Severe storms strike Northwoods

Severe thunderstorms raced through the Northwoods during the early morning hours Tuesday, June 24. According to the National Weather Service in Green Bay, the storms developed across western Wisconsin, consolidated, and then raced southeast across the area between midnight and 5 a.m. A few storms developed ahead of the line, producing some large hail and brief gusty winds as well. The storms uprooted and knocked down trees and power lines, causing thousands of customers to lose power. According to published storm reports, the storms took down multiple trees in the Rhinelander area, like the one pictured at West Side Park. The storm also dropped 1 1/2 inches of rain to the Rhinelander area, according to published reports, and injured two north of Tomahawk when large trees uprooted and snapped along the south shore of Lake Nokomis. A preliminary storm survey by the National Weather Service indicated the damage was likely caused by straight-line winds.