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Strong to Severe Thunderstorms in the East; Heat in the Central and Western U.S.

Strong to potentially severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are forecast Thursday from parts of New England into the Mid Atlantic and Carolinas. Significant heat will expand across the West and Central Plains through Friday, potentially breaking daily high temperature records. Dangerous heat will then build into the Eastern U.S. this weekend through much of next week. Read More >

Overview

Update in the "Tornado" Tab Below

 

Prior to 2024, the state of Wisconsin had never seen a tornado in the month of February. On the evening of February 8th, 2024, a rare, impressive setup for severe weather came together across southern Wisconsin. As a dynamic low tracked northeast across the Upper Mississippi Valley, the warm sector spread across the state of Wisconsin. Within the warm sector, afternoon sunshine allowed surface- based instability to develop, ~500 J/Kg. Along with the increasing instability, the dynamic system brought a plethora of deep-layer and low-level shear. The impressive shear profiles led to concerns for the development of rotating storms that would be capable of producing all hazards - but especially large hail and a few tornadoes. 

Here are a few stats about this severe weather event, dating back to 1986. Prior to the evening of February 8th, 2024: 

  • Zero Tornado Warnings had been issued in the state of Wisconsin during the month of February. NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan issued 5 Tornado Warnings during this event.
  • 17 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings had been issued in the state of Wisconsin during the month of February (9 in 1999, 4 in 2008, 3 in 2017). NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan issued 8 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings during this event.

Image
Low-level rotation tracks from MRMS

 

Radar Imagery of the Juda to Albany EF-1 and Evansville to Lake Koshkonong EF-2 tornadoes on February 8th, 2024. This radar imagery runs from 4:45pm to 6:18pm CST.

 

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