July 1, 2006 Hailstorm in Oconto County

Hailstorms Clobber Northeast Wisconsin on July 1, 2006 

Several large thunderstorms produced hail larger than golf balls and baseballs during the afternoon and evening of July 1.  Hailstones over 3 inches in diameter were measured near Suring and east of Oconto Falls in Oconto County, and near Branch in Manitowoc County.   Over 100 cars and numerous homes sustained damage in Oconto County.  Damage to homes and vehicles were also reported in Potter in Calumet County from 2" diameter stones.  Early damage estimates indicate the amount will be in the multi-million dollar range.

Photos of some of the Oconto Falls hailstones, courtesy Jared Alfson, KC9IPS:

NWS Green Bay Doppler radar image of one of the supercell thunderstorms.  Storm was near Suring at this time.  Note the classic "three body scatter spike" emanating from the core of the storm to the north-northwest.  A scatter spike of this size is almost always an indication of very large hail.

Here is a preliminary summary of severe weather reports:

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

0324 PM     HAIL             13 NNE KESHENA               
07/01/2006  E0.88 INCH       MENOMINEE          WI   PUBLIC
            ON HWY AA

0331 PM     HAIL             1 N HAYES               
07/01/2006  E2.50 INCH       OCONTO             WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            FOUND 30 MINUTES AFTER STORM PASSED. CARS DAMAGED IN HAYES. 
            CORN CROP DAMAGED.

0340 PM     HAIL             SURING                  45.00N 88.38W
07/01/2006  E4.00 INCH       OCONTO             WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            DAMAGE REPORTED.

0405 PM     HAIL             OCONTO FALLS            44.88N 88.20W
07/01/2006  M1.75 INCH       OCONTO             WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            SHERIFF SQUAD CAR SUSTAINED HAIL DAMAGE.

0405 PM     HAIL             STILES JCT.             
07/01/2006  M3.00 INCH       OCONTO             WI   AMATEUR RADIO

0410 PM     HAIL             6 E OCONTO FALLS        44.88N 88.08W
07/01/2006  M3.25 INCH       OCONTO             WI   AMATEUR RADIO

0514 PM     HAIL             ALGOMA                  44.61N 87.43W
07/01/2006  E0.75 INCH       KEWAUNEE           WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0627 PM     HAIL             ALGOMA                  44.61N 87.43W
07/01/2006  E0.75 INCH       KEWAUNEE           WI   AMATEUR RADIO

0629 PM     HAIL             ALGOMA                  44.61N 87.43W
07/01/2006  E1.75 INCH       KEWAUNEE           WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0714 PM     HAIL             4 SW REDGRANITE         43.99N 89.15W
07/01/2006  M0.75 INCH       WAUSHARA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0738 PM     HAIL             EUREKA                  44.00N 88.84W
07/01/2006  M1.75 INCH       WINNEBAGO          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0810 PM     HAIL             4 W REEDSVILLE          44.16N 88.04W
07/01/2006  E1.75 INCH       MANITOWOC          WI   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0819 PM     HAIL             POTTER                  44.11N 88.09W
07/01/2006  E1.50 INCH       CALUMET            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0820 PM     HAIL             POTTER                  44.11N 88.09W
07/01/2006  E2.00 INCH       CALUMET            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SOME HAIL DAMAGE TO HOUSES. WINDOWS BROKEN, DENTS IN
            SIDING. BUSINESS SIGN SMASHED BY HAIL. TREE BRANCHES
            BLOWN DOWN.

0830 PM     HAIL             BRANCH                  44.15N 87.76W
07/01/2006  M3.25 INCH       MANITOWOC          WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MEASURED 3.25 INCH HAIL.

0835 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MANITOWOC               44.08N 87.66W
07/01/2006                   MANITOWOC          WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN FROM MANITOWOC TO TWO RIVERS.

0835 PM     HAIL             MANITOWOC               44.08N 87.66W
07/01/2006  M1.00 INCH       MANITOWOC          WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            NORTH SIDE OF CITY.

0836 PM     HAIL             MANITOWOC               44.08N 87.66W
07/01/2006  M1.75 INCH       MANITOWOC          WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            NORTH SIDE OF CITY. DAMAGE TO A FEW HOMES AND CARS IN AREA.