SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN — The National Weather Service in Milwaukee-Sullivan lifted a tornado warning for Milwaukee, Washington, and Ozaukee counties at 2:15 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 14. Severe thunderstorm warnings for Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Walworth, Racine, and Waukesha counties also expired at the same time.

"The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of the warned area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire," the NWS said.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remained in effect until 4 a.m. for southeastern Wisconsin. A tornado watch is issued when the environment is capable of producing tornadoes, and the NWS advised residents to have a plan in place and be ready to act quickly if a tornado warning is issued.

At 2:03 a.m. CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 16 miles east of Oostburg to near Union Grove and were moving east at 50 mph. The storms carried wind gusts of up to 60 mph and had the potential to damage roofs, siding, and trees. Radar data indicated rotation in the storms.

The severe thunderstorms impacted Milwaukee, Racine, Greenfield, Oak Creek, Mount Pleasant, South Milwaukee, Cudahy, Greendale, Elkhorn, St. Francis, Sturtevant, Union Grove, East Troy, Franklin, Wind Lake, Rochester, Raymond, Yorkville, Wind Point, and Browns Lake.

Earlier in the night, tornadic storms were near Eastern Madison, Sun Prairie, Windsor, Deforest, Cottage Grove, and Maple Bluff around 12:30 a.m. CDT, and near Columbus and Marshall around 12:35 a.m. CDT. Other locations impacted by the tornadic storms included Morrisonville, Deansville, Token Creek, and East Bristol. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is sighted or indicated on radar, indicating imminent danger to life and property.

We Energies reported that approximately 57,000 customers in Wisconsin were without power at 2:15 a.m., a spokesperson said. The NWS warned that flying debris from the storms would be dangerous to those caught without shelter, and that mobile homes, roofs, windows, and vehicles could be damaged or destroyed.

The NWS recommended that residents shelter in a basement or on the lowest floor of a building during a tornado, placing as many walls as possible between themselves and the outside while avoiding windows. The agency also advised getting as low as possible. Motorists were told not to attempt to outrun a tornado on interstates or highways but instead to look for ways to safely get off the road and seek refuge in a sturdy building. As a last resort, people were advised to lie flat in the nearest depression, ditch, or culvert and cover their heads with their arms. Those outdoors, in a vehicle, or in a mobile home during a tornado warning were told to move to the closest sturdy shelter and take cover.