Thunderstorm Wind — St. Croix, Wisconsin

2007-08-13 · near New Richmond, St. Croix, Wisconsin

Event narrative

A large swath of severe thunderstorm wind damage occurred from just west of New Richmond to the Glenwood City area, as determined by a National Weather Service damage survey. This swath of damage occurred within an approximately two to four mile width between these two cities. Numerous reports of damage were provided by the St. Croix County emergency manager, trained spotters, amateur radio operators and law enforcement. The New Richmond Airport AWOS also measured 60 knots at 2043 CST (two hangars were damaged). Some general reports include: 109 homes damaged or severely damaged, 48 barns damaged or severely damaged. In New Richmond, many 6 inch diameter or larger trees reported felled, and some light poles down throughout New Richmond; some roads were impassable due to downed trees; railroad crossing arms bent over at crossing. Some barns with significant damage reported on 140th Ave. (at residence numbers: 1703, 1793, 2540, 2578 and 2583). A roof torn off or other damages were reported on 160th St. (at residence numbers: 1593, 1769 and 1793), along with 1248 290th St. The back of a house was reported torn away at 2540 140th Ave., with another home damaged at 1506 County Road G. In Glenwood City, one to two foot diameter trees were reported down along with power lines. Two barns were reported destroyed near Emerald. A house was also rendered uninhabitable three miles east-southeast of New Richmond. One home at County G and GG was completely destroyed. Sheriff Dennis Hillstead said damage county wide was significant,and that it had been 10 to 12 years since the county had seen such widespread damage. The Luckwaldt Dairy north of Woodville received heavy damage, including ripping aprt the canvas covering to the barn. One cow was also lost. Significant damage was also reported at the Emeral Dairy in Emerald. Near Emerald Dairy, along county Highway G, barns, homes and corn fields were flattened. Power lines and trees were also toppled. The entire village of Hammond and some outlying areas were without power for approximately 12 hours Tuesday morning. Significant damage to Xcel Energy's electrical grid was reported during the early morning storms. A total of 24 transmission poles were broken or damaged and needed to be replaced across the Western Wisconsin. At the peak of the storm about 20,000 customers in western Wisconsin lost power from both high winds and lightning strikes. As reported by the following newspapers: Baldwin Bulletin, Hudson Star-Observer, County Today, Central St. Croix News, and the Courier Wedge.

Wider weather episode

Warm frontal boundary induced severe weather.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (45.1200, -92.5710)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 57634. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.