Midwest Power Crisis
Severe Storms Trigger Widespread Power Outages Across Wisconsin and Midwest, Threat Continues
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WMTV reported that a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was in effect for all of southern Wisconsin until 7 p.m., with multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings already issued as storms moved in during peak hours of roughly 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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WMTV also tied the storm threat to an especially unstable air mass, noting temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s paired with dewpoints in the 70s—conditions they said provide “fuel” for storms to maintain intensity.
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TMJ4 live updates said the outages had grown to more than 17,000 We Energies customers without power by 3:34 p.m., including 3,000+ in Watertown, 2,400 in Milwaukee, and 2,300 in Sussex.
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During the same TMJ4 live coverage, Horion’s mayor posted a direct public safety message—“Stay out of downtown. Period.”—as severe storms moved through.
A powerful line of severe thunderstorms tore through southern Wisconsin on Wednesday, knocking out power to more than 17,000 We Energies customers by mid-afternoon and sending mayors to social media with urgent warnings. TMJ4 reported the hardest-hit communities included Watertown with 3,000+ outages, Milwaukee with 2,400, and Sussex with 2,300 — all by 3:34 p.m.
The threat is not over. Another round of severe storms is expected Thursday afternoon between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. as a cold front pushes through the Great Lakes. Forecasters rated the event a Level 3 out of 5 on the severe weather scale, according to National Weather Service.
Straight-Line Winds Up to 80 MPH Drove the Damage
Forecasters warned of damaging straight-line wind gusts reaching 70 to 80 mph across southern Wisconsin. WTMJ meteorologist Craig Koplien said isolated gusts could "reach or exceed 80 miles per hour." The highest recorded gust in the broader system hit 83 mph in Marietta, Minnesota, according to MPR News.
We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway said the damage pattern matched a high-wind event — "trees, tree branches, and even some of those high debris flying up and coming into contact with our equipment," according to FOX6. A barn near Beaver Dam was destroyed. Multiple buildings in Horicon suffered what officials called "substantial" damage. Highway 33 through downtown Horicon was closed.
Hot, Sticky Air Fueled Storms Through the Afternoon
The storms fed off an unusually unstable atmosphere. WMTV highlighted temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s paired with dewpoints in the 70s. Meteorologists call that combination high CAPE — short for Convective Available Potential Energy. In plain terms, it is the "fuel" that keeps storms strong even as they move inland.
The first storm line entered southern Wisconsin around 1 p.m. and pushed east through roughly 7 p.m. A second line followed later that evening, lasting until about 1 a.m. Thursday. The system also produced an EF-1 tornado in Freeland, Michigan, on Tuesday as part of the same weather pattern, according to the National Weather Service.
Horicon Mayor Orders Residents Out of Downtown
As storms tore through Horicon, Mayor Josh Maas posted a blunt message on social media: "Stay out of downtown. Period. Will update more later." CBS 58 reported windows were blown out of buildings and debris from businesses littered the streets. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office managed road closures and emergency response in the area.
Across the broader Midwest, more than 200,000 customers lost power, according to Rolling Out. We Energies alone peaked at 37,070 outages across its 59-county service area Wednesday evening, according to PowerOutage.us. Restoration in rural areas could stretch into the weekend, especially with a second round of storms still on the way Thursday.
Tornado Risk Remains Secondary But Real Into Thursday
While damaging winds are the primary threat, forecasters have not ruled out tornadoes. WTAQ warned that storms moving through Northeast Wisconsin carried a risk of "an isolated tornado" alongside hail and damaging winds. The NWS in Indianapolis issued a Tornado Warning Tuesday night for central Johnson County, Indiana, based on radar-indicated rotation near Bargersville.
Analysts described the system as shifting from individual supercell storms to a "bow echo" — a curved storm line known for widespread wind damage rather than tornadoes, according to Watchers News. That shift explains why officials kept steering safety advice toward seeking shelter from falling trees rather than heading to a basement for a tornado.
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