Clusters of severe thunderstorms moved southeast through south-central and southeast Wisconsin, resulting in damaging straight line winds that toppled large trees, very large damaging hail, and heavy rains that led to flash flooding.  Columbia County suffered the most damage thanks to hurricane-force thunderstorm winds coupled with large hail stones of 1 to 3 inches in diameter.  The wind-driven hail damaged at least 100 homes and several businesses and churches in Fall River (Columbia Co.).  The wind-driven hail also mowed down some corn and soybean fields between Rio and Columbus.  Some of the hail stones were still unmelted the next morning.  Flash flooding resulted in gravel shoulder washouts and flooded buildings and basements in the Wisconsin Dells to Wyocena area of Columbia County.  Rainfall amounts of 2.50 inches were measured in about 1 to 2 hours in the Portage area (Columbia Co.).  Flash flooding also occurred in the Jefferson to Ft Atkinson area of Jefferson County, with gravel shoulder washouts and flooded buildings and basements reported.  Rainfall totals up to 2 inches in only 30 minutes were noted on the south side of Ft Atkinson where many cars stalled on flooded roads.  Over in Waukesha County, similar flash flooding was noted from Oconomowoc to the city of Waukesha thanks to rains of 2 to 3.39 inches in only 2 hours. The Oconomowoc WWTP reported the 3.39 inches.  A downburst wind event south of Afton (Rock Co.) resulted in 1 shed being destroyed, 1 shed and 1 garage damaged, and 2 vehicles dented by debris.  Lightning hit a substation transformer in the city of Beloit, knocking power out to 3500 homes.  Other lightning strikes damaged a condo unit in in the city of Waukesha, damaged a home's electrical system (West Bend, Washington Co.), and damaged a home's roof in La Valle (Sauk Co.).  Utility companies estimated that a grand total of about 7500 custormers lost power during the storms thanks to trees or tree branches falling on power lines, or electrical strikes.

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 15:05:00 to 03-AUG-04 15:05:00 (CST)
Location: LA VALLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 15:43:00 to 03-AUG-04 15:43:00 (CST)
Location: REEDSBURG
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 15:47:00 to 03-AUG-04 15:47:00 (CST)
Location: REEDSBURG
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 15:54:00 to 03-AUG-04 15:54:00 (CST)
Location: BARABOO
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Lightning in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 16:45:00 to 03-AUG-04 16:45:00 (CST)
Location: LA VALLE
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 15:54:00 to 03-AUG-04 15:54:00 (CST)
Location: LAKE DELTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 17:50:00 to 03-AUG-04 17:50:00 (CST)
Location: LAKE DELTON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 19:30:00 to 03-AUG-04 19:40:00 (CST)
Location: AFTON
Magnitude: 61 EG
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Lightning in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 19:30:00 to 03-AUG-04 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: WAUKESHA
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 19:00:00 to 03-AUG-04 19:45:00 (CST)
Location: WAUKESHA
Magnitude: 45 EG
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Lightning in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 18:30:00 to 03-AUG-04 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: WEST BEND
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Lightning in ROCK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 19:40:00 to 03-AUG-04 19:40:00 (CST)
Location: BELOIT
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 16:10:00 to 03-AUG-04 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: RIO
Magnitude: 65 EG
Property damage: 3M
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 16:10:00 to 03-AUG-04 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: RIO
Magnitude: 3.00 
Property damage: 6M
Crop damage: 1M
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flash Flood in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 16:25:00 to 03-AUG-04 18:30:00 (CST)
Location: WISCONSIN DELLS
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 17:17:00 to 03-AUG-04 17:17:00 (CST)
Location: WATERTOWN
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 17:19:00 to 03-AUG-04 17:19:00 (CST)
Location: WATERTOWN
Magnitude: 56 EG
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 16:26:00 to 03-AUG-04 16:26:00 (CST)
Location: MERRIMAC
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 18:38:00 to 03-AUG-04 18:54:00 (CST)
Location: VERONA
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Rain in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 19:00:00 to 03-AUG-04 20:30:00 (CST)
Location: MADISON
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Flash Flood in JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 19:15:00 to 03-AUG-04 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: JEFFERSON
Property damage: 30K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Flash Flood in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 03-AUG-04 19:30:00 to 03-AUG-04 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: OCONOMOWOC
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER