A tornado and severe storm that hit near Evansville, Wisconsin on Thursday night resulted in minor to major damages, power outages, and some minor injuries. This marks the first time that a tornado has touched down in the state of Wisconsin during the month of February. Nearly two dozen local police, fire, paramedics, and service organizations responded to reports of severe weather damage east and northeast of Evansville.
The damage from the tornado and storm varied, with reports of power poles snapped, large trees down, roof damage to homes, and damage to trailers. Damage to power infrastructure caused outages from west of Edgerton to Footville, and a warming shelter was established at the Evansville Fire Station. Although much of the power for the City of Evansville and south has since been restored, other nearby “affected” areas remain without power. Various road closures are being reported “due to debris and other hazards,” and authorities are asking the public to avoid auxiliary roads.
Finally, while this is the first February tornado in Wisconsin, the state has seen three during the month of January. The most recent January tornado was reported in 2008, according to the National Weather Service, and the category level of the tornado that hit near Evansville has not yet been determined. Crews will be out surveying the damage to gather more information.
