Tornado Wisconsin: Historic Churches Destroyed and Communities Rebuild

Enhanced Severe Weather Risk in Southeastern Wisconsin

Southeastern Wisconsin is facing an enhanced risk of severe weather, with damaging winds up to 70 mph and tornadoes possible overnight. The Storm Prediction Centre has classified the region as having an enhanced risk of severe weather (level 3 out of 5).

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for southwestern counties, but it was canceled before 10:45 p.m. The next line of storms is expected to arrive early Tuesday in the northern counties, moving from the northwest.

The main concern is damaging winds, with the potential for straight-line wind events bringing gusts of 60-70 mph. The odds of an unusual tornado is low. The region has received a lot of rain, making the ground wet and the trees prone to strong winds, which raises the danger of power outages. Another round of potentially deadly storms are expected Tuesday afternoon along the Wisconsin-Illinois state boundary.

Historic Church Destroyed by Tornado Wisconsin

A historic church in a Wisconsin village was destroyed by a reported tornado, according to the Yellowstone & Argyle-Apple Grove Lutheran Parish. The church, founded in 1893, was destroyed in a few seconds.

Churchgoers, including Chris Wenger, were shocked by the extent of the damage and the sudden change in their lives. Pastor Dan Bohlman plans to hold a worship service on Sunday, where the church once stood, to allow community members and churchgoers to discuss, share, and pray.

Tornado Cleanup Efforts in Janesville

City crews in Janesville, Wisconsin, are working to clean up and rebuild after an EF-2 tornado hit Rock County. The storm has severely impacted small areas in the southern part of the city, but the work is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

DFW crews are working 12-hour shifts to remove brush and trees for residents. The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed EF-2 tornado damage in Janesville, Wisconsin, following the twister’s impact on Saturday evening.

Multiple Tornadoes Confirmed in Wisconsin

The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed eight tornadoes in Wisconsin on June 22, with two more hitting Argyle and Belmont. The EF2 tornado caused damage to Apple Grove Lutheran Church and a barn, while the EF0 tornado caused damage to a barn and trees. More severe weather is expected in South Central Wisconsin.

Community Response to Church Destruction

A Wisconsin church was destroyed by a tornado, but the congregation gathered for a worship service to grieve its loss. The Rev. Dan Bohlman, pastor of Apple Grove Lutheran Church, asked over 100 individuals to focus their trust on a higher force.

The church, which stood for 129 years, has been a community gathering space for generations and has celebrated various occasions. The congregation gathered to pray and talk, singing hymns, prayed, took communion, and shared memories.

Apple Grove Lutheran Church, which has been a home for generations, has merged with Argyle Lutheran Church six years ago. The congregation will meet at Argyle for the foreseeable future. Apple Grove Lutheran Church in Argyle, Wisconsin, was leveled by a tornado on June 22, 2024.

The church, which has been part of the family for five generations, was destroyed by the storm. The congregation, including members of the church, gathered for a service on the property after the tornado. Beth Fransen, the organist at Apple Grove Lutheran Church for over 40 years, expressed her heartbreak at the loss of her family.

Aaron Erickson, who was not a member of the church, cried when he found out it had been destroyed. Pamela Rosenbrook, who grew up in Argyle but lives in Illinois, visited her father’s gravestone in a cemetery behind the rubble to pay their respects.

The church cleanup began Sunday morning, and a makeshift altar was set up ahead of Sunday’s service. The church was leveled in severe storms that swept quickly through southern Wisconsin on Saturday. The church was a place of peace for many, and the community was welcome to attend services.

Ongoing Recovery Efforts in Janesville

The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed that an EF-2 tornado hit Janesville, Wisconsin, causing massive destruction in the area. No injuries have been reported, but one neighborhood in the southern part of the city is left picking up the pieces. Residents who had structures damaged by the storm should call 211 to report damages.

The city’s compost site will be open free of charge, and residents must bring an ID to verify their address. In addition to Janesville’s EF-2 tornado, the NWS has verified at least four other EF-1 tornadoes landed throughout southern Wisconsin. One of those struck Williams Bay, Wisconsin, near Lake Geneva. Illinois’s 17th district U.S. Congressman Eric Sorensen posted on Facebook that his parent’s home in Williams Bay was a direct hit from the tornado. Nobody in his family was hurt.

Extensive Tornado Damage Across Southern Wisconsin

In the Lafayette County town of Argyle, Wisconsin, a tornado destroyed a 130-year-old church. Apple Grove Lutheran is now just a pile of rubble, but parishioners held Sunday worship next to the demolished church. The Klecker family, who owns the farm, expects cleanup efforts could take months, but thankfully their home on the property escaped damage.

A 131-year-old church in Argyle, Wisconsin, was leveled by a tornado, but the congregation refused to let the disaster crush their faith. The National Weather Service has confirmed eight tornadoes in southern Wisconsin, bringing the state total to 35. The storms, which rolled through Walworth County, Marshall, Watertown, Fontana-on-Geneva, Janesville, Argyle, and Belmont, caused significant damage to farms, outbuildings, homes, and trees.

The strongest tornado was an EF-2 in Janesville, with peak wind speeds of 115 miles per hour. The church in Argyle suffered the most damage, with peak winds of 135 miles per hour. Belmont also experienced an EF-0 tornado, with 80-mile-per-hour winds causing damage to barns and trees.

The National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan confirmed two EF-2 tornadoes, four EF-1 tornadoes, and one EF-0 tornado, while the National Weather Service in La Crosse confirmed an eighth.