The National Weather Service has been busy all day today surveying the storm damage from Tuesday nights storms.   A survey team from the NWS office in Duluth is looking over storm damage in southeast Iron County, while a survey team from the NWS office in Green Bay analyzed damage across Vilas County.  Two areas were hit especially hard from the storms…the Turtle Flambeau Flowage and just south of Conover.

The NWS determined Conover’s storm damage to be from a microburst.  They are estimating winds of 80 to 90 mph with higher gusts.  Over 40 to 50 homes where damaged from falling trees.  There was a large camp south of town with 650 campers.   Because of the advance warning, the campers were able to seek better shelter before the storm hit.  For more information on the Conover damage…follow this link.

Island campers on the Turtle Flambeau flowage were not as fortunate.  The storms caused several trees to go down on the island campsite, landing on and around the tents.  Sadly three campers where taken to the hospital, and one with critical injuries.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, there is a good chance this was a tornado.  The radar showed significant signs of rotation with this storm as it moved through.   Courtesy of the DNR, the pictures to your right are areal shots of trees flattened.  The NWS hopes to have their storm survey complete by tonight or Thursday.

Meteorologist Brian Niznansky

Posted under Severe Weather