Map showing a Red Flag Warning for Burnett and Washburn Counties and a Special Weather Statement for much of the rest of northwestern Wisconsin, because of high fire danger.
Happy Earth Day. Please don't burn the state down.
High fire danger in northwestern Wisconsin today.
Duh, no. It’s a wind instrument.
This was part of @uwmadison.bsky.social EarthFest.
A @uwmad-aos.bsky.social professor with an NSF grant partners with UW School of Music to put on concerts inspired by atmospheric/oceanic data.
Our stations, which use some CS components, were the inspiration this year.
bsky.app/profile/wisc...
A blue sky, green field, and people working at a weather station.
It’s a beautiful day for work at a weather station.
Plot of cumulative rainfall so far in April, 2026, at five mesonet weather stations. All show abrupt rises early in the month and especially between April 11 and 14. One station had total rainfall over 8 inches of rain in April, and all had more than 4 inches.
Quick plot of the rainfall that produced record flooding along the Wolf River in Wisconsin, as recorded at Wisconsin Mesonet stations.
A weather station on stage next to a string quintet.
Have you ever seen a weather station on stage with a string quintet?
A weather station and 5 chairs sitting in front of a screen that says “Earth Signals Wisconsin Weather”.
A Wisconet station making its concert debut.
If you’re unable to join us in Madison tonight for the Earth Signals concert featuring music inspired by data measured using Wisconet weather stations, you can stream it live at the link below.
This concert is made possible with support from NSF.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=flZ0...
We are preliminarily at 24 tornadoes from last week's storms.
Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes per year.
Important to note that tornado reports are different from the number of confirmed tornadoes because a single tornado can have multiple reports associated with it.
Map showing the number of 2"+ hail reports across the United States in 2026. Illinois and Wisconsin are the two highest reporting states.
Map showing the number of tornado reports in the United States in 2026. Illinois, Mississippi, and Wisconsin are the three top reporting states.
Map showing the climatological probability of severe hail on June 20 - the peak day for Wisconsin.
Map showing the climatological probability of tornadoes on June 20 - the peak day for Wisconsin.
Wisconsin's climatological peak of severe hail and tornadoes isn't until around June 20, but we're already near the top of the leaderboard for 2"+ hail and tornado reports.
Last week is a reminder that severe weather can happen any time, so always know your safety plan!
Map showing low temperatures across Wisconsin for April 20.
It was a solid freeze across Wisconsin, with numerous stations reporting lows in the teens overnight.
Things are rebounding nicely under sunny skies, which will help us warm up and dry out!
We're looking forward to the Earth Signals concert tonight, be sure to join us or tune in!
What does Wisconsin weather sound like?
Join us for a concert tomorrow night with new pieces inspired by data measured on our network of weather stations.
If you can’t join us in Madison, it will be streamed online. Stream link tomorrow.
Preview:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=WN2E...
Map showing the 24-hour temperature change across Wisconsin. It’s much cooler today.
Last night’s cold front has really cooled things off.
Temperatures are 30 to 40 degrees lower today than they were yesterday!
Welcome to the Midwest in spring. From drought to river flooding in a few weeks. Small green polygons are river flooding warnings at specific locations.
These are measurements from Wisconet stations installed around Wisconsin. The nearest one to Stevens Point is about 7 miles south of the airport in Plover.
Precipitation amounts can vary significantly over short distances, which is why it’s important to have as many rain gauges as possible.
Come meet Wisconet today!
We’ll be in Fitchburg for the Bilingual Environmental Conservation Fair: Dia de la Tierra!
More details:
www.wisconsinecolatinos.org/bilingual-co...
Colorado Water Year 2026 temperature and precipitation compared to 1991-2020 average. Temperature bars show departure from average, maps below it show temperature ranks across the state with statewide ranking. Precipitation bars are accumulated departure from average, with daily precipitation as black bars. Maps below that show precipitation ranks across the state with statewide ranking.
This is my new favorite graphic produced by @climate.colostate.edu and @rschumacher.cloud. It's also been quite fascinating to watch the accumulation of above average temperatures for the water year. Find it here: climate.colostate.edu/co_cag/
Map showing the rain totals at Wisconet stations over the last week. Most saw over an inch.
This last week has been W-E-T wet. Among Wisconet stations, Porter lead the way with 6.20” of rain, but most stations saw at least an inch.
The good news is that the next notable rain chances aren’t until Thursday and Friday.
Turn around, don’t drown if you come across flooded areas!
Bayfield is 38 degrees with a severe thunderstorm warning.
Not the coldest Severe Thunderstorm Warning, but definitely a chilly one
Tornado headed straight for the Montana station.
Map showing active warnings and Wisconet data.
Keep tabs on the current conditions, watches, and warnings with the Wisconet Outdoor Activities Dashboard.
wisconet.wisc.edu/tools/outdoo...
Tornado watch graphic.
A large tornado watch has been issued until 8 pm.
Tornadoes and hail to the size of softballs likely.
Take shelter immediately if warnings are issued.
Mesoscale discussion graphic.
A Tornado Watch will be issued for western and southern Wisconsin in the next 1-2 hours.
Strong tornadoes, baseball to softball size hail, and damaging winds will be possible with storms today.
Please join us for Weather Watch today at 12:15 PM CDT (1715 UTC) today, April 17, 2026, streaming online at go.wisc.edu/uwaos-wxwatch
Hope to see you there!
Map showing a severe thunderstorm watch for northwestern Wisconsin until 5 pm on April 17.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 5 pm across northwestern Wisconsin.
Thunderstorm development is expected to continue this morning and early afternoon, with large hail up to golfball size being the primary concern, though wind gusts up to 70 mph are possible.
The latest severe weather outlook has come out from the Storm Prediction Center and it expands the Level 3/5 risk.
Significant severe weather is appearing more likely this afternoon and evening, including strong tornadoes, hail to softball size, and winds >75 mph.
Map showing the severe weather outlook for Friday April 17.
Map showing flood watches and warnings for Wisconsin on April 17.
Another active weather day for Wisconsin, with a level 3/5 severe risk for central and southern parts, and a flood watch for the southeastern 2/3s, of the state.
Strong tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, flooding rains, and frequent lightning are all concerns today.
Stay inside during any storms!
