Southern, western Wisconsin under enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms Thursday evening

A line of extreme thunderstorms might convey damaging winds and enormous hail to elements of southern and western Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon. The Nationwide Climate Service states hail may very well be as giant as limes. 

A low strain system born within the central Plains and transferring east by way of Minnesota and into Wisconsin Thursday afternoon is predicted to spark a line of supercell thunderstorms between 5 p.m. and seven p.m. 

The Nationwide Climate Service workplace in La Crosse tweeted that areas between Prairie du Chien, Tomah, Whitehall and Eau Claire are beneath an enhanced threat for extreme climate that would produce winds in extra of 60 mph, damaging hail and potential tornadoes. 

Nationwide Climate Service-La Crosse Meteorologist Jeff Boyne stated the low-pressure system is predicted to trigger instability within the environment and circumstances are favorable for storms to change into extra organized and extreme. 

“There may very well be some spots that positively might see some giant hail,” Boyne stated. “And there’s a chance that a few of the hailstones may very well be higher than 2 inches in diameter.”

As a matter of scale, Boyne stated hail may very well be roughly the dimensions of a lime.

“That kind of hail could cause injury to roofs and autos,” Boyne stated. “Not too wholesome on the physique both.” 

Initially, the Climate Service warned of an enhanced risk of EF2 tornadoes or stronger. Boyne stated that risk has decreased, although there’s nonetheless a slight probability of tornadoes within the southern half of Wisconsin. 

The Climate Service urges residents experiencing extreme climate Thursday to hunt shelter and keep indoors whereas having a number of methods to obtain climate alerts.