F1 Tornado — Adams, Wisconsin

2004-06-23 · near White Creek, Adams, Wisconsin

Wider weather episode

A line of thunderstorms that moved out of Minnesota produced wind damage, hail and several tornadoes. The first tornado touched down about 1.5 miles north of Taylor (Jackson County) around 6:22 p.m. It caused intermittent damage during the first two miles of its path as it moved east southeastward across Highway 95. It then strengthened and stayed on the ground for another 3 miles. Many trees were knocked down, and it also demolished a garage and took the roof off two other structures. The tornado reached F1 strength (estimated 75-85 mph winds) briefly as it moved through the Davis and Taylor Road areas where it demolished a garage approximately 2 miles northeast of Taylor. This tornado appeared to lift approximately 4 miles east of Taylor around 6:28 p.m. About 3 tenths of a mile to the south of where the first tornado lifted, a second tornado formed. This tornado primarily caused tree damage. Shortly after formation, it reached F1 strength (estimated 80-100 mph winds), clearing out a path about 30 yards wide through a wooded area just north of West Pine Creek Road. This tornado weakened about 5 miles east of Taylor, but caused sporadic F0 damage until it finally lifted around 6:32 p.m. about 8 miles east of Taylor in the East Pine Creek Road area. Total path length of these two tornadoes was nearly 9 miles. They were on the ground for about 10 minutes. A third tornado quickly developed about 3 miles west of Warrens (Monroe County) near Arctic Road, just west of Interstate 94 around 7:00 p.m. It hit a home along Interstate 94, then crossed the Interstate hitting a semi-truck, before moving into Jellystone Campground just west of Warrens. The tornado and associated strong winds around the storm knocked down hundreds of trees in this area, and damaged several tents, buildings, campers, and cars in Jellystone Campground. One gentleman was seriously injured when a tree fell on him during a rescue attempt. He was in a coma for a period of time, but survived with lasting disabilities. The tornado continued just southwest of Warrens and hit a home, blowing the roof off, south of the village along County Road O. It lifted about 2 miles southeast of Warrens around 7:12 p.m. The tornado path was approximately 4.5 miles in total length, with a maximum width of 50 yards. The tornado was rated an F1 on the Fujita Damage Scale. Wind speeds were likely 90 to 112 mph, with most of the damage related to downburst winds around the actual tornado. At least 3 people were hospitalized briefly for injuries, but there no fatalities. The fourth tornado formed in extreme eastern Juneau County, about 2 miles west of Castle Rock Dam. The tornado moved east-northeast across Castle Rock Lake and into western Adams County. It tracked near or along Edgewood Ave, with extensive tree damage to the Quincy Bluff area, including the lookout ranger tower there. Hundreds of trees were blown down from strong winds rotating around the tornadic thunderstorm, which were in excess of 90 mph at times. The tornado intermittently tracked east to areas just north of Edgewood Drive crossing Highway 13 approximately 5 miles south of Adams/Friendship (Adams County). Downburst winds on the south side of the storm demolished at least 8 mobile homes in Edgewood Estates that were orientated north-south and took the full brunt of the cross wind. This was the same area hit by severe weather in September 2000. Most of the Town of Easton (Adams County) had extensive damage with hundreds of trees down. It continued to move east-southeast before lifting shortly before the Adams-Marquette County line about 3 miles southeast of Grand Marsh around 7:55 pm. A broad area of straight line wind damage was found south of this tornado track with widespread tree damage occurring up to 1 mile south of the track. The tornado path was approximately 17 to 18 miles in length. The tornado was rated an F1 on the Fujita Damage Scale with estimated wind speeds in the 73 to 112 mph range.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5409622. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.