Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 14, 2021

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 14, 2021
Start: 2021-07-14T16:28
End: 2021-07-14T17:55
Location: Wisconsin

July 14, 2021 · NWS MKX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

A line of strong to severe storms moved across south-central Wisconsin during the mid to late afternoon hours on July 14th, 2021.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $37,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 MKX wrote it up.

A line of strong to severe storms moved across south-central Wisconsin during the mid to late afternoon hours on July 14th, 2021.

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 Milwaukee, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 14, 1:30 PM CST, 2 hours 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 14, 1:30 PM CST, 2 hours 58 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
230 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

.SHORT TERM...
(Issued 230 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021)

Late This Afternoon through Thursday:

Line of strong thunderstorms will continue to march eastward
across southern Wisconsin through the late afternoon. Expect wind
gusts of 30 to 50 mph to continue to be the main threat. It's
looking like a break in the precipitation will occur over most of
the area late this afternoon and early evening. Focus shifts to
deepening low pressure moving from northern IA into central WI
this evening. The surface low will continue to move northeast,
dragging a cold front into southern WI overnight. Although the
atmosphere was worked over early today by the MCS moving through
southern WI, breaks in the cloud cover, and increased low level
convergence in the vicinity of the warm front attached to the
northeast moving surface low should result in more thunderstorms
developing across northern IA into southern MN and western WI this
evening. CAPE has increased to 1-3K joules with little CIN across
northern IA. These storms should push into southern WI during the
evening and overnight and may start to train or line up across a
part of the area. Precipitable water remains near record levels
from 1.7 to 2 inches for this time of year. Forward propagating
Corfidi Vectors remain easterly 20-25 kts but Meso-Beta elements
of MCS drops to less than 10 kts for about a 6 hour period
overnight. Any stronger storms will produce rainfall of 1-2+
inches per hour, and if they linger or redevelop along the
boundary, could see localized flash flooding overnight. Despite
the recent dry conditions, the ground/soil/non- pavement areas
remain firm and more impervious to soaking up the heavy rainfall,
resulting in an increased threat for flash flooding. Due to
uncertainty with regard to where the most favored area of flooding
would be, and recent dryness, wl hold off on posting Flash Flood
Watch for now, but wl be watching conditions closely this evening.

Low level jet pivots to the east and south of the area but wl
continue precipitation chances across the southern CWA due to
lingering mid-level low pressure trof and nearby surface boundary.

Kavinsky

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Issued 230 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021)

Thursday night through Wednesday:

Blocking high pressure building into the central CONUS and
southern Canada will be bringing mostly quiet conditions to
southern WI for the bulk of this period. Shower chances may
increase later Tuesday into mid-week as a back door cool front
slips down from the north as the blocking ridge weakens slightly.

In the shorter term, a lingering frontal boundary located just to
the south and east of southern WI may bring a few showers or
storms to far southern WI Thursday night into Friday. Otherwise
dry conditions are expected elsewhere. Daytime temperatures should
be near or a little above seasonal normal for mid-July.

Kavinsky

&&

.AVIATION...
(Issued 230 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021)

A line of strong storms will continue to march east across parts
of southern WI this afternoon, weakening and diminishing from west
to east during the mid to late afternoon. Held off in introducing
any stronger wind gusts in eastern TAF's More scattered storms
will likely affect southern Wisconsin tonight, although timing and
strength of these storms is still uncertain. Heavy rainfall will
accompany of these storms with areas of MVFR and lower ceilings
and vsbys.

Kavinsky

&&

.MARINE...
(Issued 230 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021)

Periods of thunderstorms will affect nearshore and Lake Michigan
open waters through tonight, focused mostly on the southern lake
on Thursday. Some of the storms will cause gusty winds, likely
reaching Special Marine Warning criteria late this afternoon and
tonight. Mariners will need to be alert for storms approaching
their location and be ready to seek harbor.

Kavinsky

&&

.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
LM...None.
&&

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 14, 1:26 PM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
226 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-151930-
Marquette-Green Lake-Fond du Lac-Sheboygan-Sauk-Columbia-Dodge-
Washington-Ozaukee-Iowa-Dane-Jefferson-Waukesha-Milwaukee-
Lafayette-Green-Rock-Walworth-Racine-Kenosha-
226 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central
Wisconsin, south central Wisconsin and southeast Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Late This Afternoon and Tonight

The first of two rounds of thunderstorms will continue to march
eastward across southern Wisconsin through the late afternoon.
Brief heavy rainfall and gusty winds to 45 mph are possible with
these storms. Another round of thunderstorms is expected tonight,
mainly from mid-evening through late tonight. Heavy rainfall
producing localized flooding will be possible with this second
line of storms. In addition, severe thunderstorms with strong
winds, large hail, and an isolated tornado will be possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Wednesday

The chance for thunderstorms continues into Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed late this afternoon and tonight.

LMZ643>646-151930-
Sheboygan to Port Washington WI-
Port Washington to North Point Light WI-
North Point Light to Wind Point WI-
Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL-
226 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters from
Sheboygan Wisconsin to Winthrop Harbor Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Late This Afternoon and Tonight

Thunderstorms will affect the nearshore waters late this afternoon
and early evening. Wind gusts may exceed 30 knots with this line
of storms.

More thunderstorms are expected later tonight. Severe
thunderstorms with strong winds, large hail, and an isolated
waterspout will be possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Wednesday

The chance for thunderstorms will continue into Friday.

LMZ080-261-362-364-366-563-565-567-669-671-673-675-777-779-868-
870-872-874-876-878-151930-
Lake Michigan Michigan City IN to St. Joseph MI 5 NM offshore to
mid-line of lake.-
Lake Michigan from Seul Choix Point to Rock Island Passage 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan South of a line from Seul Choix Point to the
Mackinac Bridge and North of a line from Charlevoix MI to South
Fox Island 5NM offshore-
Lake Michigan from Charlevoix to Point Betsie MI 5NM Offshore to
mid lake-
Lake Michigan from Point Betsie to Manistee MI 5NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay WI 5NM
offshore to mid lake-
Lake Michigan from Sturgeon Bay to Two Rivers WI 5NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Two Rivers to Sheboygan WI 5NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from Sheboygan to Port Washington WI 5NM offshore
to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Port Washington to North Point Light WI 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from North Point Light to Wind Point WI 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Wilmette Harbor to Michigan City in 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Pentwater to Manistee MI 5NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from Whitehall to Pentwater MI 5NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to Whitehall MI 5NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Holland to Grand Haven MI 5NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from South Haven to Holland MI 5NM offshore to Mid
lake-
Lake Michigan from St Joseph to South Haven MI 5NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
226 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the open waters of Lake
Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Two rounds of thunderstorms are expected early this evening and
late tonight, but the second round will depend on how fast the
first round clears out. Severe storms will be possible with strong
winds as the main concern and the potential for large hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Wednesday

The chance for thunderstorms will continue across southern Lake
Michigan into Friday.

www.weather.gov/mkx

MBK

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 14, 12:55 PM CST, 3 hours 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
155 PM CDT WED JUL 14 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0140 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 ENE MONROE            42.62N 89.59W
07/14/2021  M48 MPH          GREEN              WI   AWOS

            MONROE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.

&&

DDV

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 1:36 PM CST, 2 hours 52 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
236 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

WIZ064-065-069-070-142030-
Walworth-Rock-Waukesha-Jefferson-

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WALWORTH...EASTERN
ROCK...WESTERN WAUKESHA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES...

At 236 PM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Lake Ripley to Fort Atkinson to 6
miles east of Janesville to Rockton. Movement was east at 35 mph.

Winds of 40 to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Janesville, Beloit, Whitewater, Fort Atkinson, Elkhorn, Delavan,
Jefferson, Lake Geneva, Mukwonago, Delafield, Lake Mills, Milton,
East Troy, Williams Bay, Wales, Okauchee Lake, Oconomowoc, Ottawa,
Genoa City and Walworth.

LAT...LON 4250 8907 4264 8900 4290 8896 4301 8901
      4306 8901 4314 8841 4299 8833 4284 8830
      4249 8831
TIME...MOT...LOC 1936Z 262DEG 31KT 4306 8898 4291 8886 4266 8890 4247
8906

CMILLER

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 2:15 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
315 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

WIZ065-066-070>072-142115-
Walworth-Waukesha-Milwaukee-Racine-Kenosha-

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MILWAUKEE...EASTERN
WALWORTH...RACINE...WAUKESHA AND KENOSHA COUNTIES...

At 314 PM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Merton to Wales to near Potter Lake
to Walworth. Movement was east at 35 mph.

Winds of 30 to 40 mph are possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, West Allis, Wauwatosa, New
Berlin, Brookfield, Greenfield, Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Mount
Pleasant, Muskego, South Milwaukee, Pleasant Prairie, Cudahy,
Antioch, Whitefish Bay, Greendale and Pewaukee.

LAT...LON 4283 8848 4298 8843 4314 8844 4314 8790
      4312 8790 4307 8787 4302 8790 4296 8785
      4288 8785 4285 8783 4278 8775 4276 8777
      4271 8777 4266 8781 4261 8782 4249 8780
      4250 8866
TIME...MOT...LOC 2014Z 266DEG 30KT 4314 8835 4299 8835 4284 8840 4251
8859

CMILLER

Local storm report, Jul 14, 2:38 PM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
338 PM CDT WED JUL 14 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0333 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 SE GERMANTOWN         43.22N 88.09W
07/14/2021  E45 MPH          WASHINGTON         WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES ARE BENDING AND POWER IS FLICKERING.

&&

MRC

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 2:38 PM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
338 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

WIZ059-060-065-066-142115-
Waukesha-Milwaukee-Washington-Ozaukee-

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN OZAUKEE...
NORTHWESTERN MILWAUKEE...NORTHEASTERN WAUKESHA AND SOUTHEASTERN
WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

At 338 PM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from Jackson to near Menomonee Falls. Movement
was east at 30 mph.

Winds of 30 to 40 mph are possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Northern Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, Brown Deer, Grafton,
Cedarburg, Port Washington, Jackson, Fox Point, Saukville, Bayside,
Thiensville, Germantown, Glendale, River Hills, Lannon, Richfield and
Kirchhayn.

LAT...LON 4337 8788 4330 8789 4326 8791 4324 8791
      4321 8790 4320 8790 4318 8788 4314 8790
      4314 8818 4331 8825 4343 8783
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 248DEG 28KT 4330 8814 4315 8807

CMILLER

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 4:08 PM CST, 20 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
508 PM CDT Wed Jul 14 2021

WIZ056-142245-
Sauk-

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL SAUK COUNTY...

At 508 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 9 miles southwest of
Reedsburg, moving east at 40 mph.

Winds of 30 to 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Baraboo, Reedsburg, Lake Wisconsin, West Baraboo, Bluffview, North
Freedom, Merrimac, Rock Springs, Loganville, Lime Ridge, Devils Lake
St Park and Hill Point.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 4350 9019 4357 8972 4357 8967 4356 8965
      4356 8960 4338 8960 4336 8965 4336 8967
      4333 8971 4331 9018
TIME...MOT...LOC 2208Z 260DEG 33KT 4341 9008

CMILLER

The radar

The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:26 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sauk

When: July 14, 4:28 PM CST
Where: Sauk County, 1.22 mi NW of Baraboo
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 43.480, -89.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Sauk

When: July 14, 5:16 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Sauk County, North Freedom to Baraboo
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.470, -89.870

Numerous reports of multiple trees, limbs, and powerlines downed. The hardest hit areas were from North Freedom to Loganville to Baraboo. There was one report of roof damage to a garage and a chicken coop that was blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Columbia

When: July 14, 5:30 PM CST to 5:55 PM CST
Where: Columbia County, 6 mi N of Portage to 1 mi NE of Portage
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 43.637, -89.450

Numerous reports of downed trees and limbs.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, July 2021

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 962291, 961853, 961854.