Storm Record · Columbia, Sauk Counties
May 19, 2013: Straight-line wind in Columbia and Sauk Counties
What the National Weather Service recorded
Several lines of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds affected South Central Wisconsin during the late evening hours of May 19th, lasting into the early morning hours of May 20th. Some structural damage occurred, with many trees and power lines downed by winds that were sustained for 10 to 20 minutes at a time up to 44 mph (38 knots), and gusting to 60 mph (52 knots). The lines of severe storms were moving around 40 knots (46 mph) driven a by a 50-60 knot low-level jet ahead of one of a series of a short-wave impulses that crossed the region. The combination of actual storm speed and the momentum transfer of the strong low-level jet winds being brought down to the surface with the storm precipitation produced the damaging wind gusts.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database · episode 74735
Every report, in the Weather Service's words
Where It Hit
| Location | County | Hazard | Size | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reedsburg | Sauk | Wind | 64 mph wind | Law enforcement officials reported trees downed by powerful thunderstorm winds that gusted to an estimated 65 mph (56 knots) along a path from Reedsburg to 3 miles wesdt of Lake Delton. |
| Spring Green | Sauk | Wind | 64 mph wind | Law enforcement officials reported trees downed by powerful thunderstorm winds that gusted to an estimated 65 mph (56 knots) in Spring Green. One building was damaged by a falling tree. |
| Lodi | Columbia | Wind | 60 mph wind | A mesonet site located at Lodi Middle School recorded a 60 mph (52 knot) thunderstorm wind gust. |
| Lone Rock Airport | Sauk | Wind | 60 mph wind | The Lone Rock Airport (KLNR) ASOS recorded a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph (52 knots). |