National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heavy Rains from the Plains to the East; Fire Weather Risk in the Desert Southwest

Thunderstorms, some severe, may produce heavy to excessive rainfall and isolated flooding over portions of the Southern Plains through Saturday. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will spread east into the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Mid Atlantic and Northeast. Dry conditions, combined with gusty winds will continue to support an elevated fire weather threat in the Desert Southwest. Read More >

A strong low pressure system tracking across the region during the afternoon and evening hours of May 17, 2017, generated three rounds of thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail. A small summary of impacts includes:

  • Peak wind gusts of 60-70 mph were reported across much of the forecast area (see map below)
  • Minor flooding along both the Menominee and Wisconsin rivers from heavy rainfall
  • Numerous trees and power lines downed by the strong winds.
  • Eight houses on Shawano Lake sustained damage from downed trees.

Below is the radar loop of the thunderstorms as they crossed the area. The loop contains the composite reflectivity from the regional radars spanning the period from 12:15 pm to 12:30 am with images every 15 minutes. 

 

Collapsed barn near Tomahawk, WI in Lincoln County.

 

 

 

Power poles snapped in Marshfield. (Photo from Marshfield Police Dept.)

 

 

A map of the preliminary storm reports is shown below. A "W" indicates strong wind gusts or wind damage and "H" indicates hail.

Storm report map

 

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

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
251 AM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

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

0157 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MARSHFIELD              44.66N 90.16W
05/17/2017                   WOOD               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POWER POLES SNAPPED AND SOME DAMAGE WAS REPORTED AT A
            LOCAL BUSINESS NEARBY.

0159 PM     TSTM WND GST     MARSHFIELD              44.66N 90.16W
05/17/2017  M66.00 MPH       WOOD               WI   ASOS

0205 PM     TSTM WND GST     ABBOTSFORD              44.95N 90.32W
05/17/2017  M50.00 MPH       MARATHON           WI   BROADCAST MEDIA

            FROM WAOW-TV

0242 PM     TSTM WND GST     WAUSAU                  44.96N 89.63W
05/17/2017  M35.00 MPH       MARATHON           WI   ASOS

            DOWNTOWN AIRPORT.

0243 PM     TSTM WND GST     MERRILL                 45.18N 89.68W
05/17/2017  M43.00 MPH       LINCOLN            WI   AWOS

0249 PM     TSTM WND GST     TOMAHAWK                45.46N 89.73W
05/17/2017  M40.00 MPH       LINCOLN            WI   AWOS

0308 PM     TSTM WND DMG     20 W RHINELANDER        45.63N 89.82W
05/17/2017                   ONEIDA             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            A COUPLE OF TREES DOWNS.

0309 PM     TSTM WND GST     RHINELANDER             45.63N 89.41W
05/17/2017  M59.00 MPH       ONEIDA             WI   ASOS

0545 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SSW WAUSAUKEE         45.32N 87.96W
05/17/2017  M2.36 INCH       MARINETTE          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1 FOOT DIAMETER TREE DOWN.

0652 PM     HAIL             NEKOOSA                 44.31N 89.88W
05/17/2017  M1.00 INCH       WOOD               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0652 PM     HAIL             4 S NEKOOSA             44.25N 89.88W
05/17/2017  M1.00 INCH       WOOD               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0653 PM     TSTM WND GST     PORT EDWARDS            44.33N 89.84W
05/17/2017  M60.00 MPH       WOOD               WI   PUBLIC

            MEASURED WIND GUST. ALSO NOTED STOP LIGHTS WERE OUT.

0653 PM     HAIL             PORT EDWARDS            44.33N 89.84W
05/17/2017  M0.50 INCH       WOOD               WI   PUBLIC

0700 PM     HAIL             5 E WISCONSIN RAPIDS    44.40N 89.74W
05/17/2017  M0.75 INCH       WOOD               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ALSO NOTED SEVERAL 1-2 INCH DIAMETER TREE BRANCHES DOWN
            THROUGHOUT TOWN.

0707 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ATHENS                  45.03N 90.08W
05/17/2017                   MARATHON           WI   BROADCAST MEDIA

            SEMI TIPPED OVER IN ATHENS AROUND 708 PM. TIME ESTIMATED
            BASED ON RADAR.

0717 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SE MARATHON CITY      44.91N 89.78W
05/17/2017  M42.00 MPH       MARATHON           WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            MEASURED WIND GUST AT THE CORNERS OF HWY N AND O. ALSO
            NOTED TORRENTIAL RAIN.

0720 PM     TSTM WND GST     MOSINEE                 44.78N 89.69W
05/17/2017  E50.00 MPH       MARATHON           WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            ON HWY 135 NEAR THE AIRPORT. ALSO NOTED HEAVY RAIN.

0720 PM     TSTM WND GST     MOSINEE                 44.78N 89.69W
05/17/2017  M49.00 MPH       MARATHON           WI   AWOS

0720 PM     HAIL             PLOVER                  44.45N 89.53W
05/17/2017  M0.25 INCH       PORTAGE            WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            NOTED A MAX WIND GUST OF 37 MPH AND 0.18 INCHES OF RAIN
            WITH THE MOST RECENT STORM.

0728 PM     HAIL             ROTHSCHILD              44.88N 89.61W
05/17/2017  M0.50 INCH       MARATHON           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS ESTIMATED TO AROUND 50 MPH.

0728 PM     HAIL             12 S ROTHSCHILD         44.71N 89.61W
05/17/2017  M0.50 INCH       MARATHON           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS ESTIMATED AT 50 MPH.

0730 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S MERRILL             45.17N 89.68W
05/17/2017                   LINCOLN            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN JUST SOUTH OF MERRILL.

0730 PM     HAIL             MOSINEE                 44.78N 89.69W
05/17/2017  M0.50 INCH       MARATHON           WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            DIZE SIZE HAIL. WIND GUST ESTIMATED AROUND 50 MPH AT 725
            PM.

0731 PM     HAIL             PLOVER                  44.45N 89.53W
05/17/2017  E0.25 INCH       PORTAGE            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ON THE INTERSECTION OF RIVER DRIVE AND GRANT AVE.

0733 PM     HAIL             SE WAUSAU               44.96N 89.63W
05/17/2017  M0.25 INCH       MARATHON           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0736 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E IRMA                45.34N 89.62W
05/17/2017                   LINCOLN            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN AT HIGHWAY 51 AND COUNTY J.

0740 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE DOERING           45.24N 89.43W
05/17/2017                   LINCOLN            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD X.

0757 PM     HAIL             E PLOVER                44.45N 89.53W
05/17/2017  M0.50 INCH       PORTAGE            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ON THE CORNER OF I-39 AND HWY 54 EAST OF PLOVER.

0758 PM     TSTM WND GST     ANTIGO                  45.15N 89.15W
05/17/2017  E45.00 MPH       LANGLADE           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WIND GUST ESTIMATED AT 45 MPH.

0802 PM     HAIL             MARSHFIELD              44.66N 90.16W
05/17/2017  E0.50 INCH       WOOD               WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL.

0804 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WOODBORO                45.59N 89.55W
05/17/2017                   ONEIDA             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON
            RADAR.

0805 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ANTIGO                  45.15N 89.15W
05/17/2017                   LANGLADE           WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN IN THE CITY OF ANTIGO.

0812 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ELCHO                   45.43N 89.18W
05/17/2017                   LANGLADE           WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN IN ELCHO. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.

0816 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SUGAR CAMP              45.78N 89.30W
05/17/2017                   ONEIDA             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0828 PM     HAIL             4 E WAUPACA             44.34N 88.98W
05/17/2017  M1.00 INCH       WAUPACA            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ALSO NOTED.

0834 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NW BOULDER JUNCTION   46.12N 89.64W
05/17/2017                   VILAS              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ABOUT 15 TO 20 INCH DIAMETER TREES DOWN ON ROADS. SOME
            ROADS ARE BLOCKED BY THE TREES. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0834 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N BOULDER JUNCTION    46.14N 89.63W
05/17/2017                   VILAS              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WINDS THAT TOOK OUT SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED TREE LIMBS.
            ALSO HEAVY RAIN.

0920 PM     TSTM WND DMG     S WAUTOMA               44.06N 89.28W
05/17/2017                   WAUSHARA           WI   STORM CHASER

            TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED. TOP OF TALL HEALTHY PINE TREE
            SNAPPED OFF, 10 INCH DIAMETER TRUNK WAS SNAPPED.

0925 PM     TSTM WND GST     WAUTOMA                 44.06N 89.28W
05/17/2017  M52.00 MPH       WAUSHARA           WI   AWOS

0930 PM     TSTM WND GST     STEVENS POINT           44.51N 89.56W
05/17/2017  M35.00 MPH       PORTAGE            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED 35 MPH SUSTAINED WINDS. CORNER OF HWY HH AND 51.


0930 PM     TSTM WND GST     PLOVER                  44.45N 89.53W
05/17/2017  M41.00 MPH       PORTAGE            WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0937 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 S WAUPACA             44.31N 89.06W
05/17/2017                   WAUPACA            WI   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

0942 PM     TSTM WND GST     WAUPACA                 44.34N 89.06W
05/17/2017  M49.00 MPH       WAUPACA            WI   AWOS

0948 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MANAWA                  44.46N 88.91W
05/17/2017                   WAUPACA            WI   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

0955 PM     TSTM WND GST     NEW LONDON              44.38N 88.75W
05/17/2017  M42.00 MPH       WAUPACA            WI   MESONET

            REPORT FROM WBAY WEATHERBUG SITE.

1000 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N EUREKA              44.04N 88.84W
05/17/2017                   WINNEBAGO          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ONE TREE DOWN EAST OF HWY K AND BANNER HILL ROAD. TIME
            ESTIMATED.

1000 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SHIOCTON                44.43N 88.58W
05/17/2017                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   911 CALL CENTER

            COUPLE REPORTS OF WIRES DOWN

1002 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLINTONVILLE            44.61N 88.75W
05/17/2017                   WAUPACA            WI   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

1003 PM     TSTM WND GST     MARION                  44.66N 88.88W
05/17/2017  E50.00 MPH       WAUPACA            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1005 PM     TSTM WND GST     APPLETON                44.26N 88.40W
05/17/2017  M61.00 MPH       OUTAGAMIE          WI   AWOS

1005 PM     TSTM WND GST     CLINTONVILLE            44.61N 88.75W
05/17/2017  E50.00 MPH       WAUPACA            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED WIND GUST.

1008 PM     TSTM WND GST     S SHIOCTON              44.43N 88.58W
05/17/2017  M40.00 MPH       OUTAGAMIE          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ALSO NOTICED POWER LINE FLASH TO THE SW SHORTLY BEFORE
            MEASURING THE GUST.

1012 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NICHOLS                 44.56N 88.46W
05/17/2017                   OUTAGAMIE          WI   911 CALL CENTER

            COUPLE REPORTS OF WIRES DOWN

1015 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHILTON                 44.03N 88.16W
05/17/2017                   CALUMET            WI   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES DOWN AND POWER OUTAGES

1018 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW HOLSTEIN            43.95N 88.08W
05/17/2017                   CALUMET            WI   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES DOWN AND POWER OUTAGES

1018 PM     TSTM WND GST     NEW HOLSTEIN            43.95N 88.08W
05/17/2017  E53.00 MPH       CALUMET            WI   MESONET

            TIME ESTIMATED.

1019 PM     TSTM WND GST     CHILTON                 44.03N 88.16W
05/17/2017  M53.00 MPH       CALUMET            WI   MESONET

            TIME ESTIMATED.

1020 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BRILLION                44.18N 88.06W
05/17/2017                   CALUMET            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

1020 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW HOLSTEIN            43.95N 88.08W
05/17/2017                   CALUMET            WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

1021 PM     TSTM WND GST     KESHENA                 44.88N 88.63W
05/17/2017  M52.00 MPH       MENOMINEE          WI   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.

1029 PM     TSTM WND GST     GREEN BAY               44.51N 88.00W
05/17/2017  M55.00 MPH       BROWN              WI   ASOS

1030 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GREEN BAY               44.51N 88.00W
05/17/2017                   BROWN              WI   911 CALL CENTER

            ABOUT A DOZEN REPORTS OF TREES AND WIRES DOWN IN GREEN
            BAY

1031 PM     TSTM WND GST     GREEN BAY               44.51N 88.00W
05/17/2017  M49.00 MPH       BROWN              WI   MESONET

            FROM WBAY MESONET. TIME ESTIMATED.

1045 PM     TSTM WND GST     DENMARK                 44.34N 87.83W
05/17/2017  M44.00 MPH       BROWN              WI   MESONET

            REPORT FROM WBAY WEATHERBUG SITE.

1056 PM     TSTM WND GST     MANITOWOC               44.08N 87.66W
05/17/2017  M41.00 MPH       MANITOWOC          WI   AWOS