Storms, tornadoes possible on Wednesday

‘Enhanced’ risk level for much of Wisconsin

Forecasters are warning of the potential for a severe weather outbreak on Wednesday across Wisconsin, including in the Milwaukee metro area.

The national Storm Prediction Center has placed a large portion of the state in an enhanced — level 3 out of 5 — risk for severe storms.

Almost the entire state on either side of a diagonal line from La Crosse to Rhinelander is under a risk for severe storms, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

Areas immediately surrounding the enhanced risk area are all under a slight risk — level 2 out of 5.

In the Milwaukee metro area, portions of Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties are under the enhanced risk. Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha are under the slight risk for severe weather on Wednesday.

That area could shift as the forecast becomes clearer during the next 24 hours.

“We’re seeing all of the ingredients in place. So it’s more of a matter of how many and where and when (storms) develop,” said Kate Abbott, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in La Crosse. “It’s pretty safe to say at this point that there will be severe weather somewhere in the state of Wisconsin“on Wednesday.

All severe threats are possible, including tornadoes, large hail, high winds and heavy rain, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

Forecasters across the state say residents should keep an eye on the weather.

“It’s one of those days where you have to expect everything and pay special attention throughout the day because once these storms get rolling, they could turn severe rather quickly,” Abbott said. “People should be monitoring the weather throughout the day.”

June is Wisconsin’s stormiest month

The setup expected on Wednesday is fairly typical of June in Wisconsin, which is usually the peak month for severe weather in the state.

A cold front is set to collide with all the warm, humid air that is in place across the state that has prompted heat advisories to be issued. The cold front is expected to force all that warm air to rise into the atmosphere and “that’s when we’ll start to see storms develop,” Abbott said.

Metro Milwaukee added to risk area

The cold front is expected to be draped from southwest to northeast across Wisconsin by Wednesday afternoon, said Cameron Miller, a weather service meteorologist in Sullivan.

“Generally, later into the afternoon and early evening hours, that’s when we’re expecting some of these storms to start moving our way,” Miller said.

The Storm Prediction Center added the Milwaukee metro area to the enhanced risk area in a forecast issued just before 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Forecasters will be watching the situation closely during the next 24 hours, Miller said.

Anytime there is such warm, humid air in place over Wisconsin, there is a chance for storms and, “It’s pretty soupy out there,” Miller added.

Forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center said in a statement they are concerned about the possibility for tornadoes in the upper Midwest, including Wisconsin, on Wednesday.

“Several tornadoes, large to very large hail, and damaging winds all appear likely,” the storm center said in a statement. “Some of the tornadoes could be strong.”

Severe thunderstorms on Monday knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers across southern Wisconsin. At one point during the worst of Monday’s storms, more than 50,000 customers across southern Wisconsin were without power.