Very rare, mid-winter, severe storms affected parts of south-central and southeast Wisconsin on January 7th - in the form of two tornadoes and scattered, large, hailstones, and downburst winds.  The last time a tornado occurred in January in Wisconsin was on the 24th in 1967 in Green and Rock Counties (25-mile track).  On January 7th, a low pressure moved northeast through western Wisconsin, allowing a warm front to push through southern Wisconsin.  Temperatures rose into the lower to mid 60s over southeast Wisconsin with surface dewpoints peaking in the mid to upper 50s, resulting in moderate amounts of instablity.  Strong, veering winds from the surface to the jet stream level generated sufficient wind shear that supported rotating updrafts in scattered supercell thunderstorms over southeast Wisconsin.  A supercell thunderstorm, that had spun up a tornado in northeastern Illinois previously, then crossed the state line into south-central Walworth County (southeast of the city of Walworth) where it intesified and eventually spun up a tornado near Pell Lake that traveled into western Kenosha County.  Another supercell spun up a tornado over the northern reaches of the city of Kensoha.  Other scattered thunderstorms on this day across south-central and southeast Wisconsin dumped large hail up to 3/4 inch in diameter.

Tornado in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:02:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: PELL LAKE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This tornado inflicted minor damage on 3 structures and moderate damage on 2 structures in the County of Walworth (homes/pole sheds/barn), and uprooted or damaged a couple dozen trees.  It spun up very near a drainage ditch/creek just west of West Court/Center Drive which which branches west from CTH U.  This tornado crossed into Kenosha County about 0.4 mile north of where CTH U in Walworth County crosses the county line and becomes CTH F in Walworth County.  It contiuned for several miles in western Kenosha County.  The average path width was about 50 yards in Walworth County.  The winds were estimated at 93 mph (DI 1 - SBO, DOD 5).  The specific starting location in Walworth County was 42.54884,-88.33343, and the ending location in Walworth County was 42.56342,-88.30533.  Refer to the western Kensoha County tornado event to see a map plot of the entire tornado path.

Tornado in KENOSHA, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:39:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOMERS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 7.93M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

This tornado was the 2nd of two tornadoes to affect southeastern Wisconsin on January 7th.  It spun up near the intersection of CTH L (18th St.) and 47th Ave. and moved east/northeast through the northern reaches of the city of Kenosha, and dissipated just north of Carthage College and just short of Lake Michigan.  In the Civil Town of Somers it resulted in minor damage to 2 homes, and major damage to one home.  In the City of Kenosha, it affected one home, inflicted minor damage to 21 homes, inflicted major damage to 6 homes, and destroyed 5 homes.  Additionally, it destroyed one church in the City of Kenosha.  Several power-lines were toppled and there were transformer explosions.  Dozens of trees were damaged or uprooted.  Average path width was about 50 yards.  The maximum winds were estimated at around 95 mph (DI 27 - TH, DOD 3).  This tornado was photographed and video taped.  The specific starting location was 42.62399,-87.86591, and the ending location was 42.63127,-87.81820.

Funnel Cloud in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:42:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: STURTEVANT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Funnel Cloud in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:43:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: STURTEVANT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 15:45:00 to 07-JAN-08 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHARON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A few large trees were uprooted or damaged east/southeast of Sharon along the state line.  This damage was produced by the same supercell that spun up a tornado northeast of Pell Lake in southeast Walworth County.

Funnel Cloud in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:44:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: STURTEVANT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in KENOSHA, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:04:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: POWERS LAKE
Tornado F-scale: EF3
Property damage: 13.71M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This tornado in western Kenosha County was a continuation of the tornado that spun up 2.27 mils NE of Pell Lake in southeastern Walworth County.  It crossed into Kenosha County about 0.4 mile north of where CTH U in Walworth County crosses the county line and becomes CTH F in Walworth County.  The tornado continued northeast to just east of the intersection of STH 50 and CTH O, crossed STH 83 just north of 51st Street just north of New Munster Creek, passed through the Village of Wheatland, turned more east and crossed 308th Ave. just north of Peterson Creek, and then dissipated near a pond between CTH PH and 41st Street (Town Rd).  Fifteen people in the Civil Town of Wheatland sustained minor injuries.  Also in the Civil Town of Wheatland, 7 homes were affected, 25 sustained minor damage, 27 had major damage, and 25 were destroyed.  In the Civil Town of Brighton, 10 homes were affected, 3 had minor damage, 3 had major damage, and 4 were destroyed.  About 160 people were homeless due to residential damage.  This tornado traveled over frozen ponds and creeks, as well as snow piles leftover from recent snowmelt.  Average path width was about 100 yards.  The wind speed was estimated at 150 to 160 mph (DI 2 - FR12, DOD 8).  For a couple homes, the visual damage suggested an EF4 rating, however insufficient anchoring allowed these structures to fail at a lower wind speed.  Additionally, other nearby damage indicators didn't support an EF4 rating.  The specific starting location in Kenosha County was 42.556342,-88.30533, and the ending location was 42.60061,-88.13524.  For plotting purposes, here are a couple mid-point locations of this tornadoe's path: crossing of STH 83 - 42.59297, -88.22230, and the crossing of CTH B - 42.59756, -88.15928.

Hail in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 10:30:00 to 07-JAN-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MIDDLETON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:00:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ZENDA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:08:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURLINGTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Funnel Cloud in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 07-JAN-08 16:41:00 to 07-JAN-08 16:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: STURTEVANT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter