According to Green County Sheriff Mark Rohloff, throughout the night, emergency services have been responding to reports of damage throughout Green County from two storms that passed through.
Calls came in before 1 a.m. about damage in northwestern areas of the county that included down power lines and twisted trees. Several homes in the vicinity of Hay Hollow and York Center Road reported roof damage, and one with the windows blown out, as well as a barn being down on Legler Valley Road.
A second storm, shortly before 5 a.m., produced similar damage, primarily to the south and southeastern areas of the county. Numerous calls of roads blocked by trees and downed power lines were received, a large shed was blown down on Preston Road, and a barn collapsed on Giese Road.
There have been no reports of any death or injuries related to the storms, and it has not been confirmed that a tornado was responsible for either event. Currently, Alliant Energy estimates there are about 1,000 residents in Green County without power.
County highway and crews are out clearing roads. Residents are urged to be patient as the damage was significant and widespread. If downed power lines are encountered, they should be considered live and no attempt made to approach them. Crews are responding to numerous calls and making an assessment of damages.
Dane County Emergency Management officials received about 350 reports of storm damage after the storm packing dangerously high winds hit shortly after midnight. Some 15 homes in the city of Verona sustained severe damage. Emergency managers said the north side of Verona and the southwest side of Madison suffered the brunt of the damage.
The Salvation Army set up a shelter at Memorial Baptist Church in Verona for displaced residents.
Country View Elementary School in Verona partially collapsed, according to police Lt. David Dresser. The department will take an inventory of damaged homes and other structures later Tuesday.
Early Tuesday, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin surveyed the damage at homes on the state capital's southwest side where winds had blown away at least six roofs.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Steve Davis said a tornado likely moved from Green County into southern Dane County shortly after midnight.
"From the imagery we're seeing, we can't imagine this wouldn't be a tornado," Davis said.
Davis said the agency had received reports of downed power lines and trees, but no injuries in Green County. The weather service also planned to survey the area later Tuesday.
Authorities said damage reports were coming in from across Dane County, particularly along a stretch from Verona northeast into Madison with reports of trees and power lines down.
Madison Gas and Electric and Alliant Energy reported about 6,000 homes lost power in Dane County early Tuesday.
At least five buildings were damaged on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus. Administrators say the university will be closed Tuesday and only essential employees should report to work.