A line of showers and thunderstorms rolled through the area on Saturday turning Rock fest into Mud fest according to Dave DeVille, DJ from Z100 radio here in Eau Claire.

A list of storm reports from the National Weather Service indicates some heavy rain, hail and gusty winds affected a large portion of western Wisconsin.

0350 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SE OSCEOLA            45.27N 92.62W
07/19/2008                   POLK               WI   STORM CHASER

            TWO LARGE TREES DOWN 1 MILE WEST OF HORSE CREEK ON CO RD
            X.

0405 PM     HEAVY RAIN       WELCOME                 43.67N 94.62W
07/19/2008  E0.00 INCH       MARTIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STREET FLOODING DUE TO HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

0434 PM     HAIL             4 S ROBERTS             44.93N 92.55W
07/19/2008  M0.75 INCH       ST. CROIX          WI   AMATEUR RADIO

0435 PM     HAIL             4 SSW HAMMOND           44.93N 92.47W
07/19/2008  M1.00 INCH       ST. CROIX          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1/2 MILE WEST OF INTERSECTION OF CO RD N AND T.

0447 PM     HAIL             BALDWIN                 44.96N 92.37W
07/19/2008  M0.75 INCH       ST. CROIX          WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0500 PM     HAIL             MENOMONIE               44.89N 91.91W
07/19/2008  M0.75 INCH       DUNN               WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0500 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N SPRING VALLEY       44.86N 92.24W
07/19/2008                   ST. CROIX          WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            OFFICER ESTIMATED MANY HUNDREDS OF TREES DOWN AT HIGHLAND
            CAMPGROUND ON NORTH SIDE OF EAU GALLE RESERVOIR. TRAINED
            SPOTTER REPORTED TREES WERE DOWNED FROM NORTHWEST TO
            SOUTHEAST.

0525 PM     HAIL             4 E ELLSWORTH           44.73N 92.41W
07/19/2008  M1.25 INCH       PIERCE             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0546 PM     HAIL             9 W ROCK FALLS          44.72N 91.87W
07/19/2008  M0.75 INCH       DUNN               WI   AMATEUR RADIO

0620 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S FOSTER              44.63N 91.31W
07/19/2008                   EAU CLAIRE         WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN BLOCKING ROAD.

The good news is…we’ll see calmer conditions starting out the new week.  A slight chance for isolated storms are possible Monday afternoon and an even smaller chance for Tuesday afternoon as a few weak disturbances roll through.  The end of July is typically the warmest time of the year and I’m just not seeing anything that resembles "hot" weather!  As a matter of fact, we’ve only hit 90 degrees once this year (July 15th)!

The extended outlook shows temperatures in the low to mid 80s for the remainder of the week.

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Hometown Weather

I’ve talked to a lot of folks who agree this summer has been shaping up nicely.  We’re ahead in the rainfall department, which is always good news for the crops and gardens…it also seems that when we get a couple hot, humid days, it returns to more comfortable conditions fairly quickly.  Not too much to complain about.

I can’t complain about a couple concerts I’ve been to over the summer either.  Aquafest in Rice Lake featured one of my high school favorites…38 Special (opening band Lasher is a local band that I also highly recommend). It was a great evening that did end with a few rain showers and wind gusts, but the timing was good and it waited until the concert was done.

Country Fest was another big event in the Chippewa Valley.  I attended the Friday night concert with headliners Brooks and Dunn.  Kelly Pickler of American Idol fame was also in the line up and come to think of it, it ended with rain and wind.  Mother Nature must know when I’m going to be at an outdoor concert.

One of my favorites so far was Seether.  They headlined the Taste of Minnesota on Saturday, July 5th, which is held on Harriett Island in St. Paul.  It was a little warm and humid during the day, but turned out to be a fantastic night for an outdoor concert (no rain, no wind).  The band was excellent and we were right up front to see lead man Shaun Morgan belt out our favorite chart toppers.

Click on the picture below for a larger view. 

My next concert comes during the Minnesota State Fair in late August.  Three Doors Down (one of my favorite bands), Hinder and Stained.  I’ll be looking forward to that one and also hoping for an uneventful night in the weather department!

I hope you are enjoying your summer!

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Hometown Weather