Wsaw Weather Alert: Tornado Watch Issued for Central Wisconsin
wsaw is tracking a fast-moving severe weather setup across central Wisconsin on Friday, with storms expected to bring hail, strong wind gusts, heavy rain, and possible tornadoes. The Tornado Watch covers most of central Wisconsin until 8 p. m. ET, while Friday remains a First Alert Weather Day.
Severe storms, flooding concerns, and timing
The main threat window is Friday afternoon and evening, after temperatures climb into the low to mid-70s for most of the area before storms arrive. In communities farther south, highs could reach the upper 70s. The watch comes as a severe thunderstorm watch remains active until 5 p. m. ET, and conditions are expected to stay unsettled as thunderstorms move through the region.
Officials are also watching flooding. Several counties are under a Flood Watch because rivers are already running high and thunderstorms could add more heavy rain. Some areas could pick up 1 to 2 inches of rain, or more, before the storms move out very late Friday.
Gusty winds are already part of the setup, with wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph possible before storms arrive. The strongest storms could bring hail, strong wind gusts, and a few tornadoes, making wsaw a critical weather day for anyone in the affected area.
What residents are being told to do now
Residents are being urged to have two ways to stay weather aware on Friday. The First Alert Weather App, NOAA Weather Radio, and checking local weather updates as conditions change are all part of the recommended safety plan. The message is simple: stay ready, stay inside when warnings are issued, and keep alerts turned on.
After the storms move out, a cold front is expected to sweep through north central Wisconsin and bring a sharp cooldown into Saturday morning. That means this round of wsaw severe weather will be followed by much colder conditions, with temperatures dropping close to freezing by Saturday morning. A light wintry mix to snow cannot be ruled out in some communities, though no accumulation is expected.
What comes after the watch
Saturday is forecast to be mostly cloudy, windy, and much colder, with highs in the upper 30s and low 40s. Winds could gust to 35 to 40 mph at times, then ease somewhat on Sunday. Looking ahead, next week is expected to turn quieter and warmer, with mainly sunny skies and highs returning to the upper 60s and low 70s by Tuesday.
For now, wsaw remains focused on the severe weather threat unfolding Friday evening, the flood risk tied to heavy rain, and the quick transition to colder air behind the front. The next update will matter most as storms continue to develop and move through central Wisconsin before 8 p. m. ET.
