A historical event unfolded across the central United States on Friday (12/15) as a strong storm system tracked across the central Plains and through the Upper Mississippi Valley. Record warmth was observed across the state of Wisconsin ahead of this system, as temperatures soared into the 60s.
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 historical event unfolded across the central United States on Friday (12/15) as a strong storm system tracked across the central Plains and through the Upper Mississippi Valley. Record warmth was observed across the state of Wisconsin ahead of this system, as temperatures soared into the 60s.
A weakening line of severe thunderstorms tracked across central Wisconsin during the late evening hours, producing damaging winds before weakening.
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 Dec 15, 5:51 PM CST, 3 hours 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 551 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021 Updated aviation portion for 00Z TAF issuance .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Thursday Issued at 251 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021 Decided to extend the Dense Fog Advisory until 9pm for the snow covered portion of the forecast area as visibility is still only a few hundred feet in most areas. The fog should mix out as a line of convection moves across the area during the middle and late evening hours ahead of a strong cold front. The line of showers and thunderstorms is likely to produce wind gusts of 60 mph or more. The winds aloft are so strong that it is not out of the question for some winds to exceed 70 mph. After the front moves through strong gradient winds are likely to produce wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph for several hours late tonight and early Thursday. Utilities may have some significant tree and power line damage in some areas. The winds will slowly diminish Thursday, but will still gust to 40 or 50 mph during the morning hours. Temperatures will rise this evening to record levels in many areas this evening, then fall later tonight and during the day Thursday. .LONG TERM...Thursday Night Through Wednesday Issued at 251 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021 After all the action occurring in the short term forecast, the extended period is by contrast a much quieter period. The extended period will start off with a period of dry conditions Friday before another weak shortwave moves across the region Saturday morning. With ongoing CAA during this period, colder and dry air will lack significant moisture and lift to produce much more than a quick dusting of snow. High temperatures to start the weekend will be mainly in the 20s Friday, and teens to lower 20s on Saturday. Surface high pressure returns for Saturday night through Sunday, and will linger on through the remainder of the period. There is a clipper system that will cross north of us around the middle of next week, but no precipitation is expected in Wisconsin at this time. Therefore, most of the extended forecast is dry, excepting Saturday. Temperatures will remain fairly close to normal, ranging from the lower 20s to lower 30s through the extended. && .AVIATION...for 00Z TAF Issuance Issued at 546 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021 Challenging conditions for flying are expected through Thursday. IFR ceilings and/or visibilities and areas of dense fog are expected through the evening hours, with low level wind shear expected as evidenced by KGRB VWP. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will move across the area this evening ahead of a cold front. The winds aloft are exceptionally strong, so even shower activity could produce surface wind gusts of 50 knots or more. Strong southwest sustained winds of 20 to 30 knots with gusts to 50 knots are expected behind the front later tonight through midday Thursday. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Thursday for WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074. Dense Fog Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for WIZ005- 010>013-018>022-030-031-035-036-040-050-073-074. && SHORT TERM.....RDM LONG TERM......Uhlmann AVIATION.......Kurimski
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 256 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-162100- 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- 256 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight Dense fog will result in hazardous travel conditions through the evening hours, especially for areas that still have snow on the ground in central and northern Wisconsin. An approaching cold front will produce a line of showers and thunderstorms this evening. Some could produce damaging wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph. There is a small chance of tornadoes, especially in central Wisconsin. After the thunderstorms go by, an intensifying low pressure system will produce strong winds after midnight, with gusts of 50 to 70 mph. Damage to trees and powerlines will occur, likely resulting in power outages over parts of the area. Ice shoves are possible on the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Wednesday Strong gusty west winds will continue on Thursday, with the highest gusts occurring early in the day. Travel will remain hazardous for high profile vehicles, especially on north to south oriented roads. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to relay peak wind gusts and any reports of damage to the National Weather Service in Green Bay. LMZ521-522-541>543-162100- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 256 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Tonight A storm warning is in effect after 9 pm for southwest storm force gusts to near 60 knots. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Wednesday Southwest to west storm force gusts to near 60 knots are expected Thursday morning, easing to gale force gusts in the afternoon. A Storm Warning remains in effect through noon Thursday. RDM/Uhlmann
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
646 PM CST WED DEC 15 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0641 PM HAIL 2 W MANITOWOC 44.07N 87.69W
12/15/2021 M0.25 INCH MANITOWOC WI PUBLIC
&&The La Crosse radar (KARX), 140 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:39 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds uprooted several trees, lifted a shed from its foundation, and caused damage to a garage and house in Colby. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Marathon City. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
A thunderstorm wind gust of 69 mph was measured at the Wisconsin Rapids airport.
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees, power poles, and power lines in Plainfield. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and a power pole as well as producing extensive damage to a house. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in Pelican Lake. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, December 2021
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: 989392, 989393, 989397, 989394, 989395, 989396.