Hail — Columbia, Wisconsin

2004-08-03 · near Rio, Columbia, Wisconsin

Wider weather episode

Clusters of severe thunderstorms moved southeast through south-central and southeast Wisconsin, resulting in damaging straight line winds that toppled large trees, very large damaging hail, and heavy rains that led to flash flooding. Columbia County suffered the most damage thanks to hurricane-force thunderstorm winds coupled with large hail stones of 1 to 3 inches in diameter. The wind-driven hail damaged at least 100 homes and several businesses and churches in Fall River (Columbia Co.). The wind-driven hail also mowed down some corn and soybean fields between Rio and Columbus. Some of the hail stones were still unmelted the next morning. Flash flooding resulted in gravel shoulder washouts and flooded buildings and basements in the Wisconsin Dells to Wyocena area of Columbia County. Rainfall amounts of 2.50 inches were measured in about 1 to 2 hours in the Portage area (Columbia Co.). Flash flooding also occurred in the Jefferson to Ft Atkinson area of Jefferson County, with gravel shoulder washouts and flooded buildings and basements reported. Rainfall totals up to 2 inches in only 30 minutes were noted on the south side of Ft Atkinson where many cars stalled on flooded roads. Over in Waukesha County, similar flash flooding was noted from Oconomowoc to the city of Waukesha thanks to rains of 2 to 3.39 inches in only 2 hours. The Oconomowoc WWTP reported the 3.39 inches. A downburst wind event south of Afton (Rock Co.) resulted in 1 shed being destroyed, 1 shed and 1 garage damaged, and 2 vehicles dented by debris. Lightning hit a substation transformer in the city of Beloit, knocking power out to 3500 homes. Other lightning strikes damaged a condo unit in in the city of Waukesha, damaged a home's electrical system (West Bend, Washington Co.), and damaged a home's roof in La Valle (Sauk Co.). Utility companies estimated that a grand total of about 7500 custormers lost power during the storms thanks to trees or tree branches falling on power lines, or electrical strikes.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5417545. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.