A convective thunderstorm complex that orginated over southern Minnesota moved east/southeast across southern Wisconsin and generated a line of strong to severe storms.  Powerful thunderstorm winds gusting to hurricane-force, large hail, one tornado, and flash flooding were produced by the storms.  Surface dewpoints were in the lower to mid 70s, and CAPE values were 3000 to 4000.  Maximum afternoon temperatures were in the 85 to 90 range.  At least 20,000 customers lost electrical power - 14,000 of them in Sheboygan County alone.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:12:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: STONEBANK
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:32:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees, and broken tree branches brought down some power-lines.

Lightning in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:46:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: CEDAR GROVE
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A newspaper article noted that lightning struck a cabin somewhere in the Civil Town of Holland, and the resultant fire damaged the building.  Cedar Grove was used only as a nearby reference point.

Thunderstorm Wind in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:15:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: LA VALLE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees.

Flash Flood in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:30:00 to 16-JUL-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOWARDS GROVE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Heavy rains of 4 inches to over 5 inches affected the Howards Grove area during the mid and late afternoon hours as a line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved east through the area.  The heavy rains triggered a flash flood that generated water depths of 1 to 3 feet on some streets.  In addition, the middle school flooded, and damage to its gym floor amounted to at least $30,000.  Some basements flooded as well, with damage to contents.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:37:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW BERLIN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled numerous large trees, and broken tree branches brought down some power lines.

Flash Flood in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:20:00 to 16-JUL-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LA VALLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy rains of 1 to 2 inches in an hour resulted in flash flooding at generated fast-flowing water depths of 1 to 2 feet on several roads.  Additonal sandbagging was noted in Reedsburg.  Water was reported in some basements leading to damage of contents.  Some roads were closed.

Thunderstorm Wind in OZAUKEE, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:09:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAUKVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:14:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: SLINGER
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees.

Tornado in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 14:37:00 to 16-JUL-08 14:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: (SBM)SHEBOYGAN CO AR
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 350.00K
Crop damage: 1.00K
Reported by: Public

This tornado spun up on the front side of a line of thunderstorms in association with a strong microburst that rotated around on itself.  It damaged an airport hangar door, destroyed 3 barns, damaged 2 other barns, lightly damaged 3 homes, took the top 1/3 of a silo down, damaged 2 other silos, and uprooted or snapped many trees.  Only some minor corn crop damage was noted.  It was observed by several people.  This tornado started on the east side of the Sheboygan County Airport, and moved east-southeast and eventually crossed STH 32 about midway between STH 23 and CTH O.  Once it crossed STH 32 it curved sharply to a south-southeast bearing and dissipated northeast of the intersection of STH 23 and STH 32.  It's starting and ending pairs of lat/long numbers were: 43.76517/-87.84273 and 43.75375/-87.81711.  DI#1 (SBO), DOD6.  The winds were estimated at about 95 mph.  The average path width was about 30 yards.

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 15:20:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: REEDSBURG
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Also reports of trees down near La Valle.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 14:12:00 to 16-JUL-08 14:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREENBUSH
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A line of severe storms moved west to east across Sheboygan County and generated widespread powerful winds that gusted to an estimated 61 to 70 knots (70 to 80 mph).  In addition, a tornado spun up north of Sheboygan Falls at 1437 CST - see the tornado event write-up for deatils.  The ASOS unit at the Sheboygan County Airport measured a gust of 53 knots (61 mph).  Thousands of trees were snapped or toppled, and many power-lines were brought down by tree debris, mostly across the northern part of the county.  An 81-year-old women in Plymouth was injured when the winds pushed a door of a store into her.  She broke her arm and was hospitalized.  Elsewhere in Plymouth, 2 vehicles were damaged by tree debris.  North of Plymouth, 2 cabins at a camp ground were destroyed by toppled trees, and 3 other camp buldings were damaged.  In Sheboygan Falls, at least 12 homes were damaged.  In Kohler, a vehicle was crushed by a toppled tree.  City and county 911 Communications Centers received thousands of calls within a 5 hour period. At least 14,000 homes in Sheboygan County lost electrical power.

Thunderstorm Wind in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 14:25:00 to 16-JUL-08 14:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAVER DAM
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled many large trees in a wide path of about 10 miles, and broken tree branches brought down some power-lines.  One vehicle in Beaver Dam was damaged by tree debris.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 14:50:00 to 16-JUL-08 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEWASKUM
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARQUETTE, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 13:40:00 to 16-JUL-08 13:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONTELLO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 13:45:00 to 16-JUL-08 13:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: DALTON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees and broke branches that knocked down power-lines.

Thunderstorm Wind in FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 13:59:00 to 16-JUL-08 14:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST PETER
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Powerful thunderstorm winds toppled large trees.  Gust was measured in St. Peter.

Hail in FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN
From 16-JUL-08 14:18:00 to 16-JUL-08 14:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: FOND DU LAC
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement