Severe thunderstorms developed along a warm-front in Southern Minnesota during the afternoon. During the late-afternoon and evening, storms continued to progress eastward and develop over Northwestern Wisconsin. One supercell developed a long-track tornado that traveled 83 miles from 5 miles south of Clayton, WI to 13 miles southeast of Hawkins, WI. This is likely the longest single tornado track in Wisconsin since records began being kept in 1950, as a couple events in May 1953 were very likely multiple tornadoes. There were also numerous reports of very large hail, up to 3 inches in diameter that occurred in a long swath from southwest to Amery, to near Cameron.
Based on damage assessments through the state of Wisconsin, the total number of residential homes affected in Barron County alone was 160. Of those affected, 75 had minor damage, 45 had major damage, and 40 were destroyed. Total estimated damages were 5.1 million dollars. The total number of businesses affected in Barron County was 6. Of those, 2 had minor damage, and 4 were destroyed. Total estimated damages were 5.0 million dollars. This includes six barns at a Jennie-O turkey farm, located off of Highway SS and north of Highway OO near Chetek's Prairie Lake Estates mobile park, where some were destroyed. There were approximately 25,000 birds lost in the tornado.
In Rusk County, the total number of residential homes was 27. Of those affected, 21 had minor damage, 3 had major damage, and 1 was destroyed. Total estimated damages were $420,000 dollars.

Tornado in RUSK, WISCONSIN
From 16-MAY-17 16:38:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEYERHAEUSER
Tornado F-scale: EF3
Property damage: 420.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The long-track tornado continued from Barron County into Rusk County and produced EF3 damage in the Conrath area.  It entered Rusk County with an east-northeast track, but shortly thereafter began a gradual turn to the east and barely missed the village of Weyerhaeuser. Soon after passing Weyerhaeuser, it even turned a little toward the east-southeast (this happened at about 45.4063, -91.3583).  The tornado then barely missed the village of Conrath.  North of Conrath, however, the tornado leveled a house, and this is where the EF3 damage took place.  Elsewhere, the tornado destroyed numerous sheds, outbuildings and garages and thousands of trees across the county.  The tornado continued into southwestern Price County where it only produced EF0 damage and dissipated at 18:10 CST at 45.3916, -90.4919.

Hail in POLK, WISCONSIN
From 16-MAY-17 15:20:00 to 16-MAY-17 15:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAYTON
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

There was a swath of very large hail, up to baseball size, that fell from southwest of Amery, northeast to Clayton. Numerous photos from social media provided how large the hail became.

Hail in BARRON, WISCONSIN
From 16-MAY-17 15:40:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: TURTLE LAKE
Magnitude: 3.00 
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

There was a swath of very large hail, up to 3 inches in diameter, that occurred from east of Clayton, to Barron.

Hail in BARRON, WISCONSIN
From 16-MAY-17 16:15:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: (RDP)RICE LAKE REGIONAL AIRPORT
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several reports of very large hail occurred around Cameron, the largest was tennis ball size.

Tornado in POLK, WISCONSIN
From 16-MAY-17 15:42:00 to 16-MAY-17 15:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLEAR LAKE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A powerful thunderstorm tracked across northwest Wisconsin during the the early evening of 05/16/17. The tornado produced a strong, long track tornado that first developed over southeastern Polk County, 5 miles south of Clayton. It damaged a couple farmsteads in Polk County then tracked mostly eastward across southern Barron and southern Rusk counties.

Tornado in BARRON, WISCONSIN
From 16-MAY-17 15:44:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: REEVE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 10.10M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado first developed over southeastern Polk County, then tracked mostly east-northeast across southern Barron before moving into Rusk County and eventually Price County. In Barron County, the tornado hit numerous farmsteads, devastating barns and other outbuildings.  The hardest hit area in Barron County was just north of Chetek, WI, where high-end EF2 damage was found. A number of mobile homes were completely demolished, and this is where the one fatality occurred. After that, several turkey barns were leveled, and then multiple homes were hit hard near Prairie Lake, especially those on the eastern shore.