F1 Tornado — St. Croix, Wisconsin

2005-06-11 · near Hammond, St. Croix, Wisconsin

Event narrative

A tornado that was on the ground for 8 miles first touched down near Oak Drive in Section 24 of Kinnickinnic Township about 7 miles southwest of Hammond. A couple trying to outrun the storm in their car said that the funnel suddenly surrounded their vehicle. The car began to shake and the back end started to lift off the ground while at the same time branches were flying by the car. At a property nearby the tornado sheared off a garage roof, twisted a swing set up "like a pretzel", broke windows, and downed trees. The tornado pushed northeast and crossed Interstate 94 where it was witnessed by several motorists. Next the twister damaged a farmstead near the intersection of County Highway J and 170th Street about 4 miles southwest of Hammond. A number of horses were picked up and injured by flying debris. One horse had to be put down because of a severe leg injury. Three sheds (42x80 feet, 27x14 feet, and 150 feet long) were downed. After striking the farmstead the tornado destroyed two barns, a few sheds, and snapped or uprooted many trees before reaching Hammond. The tornado was at its strongest when it moved into the northwest corner of Hammond where it damaged 24 homes, mainly in the Meadows subdivision. A row of 5 townhouses sustained significant roof and garage damage and one building had to be demolished. The tornado caused grills, lawn furniture, and building debris to be thrown into the exterior walls and windows of homes. Several neighborhood residents took shelter in ground floor bathrooms and closets (the homes did not have basements) and incredibly no one was injured. Twenty seven families had to be sheltered by the Red Cross until the damage to their homes could be repaired. Hammond Golf Course lost 47 mature fairway trees between the 9th and 6th tee box. Three golfers caught outside when the tornado crossed the course had to hang onto trees to survive the forceful winds that threw trees up to 25 feet from where they were ripped from the ground. Just north of town along 90th Avenue the tornado threw a picnic table through the front of a home. The home itself was slightly moved off its foundation and the back wall of the home was ripped off. Two sheds on the property were picked up and dropped back down. This tornado was widely photographed and videotaped.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.9167, -92.5500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5462294. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.