Tornado Emergency Unfolding In Southern Wisconsin

WISCONSIN — Severe storms are moving across southern Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon, bringing the threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, and flooding.

At 1 p.m., the National Weather Service issued multiple Tornado Warnings, including one for a confirmed large tornado near Mazomanie in Iowa County. That storm was moving northeast at 30 mph, with law enforcement confirming a tornado on the ground near Barneveld.

Another radar-indicated tornado was spotted near Monticello, prompting a warning for parts of Dane, Rock, and Green counties. Residents in the warning zones were urged to take cover immediately.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 6 p.m. across all of southern Wisconsin. The NWS warns that "isolated tornadoes are occurring" and that "damaging downburst winds" are likely along the storm front.

Timeline and Threats

According to the National Weather Service:

• Storms will move eastward between 1 and 7 p.m., reaching a line from Oxford to Sun Prairie to Janesville by around 2 p.m.
• Damaging wind gusts over 60 mph and heavy rainfall are expected.
• A brief tornado or two cannot be ruled out.
• 1–2 inches of rain are possible, with localized totals over 2 inches north of I-94, especially from Wisconsin Dells to Port Washington.
• Flash flooding could occur in low-lying and urban areas.

The worst of the storms are expected to clear Lake Michigan after 7 p.m., though scattered showers could linger into the evening.

Residents are urged to stay alert, follow local forecasts, and heed all tornado and flood warnings. If a tornado warning is issued for your area, seek shelter immediately in a basement or an interior room without windows.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Milwaukee Airport:

This Afternoon: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a chance of showers. Low around 62. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.

Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.

Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.