn spotters may be needed this afternoon into the late
evening.

LSZ121-140>148-161030-
Bayfield to Oak Point WI-Grand Portage to Grand Marais MN-
Grand Marais to Taconite Harbor MN-
Taconite Harbor to Silver Bay Harbor MN-
Silver Bay Harbor to Two Harbors MN-Two Harbors to Duluth MN-
Duluth MN to Port Wing WI-Port Wing to Sand Island WI-
Sand Island to Bayfield WI-Oak Point to Saxon Harbor WI-
432 AM CDT Mon Jul 15 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Nearshore
waters of western Lake Superior.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Another round of thunderstorms will be possible over western Lake
Superior this afternoon and evening, with some storms strong to
severe. The main threats will be large hail, strong gusty winds in
excess of 33 knots, and frequent cloud-to-water lightning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Several rounds of thunderstorms are forecast during much of this
week. Some storms could be strong to severe, with gusty winds, large
hail, and frequent cloud-to-water lightning the main threats.

Melde/JTS

More information may be obtained at the following web address:
http://www.weather.gov/duluth (all lower case)

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 15, 2:00 PM CST, 30 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:05 PM CST, 25 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:18 PM CST, 12 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 15, 2:29 PM CST, 1 minute before
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The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 205 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Price

When
July 15, 2:30 PM CST to 2:32 PM CST
Where
Price County, 0.48 mi E of Prentice
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.550, -90.290

Small branches and leaves were stripped off trees.

Hail, Sawyer

When
July 15, 4:26 PM CST to 4:31 PM CST
Where
Sawyer County, 0.48 mi E of Hayward
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.020, -91.470

Dime to nickel-sized hail fell for about 5 minutes.

Hail, Sawyer

When
July 15, 4:45 PM CST to 4:46 PM CST
Where
Sawyer County, 0.69 mi S of Round Lake
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
46.010, -91.330

A photo was received via social media of quarter-sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bayfield

When
July 15, 5:03 PM CST to 5:05 PM CST
Where
Bayfield County, 0.47 mi W of Washburn
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
46.670, -90.910

Multiple trees were reported down in Washburn with photos received as well.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burnett

When
July 15, 5:13 PM CST to 5:14 PM CST
Where
Burnett County, 0.48 mi W of Grantsburg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.780, -92.690

A 2-inch branch was broken from a tree in the winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burnett

When
July 15, 5:20 PM CST to 5:21 PM CST
Where
Burnett County, 3.64 mi ESE of Webster
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
45.860, -92.300

A 5-inch diameter dead pine tree was knocked down.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, July 2019

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 843367, 843363, 843365, 843368, 843369, 843371.