Tornados and 60 degrees in January (Milwaukee, Kenosha: homes, elementary schools, tornado)

[sunflower53072]

Hard to believe it was 60 degrees with tornados today. Anyone near the rough weather? It rained and thundered a bit here, but not too bad. I'm amazed there is any snow left.

[sammbols3]

This weather has been some of the most crazy we have had in a long time! I heard on the news last night that this is only the second tornado ever reported in Wisconsin in the month of January. The first occurred in 1967.

Fortunately we were not near the severe weather. We did get a lot of thunder, and a lot of rain. Yes, it is hard to believe there is still snow on the ground! It was so dark, and so dreary on Monday. I cannot wait to see the sun shine again, even if it means the temperatures will be only in the 20's!

Luckily, I do not think anyone lost their lives or was seriously injured in the storms yesterday. But from the images on the news, there looked to be a lot of damage.

Crazy, ridiculous weather. I wish spring and summer were here, but I know we have a ways to go before it begins to get nice out again. I would just settle for one sunny day, as I said, even if the temperatures would be cold!

[Hntr]

Unbelieveable!!! Tornadoes in January!

Yesterday when I first heard the thunder I thought it was a jet plane or something. I kept thinking , no it can't be thunder.

Here in central Wisconsin we were in the forties yesterday, today we are in the mid thirties. Still have about 6-8 inches of snow on the ground. I'll don't mind the rain. It's a nice break from shoveling snow.

[EnjoyEP]

I thought the January thaw was just so refreshing and just so-what-the-doctor-ordered after a long, long, cold and ultra-snowy end of November through December through very early January. Wasn't it awesome to be able to go outside yesterday afternoon with only a light coat on? It felt so beginning-of-spring like!

I do of course feel extremely sorry for those in southern WI who lost property / homes due to the twisters. Only the 2nd time twisters have occurred in the state in January (first time was in the '60s). However, unfortunately it seems that anytime there is a freakish warm spell (usually this is more early March but it can happen really any time) - with the surely-impending cold air moving in - torndoes are always the result. I remember in early March of 2000 when temps in Milwaukee are still rather cold, we had a three day stretch of very warm temps in the 70s. Then, a massive cold front rolled through dropping the temps by nearly 40 degrees almost instantly, and that caused rare tornadoes (not huge ones) in the Milwaukee area.

Beyond the twisters though, it was fascinating to be outside in Milwaukee in friggin' January - after the bitterly cold and snowy December we had - and feel temps in the 50s and 60s the last couple of days. It was also fascinating as I was walking down by Lake Michigan after dark last night to feel temps in the 60s, with big patches of snow still visible on the surrounding grounds, see big chunks of ice floating in Lake Michigan, and see a wonderous lightning display in the background over Lake Michigan - it was a weather event so rare that is awesome to witness.

Alas, back to harsh reality starting...now. Temps plummeting into the 30s, soon for a long stretch with highs only in the 20s. Sigh.

[ekg56]

Even though it didn't melt all our snow the weather was a lot of fun. I even got out my bicycle and road around for about an hour. Nice break and by next week we will be half way through January.

[Undecided2008]

I live in Paddock Lake, so only about 5 miles away from Wheatland where the tornado hit, and not too far from Somers/Kenosha where it also touched down. A lot of people at my school who live out in Wheatland house's were damaged or completely destroyed There's also a lot of people without power, and three elementary schools (one in Kenosha) didn't have school because of power outages/trees down in the parking lot. However, it's a miracle no one was killed or severely injured Where I live it hardly rained, I heard the sirens and I thought "huh?" because besides dark clouds it didn't look too bad..but I have friends who could see the funnel cloud off in the distance from their house. Scary stuff.

[dreamhunter65]

Mother Nature at work..Do not like the weather wait a hour it will change that is Wisconsin.Lucky nobody seriously hurt or dead. Still feel for all the losses though.

January thaw was ok to warm for me though. Many snowmobile trails closed because of it. Strange been in Chippewa last few days see grass there and here in Ladysmith about 7 inches on ground yet.

Now talking 2-4 inches again.

[EnjoyEP]

JSOnline.com, Web site of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that there could be five inches of snow in Milwaukee tomorrow. So much for my nice, snowless backyard. Argh.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

JSOnline.com, Web site of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that there could be five inches of snow in Milwaukee tomorrow. So much for my nice, snowless backyard. Argh.

Dont fret, winter is almost over. Pretty soon it will be in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s on a regular basis.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Dont fret, winter is almost over. Pretty soon it will be in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s on a regular basis.

Yeah, that'll be nice. I guess we start getting some regular "warm up" periods in mid-March, which is only eight weeks away. Let's just get that Groundhog to agree!!