EF3 Tornado — Rusk, Wisconsin

2017-05-16 · near Weyerhaeuser, Rusk, Wisconsin

Event narrative

The long-track tornado continued from Barron County into Rusk County and produced EF3 damage in the Conrath area. It entered Rusk County with an east-northeast track, but shortly thereafter began a gradual turn to the east and barely missed the village of Weyerhaeuser. Soon after passing Weyerhaeuser, it even turned a little toward the east-southeast (this happened at about 45.4063, -91.3583). The tornado then barely missed the village of Conrath. North of Conrath, however, the tornado leveled a house, and this is where the EF3 damage took place. Elsewhere, the tornado destroyed numerous sheds, outbuildings and garages and thousands of trees across the county. The tornado continued into southwestern Price County where it only produced EF0 damage and dissipated at 18:10 CST at 45.3916, -90.4919.

Wider weather episode

Severe thunderstorms developed along a warm-front in Southern Minnesota during the afternoon. During the late-afternoon and evening, storms continued to progress eastward and develop over Northwestern Wisconsin. One supercell developed a long-track tornado that traveled 83 miles from 5 miles south of Clayton, WI to 13 miles southeast of Hawkins, WI. This is likely the longest single tornado track in Wisconsin since records began being kept in 1950, as a couple events in May 1953 were very likely multiple tornadoes. There were also numerous reports of very large hail, up to 3 inches in diameter that occurred in a long swath from southwest to Amery, to near Cameron.

Based on damage assessments through the state of Wisconsin, the total number of residential homes affected in Barron County alone was 160. Of those affected, 75 had minor damage, 45 had major damage, and 40 were destroyed. Total estimated damages were 5.1 million dollars. The total number of businesses affected in Barron County was 6. Of those, 2 had minor damage, and 4 were destroyed. Total estimated damages were 5.0 million dollars. This includes six barns at a Jennie-O turkey farm, located off of Highway SS and north of Highway OO near Chetek's Prairie Lake Estates mobile park, where some were destroyed. There were approximately 25,000 birds lost in the tornado.

In Rusk County, the total number of residential homes was 27. Of those affected, 21 had minor damage, 3 had major damage, and 1 was destroyed. Total estimated damages were $420,000 dollars.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (45.3923, -91.5413)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 690881. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.