Thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front during the late afternoon and evening hours across north-central and central Wisconsin on Friday (7/28). The strongest storms produced damaging winds and hail up to ping pong 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.
Thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front during the late afternoon and evening hours across north-central and central Wisconsin on Friday (7/28). The strongest storms produced damaging winds and hail up to ping pong 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 Jul 28, 2:39 PM CST, 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 339 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 Forecast discussion for routine afternoon forecast issuance .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Saturday Issued at 337 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 Complex/messy mesoscale/synoptic set-up making for a complicated forecast this afternoon into tonight. Main focus will be timing best chances for storms and if any will be on the strong side. For this afternoon into tonight...weak surface boundary, instability gradient and FGEN centered around 850mb, combined with daytime heating generating MUCAPEs of 1000-2000 J/kg will continue to produce isolated to scattered showers and storms extending east-west over parts of central and east-central WI. Main threats with this activity will be heavy rain and small hail as they should mainly remain elevated. Then attention turns to this evening as a more potent shortwave tracks into WI, likely kicking off additional showers and storms. Instability gradient still expected to be in place, with the pool of very instability well to our south in southern WI. Think the strongest of the storms, along with the main threat for severe weather, will build south/east into the better instability. We will be on the northern part of this and it may clip the southern CWA. Models are mixed on if and how widespread activity north of the main complex will behave tonight, with the HRRR very aggressive with more widespread activity, but other models have little to no activity. So confidence not great on how it will play out as you work to the north. Plenty of bulk shear to work with (around 50 kts) so any storms could be well organized and have the chance to produce hail and some brief gusty winds (especially if a cold pool can get established with the complex and it clips the southern counties). Some fog is expected later tonight as temps cool, especially in central and north central WI where winds are lighter in the boundary layer. Lows will drop into the 50s to low 60s for most spots. For Saturday...some lingering showers will be possible over north central WI in the early morning, then additional showers will be possible in the later morning and afternoon as a weak secondary frontal boundary drops south across northeast WI within a northwest upper flow, along with a weak shortwave and departing upper jet. A narrow ribbon of moisture and instability be just enough to touch off a storm, but will just mention showers for now. If models continue to trend more aggressive with this activity, PoPs will need to be expanded. It will be a little cooler and noticeably less humid with highs in the mid 70s to mid 80s. .LONG TERM...Saturday Night Through Friday Issued at 337 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 Summary: Generally quiet weather will prevail Sunday into Tuesday, outside of warming temperatures. There may be a period of strong thunderstorms again Wednesday PM as southerly flow returns and a low pressure system in northern Ontario crosses the Upper Great Lakes region. Deep low pressure centered over northern Quebec on Sunday and amplifying ridging over the northern High Plains keeps the central United States under mild northwest flow Sunday into Monday. This is generally expected to be a dry period for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. Temperatures aloft warm by a degree or two from Sunday into Monday, but largely support near-normal daytime high temperatures for the beginning of next week. The ridge axis aloft shifts eastward into the Missouri Valley Monday night into Tuesday as lower-level high pressure over the Upper Midwest drops into the Ohio River Valley. This creates a return flow into northeast Wisconsin by Tuesday morning. Expect an increase in daytime high temperatures for Tuesday as a result. Low pressure over northern Manitoba breaks down the central CONUS ridge Tuesday night to further increase temperatures Wednesday ahead of the next chance of possible stronger thunderstorms to work into northeast Wisconsin later Wednesday. There may be a chance of severe thunderstorms in this time period as well, but further analysis will be needed over the next few days pending similar guidance trends. Northwest flow may then return behind the cold front later Thursday as the low then centered in northeast Ontario moves further eastward.&& .AVIATION...for 18Z TAF Issuance Issued at 107 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 An area of low to midlevel frontogenesis is currently working east southeastward towards Green Bay and the Fox Valley early this afternoon. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will be possible for KGRB-KATW-KOSH mainly between 19-23Z. Large hail is expected to the primary threat with strong convective updrafts. A short break will be possible before much broader deformation forcing arrives across the southern forecast area mainly between 02-06Z. IFR visibility restrictions in heavy rainfall will be possible with any activity late this evening. Cold air advection and saturation in the wake of the upper level low will likely bring low stratus to the eastern taf sites. Model data supports enough near surface gradient flow to limit any fg/br in the east. Fog, potentially LIFR is a greater possibility at KRHI-KAUW-KCWA. .KOSH... TSRA activity to the north and west of the airfield will have the opportunity to build southward towards KOSH with time. Main threat for tstorms this afternoon is large hail with visibility restrictions in heavy rain. Prevailing rain with thunderstorms is anticipated with 02-06Z as upper level low pressure system passes to the south of the airfield. Heavy rainfall with some duration will be possible. Preference is with low stratus instead of fog late tonight and Saturday morning. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM.....Bersch LONG TERM......NLY AVIATION.......Behnke
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 327 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-292030- 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- 327 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight There is a chance of thunderstorms, especially across central and east-central WI. Some of these storms may become strong to locally severe into this evening, mainly along and south of Highway 29. Hail, damaging winds, and heavy downpours and localized flooding are be the primary threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Friday The chance of thunderstorms will return during the Wednesday through Thursday time frame and may produce some stronger thunderstorms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to report hail, wind gusts over 40 mph, and rain totals over one inch to the National Weather Service in Green Bay. LMZ521-522-541>543-292030- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 327 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Tonight There is a chance of thunderstorms. Some of these storms may become strong and could pose a hazard to mariners. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Friday The chance of thunderstorms will return during the Wednesday through Thursday time frame and may produce some stronger thunderstorms.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
1236 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0707 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Merrill 45.19N 89.70W
07/27/2023 Lincoln WI Emergency Mngr
Tree down at 10th and Memorial Drive.
&&
ESBSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Green Bay WI 1245 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 WIZ030-035-281815- Wood WI-Marathon WI- 1245 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Wood and southwestern Marathon Counties through 115 PM CDT... At 1245 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Loyal, or 12 miles northeast of Neillsville, moving east at 25 mph. HAZARD...Half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Spencer around 1255 PM CDT. Marshfield around 105 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by this storm include Bakerville, Hewitt, Nasonville and Stratford. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 4478 9032 4479 9003 4455 9006 4458 9031 TIME...MOT...LOC 1745Z 275DEG 23KT 4469 9040 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH Bersch
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
320 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0921 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Green Bay 44.51N 88.00W
07/27/2023 M41 MPH Brown WI ASOS
At the airport.
0910 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Seymour 44.51N 88.33W
07/27/2023 Outagamie WI 911 Call Center
Reports of tree on power line and another
tree down per Outagamie SO Dispatch from
gust front moving through the immediate
area.
0900 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Black Creek 44.46N 88.44W
07/27/2023 Outagamie WI 911 Call Center
Report of tree on power line resulting in
loss of power in Black Creek per Outagamie
SO Dispatch from gust front moving through
the immediate area.
0849 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Marshfield 44.66N 90.16W
07/27/2023 M47 MPH Wood WI ASOS
At the airport.
0830 PM Hail Tigerton 44.73N 89.05W
07/27/2023 M0.70 inch Shawano WI Public
Public report with photo from social media
of hail estimated around the size of a dime.
0825 PM Hail 1 N Ringle 44.92N 89.41W
07/27/2023 M0.70 inch Marathon WI Amateur Radio
Delayed report of dime sized hail per
Amateur Radio network. 36 mph wind at time
of report too.
0800 PM Hail Ringle 44.90N 89.41W
07/27/2023 M1.00 inch Marathon WI Trained Spotter
Social media photo showing estimated hail a
quarter in size.
0745 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Antigo 45.15N 89.15W
07/27/2023 M49 MPH Langlade WI AWOS
At the airport.
0740 PM Hail 1 NNW Weston 44.91N 89.57W
07/27/2023 E1.25 inch Marathon WI Trained Spotter
0738 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 SE Antigo 45.10N 89.10W
07/27/2023 Langlade WI Emergency Mngr
Several Trees Down in Norwood Area. Time
estimated from radar.
0730 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSW Antigo 45.12N 89.17W
07/27/2023 Langlade WI Emergency Mngr
Several trees down in Rolling Township.
0730 PM Hail 1 NE Wausau 44.97N 89.62W
07/27/2023 E1.00 inch Marathon WI Public
Dime to quarter size hail from social media
report photos.
0730 PM Hail 2 NE Wausau 44.98N 89.60W
07/27/2023 M1.25 inch Marathon WI Public
0727 PM Hail Wausau 44.96N 89.63W
07/27/2023 M1.00 inch Marathon WI Public
Via social media post.
0725 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Stettin 44.98N 89.73W
07/27/2023 Marathon WI Public
Report from social media with photos showing
a pine tree snapped near the base. Time
estimated based on general range from
observer and radar.
0725 PM Hail 3 SE Brokaw 45.00N 89.60W
07/27/2023 E1.25 inch Marathon WI Public
Social media report with photos. Time
estimated based on radar.
0718 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WNW Doering 45.24N 89.49W
07/27/2023 Lincoln WI Emergency Mngr
Trees and power lines down near the town of
Schley. Time estimated by radar.
0715 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 SSW Doering 45.18N 89.51W
07/27/2023 Lincoln WI Emergency Mngr
Several trees down near highway 64 and Cain
Creek Road. Time estimated from radar.
0715 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Merrill 45.18N 89.68W
07/27/2023 M41 MPH Lincoln WI AWOS
At the airport.
0710 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 N Heafford Junction 45.59N 89.72W
07/27/2023 M51 MPH Oneida WI Mesonet
Mesonet station TAWW3 Tomahawk 3 W.
0707 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Merrill 45.19N 89.70W
07/27/2023 Lincoln WI Emergency Mngr
Tree down at 10th and Memorial Drive.
0656 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Harshaw 45.66N 89.65W
07/27/2023 Oneida WI Public
Social media report with photos of a spruce
tree top that had a diameter of
approximately 8 inches. Time estimated based
on radar.
0655 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Tomahawk 45.46N 89.73W
07/27/2023 M39 MPH Lincoln WI AWOS
At the airport.
0650 PM Hail 13 NNW Hamburg 45.26N 89.95W
07/27/2023 E0.70 inch Lincoln WI Public
Mping report.
0646 PM Hail 3 NW Woodboro 45.62N 89.60W
07/27/2023 E0.70 inch Oneida WI Public
Mping report.
0634 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 N Boulder Junction 46.14N 89.63W
07/27/2023 Vilas WI Trained Spotter
2-3 inch diameter branches down.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
339 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023
WIZ036>038-282130-
Waupaca WI-Outagamie WI-Portage WI-
339 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern
Portage, northern Waupaca and northwestern Outagamie Counties through
430 PM CDT...
At 339 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Amherst, or 13 miles east of Stevens Point, moving east at 25 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.
Locations impacted include...
New London, Clintonville, Manawa, Iola, Bear Creek, Scandinavia,
Peru, Ogdensburg, Nelsonville and Big Falls.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 4449 8937 4461 8936 4465 8861 4438 8862
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 269DEG 22KT 4453 8928
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
EBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
342 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 PM Hail 1 ESE Polonia 44.55N 89.38W
07/28/2023 E0.50 inch Portage WI Public
Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.).
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
351 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023
WIZ036-037-282130-
Waupaca WI-Portage WI-
351 PM CDT Fri Jul 28 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Portage
and central Waupaca Counties through 430 PM CDT...
At 350 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Amherst, or 10 miles northwest of Waupaca, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Royalton, Manawa, Iola, Amherst Junction, Scandinavia, Peru,
Ogdensburg, Nelsonville, Fitzgerald Corners and Northland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 4447 8931 4460 8927 4456 8874 4430 8881
TIME...MOT...LOC 2050Z 281DEG 21KT 4448 8919
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
EBThe Green Bay radar (KGRB), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:56 UTC.
5 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Half dollar size hail on the south side of Iola. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
Penny size hail fell in Merrill.
Quarter size hail fell near Rib Falls.
Quarter size hail fell near Marathon City. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
Ping pong size hail fell near Mountain. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Hickory Corners. The time of this event is an estimate based on radar data.
Thunderstorm winds downed multiple trees in Coloma. 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 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, July 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: 1106966, 1106967, 1106968, 1106969, 1106970, 1106971, 1106972.