A strong low pressure system deepened as it moved north into central Minnesota by the afternoon of May 22nd. A cold front extended to the south from the surface low, while a warm front slowly pushed north into far northern Wisconsin. Thunderstorms developed along and near both fronts and swept across far eastern Minnesota and much of Wisconsin. The combination of strong vertical wind shear and an unstable atmosphere contributed to supercell thunderstorms. The storms produced five tornadoes in Price County, and eleven total tornadoes across the entire state of Wisconsin. The 11 tornadoes was the 10th highest one-day tornado total for the state of Wisconsin on record. The storms also produced damaging winds and large hail across much of northwest Wisconsin.

Thunderstorm Wind in SAWYER, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:26:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXBOW LAKE
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous large trees and tree limbs were blown down and snapped starting from near County Highway W extending to the county border with Price County near Price Lakes Road. This corridor of non-tornadic wind damage extended northeast into Price County.

Thunderstorm Wind in SAWYER, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:26:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXBOW LAKE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous large trees and tree limbs were blown down along County Highway W extending west from the Sawyer-Price County border approximately 2 miles.

Thunderstorm Wind in ASHLAND, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:59:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUTTERNUT
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Some tree damage noted near Agenda Road and Woodpecker Lane near the Ashland-Price County border.

Tornado in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:33:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUGERVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A weak tornado developed and tracked roughly along Price Lakes Road for slightly over 3 miles, before dissipating near Le Tourneau Lake. The damage consisted of primarily trees and large tree limbs blown down or snapped in a convergent pattern along the road. Some large pine trees were snapped. Structural damage was very minor, with one house experiencing some roof damage and a blown in window. [DI 28 (TS), DOD 4, LB-EXP, Est Gust 90-95mph].

Hail in SAWYER, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:35:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXBOW LAKE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Hail accumulated to a depth of 6 inches along the sides of Highway 70.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:55:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARK FALLS
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

There were 12 to 14 inch diameter trees down across Kley Road northwest of Park Falls.

Thunderstorm Wind in SAWYER, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 15:38:00 to 22-MAY-11 15:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: COUDERAY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Some small trees and branches blown down east on Highway 70 near Couderay.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 16:29:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENNAN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several small farm outbuildings were destroyed. Nearby large barns and house only sustained minor damage.

Hail in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 16:27:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENNAN
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Funnel Cloud in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 16:36:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: CATAWBA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tornado in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 16:39:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRENTICE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A weak tornado tracked for just over a mile around U.S. Highway 8 to the west of Prentice. The damage was primarily to trees, with a few 6-12 inch diameter pine trees snapped and blown in a convergent damage pattern. A metal barn also had some minor damage, mainly to eaves and siding. [DI 1 (SBO), DOD 1, EXP-UB, Est Gust 70 mph].

Tornado in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 16:52:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: WORCESTER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief, weak tornado occurred north-northwest of Prentice. Only tree damage was noted along the damage path. [DI 28 (TS), DOD 2, EXP, Est Gust 75 mph].

Tornado in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 17:01:00 to 22-MAY-11 17:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOVER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado affected the area near the intersection of County Highway H and Willow Road. A citizen reported a tornado around this location that further corroborates the damage survey findings. Damage along the path was mostly to trees. A small shed was destroyed, a metal barn lost some roof paneling, and several large trees were snapped at one property. [DI 1 (SBO), DOD 2, EXP, Est. Gust 75-80 mph].

Tornado in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 17:26:00 to 22-MAY-11 17:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOVER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief weak tornado caused some minor tree damage in far northeast Price County. [DI 28 (TS), DOD 2, LB-EXP, Est. Gust 65-70 mph].

Thunderstorm Wind in ASHLAND, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 14:03:00 to 22-MAY-11 14:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUTTERNUT
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

There was minor siding damage to a home, a metal barn collapsed, and some trees were blown down along Balsam Lane to the east-southeast of Butternut. The metal barn probably collapsed at a lower wind speed than would normally be expected, given a lack of damage to nearby pine trees. Estimated wind gusts in this area were around 80 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in IRON, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 15:18:00 to 22-MAY-11 15:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERCER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in ASHLAND, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 14:43:00 to 22-MAY-11 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUTTERNUT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Post Office

There was sporadic tree damage from near and east of Butternut to the northeast into the area just northwest of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. Also, a large volume of hail fell in Butternut. Effects were probably a combination of two severe thunderstorms that tracked over the same area.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 16:32:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: OGEMA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Large tree branches were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 17:11:00 to 22-MAY-11 17:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOVER
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several large trees were blown down.

Hail in ASHLAND, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 14:04:00 to 22-MAY-11 14:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUTTERNUT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in SAWYER, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:25:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXBOW LAKE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

The hail at Flambeau River State Park Headquarters. There was some sporadic tree damage as well, with a few limbs broken off or trees snapped in parts of the nearby state forest.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:28:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUGERVILLE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous large trees and tree limbs were blown down and snapped off. This damage was associated with a corridor of non-tornadic wind damage that extended from near County Highway W in far eastern Sawyer County into extreme western Price County along Price Lakes Road. A weak tornado then developed immediately northeast of this downburst wind damage along Price Lakes Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:35:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUGERVILLE
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous large trees and tree limbs were blown down. This was associated with non-tornadic thunderstorm winds, and extended from near Long Lake northeast to Highway 70 in Price County.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 13:49:00 to 22-MAY-11 13:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: KAISER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Some tree damage was noted along County Highway E to the west of Park Falls for approximately 4 miles.

Hail in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 14:23:00 to 22-MAY-11 14:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: KAISER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in SAWYER, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 15:27:00 to 22-MAY-11 15:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: STONE LAKE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Some small trees and tree branches down near Highway 70/27 intersection.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRICE, WISCONSIN
From 22-MAY-11 16:14:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENNAN
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Large trees were blown down in far southwest Price County.