EF2 Tornado — Adams, Wisconsin

2011-04-10 · near Causeway, Adams, Wisconsin

Event narrative

A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed an EF2 tornado that tracked from approximately three miles west of Arkdale to County Road G. The tornado caused extensive damage to barns, trees, and parts of a house two miles west of Arkdale. A cement silo was knocked over as well. The tornado crossed Highway 21 north of Arkdale hitting nearby homes, irrigation systems, and hundreds of trees. A very distinct convergent pattern was noted in the trees at this location with winds estimated around 125 mph. Several more farms, homes, and trees were hit as the tornado continued toward the south side of Big Roche A Cri Lake near the small community of Cottonville. Several cars and mobile homes were flipped or heavily damage. A lake association building on the southwest side of Big Roche A Cri Lake was completely destroyed and numerous center-pivot irrigation systems were twisted or destroyed across the county. EF2 damage was noted as the tornado widened to nearly a half mile wide. It crossed Highway 13 at Cottonville and gradually began to weaken hitting more seasonal homes, trees, and roof tops. The tornado dissipated south of the Colburn Wildlife area.

Wider weather episode

A cold front pushed east into Wisconsin during the late afternoon and evening hours of April 10th. Severe thunderstorms developed along the cold front and produced very large hail and three tornadoes over portions of western and central Wisconsin. The hail ranged from quarter to tennis ball size and caused extensive damage to siding and cars in the southern portions of the city of La Crosse (La Crosse County). Although difficult to estimate, damage estimates from insurance companies and contractors in the area were between 20 and 30 million dollars from the one hail storm. National Weather Service storm survey teams confirmed two EF1 tornadoes and an EF2 tornado in Juneau and Adams counties. The tornadoes uprooted trees, knocked power lines down, flipped automobiles, and damaged or destroyed homes and businesses. In Adams County, 7 homes and 3 businesses were destroyed and damage assessments exceeded three and a half million dollars.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.0216, -89.9549)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 293736. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.