Tornado warnings issued for Neopit, Zoar as storms race northeast

Residents in Neopit and Zoar were told to seek shelter immediately Tuesday afternoon as a rotating storm raced northeast across Menominee County. The National Weather Service in Green Bay issued the tornado warning at 4:37 p.m. CDT for Menominee County and western Shawano County, saying the storm was already 8 miles southwest of Neopit and moving at 40 mph.

Forecasters said the threat was based on radar-indicated rotation, not a confirmed touchdown. The warning said the storm could reach Neopit around 4:50 p.m., Big Smokey Falls around 5:05 p.m. and South Branch around 5:10 p.m., with other locations in the path including Bowler, Tilleda, Zoar, Middle Village, Lake Noseum, the Hwy 55 and County M intersection, Fredenberg Lake and St. Joseph Lake. The warning also flagged flying debris, possible damage to mobile homes, roof and window damage, and likely tree damage.

The warning came after the National Weather Service said severe storms were expected from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. across central, north-central and east-central Wisconsin. Earlier forecast discussions pointed to a highly unstable atmosphere, with surface-based CAPE values in the 3,000 to 4,000 J/kg range, temperatures in the mid-80s and dewpoints in the mid-70s, a combination that supported damaging winds, large hail and a brief tornado threat. Forecasters also said localized heavy rain and flooding could develop.

The warning was set to expire at 5:15 p.m. CDT and was later cancelled after the storm weakened below severe limits. The National Weather Service said another round of severe weather was possible Thursday afternoon and evening, with heavy rain and localized flooding becoming an increasing concern through Thursday.

Preliminary local storm reports showed wind damage in Neenah and 2.85 inches of rain at Knowlton, but no tornado touchdown report for Neopit or Zoar appeared in the local storm report product reviewed for the area.