Power Outage in Viroqua, WI

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 2 to 5 inches of snow fell across Vernon County. The highest reported total was 5.5 inches in La Farge. Power outages on December 15th affected more than 1,100 customers across the county.

Trees and power lines were blown down along State Highway 56 near Liberty.

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that between 2 and 7 inches of snow fell across Vernon County. In addition to the snow, a period of sleet and freezing rain occurred that coated exposed surfaces with a glaze of ice. With the glaze of ice, between 20 and 25 power poles were brought down by the strong winds causing about 1,000 people in the Viroqua area to lose power.

Heavy rain across the northern portion of Vernon County produced significant flash flooding. Over 200 people were evacuated in Coon Valley because of severe flooding along Coon Creek where U.S. Highway 14 and State Highway 162 were closed. All access into Coon Valley was cut off because of mudslides, washouts and closed roads. Numerous homes were severely damaged with basement walls blown out or had water several feet deep on the first floor. Much of Ontario was covered in flood waters from the Kickapoo River and Brush Creek with almost every business along Garden Street, State Highway 131 and the east end of Main Street sustaining damage. It was estimated that around 75% of the businesses in the entire village sustained some damage. The Ontario police squad car become submerged in flood waters and was destroyed. One boat rental business lost 40 canoes and 48 kayaks. Two campers along the Kickapoo River north of Rockton had to be rescued from flood waters that was neck high. Some residents were evacuated from Viola because of flooding along the Kickapoo River. A total of 350 water rescues were performed across the county. State Highway 131 was closed between Ontario and Rockton because of flood waters from the Kickapoo River where the asphalt was completely removed from the road bed in places or broken in large chunks and then moved up to eight feet from its original location. Numerous roads were closed because of the flooding or from mudslides. Flooding from Timber Coulee Creek washed out over 20 power poles north of Westby. The BNSF rail line was closed because of washouts between Stoddard and the La Crosse County line. The heavy rain and flooding caused two earthen flood control dams to fail and damaged four others. This prompted the evacuation and rescue of residents downstream from the dams, including the communities of Avalanche and Liberty. Wildcat Mountain State Park was closed because of the heavy rain as well.

Several trees were blown down in and around Viroqua. Numerous power lines were also downed.

Trees and power lines were blown down in Viroqua. The automated weather observing equipment at the airport on the north side of town, measured a wind gust of 54 mph. However, radar data indicates a small corridor of stronger winds went across the western sections of the city.

A barn and numerous trees were blown down in and around Red Mound in the Wheatland Township. Widespread power outages were also reported.

Several trees and power lines were blown down in and near Coon Valley. Especially hit hard, was the Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center where more than 20 trees went down and several windows were broken by wind blown walnuts.

Up to 34 vehicle accidents were reported, motorists were stranded and power outages occurred.

Part of a roof was blown off a machine shed, about one-third of a barn was damaged and shingles were blown off several roofs. Trees were blown down over many areas of the county, including La Farge where power losses occurred. A peak wind gust of 58 mph hit the Viroqua Airport at 1:15 a.m. CST (2:15 a.m. CDT) during the early morning hours of October 27th.

Power lines were knocked down by thunderstorm wind gusts.

Trees and power lines blown down.

Trees and power lines were downed.

A tree was blown down on the roof of a house, sustaining shingle and facia damage. Power lines were also down.

For the second time in three days, a line of severe thunderstorms moved across portions of western Wisconsin during the afternoon of June 14th. These storms blew down trees and power lines from Viola and La Farge (Vernon County) to northeast of Big Flats (Adams County).

A cluster of thunderstorms along a cold front produced damaging winds and large hail across parts of central and southwest Wisconsin in the late evening hours of August 1st and in the early morning hours of August 2nd. These storms blew down trees near Viroqua (Vernon County) and power lines in Neillsville (Clark County).