Storms Leave Thousands Of Customers Without Power In Southeastern Wisconsin

Storms rolled through southern Wisconsin on Tuesday evening, triggering thunderstorms, weather warnings and power outages in the southeastern part of the state.

The severe thunderstorms knocked down trees and power lines and left more than 150,000 utility customers without power.

Power utility We Energies reported 126,882 customers were without power at about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday in southeastern Wisconsin and Fox Valley areas. That number had gone down to 118,840 customers at 8:51 p.m.

It was all hands on deck for We Energies crews as they worked to restore power ahead of another sweltering day in Wisconsin where the heat and humidity were expected to create heat index temperatures in the triple digits. We Energies spokesman Brendan Conway said the utility is supplementing crews with workers from other utilities and using contract employees as it works to restore service.

A tornado was reported by law enforcement near Black Creek late Tuesday. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Earlier in the evening, the National Weather Service offices in La Crosse and Sullivan reported severe storms were moving across the state. Forecasters said these storms were capable of producing wind gusts of up 60 mph.

A thunderstorm watch was issued for much of southern Wisconsin and then severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for cities like Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha, Racine, Baraboo, Portage, Waukesha, Brookfield, Platteville, Dodgeville, Janeville, Beloit, Prairie du Chien and Richland Center, among others. Most of the warnings expired by 8:15 p.m.

Weather service officials in La Crosse said additional storms — ranging from strong to severe in intensity — “will be possible later this evening across northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin.”

Around 6 p.m., people began reporting a tornado on the ground in the Town of Maine, located in Outagamie County. According to a Nichols Fire Department release, first responders are assessing storm damage.

Editor’s note: This story will be updated.