National Weather Service reports tornado west of Wausau Tuesday night as storms move across central Wisconsin

 

At 7:47 p.m. Tuesday, a reported tornado was located 19 miles west of Wausau, moving northeast at 80 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

A line of severe thunderstorms and tornadic activity moved across central Wisconsin for about two hours Tuesday night.

The National Weather Service issued a number of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings for Clark, Wood, Marathon, Portage, Lincoln and Langlade counties before the severe weather moved out of the area shortly before 9 p.m.

The weather alerts urged residents to take shelter and said the squall line was capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage. The alerts said tree damage was likely and flying debris would be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Damage to roofs, windows, mobile homes and vehicles was expected.

At 7:47 p.m., a reported tornado was located 13 miles east of Abbotsford, of 19 miles west of Wausau, moving northeast at 80 mph, according to the National Weather Service. There were public reports of a tornado on the ground in the Unity area and west of Spencer, the National Weather Service said.

There were reports of trees down in Marshfield, Wausau and Stevens Point, according to readers and trained weather service spotters as well as reported wind gusts up to 63 mph in Wisconsin Rapids. Widespread power outages also were reported across central Wisconsin