Madison, Wis. – Tornadoes, giant hail, and damaging winds are possible across southern Wisconsin and far northern Illinois Thursday afternoon and evening as supercell storms build along a warm front.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, a tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. CDT for central, eastern, and southern Wisconsin, as well as parts of far northern Illinois. The setup supports a few strong tornadoes, hail up to 3 inches in diameter, and wind gusts nearing 70 mph.
Cities under the greatest threat include Madison, Milwaukee, Janesville, Green Bay, and Rockford, Illinois. Residents in these areas should monitor alerts and have a shelter plan ready. Conditions will rapidly deteriorate as storms form and track northeast, with peak intensity expected between 5 and 9 p.m.
Highways like I-90 and I-43 could see hazardous travel during the evening commute. Local emergency managers advise staying indoors during warnings and keeping mobile devices charged in case of power outages.
This is the first widespread tornado threat of the season for much of Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Further watches or warnings may be issued into the night.
