Strong, gradient, widespread winds from the south to southwest affected south-central and southeast Wisconsin during the afternoon and early evening hours of December 5, 2001.  Sustained speeds were in the 22 to 26 kts range (25 to 30 mph), with gusts to 39 to 43 kts range (45 to 50 mph).  Scattered power outages were noted due to the strong winds either breaking tree brances or pushing branches onto power lines.  Some of the higher gusts were due to convective enhancement as a series of short lines or clusters to showers and thunderstorms moved west to east across southern Wisconsin.  Individual thunderstorm cells moved northeast at 61 kts (70 mph)!  The strong winds were related to a deep low pressure moving northeast through Minnesota to north of Lake Superior, with a trailing cold front moving east across Wisconsin.  Daytime maximum temperatures ahead of the front were in the 60 to 70 degree range, or 28 to 35 degrees above average!  Milwaukee's maximum of 68 set a new daily record for the 5th as well as a new all-time December maximum (old record was 64 on December 3, 1998).  Madison's maximum of 64 set a new daily record for the 5th as well as a new all-time December maximum (old record was 62 on December 5, 1998).  Janesville, Kenosha, West Allis, and Waukesha topped out at 70.  Both Madison and Milwaukee tied or set new daily maximum temperatures and high mininum records on December 4, 2001, as well.  Newspapers reported that golfers were still out on the links, some flowers were blooming, very little, if any, frost was in the ground, and inland lakes had no ice cover!

Strong Wind in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in OZAUKEE, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in ROCK, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in GREEN, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in KENOSHA, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in IOWA, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in LAFAYETTE, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind in MARQUETTE, WISCONSIN
From 05-DEC-01 12:00:00 to 05-DEC-01 20:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC