Tornados, Thunderstorms Rip Through Wisconsin, State of Emergency

WISCONSIN -- Gov. Scott Walker has declared a state of emergency for six counties in southern Wisconsin after the latest round of severe thunderstorms pounded the area with heavy rains and a tornado touched down.

“The past ten days have subjected our state to torrential rains and flooding, with homes and businesses damaged or destroyed,” said Governor Walker. “I know Wisconsin will continue to effectively respond to these storms. I’m proud of our National Guardsmen, first responders, and volunteers from across the state who continue to lead the response during the cleanup and recovery.”

Several areas of Wisconsin received over five inches of rain in the past 24 hours, with certain parts of La Crosse, Monroe and Vernon counties, receiving up to 12 inches. The heavy rainfall has led to numerous road closures due to floodwaters and community evacuations.

Watch at the mother and daughter rescue the woman from her partially-submerged car in Green Bay Tuesday. According to the Green Bay Press Gazette, a mother and her 20-year-old daughter rescued a 70-year-old woman who was stuck in a partially submerged car in heavy rain Tuesday afternoon.

Heavy Rains Bring Flooding, Water Rescues

Nearly 12 inches of rain fell in some areas of central Wisconsin, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Isaac Longley.

“It all began after rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms rolled through the morning hours of Aug. 27,” Longley said in an Accuweather report. “After a break in the rain during the afternoon, a line of violent thunderstorms erupted over southern Minnesota and advanced eastward into Wisconsin, the same area where heavy rain had fallen just earlier in the day.”

The Wisconsin Red Cross opened a shelter in Reedsburg at Reedsburg High School for people who were affected by flooding in the entire Sauk County Area. Reedsburg police have also asked the public for volunteers to help fill sand bags beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Tornados Touch Down

The National Weather Service is reporting that tornados touched down across central Wisonsin, with damage extending from southern Marquette County across Green Lake County and into Fond du Lac County.

According to a WBAY report, the tornado ripped through Fond du Lac, leveling a barn that once held more than 600 cows.

Green Lake County officials confirmed that a tornado touched down four miles northeast of Highway D west of Highway 17q4, resulting in downed trees and power outages.

Earlier, a tornado touched down in Lomira and another in Oakfield in Fond du Lac County.

RT @BlakeNaftel: Swaths of flattened corn crops just south of Waupun, #Wisconsin post earlier tornado-warned storm @breakingweather @NWSGreenBay pic.twitter.com/P9zSORumQZ https://t.co/m3daWCzcTe pic.twitter.com/aJ1vqLI5EF

Patch File Photo