MONROE - Severe weather that hit southern Wisconsin on Wednesday night, knocking out trees and power lines throughout Green County, affected the county fair as grandstand viewers were shuffled into sturdy structures when barrel racing and bull riding was cut short.
Green County Emergency Management Director Tanna McKeon said the damage occurred throughout the county.
"During the night multiple trees and power lines were down," McKeon said. "Most of that is cleaned up now."
Green County Fair Board President John Dieckhoff noted that the storm caused a few issues with events on Wednesday night. Problems persisted into Thursday because of the rainfall, which Dieckhoff said reached roughly three inches within an hour during the storm.
"We knew it was coming, but it came a lot faster than we expected," Dieckhoff said.
The Badger State Tractor Pull scheduled for Thursday evening was canceled. Dieckhoff said other events may be delayed.
Fair officials were notified of the incoming weather by Monroe Fire Chief Dan Smits.
The storm began as the grandstand was full of spectators watching rodeo events when lightning struck. McKeon said winds reached 60 to 70 miles per hour in Monroe. When the weather siren sounded throughout the city, fairgoers were instructed to take shelter in sturdy brick structures on the fairgrounds.
According to the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan, Green County will likely experience more storms this afternoon and into the night before tapering off Saturday. The forecast indicates that "repeated rounds of storms over the same area may produce heavy rain," affecting already overtaxed rivers.
McKeon said some flooding had already caused road closures. As of 12:30 p.m. Thursday, County EE between County F and County D was closed. She said the Pecatonica River was given a flood warning and the Sugar River was under flood watch. She urged drivers not to venture into standing water.
"You don't know the condition of the pavement underneath," McKeon said.
She added that a shelf cloud did pass over Greenwood Cemetery Wednesday during the storm as a cold front made its way through, along with straight-line winds, which caused "minimal damage."
At the fairgrounds, wind and rain pushed water into the exhibition barns, but Dieckhoff said it was being addressed. He said the fair experienced a brief power outage Wednesday, but it did not affect Thursday's fair operations. In the event of more rain, officials will urge fair attendees to seek shelter in exhibition buildings. If severe weather hits again, Dieckhoff said people will need to stay in brick structures, like the pavilion or the restrooms.
Green County Emergency Management Director Tanna McKeon said the damage occurred throughout the county.
"During the night multiple trees and power lines were down," McKeon said. "Most of that is cleaned up now."
Green County Fair Board President John Dieckhoff noted that the storm caused a few issues with events on Wednesday night. Problems persisted into Thursday because of the rainfall, which Dieckhoff said reached roughly three inches within an hour during the storm.
"We knew it was coming, but it came a lot faster than we expected," Dieckhoff said.
The Badger State Tractor Pull scheduled for Thursday evening was canceled. Dieckhoff said other events may be delayed.
Fair officials were notified of the incoming weather by Monroe Fire Chief Dan Smits.
The storm began as the grandstand was full of spectators watching rodeo events when lightning struck. McKeon said winds reached 60 to 70 miles per hour in Monroe. When the weather siren sounded throughout the city, fairgoers were instructed to take shelter in sturdy brick structures on the fairgrounds.
According to the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan, Green County will likely experience more storms this afternoon and into the night before tapering off Saturday. The forecast indicates that "repeated rounds of storms over the same area may produce heavy rain," affecting already overtaxed rivers.
McKeon said some flooding had already caused road closures. As of 12:30 p.m. Thursday, County EE between County F and County D was closed. She said the Pecatonica River was given a flood warning and the Sugar River was under flood watch. She urged drivers not to venture into standing water.
"You don't know the condition of the pavement underneath," McKeon said.
She added that a shelf cloud did pass over Greenwood Cemetery Wednesday during the storm as a cold front made its way through, along with straight-line winds, which caused "minimal damage."
At the fairgrounds, wind and rain pushed water into the exhibition barns, but Dieckhoff said it was being addressed. He said the fair experienced a brief power outage Wednesday, but it did not affect Thursday's fair operations. In the event of more rain, officials will urge fair attendees to seek shelter in exhibition buildings. If severe weather hits again, Dieckhoff said people will need to stay in brick structures, like the pavilion or the restrooms.