Tornado confirmed for Eau Claire County

EAU CLAIRE — The National Weather Service has confirmed that the possible tornado in Eau Claire County on Tuesday did indeed touch down and caused EF-1 rated damage.

The tornado was part of a widespread severe weather outbreak that caused significant damage in multiple states. Iowa was hardest-hit, with multiple people killed and many more injured, but Wisconsin had dozens of wind damage reports and several tornadoes.

While the National Weather Service confirmed the tornado, which hit parts of Augusta, Bridge Creek Township and Wilson Township, there are significant details that aren’t yet known. Preliminary estimates suggest the tornado reached a width of a quarter-mile and stayed on the ground for at least seven miles.

Tyler Esh, Eau Claire County’s Emergency Manager, said inspectors hadn’t yet pinpointed where the tornado lifted off the ground as of Thursday morning.

“They’re still looking to identify the end point,” he said. “At this time it appears to have begun in or near the Augusta City Park.”

The tornado moved north-northeast parallel to County Highway G and the damage path continues through Stoney Lonesome Road in Wilson. The challenge, though, is that there’s additional damage to the northeast of that point, and it was difficult to initially determine whether it was part of the same tornado’s path.

Several area counties saw tornadoes move through as the storm passed, though it appears the one in Eau Claire County was on the ground for the longest time. The NWS says a short-lived tornado in Buffalo County was on the ground for just less than four miles, with a maximum width of 75 yards. One in Trempealeau County stuck around for only 0.3 miles. Clark County saw a tornado that stayed on the ground for 4.2 miles.

Tornadoes are rated on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, a six-level scale that estimates wind speeds based on damage. None of the tornadoes was rated more than an EF-1, with winds between 86 and 110 mph. That’s one step above an EF-0, which has winds of 65-85 mph.

The most powerful tornadoes are categorized as EF-5. Those monster storms have winds in excess of 200 mph and have been known to tear asphalt roads off the ground.