Power Outage in Mauston, WI

Volunteer snow observers reported that 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across Juneau County. The highest reported total was 8.0 inches in New Lisbon. Power outages on December 15th affected more than 1,000 customers across the county.

An EF1 tornado developed just to the southwest of Mauston and tracked northeast before dissipating just west of the Wisconsin River south of Castle Lake Dam. In Mauston, the tornado caused roof damage to the hospital and a restaurant, blew windows out of several vehicles near the hospital, took down several stop lights, blew over parked semis, snapped power poles and downed several trees in a mobile home park that damaged numerous homes. In Veteran's Memorial Park, stands for the baseball field were overturned with some blown across the street and the scoreboard was ripped off its posts. A tree fell on the roof of an apartment complex damaging the roof and allowing water to leak into some units. Northeast of Mauston over rural parts of Juneau County, the damage was mainly limited to trees. The mayor of Mauston issued a disaster declaration.

An EF1 tornado developed just to the southwest of Mauston and tracked northeast before dissipating just west of the Wisconsin River south of Castle Lake Dam. In Mauston, the tornado caused roof damage to the hospital and a restaurant, blew windows out of several vehicles near the hospital, took down several stop lights, blew over parked semis, snapped power poles and downed several trees in a mobile home park that damaged numerous homes. In Veteran's Memorial Park, stands for the baseball field were overturned with some blown across the street and the scoreboard was ripped off its posts. A tree fell on the roof of an apartment complex damaging the roof and allowing water to leak into some units. Northeast of Mauston over rural parts of Juneau County, the damage was mainly limited to trees. The mayor of Mauston issued a disaster declaration.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in and around Mauston. One tree landed on and damaged a garage. After the storm, about two-thirds of the city was without power.

Trees and power lines were blown down in Mauston.

Several trees and power lines were blown down in Mauston.

North winds between 25 and 35 mph with higher gusts, created a period of blizzard conditions across Juneau County during the morning and afternoon of the 20th. As a result of the blizzard, roads were closed, vehicles became trapped in the snow, some power outages occurred and all schools in the county were closed. The highest reported snow total was 9.0 inches in Mauston.

This tornado entered into Juneau County southwest of Mather and then tracked northeast across the Necedah Wildlife Refuge between Mather and Finley damaging numerous trees. As the tornado approached Finley, it grew in size and was nearly a half mile wide as it crossed County Road F east of Finley. In this area, numerous trees were snapped or blown down with some of them landing on nearby homes. At a cranberry business east of Finley, all of the outbuildings and sheds were demolished and tossed into nearby fields and a loading deck platform and trucks were heavily damaged. Thick wooden power poles in this area were snapped or sheared off over a half mile long stretch. The tornado then weakened as it moved northeast toward the Wood-Juneau County line with damage to trees and some minor roof and siding damage. Total damages across Juneau county from this tornado were estimated to be $4.4 million.

Several trees were reported down across the county along with a few power lines and poles. Some of the power line and pole damage was due to falling trees. A peak gust of 61 mph was reported near Necedah at 11:48 a.m. CST (12:48 p.m. CDT) on October 27th. Volk Field had a gust of 56 mph at 1:55 a.m. CST (2:55 a.m. CDT) on October 27th.

Law enforcement reported trees and power lines down across southern portions of Juneau County.

A stationary front extended from central Wisconsin into central Minnesota on July 16. Severe thunderstorms developed along the front and moved across portions of central Wisconsin, producing up to quarter size hail and knocking down power lines and trees.

Law enforcement officials reported numerous trees and power lines downed by wind gusts estimated between 60 and 65 mph.