Next 12 Hours
The week will start with chances for thunderstorms, some possibly strong, and highs that will crack 70 for the first time this year on Tuesday, before much cooler weather moves in after the storms move out, according to forecasters.
There will be a chance for storms late Monday afternoon and night, mainly along and south of Interstate 94, then again Tuesday afternoon and evening, with a couple of strong storms possible, the National Weather Service said.
But the strongest chance for severe storms will be in states south of Wisconsin.
“The combination of a frontal boundary situated across the lower Great Lakes and Ohio Valley and low pressure moving along the boundary will serve as the set up for severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda. “If storms quickly congeal into larger line segments or ‘squall lines,’ then damaging wind gusts will become the main threat, although even in these situations large hail and brief tornadoes can form.”
In Madison on Monday, there’s a 20% chance for showers after 4 p.m., with increasing clouds, a high near 56 and winds developing out of the south around 5 miles per hour in the morning.
Overnight, there’s a 50% chance for showers, mainly before 5 a.m., as the low falls to around 47.
Tuesday’s forecast features a 30% chance for showers, then showers and storms after 2 p.m. and before 8 p.m., with mostly cloudy skies, a high near 71 and low around 44, and southeast winds at 5 to 10 mph turning out of the southwest at 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
The Weather Service said chances for rain are 50% Wednesday and Wednesday night, 20% Friday night and 30% Saturday through Sunday, with snow possibly mixing in Friday night and Saturday.
Skies over Madison should be increasingly cloudy Wednesday and Thursday, mostly sunny Friday, partly sunny Saturday, and mostly sunny Sunday, with highs near 60, 45, 46, 52 and 49, and lows Wedneday night through Saturday night around 35, 30, 33 and 35.
27 Storm Track meteorologist Max Tsaparis forecasts a few spotty showers later Monday into Monday night, a few showers and storms Tuesday, scattered showers late Wednesday, and a few showers possible Saturday and Sunday.
Tsaparis said highs Monday through Sunday near 57, 72, 66, 47, 48, 49 and 46, and overnight lows around 46, 42, 36, 28, 34 and 33.
Sunday’s high in Madison was 56 at 4:03 p.m., 3 degrees above the normal high and 24 degrees below the record high of 80 for April 5, set in 1873.
Sunday’s low in Madison was 29 at 5:59 a.m., 3 degrees below the normal low and 15 degrees above the record low of 14 for April 5, set in 1886, 1995 and 2108.
No precipitation was recorded at the Dane County Regional Airport on Sunday, leaving Madison’s April precipitation total (rain plus snow converted to liquid) at 0.09 inches, 0.43 inches below normal. The meteorological spring (March through May) total stayed at 3.56 inches, 0.84 inches above normal. The 2020 total stayed at 6.24 inches, 0.84 inches below normal.
Madison’s record precipitation for April 5 is 1.48 inches in 1958.
With no snow on Sunday, Madison’s April total stayed at zero, 0.7 inches below normal. The meteorological spring total stayed at 2.8 inches, 4.9 inches below normal. For the snow season (since July 1), Madison has received 53.5 inches, 4.7 inches above normal.
Madison’s record snowfall for April 5 is 8 inches in 1982.
Photos: Remembering Wisconsin's deadliest tornado in 1899
New Richmond tornado 1899
Elevated view of New Richmond after the tornado hit on June 12, 1899. Many people are gathered around the railroad tracks and a few others are seen among the ruins of homes and businesses. The Willow River is visible in the foreground.
New Richmond tornado 1899
People stand in the rubble of the Ward S. Williams Co. stone block building after a deadly tornado hit New Richmond.
New Richmond tornado 1899
People working with the relief effort in the aftermath of a tornado in New Richmond in 1899. Boxes of supplies are piled near a man in the foreground, and a man holds a bundle in a cart parked on the left. In the background, people are walking among the debris.
New Richmond tornado 1899
A woman and her young daughter stand in a yard examining a house in the aftermath of the New Richmond tornado. The house has one entire side missing.
New Richmond tornado 1899
A small group of women and children observe the aftermath of the New Richmond tornado.
New Richmond tornado 1899
View over water, perhaps Hatfield Lake, of houses damaged and demolished in the New Richmond tornado. Floating at the edge of the lake near an eroded bank are numerous pieces of debris. A number of tents for the relief effort are on the left.
New Richmond tornado 1899
A group of people looks at the debris left by the New Richmond tornado from a covered horse-drawn carriage. In the foreground, the roof of a house lies on the ground.
New Richmond tornado 1899
A small group of men and women stand surrounded by the debris from the New Richmond tornado. Storm-damaged houses and relief workers are visible in the background.
New Richmond tornado 1899
The still smoldering foundation of a brick building continues to burn in the wake of a tornado that swept through New Richmond in 1899.
Front page of the Minneapolis Tribune on June 13, 1899
The front page of the Minneapolis Tribune on June 13, 1899, blares news of the deadly New Richmond tornado. New Richmond is about 42 miles northeast of Minneapolis.
New Richmond tornado 1899
Men near a heavily damaged home look at a tree that was stripped of its bark by the tornado that hit New Richmond in 1899. It also appears to have a piece of metal embedded in it.
New Richmond tornado 1899
An elevated view over water, possibly Hatfield Lake, shows damage to houses and property and people gathered in groups around town.
New Richmond tornado 1899
A crowd gathers amid debris left in the wake of a devastating tornado. Trees have been stripped of limbs and bar, and houses have been flattened.
New Richmond tornado 1899
Men work amid the rubble of lumber, bricks and stone left by the tornado.
New Richmond tornado 1899
Men work in the remains of a house that was demolished by the tornado that hit New Richmond in 1899.
Wisconsin State Journal front page June 13, 1899
The front page of the State Journal from June 13, 1899, recounts the story of the deadly tornado. The June 14 edition talked about the "line of funerals," with the dead carried to their graves in grocers' wagons.
Jeff Richgels
Online Reporter/Producer for Wisconsin State Journal
