The first widespread severe weather outbreak to affect south-central and southeast Wisconsin occurred on April 25th. It consisted of mostly large hail up to 1.25 inches in diameter, a couple damaging, straight-line wind reports, two tornadoes in Columbia County, and scattered flash flooding due to heavy rains and traning thunderstorm cells. Additionally, lightning struck several buildings and started fires that left damage.  Many power outages were reported thanks to tree branches snapping power lines, and up to 11,000 customers in southern Wisconsin lost power for varying time periods.  Synoptically, low pressure over southeast Minnesota moved northeast with a trailing cold front. Just ahead of the cold front was found strong warm air advection and moisture advection associated with a low-level jet.  Surface dewpoints poked into the mid to upper 60s ahead of the cold front while a favorable jet stream pattern existed aloft.

Hail in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:43:00 to 25-APR-08 16:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANDOM LAKE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Post Office

Hail in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 17:01:00 to 25-APR-08 17:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREEN LAKE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:47:00 to 25-APR-08 16:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: KINGSTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:25:00 to 25-APR-08 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAUK CITY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:27:00 to 25-APR-08 15:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRIMAC
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:25:00 to 25-APR-08 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: OKEE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Lightning in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 14:25:00 to 25-APR-08 14:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEWASKUM
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

During the pre-dawn hours, lightning struck a telephone pole behind the Police Department, damaging an outdoor siren, and several pieces of computer equipment.

Lightning in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
From 24-APR-08 16:35:00 to 24-APR-08 16:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: (MKE)MITCHELL APT MI
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Lightning struck the steeple of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Milwaukee, just south-southwest of Milwaukee Mitchell Field.  The fire was contained to just the steeple and belfry area.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 18:00:00 to 25-APR-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUSSEX
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Powerful thunderstorm winds uprooted trees and flipped over lawn furniture.

Hail in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 10:02:00 to 25-APR-08 10:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOWNTOWN WAUKESHA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Thunderstorm Wind in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 18:15:00 to 25-APR-08 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOUSMAN
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Powerful thunderstorm winds uprooted trees and broken branches fell onto power lines.  The end result was a power outage.

Hail in IOWA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 14:38:00 to 25-APR-08 14:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: COBB
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Post Office

Hail in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:38:00 to 25-APR-08 16:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: DALTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flash Flood in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:05:00 to 25-APR-08 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRIMAC
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flash flooding washed out the gravel shoulders of roads and driveways and deposited tree branch and mud debris which temporarily closed Durwards Glen Road in the vicinity of the headwaters of a small creek near the county line.

Hail in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:40:00 to 25-APR-08 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOMIRA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:00:00 to 25-APR-08 16:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDEN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Lightning in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 18:30:00 to 25-APR-08 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHITEWATER
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Lightning struck a home and resulted in a fire that extensively damaged the roof and 2nd story.

Hail in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:48:00 to 25-APR-08 16:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: WATERTOWN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Lightning in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:30:00 to 25-APR-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTAGE
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Lightning struck the steeple of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Portage, resulting in a fire.  The event time is estimated, and the actual time could have been up to an hour or two earlier since other storms visited the area prior to 1630 CST.

Hail in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:43:00 to 25-APR-08 15:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTAGE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flash Flood in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:05:00 to 25-APR-08 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: OKEE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flash flooding due to heavy rains resulted in washed-out gravel shoulders and driveways on Durwards Glen Road along a creek that eventually crosses STH 78.

Hail in IOWA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:22:00 to 25-APR-08 15:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLYDE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Post Office

Hail in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:35:00 to 25-APR-08 15:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: IRON RIDGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 19:00:00 to 25-APR-08 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOLTONVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rains due to training thunderstorms resulted in brief flash flooding in Boltonville.  There were gravel shoulder washouts and mud deposits on roads near Stoney Creek.

Tornado in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:44:00 to 25-APR-08 16:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: MANCHESTER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado segment is a continuation of a long-tracked tornado that spun up east of Dekorra in Columbia County and affected the Wyocena area.  It entered Green Lake County at the intersection of North County Line Road and Proscarian Road (3.78 miles south-southwest of Manchester) and tracked northeast to a point 1.85 miles southeast of Markesan on the Grand River near the southwestern intersection of CTH A and CTH S.  In Green Lake County, this tornado affected only rural areas, and only intermitent tree branch damage was noted in a NWS storm survey.  The beginning and ending lat-lon numbers for this tornado segment in Green Lake County were N43.63221/W89.06693 and N43.69813/W88.95858.  This segment was rated EF0 on the EF-Scale, based on a DI #27, DOD2, with winds of 65 mph (58 knots).

Tornado in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:20:00 to 25-APR-08 16:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: WYOCENA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This brief tornado spun up about 3.85 miles west-southwest of the village of Wyocena just east of the intersection of Dunning Road and Patchin Road.  It was captured in a video tape.  Only some damage to tree branches was noted.  The starting and ending lat-lon numbers are N43.47857/W89.37096 and N43.48060/w89.36700. On the EF-Scale, this tornado was given a rating of EF0, based on DI #27 (TH), DOD2.

Hail in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:18:00 to 25-APR-08 16:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREENBUSH
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Post Office

Hail in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:30:00 to 25-APR-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTAGE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:35:00 to 25-APR-08 16:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELKHART LAKE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Post Office

Hail in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 17:07:00 to 25-APR-08 17:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: KOHLSVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 17:02:00 to 25-APR-08 17:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: RIPON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:18:00 to 25-APR-08 16:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEKORRA
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 600.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A long-tracked, partially rain-wrapped, tornado traveled through mostly rural areas of Columbia County and affected only a small portion of one village; otherwise property damage would have been more extensive.  This tornado spun up about 2.75 miles east of Dekorra, just northwest of the intersection of STH 51 and CTH VJ, near Columbia Lake.  It then tracked east-northeast through the far southeast reaches of the village of Wyocena, and crossed STH 22 just north of Patchin Road.  It then moved through the intersection of CTH G and W. Hill Road, where the last structural damage to a couple barns and home occurred.  Thereafter, this tornado tracked more northeast through rural areas (crossing STH 33 midway between Cunningham Road and Englehart Road), and eventually exited Columbia County just east of North County Line Road and Sterk Road.  It continued for a few more miles through southeastern Green Lake County.  Based on ground damage evidence, this tornado briefly lifted a couple times when it was north of STH 33.  Most of the structural damage occurred south and southeast of Wyocena. Otherwise the rural damage consisted of uprooted trees or broken branches.  At least two trained spotters video taped the tornado.
The Columbia County Emergency Management situation report indicated that 4 residential homes sustained minor damage, and 1 home suffered major damage.  Additionally, 2 farm buildings had minor damage, 2 suffered major damage, and 3 were destroyed.  The report estimated that private sector damage totaled about $550,000 (excluding electrical line damage).  Public sector debris clearance totaled $3500, and protective measures totaled $1000.  The Sheriff's Office had to close down 4 roads until power lines and trees could be cleared.  Electrical line replacement is estimated at about $50,000.  The lat-long pairs of numbers for this tornado segment in Columbia County include: N43.46179/W89.41637, N43.49223/W89.27809, N43.54813/W89.18491, and N43.63221/W89.06693.  On the EF-scale, DI #1 (SBO) was used with a DOD of 6, for an EF-rating of EF1 and an wind estimate of about 100 mph (87 knots).

Hail in MARQUETTE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:46:00 to 25-APR-08 16:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ENDEAVOR
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:31:00 to 25-APR-08 15:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: BARABOO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Actual location of this hail report was about 3.0ENE Green Corners.

Hail in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:32:00 to 25-APR-08 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEWISTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:06:00 to 25-APR-08 16:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRINCETON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Post Office

Hail in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 16:22:00 to 25-APR-08 16:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTAGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 15:55:00 to 25-APR-08 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHARON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This hail report came from an airfield.

Lightning in IOWA, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 08:00:00 to 25-APR-08 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: DODGEVILLE
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

LIghtning struck a communications tower belonging to the Iowa County Sheriff Department. Radios and computer equipment were damaged.  The time of this event is estimated, since the newspaper article indicated that the event occurred during the morning hours.

Flash Flood in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 25-APR-08 19:00:00 to 25-APR-08 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WALDO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rains due to training thunderstorms resulted in brief flash flooding in on the northwest side of Waldo. There were gravel shoulder washouts and mud deposits on roads near a creek that feeds into Waldo Mill Pond.  Water depths on roads were at least 6 inches.