Severe weather in the form of tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds up to about 56 knots (65 mph) which toppled large trees and power-lines, and large hail, affected parts of south-central and southeast Wisconsin on May 10, 2003.  This was the first, organized severe weather episode in 2003 for this part of the state - a late start.  The same supercell spawned a tornado in Lafayette County, and then a short time later, another tornado in Iowa County. Refer to the individual tornado events for details.  This supercell maintained its mesocyclone circulation as it moved northeast through western Dane County to southeast Columbia County, and then across northern Dodge County.  A funnel cloud was spotted near Cross Plains (Dane Co.), but there were no additional tornado sightings other than the events in the counties of Lafayette and Iowa.  Synoptically, a line of thunderstorms moved northeast through southern Wisconsin, with a supercell forming on the left edge of the line over southeastern Grant County.  This supercell then moved northeast.  Lightning struck a home near Dane (Dane Co.) resulting in minor fire damage.

Lightning in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 20:45:00 to 10-MAY-03 20:45:00 (CST)
Location: DANE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Funnel Cloud in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 20:42:00 to 10-MAY-03 20:42:00 (CST)
Location: CROSS PLAINS
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 20:30:00 to 10-MAY-03 20:30:00 (CST)
Location: FT ATKINSON
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado in LAFAYETTE, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 19:15:00 to 10-MAY-03 19:29:00 (CST)
Location: BELMONT
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

A tornado spun up 5.0 miles southwest of the village Belmont (Lafayette Co.), near the intersection of Pine Tree and Field Drive, and proceeded to track northeast to near Belmont before dissipating 2.7 miles northeast of Belmont (just southeast of the intersection of Cottage Inn Road and Bethel Grove Rd).  Just east of Belmont, the tornado destroyed a farm's mobile home, injuring one of five people inside. In addition, a pole shed on this farm was damaged.  On two other farms, this tornado inflicted minor to extensive damage on homes, barns, wind mills, and decks.  Law enforcement officials video taped this tornado; estimated at the top end of F1 (about 110 mph).

Thunderstorm Wind in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 17:44:00 to 10-MAY-03 17:44:00 (CST)
Location: WYOCENA
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in IOWA, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 19:39:00 to 10-MAY-03 20:01:00 (CST)
Location: MINERAL PT
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 300K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

The same supercell that spun up a tornado near Belmont (Lafayette Co.), resulted in another tornado in Iowa County.  The Iowa County tornado spun up at a location 4.5 miles east of Mineral Point, just southeast of the intersection of County DD and Ferrell Rd. It proceeded northeast to a location 2.7 miles north-northwest of Hollandale, or about 1 mile west of the intersection of Urness Rd and Long Valley Rd.  Four barns or pole sheds sustained major damage, two homes had moderate damage, and considerable tree damage was noted.

Hail in IOWA, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 19:45:00 to 10-MAY-03 19:45:00 (CST)
Location: DODGEVILLE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 22:15:00 to 10-MAY-03 22:15:00 (CST)
Location: WEST BEND
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 19:46:00 to 10-MAY-03 19:46:00 (CST)
Location: PRINCETON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Thunderstorm Wind in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 20:45:00 to 10-MAY-03 20:45:00 (CST)
Location: CROSS PLAINS
Magnitude: 55 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 20:55:00 to 10-MAY-03 20:55:00 (CST)
Location: ARLINGTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in MARQUETTE, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 19:23:00 to 10-MAY-03 19:23:00 (CST)
Location: MONTELLO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 20:48:00 to 10-MAY-03 20:48:00 (CST)
Location: DE FOREST
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 10-MAY-03 21:50:00 to 10-MAY-03 21:50:00 (CST)
Location: JUNEAU
Magnitude: 56 MG
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO