Tornadoes strike Wisconsin for the first time ever in the month of February

MADISON, Wis. (Civic Media) – Storm spotters confirm tornadoes touchdown in Green and Rock counties, just 30 miles southeast of Madison.

Tornado warnings went out into Green, Rock and Jefferson counties Thursday evening, as rare winter warmth was smacked by a cold front, firing off severe weather.

A funnel cloud was first spotted in Juda alongside radar indicated rotation.

Storm spotters then saw and confirmed a rope tornado on the ground near Albany in Green county, headed towards Evansville around 5:30 p.m. Power flashes were seen as the tornado touched down and lifted a few times.

The twister continued barreling northeast at 45mph towards Fulton and reaching Edgerton by 5:50 p.m. in Rock county. 

The strength weakened a bit before a funnel cloud was again spotted near Fort Atkinson in Jefferson county.

Reports were issued telling drivers NOT to be on I-39 near Janesville.

The storm crossed the road and headed towards Sullivan where the rotation finally weakened and the severe storm was no longer tornado warned.

This rare event marks the very first tornado touching down in the month of February, throughout the entire state of Wisconsin.

Around 5:30pm CST, storm chaser @VinceWaelti captured this footage of an observed tornado-warned storm on his @cyclonePORT stream near Albany, Wisconsin. #WIwx pic.twitter.com/yNhTHwZUnF

— RadarOmega (@RadarOmega) February 9, 2024

Current Damage Reports:

Many large trees and power lines down in Evansville.

Houses damaged, roofs ripped off and trees torn near CTY M and Riley Road east of Evansville.

Final photos of the damage from the tornado tonight in Northwestern Rock County, WI. @NWSMilwaukee #wiwx pic.twitter.com/iR7VNgylfd

— Jordan S 🇮🇪 (@Jordan22twt) February 9, 2024

House completely destroyed off of CTY HWY M and Casey Road near Fulton.

Large trees down on CTY X & N, southwest of Albion – no damage seen in the town from chasers.

Trees down across roads in Busseyville on ST HWY 106.

Large trees 1-2 feet in diameter trees down at intersection of Loga Road and St Hwy 106.

Trees down near Fort Atkinson (east).

Large hail was also reported in Monroe, Wilton, Gratiot and Cazenovia.

Severe storms causing large hail in Monroe, WI this evening via Shani Spangler @NWSMilwaukee pic.twitter.com/R9oV72p1yb

— Max Tsaparis (@MaxTsaparis) February 9, 2024

Emergency crews are responding.

Alliant Energy reported at 7:30 p.m. that about 3,700 customers without power, with 864 customers without electricity in Rock County, 806 in Columbia County and 717 in Dodge County.

The National Weather Service will be out tomorrow and over the next few days surveying the damage.

This is a developing story.

Stay tuned. This is a developing stry.