Excessive Heat — Barron, Wisconsin

2012-07-01 to 2012-07-07 · Barron, Wisconsin

Event narrative

The Barron County Medical Examiner found that a 71 year old woman died from heat in her apartment. The wall thermometer read 105 degrees. The family stated that she refused to have an air conditioner, stating she did not like the cold. In addition, the Barron County Medical Examiner determined that a 76 year old woman died of heat on July 1st. The county official reported that she was in a motorized wheelchair that left the roadway and went into a ditch. She was unable to get back onto the dead-end road and was found approximately 6-7 hours later. The temperature during that time frame was 86 to 89 degrees. She suffered from multiple sclerosis and was too weak to get out of the ditch. The deceased was found sitting in her wheelchair.

Wider weather episode

A large ridge of high pressure built across the Upper Midwest during the first week of July. This resulted in a combination of high humidity levels and temperatures, leading to two heat-related deaths on July 1 and July 5. Both were in Barron County of west central Wisconsin. The Barron County Medical Examiner found that a 71 year old woman died from heat in her apartment. The wall thermometer read 105 degrees. In addition, the Barron County Medical Examiner determined that a 76 year old woman died of heat on July 1st. She was in a motorized wheelchair that left the roadway and went into a ditch. She was unable to get back onto the dead-end road and was found approximately 6-7 hours later, still sitting in her wheelchair.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 396652. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.