National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Overview

In what was already a very active week for severe weather, the night of the 19th (Friday) through the day on the 20th (Saturday) brought 3 more rounds of strong to severe storms. The main impacts were from damaging winds, a few brief tornadoes,  and heavy rain resulting in flooding.  

Late Friday night (July 19th), a complex of thunderstorms tracked southeast across northwest Wisconsin, bringing damaging winds (60 to 70 mph), several tornadoes, and very heavy rainfall. The bulk of the storms stayed north of Interstate 94.

The next cluster of strong to severe storms rolled into southeast Minnesota around 7 am Saturday (July 20th), bringing strong to damaging winds and heavy rain. The rainfall led to some flash flooding. In addition, two brief tornadoes occurred in Trempealeau and Jackson Counties in Wisconsin.

By late morning, another thunderstorm complex was already approaching from the west, tracking along a surface front that played a roll in firing the storms from Friday night and early Saturday morning. This complex developed into a northeast-southwest running line, bringing damaging winds from 60 to 75 mph through the area. The strongest winds and most of the related damage held south of Interstate 94. Rain was not as heavy with this cluster.

radar loop
Radar Loop From "3rd" Wave Of Storms Late Sat Morning-Afternoon