Clusters of thunderstorms over central Wisconsin merged and strengthened into a broad line as they moved southeast through south-central and southeast Wisconsin during the pre-dawn hours of July 15, 2003.  Powerful downburst, straight-line winds gusting to an estimated 65 knots (75 mph) resulted in tree, power-line, and structural damage primarily from souhteastern Columbia through parts of Dodge, Jeffeson, Waukesha, Rock, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha Counties.  Associated, brief, intense rains lowered visibilities to less than 50 yards, leading to minor ponding of water in low spots as well.  In southwestern Dodge County, a church and 6 homes sustained tree debris damage.  In Jefferson County, where the storms were the most intense, there were many reports of toppled trees and powerlines, especially in the cities of Watertown and Fort Atkinson.  Several homes and vehicles in both cities sustained tree debris damage.  In Fort Atkinson, 24 power-linen poles were toppled by tree debris, resulting in the loss of electricity to 5800 customers in the area.  In the village of Sullivan, the hurricane-force winds managed to enter the attic of a church through a vent, resulting in part of the roof exploding outward.  Northwest of Palmyra, a pivot irrigation system on a large vegetable farm was flipped over and damaged.  Nearby lightning struck a power-line leading to a current surge into a home which resulted in electrical damage.  A Watertown women was injured after being struck be lightning.  As the storms moved through Waukesha their powerful winds flipped over a semi-tractor on Interstate 94 just south of Delafield.  In addtion, the winds pushed a tree onto a van in Beloit, resulting in minor damage.  West of the city of Kenosha (Kenosha Co.), three, parked, semi-tractors were severly damaged due to a lightning fire.  The storms weakened as they moved southeast over the Lake Michigan waters.  All together, 11,500 customers lost electricity for several hours due to the storms, primarily in the counties of Jefferson, Waukesha, and Rock.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCK, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 01:05:00 to 15-JUL-03 01:40:00 (CST)
Location: EVANSVILLE
Magnitude: 56 EG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Rain in ROCK, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 00:00:00 to 15-JUL-03 02:00:00 (CST)
Location: BELOIT
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Lightning in JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 01:00:00 to 15-JUL-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Location: WATERTOWN
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Lightning in KENOSHA, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 02:15:00 to 15-JUL-03 02:15:00 (CST)
Location: KENOSHA
Property damage: 35K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Lightning in JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 01:20:00 to 15-JUL-03 01:20:00 (CST)
Location: PALMYRA
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 00:35:00 to 15-JUL-03 01:05:00 (CST)
Location: MADISON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 00:45:00 to 15-JUL-03 01:25:00 (CST)
Location: WATERLOO
Magnitude: 65 EG
Property damage: 175K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 01:20:00 to 15-JUL-03 02:05:00 (CST)
Location: WHITEWATER
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 01:15:00 to 15-JUL-03 02:00:00 (CST)
Location: OCONOMOWOC
Magnitude: 61 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 02:05:00 to 15-JUL-03 02:05:00 (CST)
Location: BURLINGTON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: POST OFFICE

Thunderstorm Wind in KENOSHA, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 02:10:00 to 15-JUL-03 02:10:00 (CST)
Location: NEW MUNSTER
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 00:30:00 to 15-JUL-03 00:30:00 (CST)
Location: COLUMBUS
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 15-JUL-03 00:15:00 to 15-JUL-03 00:45:00 (CST)
Location: RANDOLPH
Magnitude: 56 EG
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT