Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Boaters and lakeshore residents along Lake Michigan from Sturgeon Bay to Wind Point are under a Tornado Watch until 6 p.m. CDT Wednesday as conditions ripen for fast-developing severe storms.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, Tornado Watch 517 includes coastal waters from northeastern Wisconsin down through southeastern shores, covering areas near Two Rivers, Sheboygan, Port Washington, and Milwaukee’s North Point Light. The watch area also extends to Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, signaling potential for rotating storms along the lakefront.
Gusty winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes are possible this afternoon. Mariners are urged to remain in port or seek safe harbor, as waterspouts and sudden squalls could occur with little warning. Inland areas near the shoreline, including Ozaukee and Racine counties, may also experience dangerous wind conditions and localized power outages.
Emergency managers advise residents to have weather radios or mobile alerts active, and to avoid beach areas and piers through the evening. This is the first organized tornado threat across southeastern Wisconsin’s lakefront this July, following weeks of calm, hot weather.
Storm threats are expected to diminish after 6 p.m., but additional advisories may follow if instability lingers over the region.
