Tornado damages buildings in Lyons Industrial Park

Trees down, Aurora Clinic damaged in Lake Geneva

By Vicky Wedig

Editor

Six buildings in the Town of Lyons sustained significant damage and others including one in the Geneva Square shopping center in Lake Geneva sustained minor damage in Tuesday’s tornado, according to the Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center.

A line of strong storms moved across southern Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon and evening, according to the center operated under the Department of Military Affairs. One thunderstorm produced what was later confirmed to be a tornado near Lake Geneva around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Radar at the National Weather Service in Sullivan indicated rotation in the system starting in the Lake Geneva area and intensified near Mukwonago and Big Bend. National Weather Service officials confirmed that the damaged in Walworth County was caused by a tornado, according to the Department of Military Affairs.

Because the tornado wasn’t confirmed until after the damage was done, no warning was issued and no storm sirens sounded, according to Lake Geneva police.

Police Chief Michael S. Rasmussen said the National Weather Service notified the department of a severe thunderstorm warning for northeastern Walworth County and northwestern Racine County at 9:04 p.m. Tuesday.

City police patrolled neighborhoods to assess damage and located numerous trees down in the Seminary Park and Dunn Field areas. Police also took reports of damage to trees in Geneva Square and minor damage to the front doors of the Aurora Clinic at that location, Rasmussen said in a press release.

He said storm sirens were not activated as the National Weather Service did not issue a tornado warning for the City of Lake Geneva and the tornado was not discovered until after it had caused damage in the city. The Weather Service confirmed the next morning that the damage was caused by an EF1 tornado.

“The City of Lake Geneva Police want to remind citizens that weather is unpredictable and technology cannot be relied upon solely for safety during any severe weather,” the department wrote in press release. “It is recommended that citizens take appropriate steps to ensure their own safety anytime the city is under any watch or warning related to severe weather.”

Walworth County Sheriff Kurt Picknell reported damage in the Town of Lyons at about 9:15 p.m. in the area of Madaus Street at Highway 120 just north of the City of Lake Geneva.

Many buildings in a small industrial park were damaged, Picknell said in a press release. No injuries or deaths were reported.

Alliant and WE Energies crews worked to repair damaged power poles and restore power. Highway 120 was shut down between Buckby Road and Highway 12 for electrical power repair.

The road was expected to be closed until noon Aug. 19 to allow Alliant and WE Energies to complete repairs crossing the highway.

The Department of Military Affairs reported significant damage to six buildings and minor damage to others in the Lyons Industrial Park on Madaus Road at Highway 120. In the City of Lake Geneva, according to the department, tree limbs were down at Lakeshore Drive and Cass Street, multiple trees were down on Sage Street near the skateboard park, frisbee park and Eastview School.      Minor damage was caused to one building at the Geneva Square shopping area on Highway 12 just south of Highway 120, and Highway 120 was closed between Buckby Road and Highway 12 as repair crews cleaned up downed power lines.

Highway 120 was reopened and most power restored by midday Wednesday.