Total Rises To Twelve Twisters Tearing Through Wisconsin on Thursday

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – More tornadoes were found in Dodge county, as the National Weather Service still surveys damage across the state.

The National Weather Service Milwaukee confirms 7 tornadoes touched down during last Thursday’s severe thunderstorm event in southern Wisconsin. This puts the state total at 12 tornadoes occurring on Thursday, May 15.

The newest added to the list Monday are in Sauk and Columbia counties. Rock Springs was given a strength rated at an EF-0 with 70 mph winds, it wasn’t on the ground long (0.1 mile).

The other was in Portage and rated an EF-U. That means “unknown”. Because it only went through a marsh and no damage was done. The NWS says multiple videos and calls reported a brief touchdown along Interstate 39. Survey’s could not find damage along any roadways, suggesting a touchdown may have happened in the Baraboo River Waterfowl Production Area or Pine Island State Wildlife area north of Hwy 33. The path was matched to radar rotation.

Ratings for twisters are based on the damage seen. That’s how the Meteorologists are able to determine wind speeds of the tornado, based on the damage. So when a tornado tears through a field, the strength can not be measured.

A total of 4 stronger tornadoes tore through on that Thursday though. One in Juneau and another Mayville, they were rated EF-2’s with winds at 120 mph.

There were also two more in Wisconsin rated EF-2s. One was in Clark county that hit Colby. The other was up north in St. Croix county, which was the first one to touch down that day and the strongest of them all. Winds reached 125 mph and video was captured of the rope tornado in New Richmond.

The other five were rated EF-1’s with winds around 95mph in Christie and Loyal in Clark county and Lomira, Lowell and north of Juneau in Dodge county. An EF-0 also made its way near Rib Falls in Marathon county with winds around 80 mph.

More information is currently being assessed by the National Weather Service offices to see if other tornadoes occurred in the state as well. They said they are currently looking at two possible others.

They also noted to always leave your Wireless Emergency Alerts on, on your cell phone. This tool can keep you keep aware if you are in the path of a tornado.