The October 26-27, 2010 Record Extratropical Cyclone
Last updated 10/28/10
One of the strongest storms in the history of the central U.S. affected the region on October 26-27, 2010, producing wind gusts over 50 mph across much of the Midwest, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes from southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois to northern Alabama, and a blizzard over northern Minnesota and North Dakota. As the storm reached peak intensity late during the afternoon on October 26 over Minnesota, the lowest barometric pressure readings ever recorded in the central United States occurred. A reading of 28.21" (955.2 mb) was recorded at Bigfork, MN, a pressure that is found in Category 3 hurricanes!
As the storm moved near Wisconsin, a new state record was set for lowest air pressure. Superior, WI, recorded a pressure of 28.39" (961.3 mb) on October 26. The previous state record was set in Green Bay in April 1982.
Track of the low pressure center. (Click for full view.) | Animated track of the storm's center, October 25-27. (Click for full view.) |
The intense storm produced wind gusts over 60 mph across Wisconsin on October 26 into early on October 27. Highest gusts across northeast and central Wisconsin included 79 mph in Sherwood (Calumet Co.), 68 mph in Algoma (Kewaunee Co.), 61 mph in Wausau and 60 mph in Rhinelander. In addition, a tornado was reported in Racine County on the morning of October 26.
The high winds caused widespread power outages across mainly northern Wisconsin, with as many as 60,000 customers without power at the height of the storm. Trees were knocked down in scattered locations in the region--some falling on homes and cars. The strong and persistent southwest winds pushed the water out of the Fox River and lower part of the bay of Green Bay, with water levels falling some three feet from normal. Over the course of the next two days the water sloshed back and forth with water levels rising and falling in the lower bay and Fox River between one and two feet as a seiche set up. Water levels returned to normal on the afternoon of the 28th as the winds shifted to the west then northwest.
CITY COUNTY PEAK WIND(MPH)
SHERWOOD WINNEBAGO 79 MPH ALGOMA KEWAUNEE 68 MPH MANITOWOC-MARITIME MUS. MANITOWOC 64 MPH KEWAUNEE-HARBOR MARINA KEWAUNEE 63 MPH MARSHFIELD WOOD 61 MPH WAUSAU MARATHON 61 MPH RHINELANDER ONEIDA 60 MPH ANTIGO LANGLADE 60 MPH HORTONVILLE OUTAGAMIE 59 MPH SHIOCTON OUTAGAMIE 59 MPH CLINTONVILLE WAUPACA 58 MPH NEW HOLSTEIN CALUMET 57 MPH CHILTON CALUMET 57 MPH BELLEVUE BROWN 57 MPH DARBOY OUTAGAMIE 57 MPH APPLETON OUTAGAMIE 55 MPH KIMBERLY OUTAGAMIE 55 MPH WISCONSIN RAPIDS WOOD 54 MPH MOSINEE MARATHON 54 MPH STURGEON BAY DOOR 54 MPH EAGLE RIVER VILAS 53 MPH WASHINGTON ISLAND DOOR 53 MPH SISTER BAY DOOR 53 MPH OSHKOSH WINNEBAGO 52 MPH STEVENS POINT PORTAGE 52 MPH GREEN BAY-NWS BROWN 52 MPH CHAMBERS ISLAND DOOR 52 MPH MANITOWOC MANITOWOC 52 MPH MENOMINEE MI MARINETTE 51 MPH GILLS ROCK-NORTHPORT DOOR 49 MPH WAUPACA WAUPACA 47 MPH WAUTOMA WAUSHARA 46 MPH MERRILL LINCOLN 45 MPH KESHENA MENOMINEE 45 MPH LAONA FOREST 42 MPH WAUSAUKEE MARINETTE 41 MPH TOMAHAWK LINCOLN 39 MPH LAND O LAKES VILAS 38 MPH PHELPS VILAS 37 MPH
Official and unofficial reports are included.
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