A late-day tornado tore through the rural Union Center area of Juneau County on Tuesday evening, peeling roofs off homes, snapping trees and leaving a visible trail of damage behind. Emergency crews and sheriff's deputies quickly moved in and urged residents to stay away while teams started door-to-door checks and the first round of cleanup.
County confirms multiple homes damaged
Juneau County Emergency Management confirmed the tornado in a press release, and the Juneau County Sheriff's Office reported that at least 10 houses were impacted, with no injuries or deaths, according to WMTV. Crews from multiple fire departments and county dispatch were on scene Tuesday night and planned to return the next day to finish damage assessments.
Radar and on-the-ground reports
The National Weather Service said radar picked up a tornado near Union Center at about 5:37 p.m. Tuesday and reported that a home was destroyed as the twister moved northeast across State Highway 80, per WIZM. Officials also noted downed power poles and scattered debris along the tornado's path.
Roads and assistance
Downed trees and at least one mudslide blocked several rural roads, and authorities warned drivers to use caution while crews work to clear debris. Temporary housing assistance has been made available to affected residents, and county officials listed dispatch numbers for help at 608-847-5649 and 1-800-777-7386, according to WMTV.
Part of a wider Upper Midwest outbreak
The Union Center touchdown was one of several tornadoes and damaging storms that swept the Upper Midwest on Tuesday, prompting widespread warnings and outages across Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan and sending relief groups to the hardest-hit communities, per ABC17/CNN Newsource. Local officials said damage assessments and utility repairs could take days.
What residents should know
Officials are asking neighbors to steer clear of storm-damaged areas while first responders and utility crews work. Those who lost housing or need assistance are urged to contact county dispatch, and county leaders said they will share more updates as surveys and safety checks are completed.
