Abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions during the late spring and early summer worsened and expanded in coverage during August due to well below normal rainfall during the latter half of the month. Moderate (D1) to severe drought (D2) conditions were noted at times during the month in each county.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions during the late spring and early summer worsened and expanded in coverage during August due to well below normal rainfall during the latter half of the month. Moderate (D1) to severe drought (D2) conditions were noted at times during the month in each county. Extreme drought conditions (D3) developed at the end of the month across portions of central and east-central Wisconsin, from southern Waupaca and southern Portage counties east through Waushara County into western Outagamie County. Crop damage to corn and soybeans was becoming more extensive, especially after extreme heat on the 23rd and the lack of rain over the last two weeks of the month.
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 Jul 31, 9:33 PM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 1033 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023 Updated aviation portion for 06Z TAF issuance .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Tuesday Issued at 331 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023 Smoke has spread across the area today, resulting in filtered sunshine. So far, this smoke has remained aloft keeping visibilities and air quality at the surface okay. However, the smoke has inhibited formation of cu, and therefore any showers as well. Kept a very small PoP in far northeast WI for a couple more hours, but chances are considerably low considering dew points are only in the 50s. Tonight, clouds will dissipate, with smoke continuing to pass overhead. The mostly clear skies and light winds will result in patchy fog development, mainly in central and north central WI. Lows will range from the middle 40s to upper 50s, coolest across north-central WI in the typical cool spots such as Tomahawk and Land O' Lakes. Tuesday will be similar to today. The day will start out cloud- free, with some developing in the afternoon. However, with smoke still present there could be a delay in the onset of clouds again. Smoke models also show some of the smoke mixing down to the surface starting Tuesday afternoon. This appears most prevalent in central and northern Wisconsin. Highs on Tuesday will be in the lower 80s, and a little cooler near Lake Michigan. .LONG TERM...Tuesday Night Through Monday Issued at 331 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023 The 500mb ridge across the central and southern plains will flatten early next weekend, with a fairly significant upper system moving across the region Saturday night into Sunday morning. Daytime high temperatures will run several degrees above normal Wednesday and Thursday, then falling back closer to normal Friday into next weekend. For Tuesday night, return flow/850mb warm advection is expected to trigger some shower and thunderstorm activity across the western Great Lakes. Models on the extent and location of the precipitation, thus only have 20 to 30 percent chances going for now. These type of situations sometimes lead to to a large cluster of showers/storms which rain chances will need to be increased in later forecast shifts. On Wednesday, the amount of lingering cloud and showers/storms will determine on how unstable it will become Wednesday afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center has much of the area in the Marginal Risk. Bufkit soundings indicated CAPE values of 500 to 1,500 J/KG along with 0-6 km bulk shear values of 30 to 40 knots, which would support scattered thunderstorms during the afternoon. Some of these storms could become strong or severe if they do develop. The forecast is still muddled Wednesday night and Thursday as a cold front moves across the area. The 12Z ECMWF is still depicting a cluster of showers and storms will move into northern Wisconsin Thursday morning. This could cause issues for convection along the cold front Thursday afternoon. Strong or severe storms are possible along the cold front Thursday afternoon if we should see sunshine during the afternoon, although most of the models are not depicting a lot of convection Thursday afternoon. Dry conditions are expected Friday and Saturday. The ECMWF is now depicting a strong shortwave energy moving across the area Saturday night into Sunday. The Storm Prediction Center Day 4 through 8 was talking about the potential for severe weather across the western Great Lakes. && .AVIATION...for 06Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1033 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023 An elevated layer of smoke will continue to drift into Wisconsin from the northwest and affect the region through the TAF period. It is unlikely to reduce surface visibility tonight. Mostly clear skies is expected overnight with patchy ground fog possible late tonight into early Tuesday morning. Mostly clear skies are likely Tuesday with some cumulus clouds possible during the afternoon, which will dissipate by Tuesday evening. Smoke could get close enough to the surface to lower visibility to 5 miles in some areas on Tuesday. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM.....KLJ LONG TERM......Eckberg AVIATION.......Kurimski
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 259 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-012000- 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- 259 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a very small chance of thunderstorms over far northeast Wisconsin this late afternoon. None of these storms are expected to become strong or severe. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Poor air quality may develop continue at times Tuesday into Tuesday night as wildfire smoke drifts into the state. There is a chance of thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday. Early indications are that strong storms are possible during this timeframe, however it is too early to determine where and when the strong storms would occur. There is another chance of thunderstorms this weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed tonight. LMZ521-522-541>543-012000- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 259 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a chance of thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday. Some of the storms could become strong and pose a hazard to mariners. There is another chance of thunderstorms this weekend. KLJ/Eckberg
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe Drought (D2) developed across the southeast half of the county at the beginning of the month, then expanded northward across much of the county by the end of the month.
Severe Drought (D2) was noted across the southern third of the county at the beginning of the month. The worst conditions were noted around the 8th, as Extreme Drought was noted across the far southeast portions of the county. Scattered thunderstorms brought much needed rain to the southern portions of the county. However, Severe Drought (D2) was still noted across the southern two-thirds of the county during the latter half of the month.
Severe Drought (D2) to Extreme Drought (D3) developed at the beginning of the month, and then continued into the September.
Severe Drought (D2) was noted at the beginning of the month across the southern half of the county. Thunderstorms brought much needed rain by the 15th which resulted in conditions improving into the Abnormally Dry (D0) and Moderate Drought (D1) during the latter half of the month.
Above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall led to worsening drought conditions with Severe Drought (D2) conditions noted across the entire county. Extreme Drought (D3) were reported along the Waushara County line.
Severe Drought (D2) was noted across the southern half of the county at the beginning of the month. Scattered thunderstorms brought much needed rain to the county by the 15th, resulting in Moderate Drought (D1) continuing for the latter half of the month.
Severe Drought (D2) was noted across the southern third of the county at the beginning of the month. By the latter half of the month, the Severe Drought (D2) expanded northward to cover the southern two-thirds of the county. Extreme Drought (D3) was being reported over the very far southern portion of the county.
Severe Drought (D2) was noted across the southwest portion of the county during the month. The remainder of the county experienced Abnormally Dry (D0) or Moderate Drought (D1) conditions throughout the month.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, August 2023
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: 1135900, 1135902, 1135903, 1135906, 1135907, 1135927, 1135930, 1139642.