LA CROSSE, Wis. — A tornado swept through parts of western Wisconsin, damaging homes, farm buildings and trees as severe thunderstorms moved across the region, while emergency crews worked on Thursday to assess the extent of the destruction and determine whether there were any casualties.
Local authorities reported widespread structural damage in several communities after the storm passed, with roads blocked by fallen trees and power lines. Utility crews began restoring electricity where outages were reported, while emergency responders conducted damage assessments and checked affected neighborhoods.
The National Weather Service said survey teams were being deployed to examine the damage and determine the tornado's strength and track. Officials cautioned that the rating would remain preliminary until field inspections were completed. Initial reports indicated the storm caused significant damage across rural areas, though authorities said assessments were continuing.
County emergency management officials urged residents to avoid damaged areas, remain alert for downed power lines and allow first responders and utility workers access to affected locations. Cleanup operations began as weather conditions improved.
The storms were part of a broader system that produced severe weather across portions of the Upper Midwest, prompting tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings from the National Weather Service. Meteorologists said conditions included strong winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes capable of producing substantial damage.
Wisconsin has experienced an unusually active period of severe weather in 2026, with multiple tornado outbreaks earlier in the year prompting extensive damage surveys and recovery efforts in several counties. State emergency management officials have continued coordinating with local governments following previous rounds of storms that affected communities across central and western Wisconsin.
Officials said damage assessments would continue over the coming days as crews documented impacts to homes, businesses, agricultural buildings and public infrastructure. The National Weather Service said additional information, including any confirmed tornado rating and path details, would be released after survey teams completed their inspections.
