A line of thunderstorms became strong as they tracked across east-central Wisconsin and the lakeshore ahead of an approaching cold front during the late morning and early afternoon on Friday (5/20). The strongest storms produced hail up to nickel size.
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 line of thunderstorms became strong as they tracked across east-central Wisconsin and the lakeshore ahead of an approaching cold front during the late morning and early afternoon on Friday (5/20). The strongest storms produced hail up to nickel size.
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 20, 5:09 AM CST, 5 hours 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 609 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022 Updated aviation portion for 12Z TAF issuance .SHORT TERM...Today...Tonight...and Saturday Issued at 245 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022 Showers and thunderstorms are currently developing along an axis of moisture convergence across central Wisconsin are forecast to push northeast through northeast Wisconsin during the early morning hours. While these storms are expected to remain below limits, some of the storms could be strong at times with hail and gusty winds. A cold front will then sweep through the area later this morning, which will bring a fresh round of showers and thunderstorms to the area as it slowly tracks east. Despite abundant bulk shear values of 50 to 60 knots, instability is less than 1000 J/kg and mainly elevated. Therefore severe weather is not expected today, but the stronger storms could produce sub-severe hail. The cold front advecting in will mean highs will likely occur earlier in the day, with falling temperatures during the afternoon hours as 850 mb temperatures plummet 7 degrees during this period. Highs today are expected to range from the middle 60s across the north, with highs in the lower 70s across east-central Wisconsin before temperatures fall this afternoon. A much cooler airmass will push overnight lows down to around normal for this time of year tonight. Lows tonight are expected to fall into the upper 30s to around 40 across the north, with lows in the upper 40s across east-central Wisconsin and the lakeshore. The forecast is expected to be dry tonight as the area will be in between a departing low pressure system to the east and one approaching from the south. A low pressure system developing across the southern Plains late tonight, will surge northeast along the cold front that pushes through the region later today, tracking through Illinois and Indiana on Saturday. While this low is expected to remain well to the south, some precipitation could sneak into the area later Saturday afternoon. The best chance for showers and a few thunderstorms will be across east-central Wisconsin, generally southeast of a line from Sturgeon Bay to Wautoma. The general trend with the precipitation has been further southeast; therefore, it is possible the area could be dry on Saturday if subsequent runs are even further southeast. Highs on Saturday are expected to be several degrees below normal; ranging from the lower to middle 50s across the north, with highs around 60 across central and east- central Wisconsin. .LONG TERM...Saturday Night Through Thursday Issued at 245 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022 A relatively quiet and stable pattern will be in place across the western Great Lakes as the storm track will mainly reside south of northeast Wisconsin. Focus of this forecast therefore mainly revolves around timing light precip chances. Saturday night through Sunday night...Strong height falls will be occurring on Saturday night as upper troughing moves into the western Great Lakes. Deep moisture will be mostly tied up along and south of the primary frontal zone, which will be located from the mid-Mississippi Valley to the eastern Great Lakes. However, with the arrival of the trough, there appears to be sufficient saturation for a chance of rain across northeast WI thanks to upper divergence and mid-level fgen. This area of deeper saturation looks to depart late on Saturday night, which then may lead to a cool and quiet Sunday morning. With daytime heating and arrival of some moisture in the 850-700mb layer, deep mixing may lead to a few sprinkles or showers over north-central WI on Sunday. High pressure then builds in for Sunday night. Skies should be clearing during the evening. With light winds, patchy frost will be possible across the northwoods. Rest of the extended...High pressure will remain across the region on Monday. Then a series of storm systems will pass from the mid- Mississippi Valley to the eastern Great Lakes on Tuesday through Thursday. Northeast Wisconsin will be on the northern fringes of the precip chances. But as a low pressure system tracks to the south, it will offer the highest chance of rain during the late Tuesday night through Wednesday period. && .AVIATION...for 12Z TAF Issuance Issued at 609 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022 A cold front will bring another round of showers and isolated thunderstorms to the area today as it tracks through the region. Conditions will drop to MVFR/IFR at times with the showers, with improving conditions later this afternoon behind the cold front. VFR conditions are then expected tonight with dry weather across the area. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM.....Kurimski LONG TERM......MPC AVIATION.......Kurimski
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 316 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-210830- 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- 316 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few strong thunderstorms are possible through mid-afternoon. Small hail and gusty winds are the main hazards, but severe weather is not expected. Locally heavy rain and minor flooding are also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Areas of frost are possible across the northwoods on Sunday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report an hail, wind damage, or flooding to the National Weather Service in Green Bay. LMZ521-522-541>543-210830- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 316 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Hazardous conditions to small craft are expected through this afternoon on the Lake Michigan nearshore waters due to persistent southeast to south winds and high waves. There will be a chance of thunderstorms on through mid-afternoon. Any thunderstorms could pose a hazard to mariners. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday The probability of hazardous weather is low. Kurimski/MPC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
1055 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1025 AM HAIL 4 SSW VESPER 44.43N 89.99W
05/20/2022 U0.25 INCH WOOD WI TRAINED SPOTTER
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
1101 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022
WIZ011-013-019>021-031-037-038-045-048-073-074-201645-
Southern Oconto County WI-Waupaca WI-Southern Marinette County WI-
Shawano WI-Langlade WI-Outagamie WI-Winnebago WI-
Northern Oconto County WI-Waushara WI-Menominee WI-Forest WI-
Northern Marinette County WI-
1101 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022
...Thunderstorms will impact portions of southeastern Forest,
Marinette, Menominee, northwestern Winnebago, Waushara, Waupaca,
Oconto, western Outagamie, eastern Langlade and Shawano Counties
through 1145 AM CDT...
At 1059 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking thunderstorms along a
line extending from 10 miles east of Antigo to near Clintonville to
8 miles south of Adams. Movement was northeast at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Pea size hail and 30 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Look for shelter if outside.
The thunderstorms will be near... Clintonville around 1105 AM CDT.
Embarrass around 1110 AM CDT.
Shawano, Carter and Navarino Wildlife Area around 1115 AM CDT.
Other locations in the path of these storms include McCaslin Mountain
Natural Area, Wautoma, Gillett, Redgranite, Napowan Scout Camp,
Oconto, Pembine and Lake Poygan.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4398 8960 4424 8934 4425 8923 4434 8922
4459 8892 4534 8899 4575 8787 4545 8784
4535 8789 4537 8787 4535 8783 4496 8780
4467 8815 4468 8825 4460 8825 4406 8889
4398 8915
TIME...MOT...LOC 1559Z 244DEG 54KT 4529 8892 4462 8886 4383 8981
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
RDMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
1154 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022
WIZ039-040-049-050-201745-
Calumet WI-Kewaunee WI-Manitowoc WI-Brown WI-
1154 AM CDT Fri May 20 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Brown,
southeastern Kewaunee, northeastern Calumet and northern Manitowoc
Counties through 1245 PM CDT...
At 1154 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Chilton, or 16 miles southeast of Appleton, moving northeast at 65
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Brillion around 1200 PM CDT.
Denmark around 1215 PM CDT.
Two Creeks around 1225 PM CDT.
Kewaunee around 1235 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Krok, Maribel,
Larrabee, Curran, Slovan, Wayside, Morrison, St John, Potter and
Brant.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4411 8834 4465 8739 4462 8736 4453 8741
4433 8748 4429 8747 4396 8819
TIME...MOT...LOC 1654Z 233DEG 56KT 4409 8816
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
RDMThe Green Bay radar (KGRB), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:00 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Nickel size hail fell near Pilsen. 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 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, May 2022
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: 1020011.