High winds caused by pressure differences in the wake of showers and thunderstorms gusted up to 77 mph in Milwaukee. Numerous trees were downed along with structural damage.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 MKX wrote it up.
High winds caused by pressure differences in the wake of showers and thunderstorms gusted up to 77 mph in Milwaukee. Numerous trees were downed along with structural damage.
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 Apr 27, 9:28 AM CST, 2 hours 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
1028 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Widespread showers (80 to 100 percent chances) and embedded
storms this morning through mid afternoon. Severe weather is
not expected.
- Scattered thunderstorms will pose a risk of severe hail and
wind gusts along and west of I-39 from mid afternoon through
this evening.
- Cooler temps Tuesday through the end of next week, with a
frost/freeze potential by the end of the week.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued 1028 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
A large band of rain with embedded storms continues to move into
the region this morning. Ahead of this area of rain, smaller,
more transient bands are developing and quickly moving to the
northeast. This is in response to large scale warm advection
aloft, and will continue into the early afternoon hours. Latest
radar trends support a progressive southwest to northeast
movement, with the western area of the rain shrinking a bit.
Easterly winds are gusty on the back edge of the area of rain,
with gusts between 40-45mph at times. Will be watching to see if
this continues to spread east.
The forecast for mid afternoon through this evening has changed.
Convection currently over MO/IL is dominating and in particular
has altered the location and orientation of the low level jet
away from southern Wisconsin. 12z guidance has picked up on this
and it has shunted the best risk for severe storms to the south.
As a results SPC has shifted the enhanced risk to our south,
maintaining a slight risk for severe storms.
Our severe risk will be more tied to the surface low, a
prefrontal trough and the cold front to our west. There should
be enough clearing over IA and southeast MN to warrant an
increase in instability this afternoon. Thunderstorm initiation
is expected by mid afternoon and we will need to monitor this
activity as it moves to the east. Over southern WI we will also
be watching surface winds, which will be initially backed to the
southeast. Guidance suggests these winds shift to the southwest
with time, lessening low level turning.
The primary concern with storms that fire later this afternoon
and move into western portions of the outlook area (I-39 and
west) are marginally severe hail and localized downburst winds.
If low level winds happen to stay backed, there will be a low
risk for a tornado or two, though this should be an exception
rather than the rule.
With time this evening, instability decreases and the risk for
severe storms east of I-39 steadily decreases. We should still
see scattered showers and storms, but they should lose their
punch as they approach Lake Michigan.
Gagan
&&
.SHORT TERM...
Issued 114 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
Overnight through Monday Night:
Fog and low stratus along lakeshore visited the Milwaukee area
temporarily in the evening, but it dissipated.
A broad upper trough is set up over the center of the country
with several embedded shortwaves tonight. One area of interest
is the widespread rain over eastern SD and southern MN (with
some clearing in IA). This is associated with the leading
shortwave trough, warm air advection, and the nose of a low
level jet. This is also where a weak surface low is identified
in northwest IA per the wind field. Another area is over
eastern MO where severe storms are ongoing and are expected to
track ESE overnight (no threat to WI). The other area is over
western KS where convection is ongoing and is associated with a
strong shortwave trough, the nose of a very strong low level
jet, and a surface warm front. There is also a surface low with
this feature (deeper than the IA one) but it is going to lift
toward the IA/MN low and occlude.
These KS storms are the ones that could affect the WI weather
in the morning. The storms are expected to evolve into a broken
line of storms as they track across northern MO and IA
overnight. Weakening showers and a few storms might make it into
southern WI between 10 am and 2 pm. There is no severe risk for
southern WI during this time.
Meanwhile, a few showers with a mid level shortwave trough and
the nose of a LLJ may track across southern WI during the
morning hours between 5 and 8 am. There is light reflectivity on
radar but only sprinkles are reaching the ground.
A lull in the precip over southern WI is still looking likely
from roughly noon to 4pm. If we can get sunshine during this
time, it will help increase the instability to support stronger
storms for the potential evening round.
Our attention turns to storms that are expected to develop along
the cold front pushing into MO and eastern IA during the late
afternoon. Given the high-shear environment, lines of storms
are anticipated. Storm motion will be to the northeast, so the
MO storms should track into northern and central IL. Many of
the 00z models keep the majority of these storms just to the
south of the WI/IL border. Therefore, the enhanced risk was
trimmed out of southern WI and northern IL since the worst of it
is aiming at central and southern IL. The anticipated eastern
IA convection, firing just ahead of the cold front and supported
by cyclogenesis over MN from the digging upper trough and a
strong low level jet, has the potential to keep storm
development going as they track through southern WI as long as
there was enough instability built up from any afternoon sun.
If strong storms develop, they could produce damaging winds (and
brief small hail). Given the strong 0-3km shear, any little
bowing line segment would be suspect for a line-embedded
tornado. There is still a slight risk for severe over most of
southern WI to account for a few severe storms possible during
the early evening hours. The heavy rain potential is still
there, but trending down. The storms are still expected to
clear southeast WI around midnight with the passage of the cold
front.
Cronce
&&
.LONG TERM...
Issued 114 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
Tuesday through Sunday:
Cold air advection on gusty west winds should move into the area
Tuesday, which should start to bring cooler and drier air.
Temperatures should cool down to near normal or a little below
normal values into the rest of the week, as 500 mb cluster
analysis shows an anomalous and elongated low/trough shifting
slowly east across the region. There may be some frost that occurs
Wednesday night, Thursday night and Friday night, depending on if
winds can become light enough within this cooler airmass.
There may be small chances (around 20 percent) for light rain
showers Thursday, as a shortwave trough shifts through the area
with modest moisture. Otherwise, the rest of the week looks fairly
dry, with high pressure passing to the southwest of the area.
Ensemble means suggest another high may move southeast through
the area Friday into Saturday, with temperatures possibly rising a
bit per ensemble mean trends. It looks more uncertain toward
Sunday, as some chances for precipitation (around 20 to 30
percent) may return to the area.
Wood
&&
.AVIATION...
Issued 718 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
A weak band of showers will progress eastward this morning with
MVFR ceilings underneath the showers. Easterly winds will shift
southeasterly and increase through the morning. A steady band
of rain will then move eastward mid- morning through early
afternoon, bringing MVFR ceilings and reduced visibilities. As
low pressure approaches southern Minnesota, expect low level
wind shear to develop. A frontal feature will bring strong to
severe storms to southern terminals this evening, with damaging
winds as the main threat. IFR ceilings are expected along and
behind this frontal feature. After the frontal passage, expect
winds to shift to west-northwest and become gusty.
MH
&&
.MARINE...
Issued 114 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
Low pressure of 29.4 inches is expected to lift from northeast
Kansas tonight to Lake Superior by later Monday night while
deepening to 29.3 inches. Look for increasing easterly winds
tonight and southeast winds through Monday night as the low
approaches. The cooler lake temps should dampen the threat for
gales across the lake. Winds will shift to the west early Tuesday
morning with the cold frontal passage, and gusty westerly winds
are expected through Tuesday afternoon behind the departing low.
High pressure around 30.1 inches will set up over the Upper
Midwest and Upper Great Lakes Tuesday through Friday.
A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the nearshore areas from
early Monday morning for the persistent southeast winds, and
until Tuesday afternoon when the gusty westerly winds diminish
behind the front.
Cronce
&&
.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
LM...Small Craft Advisory...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646 until 1 PM
Tuesday.
&&
Visit us at weather.gov/milwaukee
Follow us on Facebook, X, and YouTube at:
www.facebook.com/NWSMilwaukee
www.x.com/NWSMilwaukee
www.youtube.com/NWSMilwaukeeHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 430 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-280930- Marquette-Green Lake-Fond du Lac-Sheboygan-Sauk-Columbia-Dodge- Washington-Ozaukee-Iowa-Dane-Jefferson-Waukesha-Milwaukee- Lafayette-Green-Rock-Walworth-Racine-Kenosha- 430 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Wisconsin, south central Wisconsin and southeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Severe storms are possible, particularly south of I-94. Storms are expected to produce damaging winds, with an isolated tornado possible. Moderate to heavy rainfall is possible, potentially adding to or extending river flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Temperatures may approach freezing Thursday and Friday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon into tonight. LMZ643>646-280930- 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- 430 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters from Sheboygan Wisconsin to Winthrop Harbor Illinois. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Small Craft Advisory conditions will continue throughout today and tonight. Strong to severe storms are possible this evening into tonight, with strong winds the primary hazard. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Small Craft Advisory conditions will continue through Tuesday morning. LMZ080-261-362-364-366-563-565-567-669-671-673-675-777-779-868- 870-872-874-876-878-280930- 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- 430 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the open waters of Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few gales are possible this afternoon into tonight. There is potential for strong to severe storms this evening into tonight, primarily across the southern half of the lake. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. www.weather.gov/mkx
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
1116 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
WIZ062-067-271715-
Lafayette WI-Iowa WI-
1116 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LAFAYETTE AND IOWA COUNTIES
THROUGH 1215 PM CDT...
At 1115 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from near Muscoda to near
Mineral Point to near Massbach. Movement was northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph on the backside of the storms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Darlington, Shullsburg, Belmont, Benton,
Argyle, Blanchardville, Barneveld, Wiota, Highland, Arena, Ridgeway,
Centerville, Avoca, Orion, Linden, New Diggings, South Wayne, and
Waldwick.
This includes the following highways...
U.S. Highway 18 between mile markers 49 and 61.
U.S. Highway 151 between mile markers 23 and 47.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4320 9043 4321 9029 4316 9018 4315 9006
4319 9001 4319 8986 4320 8984 4251 8984
4251 9043
TIME...MOT...LOC 1615Z 227DEG 32KT 4323 9043 4289 9020 4219 9009
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WAGNERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
1139 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
WIZ063-068-271730-
Green WI-Dane WI-
1139 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...LINE OF SHOWERS WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL IMPACT GREEN AND WESTERN
DANE COUNTIES THROUGH 1230 PM CDT...
At 1137 AM CDT, the public reported a cluster of strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from 7 miles west of Spring Green to 6 miles
southeast of Dodgeville to near Warren. Movement was east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph on the backside of the
showers and storms..
SOURCE...Weather stations upstream observed 40-50 mph gusts.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Western Madison, Fitchburg, Middleton, Monroe, Verona, Oregon, Mount
Horeb, Sauk City, Brodhead, Cross Plains, Belleville, New Glarus,
Mazomanie, Shorewood Hills, Brooklyn, Black Earth, Monticello,
Albany, Dane, and Blue Mounds.
This includes the following highways...
U.S. Highway 18 between mile markers 62 and 84.
U.S. Highway 12 between mile markers 249 and 259.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4251 8984 4321 8984 4324 8980 4326 8973
4329 8971 4329 8951 4287 8938 4250 8937
TIME...MOT...LOC 1637Z 268DEG 49KT 4314 9021 4289 9003 4254 8992
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WAGNERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
1155 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
WIZ056-271745-
Sauk WI-
1155 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...LINE OF SHOWERS WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL IMPACT SAUK COUNTY THROUGH
1245 PM CDT...
At 1152 AM CDT, surface weather stations traked gusty winds behind
rain showers / weak thunderstorms. Movement was east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph on the back side of the showers and
storms .
SOURCE...Upstream surface weather stations report 40-50 mph gusts.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Baraboo, Reedsburg, Prairie Du Sac, Sauk City, Wisconsin Dells, Lake
Wisconsin, Lake Delton, Spring Green, West Baraboo, Plain, Bluffview,
North Freedom, Merrimac, La Valle, Rock Springs, Loganville, Ironton,
Lime Ridge, Devils Lake St Park, and Hill Point.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 90/94 between mile markers 88 and 101.
U.S. Highway 12 between mile markers 213 and 223.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4364 9031 4364 8979 4360 8976 4360 8972
4357 8973 4356 8960 4338 8960 4335 8969
4331 8973 4327 8972 4319 8994 4319 9001
4314 9006 4316 9009 4317 9019 4355 9019
4356 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 1652Z 254DEG 48KT 4402 9076 4256 8971
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
SHEPPARDSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
1209 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
WIZ057-063-064-069-070-271815-
Walworth WI-Columbia WI-Rock WI-Jefferson WI-Dane WI-
1209 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026
...LINE OF SHOWERS WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL IMPACT WESTERN
WALWORTH...ROCK...COLUMBIA...EASTERN DANE AND WESTERN JEFFERSON
COUNTIES THROUGH 115 PM CDT...
At 1206 PM CDT, surface weather stations traked gusty winds behind
rain showers / weak thunderstorms. Movement of the line of showers
was east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Upstream surface weather stations report 40-52 mph gusts.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Madison, Janesville, Beloit, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton,
Whitewater, Stoughton, Fort Atkinson, Waunakee, Portage, Elkhorn,
Oregon, Delavan, Jefferson, McFarland, Lake Geneva, Monona, Windsor,
and Lake Mills.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 90/94 between mile markers 102 and 108.
Interstate 39 between mile markers 85 and 95.
Interstate 39/90/94 between mile markers 109 and 110, and between
mile markers 112 and 137.
U.S. Highway 12 between mile markers 259 and 273, and between mile
markers 320 and 324.
U.S. Highway 151 between mile markers 98 and 119.
Interstate 39/90 between mile markers 138 and 186.
Interstate 94 between mile markers 241 and 266.
Wisconsin Highway 26 between mile markers 6 and 33.
Interstate 43 between mile markers 0 and 27.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4250 8937 4285 8937 4286 8943 4327 8950
4327 8972 4338 8960 4356 8960 4357 8973
4360 8972 4364 8978 4363 8901 4320 8901
4320 8885 4250 8840
TIME...MOT...LOC 1706Z 264DEG 39KT 4342 9013 4239 8929
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
SHEPPARDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A few areas of fallen and split trees in Lake Geneva.
Measured wind gust of 77 mph at General Mitchell International Airport. The city of Milwaukee received more than 200 calls for downed trees and branches. Many reports of trees landing on homes, vehicles, and roads. Similar reports also in the suburbs of Milwaukee County. More than 50 percent of the roof torn off a warehouse building in the Port of Milwaukee. Approximately 51,000 We Energies customers were without power due to downed powerlines.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, April 2026
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: 1335062, 1333714.