Thunderstorm Wind — Dodge, Wisconsin

1998-05-31 · near Countywide, Dodge, Wisconsin

Wider weather episode

During the early morning hours of Sunday, May 31st, southcentral and southeast Wisconsin experienced an unprecedented, widespread downburst wind event known as a "derecho." Incredibly powerful, hurricane-force straight-line winds, with peak gusts of 100 to 128 mph tore through 12 counties in this part of the state, while another 8 counties had peak gusts of 60 to 80 mph. Residents noted that the strongest winds only lasted a minute or two, but gusty winds hung on for 15 to 30 minutes. Meteorologically, a solid squall line developed in southern Minnesota and gathered strength as it raced east with a translational speed of 50 to 60 mph across southcentral and southeast Wisconsin. The squall line was orientated southwest to northeast and had many microbursts and macrobursts embedded in it. Whereas all 20 counties in southcentral and southeast Wisconsin reported scattered to widespread wind damage, there were 5 main corridor, or swaths of concentrated micro/macroburst damage: 1) central Sauk county through northern Dane county through northern Jefferson county and southern Dodge county through Waukesha county and into Milwaukee county, 2) eastcentral Columbia county across northern Dodge county through southeast Fond du Lac county and through southern Sheboygan county, 3) West Bend area of central Washington county east to the Port Washington area of Ozaukee county, 4) southeast Iowa county into northwest Green county, and 5) northwest to central part of Lafayette county. Newspaper headlines used a variety of words to describe this event: war zone, devastating, unbelievable, wicked wind, blown to bits, amazing, "Nature's Spring Cleaning," and "traveling back to the dark ages."Utility companies and Emergency Managers stated that this was the most damaging, widespread, straight-line thunderstorm wind event to affect southern Wisconsin in the past100 years! Estimated, monetary damage amounts for all 20 counties were $55.852 million for residental or mobile homes, businesses, utilities buildings, agriculture buildings, signs, street lights, billboards, campers, and boats; and $1.485 million in crop and livestock losses. As a sign of the wind power, many concrete silo's had their tops blown off, and many barns flattened. Many homes and other structures had their roofs peeled off. Thousands of large trees were either uprooted or broken/twisted by the winds. Hundreds of power poles were snapped or pushed over by the winds, or falling trees/branches. At one time, about 60,000 customers were without electricity in southcentral Wisconsin, and about 170,000 in southeast Wisconsin. Some residences or businesses were without power for as much as 5 or 6 days due to deluge of utility repairs and shortage of replacement power poles. Hundreds or motor vehicles were either damaged or totaled by falling trees/branches, or collapsed garages. The monetary damages to motor vehicles is not included in the totals given above. In addition, numerous vehicle accidents resulted from inoperative stop/go street lights as roads quickly became log jams. 1. Sauk County: peak winds estimated at 100 to 120 mph. Mirror Lake Park was hard hit with lots of trees downed. North of Spring Green, a 3-year old child was killed at about 1040 am CDT on May 31st when a large tree rolled on him during a clean-up by workers. This was an indirectly-related death and is not counted officially. A total of 21 residences had minor damage, 3 major, and one was destroyed. Five businesses had minor damage, and 2 had major damage. Twenty-six farm buildings sustained minor damage, 15 major, and 11 were destroyed.2. Marquette County: mostly tree and power line damage scattered across all parts of county. This county got off relatively easy. Measured peak wind gust of 68 mph in Briggsville. Gusts over remainder of county estimated in 60 to 70 range.3. Columbia County: peak wind gusts estimated at 90 to 115 mph. Hardest hit areas were Lodi, Wisconsin Dells, Cambria, and Fall River to Columbus. A total of 172 residences had minor damage, and one had major damage. One business suffered minor damage, and 4 had major damage. Thirty farm buildings had minor damage, 20 major damage, and 14 were destroyed. Near Columbus, a teenager was seriously injured and hospitalised when she left a camping trailer to warn others of the strong winds.4. Green Lake County: estimated peak winds of 60 to 65 mph along eastern border where there was some trees toppled. Otherwise scattered reports of large tree limbs knocked down across county.5. Iowa County: estimated peak wind gusts of 100 to 115 mph in southeast corner where most serious damage occurred in a swath leading into northwestern Green county. About 20 residences or farm buildings sustained varying amounts of damage. One resident in the southeast corner stated that she had difficulty breathing and the wind sounded the like the 1984 F5 Barneveld tornado she survived.6. Dane County: measured gust of 100 mph in Marshall, but peak gusts estimated at 110-120 mph based on damage. Hardest hit areas were Waunakee-DeForest, Sun Prairie, and Marshall. Cars were blown sideways off I-94 north of Madison. Two people injured in Marshall by flying debris as roof was torn off their home. A total of 300 residences had minor damage, 18 major, and 1 was destoyed. One business had minor damage, and 7 had major damage. Twenty farm buildings sustained minor damage, 12 major, and 15 were destoyed.7. Lafayette County: estimated peak wind gusts of 100 mph in a swath from near Belmont to southeast of Darlington where worst damage occurred. Ten city blocks in Darlington were closed due to debris. A total of 10 residences had minor damage, 5 major, and 1 was destroyed. Two businesses sustained major damage. Fifteen farm buildings had minor damage, 5 major, and 15 were destroyed. The death of a 25 year-old man was indirectly related to the storm. He was riding an ATV vehicle on a trail around 8am CDT on June 1st in the Graitiot area when he rode into a tree that was felled earlier by the storm.8. Dodge County: was one of the hardest hit counties. Peak gust of 128 mph measured 1.5 miles northwest of Lebanon. Other gusts of 103 to 107 mph across northern part of county. Central part of county was in between the two major damage swaths in the county. Eight people were injured: 2 in home north of Beaver Dam, 2 in camper near Hartford, and 4 in a vehicle accident on Highway 41 when the winds blew over a semi-tractor truck. Near Clyman, hay wagons were blown onto the 2nd floor of damaged barns. A total of 168 residences had minor damage, and 25 had major damage. Two hundred and twenty-four farm buildings had minor damage, 111 major, and 26 were destroyed. Dozens of businesses also had varying amounts of damage.9. Fond du Lac County: a peak gust of 83 mph was noted in Ripon, but based on damage, estimated peak gusts were in the 115-125 mph range in the southeast part of the county. Worst hit areas were Ashford to Campbellsport to Dundee and Fairwater to Brandon. A total of 188 residences had minor damage, and 20 major damage. Two businesses had major damage. Twenty farm buildings had minor damage, 10 major, and 35 were destoyed. Whiteout conditions at the height of the storm forced spotters off the road.10. Green County: a microburst damage swath1/2 to 1 mile wide, that started in southeast Iowa county, continued into northwestern Green county over to the New Glarus area. In the New Glarus Woods State Park, rental tents were shredded and dozens of trees toppled. Peak wind gusts were estimated in the 70 to 80 mph range. Elsewhere, on a farm near Albany, tents and tables were damaged by the winds, and 3 chopper wagons were damaged and rotated.11. Jefferson County: area along and north of I-94 was hard hit. Estimated peak wind gusts in 110-120 mph range. Area from Lake Mills and Milford over to Johnson Creek had worst damage where several silos and other farm buildings were seriously damaged. Near Waterloo, airport hangers and a HAM radio tower were damaged. Eight people were injured by flying debris. Measured wind gust of 64 mph at Watertown airport and 61 mph at the NWS Forecast office southeast of Sullivan. A total of 2 residences had minor damage, 6 major, and 1 was destroyed. Two businesses had minor damage, and 2 had major damage. Two farm buildings had minor damage, 8 major, and 10 were destoyed.12. Rock County: this county reported scattered areas countywide with downed trees and/or power lines. Peak gusts were estimated in the 60 to 70 mph range, especially across the northern part of the county around Edgerton. 13. Sheboygan County: estimated peak wind gusts of 110-120 mph across southern part of county, especially in the Beachwood to Adell/Waldo to Oostburg area. Northeast part of county also had many downed trees. In this county eleven residences had minor damage, and one had major damage. One Business had minor damage. Fifteen farm buildings had minor damage, and 7 had either major damage or were destroyed.14. Washington County: all parts of county had damage, but concentrated swaths extended from the West Bend area east to Newburg, and another one across the southern tier of townships and cities. Based on damage, estimated peak wind gusts in 115-125 mph range. Had measured gusts of 105 mph in southwest corner in Town of Erin. A 48 year-old women was crushed to death by a fallen tree while sleeping in her home in the Town of Erin at 250 am CDT. At the West Bend Airport, 6 hangers and 6 planes were destroyed and several others damaged, for a total of $ 2 million. In the county, a total of 1636 residences had minor damage, 39 major, and 2 were destroyed. Fifty businesses had minor damage, 14 major, and 12 (all in Richfield) destroyed. Thirteen farm buildings had minor damage, 17 major, and 3 were destroyed.15. Waukesha County: most parts of county had at least some tree or power line damage, but three areas were hit hard... the City of Waukesha through New Berlin, Stone Bank to Pewaukee, and Township of Lisbon through Minomonee Falls. A peak wind gust of 80 mph was measured at the Waukesha Airport, but peak gusts in the worst swaths of damage were estimated to reach 100 to 110 mph. Several boats and piers were damaged on some of the county's lakes. A total of 225 residences sustained minor damage and 10 had major damage. Seventeen businesses had minor damage, 18 major, and 3 were destoyed. Two agricultural buildings had minor damage, 18 major, and 3 were destroyed. In downtown Waukesha, a well-known church had it's steeple damaged by the powerful winds.Lightning struck a home in Delafield (Waukesha Co.) after hitting a nearby gazebo and tree. A small fire resulted. Southeast of Delafield, another lightning bolt struck 2 homes and triggered small attic fires. Southeast of Pewaukee (Waukesha Co.), lightning stuck a home and damaged a couple walls and a celing. But there was no fire.16. Ozaukee County: all parts of the county suffered some kind of tree or structural damage, but there were 3 swaths with concentrated damage... Saukville through Port Washington, Little Kohler to Belgium, and Cedarburg to Grafton. Peak measured wind gusts were 90 mph in Port Washington, but based on damage, peak gust were estimated to be in the 100 to 110 mph range in isolated spots. The diver of a semi-trailer truck was seriously injured when he was thrown out of the cab's popped-out windshield as the truck overturned in the powerful winds. This accident occurred on I-94 between Saukville and Port Washington. For the county, a total of 600 residences had minor damage, 2 major, and 1 was destroyed. One hundred and thirty-four businesses reported minor damage, and 9 major damage. Fifty-five farm buildings had minor damage, 5 had major damage. In addition, several sail boats at Lake Michigan marinas were damaged, and a dozen milking cows were killed.17. Milwaukee County: this county had the greatest monetary value of storm damage in all of southcentral and southeast Wisconsin. All county cities had some tree or structural damage, but the hardest hit areas were Brown Deer to River Hills, Wauwatosa, and a swath through Greenfield and Greendale to South Milwaukee. Peak gusts of 103 mph was measured in Greenfield, 100 mph at the WITI TV-6 station in Brown Deer, 71 mph at the WTMJ TV-12 station on Capitol Drive, and 61 mph at Mitchell International Field. Based on damage, peak gusts were estimated at 110 -115 mph in isolated spots. At Mitchell International Field, overhead doors on some of the hangers were blown in, and a heating unit was blown off the roof of an airport Fire Department building. About 300 power poles were downed in the county, with power outages lasting 5 to 6 days in some locations. More than 2000 people were evacuated from their homes in South Milwaukee after a fallen tree branch punctured a 1-inch hole in a large propane tank. In Cudahy, stripped roof shingles were found to be embedded edge-first in nearby garage siding.18. Walworth County: this county escaped the worst of the derecho winds. A peak gust of 61 mph (53 knots) was measured on the UW-Whitewater campus. Elsewhere, large trees were toppled in and north of East Troy and the village of Walworth. Peak wind gusts in these locations were estimated to be 70 mph.19. Racine County: this county escaped the worst of the derecho winds. Large tree branches were knocked out of trees across the northern part of the county where peak wind gusts were estimated to be about 60 mph. 20. Kenosha County: this county escaped the worst of the derecho winds. Large trees were downed on the north side of the city of Kenosha where peak wind gusts were estimated to be about 65 mph.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5640107. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.