Starting shortly after 2pm on Tuesday, July 20^th, an isolated thunderstorm rolled through the Barron county area of Western Wisconsin producing damaging winds and large hail. Hail reported ranged in size from penny to tennis balls (0.75 – 2.50 inches) and created a swath of damaged crops, vehicles, homes and businesses stretching from Taylor to Polk counties. Of the areas hit hardest, the largest reports in both size and number of incidents centered in and around Rice Lake, WI. The Rice Lake Chronotype reported:

“Hail pulverized gardens, damaged homes, and pock- marked many vehicles, including squad cars, campers and vehicles at South Lake Motors, and vehicles at Meyers Electric on Macauley Avenue. A downed tree damaged a home and vehicle on Kern Avenue. Airport manager Jerry Stites said there was no damage at the airport, although he reported 60 mph winds.”

Below we’ve listed the areas affected by Hail and/or Wind damage in Wisconsin as reported to the National Weather Service:

National Weather Service Hail Damage Report for Western Wisconsin – July 20, 2010 (County, Cities, Magnitude):

Barron: Cumberland, Rice Lake and Canton (0.75 – 2.50) Chippewa: Holcombe (1.75) Polk: Balsam Lake, Clayton, McKinley and Range (0.75 – 1.75) Rusk: Weyerhaeuser (1.75)

National Weather Service Wind Damage Report for Western Wisconsin – July 20, 2010 (County, Cities, Magnitude):

Barron: Cumberland and Rice Lake Rusk: Island Lake