
A cold front will cross the Great Lakes and Northeast U.S. through Monday with gusty winds and areas of rain showers. A strong atmospheric river is expected to move into the Pacific Northwest by midweek bringing a threat for moderate to heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and mountain snows for parts of Washington, Oregon, northern California, and the Sierra Nevada. Read More >
Overview
During the afternoon and evening hours of May 22, several tornados were reported across southeast Minnesota and Wisconsin. This web page is intended to give a summary of the five short lived/weak tornadoes that occurred in northern Wisconsin. They ranged in strength from EF-0 to EF-1.

Tornadoes
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Tornado - Near Lugerville, WI
Track Map
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Tornado - Near Prentice, WI
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Tornado - Near Worcester, WI
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Tornado - Near Dover, WI
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Tornado - Near Dover, WI
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The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
| EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
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Photos
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| Price County looking north on Price Lake Road. This photo nicely shows the convergent tree damage paths. On the left (west) side of the road, the trees leaning to the northeast, while the trees in the foreground were blown down to the northwest across the road. (Photo courtesy Brandon Kosharek, EM Price County) |
Price County looking south on Price Lake Road. The most severe damage was along this part of the road. Interesting to note that a majority of the trees blown down were shallow-rooted pine trees - the birch and aspen fared much better. (Photo courtesy Brandon Kosharek, EM Price County) |
Damage near Balsam Road east of Butternut, Wisc., looking north. (NWS Storm Survey Photo) |
Damage near Balsam Road east of Butternut, Wisc., looking south. (NWS Storm Survey Photo) |
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| Damage near County Road H and Willow Road east of Phillips, Wisc. (NWS Storm Survey Photo) |
Damage near County Road H and Willow Road east of Phillips, Wisc. (NWS Storm Survey Photo) |
Damage near Highway 8 four miles west of Prentice, Wisc.. (NWS Storm Survey Photo) |
A wall cloud after it produced a tornado 11 miles east of Phillips, Wisc. (Photo Courtesy Kathi Schoenborn) |
Radar
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| 2:38PM Reflectivity | 2:38PM Storm-Relative Velocity | 5:38PM Reflectivity | 5:38PM Storm-Relative Velocity |
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| 5:52PM Reflectivity | 5:52PM Storm-Relative Velocity | 6:04PM Reflectivity | 6:04PM Storm-Relative Velocity |
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| 6:25PM Reflectivity | 6:25PM Storm-Relative Velocity |
Storm Reports
Click the image above for Storm Reports from around the country.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
753 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM HAIL 9 SSE LORETTA 45.77N 90.76W
05/22/2011 E1.25 INCH SAWYER WI PARK/FOREST SRVC
AT FLAMBEAU RIVER STATE PARK HEADQUARTERS. SOME SPORADIC
TREE DAMAGE WITH A FEW LIMBS BROKEN OFF OR TREES SNAPPED
ACROSS PARTS OF THE STATE FOREST.
0226 PM TSTM WND DMG 13 SE LORETTA 45.74N 90.69W
05/22/2011 SAWYER WI NWS STORM SURVEY
NUMEROUS LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN AND SNAPPED.
0228 PM TSTM WND DMG 13 SE LORETTA 45.76N 90.66W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
NUMEROUS LARGE TREES BLOWN OVER AND SNAPPED.
0233 PM TORNADO 12 SW FIFIELD 45.78N 90.62W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
2.8 MILE PATH LENGTH TO THE NNE FROM STARTING POINT.
MAINLY TREE DAMAGE. RATED LOW-END EF-1.
0235 PM HAIL 7 ESE LORETTA 45.86N 90.71W
05/22/2011 E1.25 INCH SAWYER WI PARK/FOREST SRVC
HAIL ACCUMULATED TO A DEPTH OF 6 INCHES ALONG THE SIDES
OF THE ROADS.
0235 PM TSTM WND DMG 13 W PHILLIPS 45.70N 90.67W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN ALONG COUNTY HIGHWAY W NEAR PRICE AND SAWYER
COUNTY BORDER. TIME IS ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0238 PM TSTM WND DMG 13 WNW PHILLIPS 45.77N 90.65W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES REPORTED DOWN ALONG PRICE LAKES RD SOUTH OF HWY 70.
LIKELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST STORM THAT MOVED THROUGH
THE AREA.
0239 PM TSTM WND DMG 11 SW PARK FALLS 45.84N 90.62W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
NUMEROUS LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN AND SNAPPED.
0249 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 W PARK FALLS 45.92N 90.53W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
0259 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 N PARK FALLS 45.98N 90.45W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
0304 PM HAIL 3 N BUTTERNUT 46.06N 90.50W
05/22/2011 E1.00 INCH ASHLAND WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0304 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NW PARK FALLS 45.95N 90.48W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI TRAINED SPOTTER
12-14 INCH DIAMETER TREES DOWN ACROSS KLEY RD
0307 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 N PARK FALLS 45.99N 90.45W
05/22/2011 ASHLAND WI NWS STORM SURVEY
MINOR DAMAGE TO SIDING ON A HOME AND BARN SEVERLY
DAMAGED.
0315 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SE BUTTERNUT 45.99N 90.47W
05/22/2011 ASHLAND WI FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
REPORT OF DAMAGE TO BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS. ALSO A 6 MILE
STRETCH OF DOWNED TREES FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO
NORTHEAST...A MILE OR TWO SOUTH AND EAST OF BUTTERNUT.
DAMAGE TIME IS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 3 PM AND 330 PM.
0323 PM HAIL 6 SW BUTTERNUT 45.95N 90.59W
05/22/2011 E1.00 INCH PRICE WI TRAINED SPOTTER
0357 PM TSTM WND DMG 10 NE BUTTERNUT 46.12N 90.35W
05/22/2011 ASHLAND WI POST OFFICE
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
STORMS THAT TRACKED OVER THE SAME AREA. TIME ESTIMATED
OFF RADAR.
0418 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N MERCER 46.19N 90.06W
05/22/2011 IRON WI TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL TREES DOWN
0427 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NE STONE LAKE 45.87N 91.51W
05/22/2011 SAWYER WI LAW ENFORCEMENT
SOME SMALL TREES AND TREE BRANCHES DOWN NEAR HWY 70/27
INTERSECTION.
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG COUDERAY 45.80N 91.30W
05/22/2011 SAWYER WI EMERGENCY MNGR
SOME SMALL TREES AND TREE BRANCHES BLOWN DOWN EAST ON
HIGHWAY 70 TOWARDS COUDERAY.
0514 PM TSTM WND DMG 10 SSE HAWKINS 45.38N 90.62W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0518 PM TSTM WND GST LORETTA 45.89N 90.85W
05/22/2011 E50.00 MPH SAWYER WI TRAINED SPOTTER
0529 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 S CATAWBA 45.47N 90.54W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
OUTBUILDINGS DESTROYED AT FARMSTEAD.
0532 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 WNW OGEMA 45.48N 90.40W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
LARGE TREE BRANCHES BLOWN DOWN.
0533 PM HAIL 2 S KENNAN 45.50N 90.59W
05/22/2011 E1.50 INCH PRICE WI LAW ENFORCEMENT
0533 PM HAIL 1 W CATAWBA 45.54N 90.55W
05/22/2011 E0.50 INCH PRICE WI LAW ENFORCEMENT
DIME SIZE HAIL
0536 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 5 W CATAWBA 45.54N 90.64W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI PUBLIC
0539 PM TORNADO 5 W PRENTICE 45.54N 90.40W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
1 MILE PATH. 0.22 MILES WIDE. RATED EF-0.
0552 PM TORNADO 5 NNW PRENTICE 45.61N 90.33W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
BRIEF SPIN UP. RATED EF-0.
0601 PM TORNADO 4 S MUSSER LAKE 45.67N 90.26W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
1.9 MILE PATH LENGTH. MAX PATH WIDTH 0.21 MILES. RATED
EF-0.
0613 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 ENE MUSSER LAKE 45.76N 90.16W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
SEVERAL LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0613 PM TORNADO 1 NE PHILLIPS 45.71N 90.38W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI PUBLIC
TORNADO ON THE GROUND JUST NORTHEAST OF PHILLIPS
0613 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NE PHILLIPS 45.71N 90.38W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI LAW ENFORCEMENT
SHED DESTROYED NEAR COUNTY ROAD H AND WILLOW ROAD
REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. LOCATION IS
ESTIMATED...DAMAGE COULD BE FROM A POSSIBLE TORNADO.
0626 PM TORNADO 12 SW LAC DU FLAMBEAU 45.85N 90.08W
05/22/2011 PRICE WI NWS STORM SURVEY
BRIEF TORNADO. RATED EF-0.
&&
$$
Survey Report
Note: Some data in this report was later changed. Please refer to the "Tornadoes" tab for the official record of the tornadoes for this event.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 704 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2011 ...RESULTS OF STORM DAMAGE SURVEY SAWYER/PRICE/TAYLOR/CHIPPEWA COUNTIES FROM STORMS SUNDAY EVENING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH SURVEYED TWO SEPARATE STORM PATHS ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN ON MONDAY FROM STORMS ON SUNDAY EVENING MAY 22. AS A COURTESY TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES IN THE TWIN CITIES AND LA CROSSE WISCONSIN... THE SURVEY TEAM ALSO SURVEYED ONE STORM PATH BEGINNING IN EXTREME EASTERN CHIPPEWA COUNTY JUST WEST OF GILMAN... AND ACROSS NORTHWEST TAYLOR COUNTY TO THE PRICE COUNTY LINE SOUTH OF CATAWBA. THE SURVEY TEAM FOUND TWO DISTINCT SWATHS OF DAMAGE ALONG EACH STORM PATH... INCLUDING 5 SHORT-LIVED/WEAK TORNADOES. DETAILS OF THE DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH STORM PATHS ARE LISTED BELOW: NOTE: DUE TO THE HEAVILY FORESTED NATURE OF THE AREA WHERE THESE STORMS OCCURRED AND THE DIFFICULTY OF GROUND SURVEYING IN THIS AREA... PATH LENGTHS/WIDTHS AND BEGIN/END POINTS AND TIMES HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED. STORM PATH 1: EXTREME EASTERN SAWYER COUNTY... PRICE COUNTY AND SOUTHEAST ASHLAND COUNTY... FROM 12 MILES WEST OF PHILLIPS TO 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF BUTTERNUT. A NEARLY CONTINUOUS PATH OF MOSTLY NON-TORNADIC WIND DAMAGE WAS NOTED ALONG THE PATH OF THIS STORM FROM COUNTY ROAD W ALONG THE SAWYER/PRICE COUNTY LINE... NORTHEASTWARD TO JUST WEST OF PARK FALLS... TO 3 MILES EAST OF BUTTERNUT... TO AGENDA TOWNSHIP IN SOUTHEAST ASHLAND COUNTY. THE MOST CONCENTRATED AREA OF DAMAGE WAS NOTED SOUTHWEST OF PARK FALLS ALONG PRICE LAKE ROAD. MOST DAMAGE CONSISTED OF TREES EITHER BLOWN OVER... PARTIALLY UPROOTED OR SNAPPED OFF. DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES WAS VERY MINOR TO NEGLIGIBLE. ONE HOUSE HAD SOME WINDOWS DAMAGED AND SIDING BLOWN OFF... AND A BARN WAS COLLAPSED ON BALSAM ROAD EAST OF BUTTERNUT. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT WINDS WERE BETWEEN 70 AND 90 MPH. WITHIN THIS WIND DAMAGE SWATH THERE WAS ONE WEAK TORNADO ALONG PRICE LAKE ROAD: TORNADO 1: BEGIN: 233 PM CDT 12.7 SW OF PARK FALLS - LAT/LON 45.777N/-90.645W END: 238 PM CDT 10.2 SW OF PARK FALLS - LAT/LON 45.821N/-90.619W PATH LENGTH: 2.8 MILES MAX PATH WIDTH: 0.34 MILES /ESTIMATED/ EF SCALE RATING: WEAK EF1 STORM PATH 2: EXTREME EASTERN CHIPPEWA COUNTY... NORTHWEST TAYLOR COUNTY... AND SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PRICE COUNTY... FROM 5 MILES WEST OF GILMAN... TO 4 MILES WEST OF PRENTICE... TO 18 MILES NORTHEAST OF PHILLIPS. THIS STORM ALSO PRODUCED A LONG PATH OF SPORADIC NON-TORNADIC WIND DAMAGE ALONG NEARLY THE ENTIRE PATH... GENERALLY BETWEEN 70 AND 80 MPH. AGAIN... MOST DAMAGE CONSISTED OF BLOWN OVER... PARTIALLY UPROOTED OR SNAPPED OFF TREES. IN ADDITION... THERE WAS VERY MINOR DAMAGE NOTED TO SIDING AND ROOFS OF A FEW BUILDINGS... AND A COUPLE OF FARM OUTBUILDINGS WERE EITHER DESTROYED OR DAMAGED. WITHIN THIS BROADER DAMAGE PATH... THERE WERE FOUR DISTINCT AREAS WHERE TREE DAMAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF CONVERGENT DAMAGE... INDICATIVE OF WEAK TORNADOES: TORNADO 2: BEGIN: 539 PM CDT 4.5 MILES W OF PRENTICE - LAT/LON 45.538N/-90.400W END: 541 PM CDT 4.3 MILES W OF PRENTICE - LAT/LON 45.551N/-90.385W PATH LENGTH: 1 MILE MAX PATH WIDTH: 0.22 MILES /ESTIMATED/ EF SCALE RATING: EF0 TORNADO 3: 4 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF PRENTICE 552 PM CDT /TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR/ BEGIN: 45.608N/-90.333W END: 45.619N/-90.316W PATH LENGTH: 1 MILE MAX PATH WIDTH: 0.24 MILES /ESTIMATED/ EF SCALE RATING: EF0 TORNADO 4: BEGIN: 601 PM CDT 6.5 ESE PHILLIPS - LAT/LON 45.675N/-90.256W END: 604 PM CDT 6.9 ESE PHILLIPS - LAT/LON 45.694N/-90.221W PATH LENGTH: 1.9 MILES MAX PATH WIDTH: 0.21 MILES EF SCALE RATING: EF0 TORNADO 5: 17 MILES NORTHEAST OF PHILLIPS 626 PM CDT /TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR/ BEGIN: 45.850N/-90.076W END: 45.855N/-90.071W PATH LENGTH: 0.8 MILES MAX PATH WIDTH: 0.16 MILES EF SCALE RATING: EF0
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