Updated: Authorities confirm Saturday tornado in Rock County
JANESVILLE—The National Weather Service in Sullivan has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado caused structural damage to east-central Rock County during Saturday's storm, according to a news release issued by Sgt. Shena Kohler of the Rock County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Bureau.
The storm was about 50 yards wide and traveled about 5 miles at speeds estimated around 100 mph, according to the release.
A large barn, in its path of destruction, was destroyed at 13430 E. County A. Nobody or animals were injured.
Another structure also was damaged at 13129 E. County A in addition to trees in this area where power lines also were knocked down, according to the release.
The National Weather Service website said the same tornado also caused damage in west central Walworth County between 2:40 and 2:50 p.m. Saturday when a shed collapsed just north of Darien.
The tornado brings the statewide tornado count for 2015 up to 12 tornadoes; three EF-1s, and nine EF-0s. Since 2001, Wisconsin has averaged 26 tornadoes a year, according to the National Weather Service.
At about 2:45 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Rock County after radar indicated a rotation in the east central portion of the county. Reports of debris and tree damage also were received in various locations throughout the area.
At 3:02 p.m., the Rock County 911 Communications Center received a call regarding substantial storm damage on East County A, near the Rock County/Walworth County line.
The local emergency management bureau and the National Weather Service searched the area and completed damage assessments from North Scharine Road, southeast across East County A continuing to North County Line Road.
The bureau has been in contact with residents in the area and will continue to follow up on the storm damages with Wisconsin Emergency Management.
A line of thunderstorms that rolled through south central Wisconsin midday Saturday primarily damaged trees in Janesville, said a supervisor at the Rock County Communication Center.
“We don't have anything substantial; mostly trees down and a few blocking roads,” said Michele McMahon.
The National Weather Service in Sullivan issued a severe thunderstorm warning just before 1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. for northwestern Rock County and all of Green County in south central Wisconsin.
That warning was extended several times before a tornado watch was issued to last until 10 p.m. for 19 Wisconsin counties, including Green, Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties.
The thunderstorm warning expired at 3:30 p.m., McMahon said.
As heavy rain and strong winds hit the city, temperatures dropped 15 degrees within an hour—between 1:45 and 2:45 p.m., according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's weather observation page for Janesville.
According to scanner information, trees and a power line were on fire at 2:37 p.m. in the backyard in the 2000 block of Riverview Drive, but a Janesville Fire Department shift commander said there was only a little bit of arc in the utility line and no fire. Alliant Energy was called, he said.
City public works barricades reportedly had blown into the intersection at Humes Road and Lexington Drive and a citizen reported at 2:41 p.m. what was believed to be a funnel cloud forming over a building in the 1700 block of Center Ave., but that was never confirmed. Warning sirens activated in the city around 2:40 p.m. but within 20 minutes the storm had passed.
The 911 center received 15 calls about the storm, McMahon said.