Severe Day

8:19 p.m.: Tornado watch cancelled. Forecast was a major bust, again.

6:54 p.m.: This year's severe weather season appears to be picking up where last season left off: wrong. Today's "outbreak" hasn't been nearly as widespread as expected, with only a few reports of severe weather mostly across west central Wisconsin. Some storms may be trying to get going just to the west of the Mississippi River but unless they do so in a hurry it looks like our severe weather threat is rapidly diminishing. But, the watch continues to be in effect, as there is still a potential for storms to turn severe quite rapidly before they completely clear the area.

3:45 p.m.: Tornado Watch is in effect until 10:00 p.m. tonight. Thunderstorms are beginning to develop over southern and eastern Minnesota and are expected to intensify and move into Wisconsin in the next several hours. It may take a couple more hours before things really get going. Otherwise, it has been a nearly perfect weather day, with record high temperatures in the upper 70s and lower 80s, with mostly sunny skies (that are now becoming partly cloudy) and some rather gusty winds.

Link to Tornado Watch: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0075.html

10:15 a.m.: There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Tornadoes, hail and damaging winds are all possible. The greatest threat time will be between 3:00 and 10:00 p.m. More to follow, if necessary.