Residents of Wausau, Wisconsin are under watch after radar indicated a possible tornado in the area.
Nearby communities, including Weston, Mosinee, Stevens Point, and Ringle, are also under alert as authorities monitor the situation.
Also Read: Montana WI tornado: ‘Destructive' twister on ground near Cream and Waumandee; 'take shelter now'
Tornado Watch
{{/usCountry}}Also Read: Montana WI tornado: ‘Destructive' twister on ground near Cream and Waumandee; 'take shelter now'
Tornado Watch
{{/usCountry}}The National Weather Service has issued Tornado Watch 129, which will remain in effect until 8 p.m. CDT on Friday. The new watch replaces a portion of Severe Thunderstorm Watch 128 as conditions continue to develop across the region.
The watch covers three counties in central Wisconsin: Marathon County, Wisconsin, Portage County, Wisconsin, and Wood County, Wisconsin.
Cities included within the alert area are Arnott, Bakerville, Marshfield, Plover, Stevens Point, Wausau, Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Rapids.
Officials are urging residents in the affected areas to stay alert and monitor updates as weather conditions may change rapidly throughout the evening.
Wisconsin state of emergency
Parts of Wisconsin have been battered by severe weather since the start of the week, with repeated rounds of storms bringing torrential rain, large hail, damaging winds, and widespread power outages. In northeastern areas, storms on Monday and Tuesday night uprooted trees and caused significant damage, while heavy rainfall triggered dangerous flooding across the region.
The flooding has led to washed-out roads, water rescues, submerged vehicles, and concerns over weakening dams, along with multiple street and school closures.
In response, Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as the severe weather continued to impact communities statewide.
"After severe storms that swept across the state and more still to come, it is critical that we ensure our communities have access to every available resource to help local folks and families in need and secure essential infrastructure," said Evers in a news release. “We are grateful to all of the neighbors, emergency and first responders, local partners and volunteers who are already working to support each other, respond to damages, restore essential services and ensure that homes, buildings and other important structures are as secure as we prepare for more severe weather to come. I encourage Wisconsinites to be sure to stay alert, look out for your neighbors and take good care of each other as these storms continue moving across our state."