National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Dozens of trees were uprooted and snapped across central and east-central Wisconsin as a fast moving cluster of thunderstorms moved through the area during the late afternoon of June 5, 2016. The damage was caused by straight-line winds of at least 60 to 70 mph as a result of downbursts associated with the storms. At the storm's peak, more than 12,000 customers were without power in central Wisconsin. Several houses, vehicles, and a school sustained damage from the wind and fallen trees.

Near Edgar. Photo by Kelly Van Der Leest. Wausau. Photo by Stephanie Leigh. Wausau. Photo by John Mizgalski. Near Mosinee. Photo by Andrew Faust.

 

Radar revealed a fast moving cluster of thunderstorms. The environment was ripe for microbursts, as the storms were able to mix fast moving air down from the mid-levels of the atmosphere. 

Radar Radar
Reflectivity image around 4:30 pm showing storms near Wausau. Reflectivity (left) and velocity around 5:40 pm. Radar measured winds over 65 mph in spots as the storms moved toward the Fox Valley.

 

Below is a preliminary summary of storm observations from spotters, law enforcement, and the public.

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     TSTM WND GST     MERRILL                 45.18N 89.68W
06/05/2016  M58.00 MPH       LINCOLN            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            TREES DOWN IN CITY.

0420 PM     TSTM WND DMG     W WAUSAU                44.96N 89.63W
06/05/2016                   MARATHON           WI   PUBLIC
            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE
            CITY.

0422 PM     TSTM WND DMG     W WAUSAU                44.96N 89.63W
06/05/2016                   MARATHON           WI   BROADCAST MEDIA
            MANY TREES WERE SNAPPED IN MARATHON PARK. VIA WSAW TV-7.

0423 PM     TSTM WND GST     WAUSAU                  44.96N 89.63W
06/05/2016  M64.00 MPH       MARATHON           WI   ASOS

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WAUSAU                  44.96N 89.63W
06/05/2016                   MARATHON           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            5 TREES DOWN NEAR 17TH/STEWART. SHINGLES PEELED OFF THE
            ROOF.

0428 PM     TSTM WND GST     WESTON                  44.90N 89.57W
06/05/2016  M53.00 MPH       MARATHON           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0430 PM     TSTM WND GST     MOSINEE                 44.78N 89.69W
06/05/2016  M47.00 MPH       MARATHON           WI   AWOS

0445 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N POLONIA             44.60N 89.41W
06/05/2016                   PORTAGE            WI   PUBLIC
            TREES DOWN IN CITY.

0502 PM     TSTM WND GST     TIGERTON                44.73N 89.05W
06/05/2016  M60.00 MPH       SHAWANO            WI   PUBLIC

0502 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BIG FALLS               44.61N 89.00W
06/05/2016                   WAUPACA            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            TREES DOWN IN CITY. NO POWER.
0515 PM     TSTM WND GST     SHAWANO                 44.78N 88.59W
06/05/2016  E46.00 MPH       SHAWANO            WI   AWOS

0519 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NW CLINTONVILLE         44.61N 88.75W
06/05/2016                   WAUPACA            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            MANY TREES SNAPPED AND ON POWERLINES ON NORTHWEST SIDE OF
            TOWN.

0520 PM     TSTM WND GST     CLINTONVILLE            44.61N 88.75W
06/05/2016  E65.00 MPH       WAUPACA            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            TREE DOWN IN CLINTONVILLE

0521 PM     TSTM WND GST     WAUTOMA                 44.06N 89.28W
06/05/2016  M44.00 MPH       WAUSHARA           WI   AWOS

0527 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW LONDON              44.38N 88.75W
06/05/2016                   WAUPACA            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            5 LARGE MATURE PINE TREES SNAPPED.
0528 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NW NAVARINO           44.62N 88.49W
06/05/2016                   SHAWANO            WI   PUBLIC
            PORTION OF GARAGE ROOF TORN OFF.
0532 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N SHIOCTON            44.47N 88.58W
06/05/2016                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            TREES DOWN IN CITY. NO POWER.

0536 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N BLACK CREEK         44.49N 88.44W
06/05/2016                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   PUBLIC
            TREES DOWN IN CITY.

0538 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 NE LENA               45.01N 87.96W
06/05/2016                   OCONTO             WI   PUBLIC
            TREES DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY J. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0538 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HORTONVILLE             44.33N 88.63W
06/05/2016                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   PUBLIC
            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN CITY. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0540 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KIMBERLY                44.27N 88.34W
06/05/2016                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            TREES DOWN IN CITY.

0545 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FREEDOM                 44.38N 88.28W
06/05/2016                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   PUBLIC
            TRAMPOLINE WRAPPED AROUND A POWER POLE. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0545 PM     TSTM WND GST     APPLETON                44.26N 88.40W
06/05/2016  M62.00 MPH       OUTAGAMIE          WI   AWOS

0547 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SHIOCTON                44.43N 88.58W
06/05/2016                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   EMERGENCY MNGR
            POWER LINES DOWN

0549 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DARBOY                  44.24N 88.32W
06/05/2016                   CALUMET            WI   PUBLIC
            TRAMPOLINE ON ROOF. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0550 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S OSHKOSH             43.97N 88.55W
06/05/2016                   WINNEBAGO          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            TREES DOWN NEAR HWY 41 SOUTH OF OSHKOSH
0550 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KAUKAUNA                44.28N 88.27W
06/05/2016                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   AMATEUR RADIO
            TREES DOWN IN CITY AND ROOF DAMAGE TO A HOUSE.
0550 PM     TSTM WND DMG     E GREEN BAY             44.51N 88.00W
06/05/2016                   BROWN              WI   PUBLIC
            TREES SNAPPED ON EAST SIDE

0551 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WRIGHTSTOWN             44.33N 88.16W
06/05/2016                   BROWN              WI   STORM CHASER
            NO POWER IN CITY.

0552 PM     TSTM WND GST     ASHWAUBENON             44.46N 88.08W
06/05/2016  M52.00 MPH       BROWN              WI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0553 PM     TSTM WND GST     SHERWOOD                44.17N 88.27W
06/05/2016  M49.00 MPH       CALUMET            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0554 PM     TSTM WND DMG     W GREEN BAY             44.51N 88.00W
06/05/2016                   BROWN              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER
            INTERSECTION OF MORRIS AND MARLEE. HUGE TREE ON ROOF.

0607 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BRILLION                44.18N 88.06W
06/05/2016                   CALUMET            WI   PUBLIC
            POWER OUT ON SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0613 PM     TSTM WND GST     WHITELAW                44.15N 87.83W
06/05/2016  E50.00 MPH       MANITOWOC          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

0619 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W MANITOWOC           44.08N 87.68W
06/05/2016                   MANITOWOC          WI   PUBLIC
            MANY TREES DOWN ON WEST SIDE OF TOWN.

0619 PM     TSTM WND GST     MANITOWOC               44.08N 87.66W
06/05/2016  M60.00 MPH       MANITOWOC          WI   AWOS

0623 PM     TSTM WND DMG     TWO RIVERS              44.15N 87.56W
06/05/2016                   MANITOWOC          WI   PUBLIC
            TREES DOWN IN CITY. POWER OUT ON NORTH SIDE OF TOWN. VIA
            SOCIAL MEDIA.

0627 PM     TSTM WND GST     MANITOWOC               44.08N 87.66W
06/05/2016  M52.00 MPH       MANITOWOC          WI   ASOS


0631 PM     TSTM WND GST     CLEVELAND               43.91N 87.75W
06/05/2016  M60.00 MPH       MANITOWOC          WI   PUBLIC
            TREES SNAPPED.