**Moderate Risk**

Evening update: Today's predicted severe weather outbreak was not as widespread nor as damaging as predicted. The moderate risk was overdone, and a slight risk would have covered the situation. Thunderstorms developed along the Mississippi River during the afternoon, and some of them turned severe as they moved eastward. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for northeastern Vernon County at one time, but so far there have been no reports of severe weather in that area. A weak tornado possibly touched down in Richland County, and there was a report of a tornado near Prairie du Sac, but for the most part the severe weather reports have been few and far between. There will be on and off showers and thunderstorms tomorrow, but these are not expected to become severe.


Afternoon update: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10:00 p.m. for all of southwestern Wisconsin. Storms have developed across west central Wisconsin this afternoon, but are not yet severe. More storms are expected to develop across extreme southeastern Minnesota and extreme northeastern Iowa during the next few hours, and then propagate eastward into Wisconsin. Large hail and damaging winds are still the biggest threats.

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 386
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
220 PM CDT WED MAY 24 2006

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

FAR NORTHEAST IOWA
FAR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA
WESTERN AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN

EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 220 PM UNTIL
1000 PM CDT.

HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.


This morning's entry:
There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon across southwest and south central Wisconsin, with large hail and damaging winds the biggest threats. Thunderstorms are expected to develop near the Mississippi River by mid-afternoon, and then organize into a squall line and move across Wisconsin. This is a potentially dangerous situation. I'll post more updates throughout the day if conditions change.