There’s no rest for the weary at the National Weather Service Milwaukee office as confidence there is growing for another round of what they’re calling an “Intense period of storms expected between 3 and 7 PM today.”
After damaging thunderstorm winds and lightning barreled through Sheboygan County almost on cue with forecasts yesterday, there are few, but significant changes in today’s forecast, most notably the increased risk of tornadoes along with the timing.
As was the case on Wednesday, Sheboygan and all surrounding counties are under an enhanced 3-in-5 risk level of severe weather overall. High-end impacts are likely for most of southern Wisconsin, especially toward the Illinois border, with more uncertainty toward central Wisconsin including Sheboygan County. Heavy rain and localized flooding is a concern, but even more than yesterday, high winds, large damaging hail, and tornadoes reaching or exceeding EF2 intensity near the Illinois border are keeping forecasters and emergency management teams on heightened alert.
NWS Graphic
NWS Graphic
For the Sheboygan area, the primary window of concern runs from 6 until 9 PM as storms that begin in western Wisconsin between 1 and 4 progress eastward. As to our greatest threats, there is a 30 percent probability of winds up to 80 MPH, a 15 percent probability of quarter to golf-ball size hail, and a 5 percent probability of tornadoes. If there’s a positive in the outlook it would be the fairly low, but not zero, odds of flooding.
It will be important to be prepared and stay alert for this developing situation, and we’ve posted a set of guidelines for tornado safety below.
NWS Graphic
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