EVANSVILLE, Wis. (AP) — The first tornadoes ever recorded in Wisconsin in the usually frigid month of February tore through mostly rural areas on a day that broke records for warmth, setting up the perfect scenario for the type of severe weather normally seen in the late spring and summer.

The storms left a swath of destruction that included dead and missing cows, roofs blown off of homes, destroyed storage sheds and barns, trashed vehicles and shattered windows.

At least two tornadoes were confirmed south of Madison and the National Weather Service was investigating reports of several more spawned from storms that swept across the southeastern part of the state around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, said meteorologist Taylor Patterson.

One confirmed tornado near Evansville was a “high end” F2, the weather service said. Those tornadoes are described as “significant,” with winds in this particular twister topping out at 135 mph (220 kph). It was on the ground for 36 minutes, traveling 24.5 miles (39.4 km) with a maximum width of 500 yards (457.2 meters).

  • @0110010001100010
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    7411 months ago

    But climate change is totally a liberal hoax, right? Right guys?

    Unrelated side-note, it was 61 here in central Ohio. The second week in February. Shit’s gonna really get crazy in the not too distant future.

    • rhythmisaprancer
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      11 months ago

      I am noticing a slow increase in conservative folks and their ability to accept climate change, and even to change themselves, bit I live in a very remote area where they depend on water and such from the land. They will still vote for Trump, tho. I can at least have a conversation with them, but it takes SO MUCH TIME to really win people over, and we don’t have that time. Most of these people, i think it will be another five years before I get then on my side. At least they listen, I guess?

      • @0110010001100010
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        2211 months ago

        I mean, republicans have for many, many years voted against their own best interests because they are brain-washed by Fox “news” and similar. Hell, many of them are on “Obama care” which they hate with a passion. Or as my wife can attest, on disability because they can no longer work a factory job and refuse to change and find something else. So they whine and complain that the need disability. Where are your bootstraps you hypocritical assholes?!

        • rhythmisaprancer
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          11 months ago

          Ya, pretty much. I’m excited they will listen to me, someone they know as a left person, but it’s a huge obstacle to overcome. But, I’m willing to do it because what other option do we have? Or do I have, as a regular person? Beyond, you know, just voting… I feel compelled to change minds. It’s hard.

          Side note, I was born in Powell, Ohio. Don’t know much about it, that’s what it says on my birth certificate. It’s been weird here in NE Nevada, also. Above freezing at night 😬

      • Flying Squid
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        1011 months ago

        By the time enough of them are won over, it will be far too late. It’s already probably too late.

        • rhythmisaprancer
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          511 months ago

          I agree. It’s the one thing I have power over, tho. I’m not sure what the end goal is, perhaps more folks will understand why they were wrong when their house burns down or washes away. Probably a fruitless task 😐

          • Flying Squid
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            411 months ago

            If you think it’s worth doing, I’m not going to be the one to tell you not to do it. I just think we’re already past the tipping point. Undoing global warming is a hell of a lot harder than causing it- maybe impossible.

            • rhythmisaprancer
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              411 months ago

              Ya agree wholly. I’m definitely not going to push others to do it! We’re not likely to get back to even “now” for a long time. Probably generations.

        • @Fredselfish
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          211 months ago

          Far to late. We had to of made changes 10 years ago in order to even slow down the effects. Instead our governments have allowed it to accrecallrate. By 2030 we are going see over a billion people displaced. Not sure anything we can do to stop it. We just have to live with the consequences.

  • @[email protected]
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    3411 months ago

    It rained in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada last week. It’s one of the coldest cities in the world with a half million people. We’re used to -40 this time of year, I can’t even take my kids tobogganing because there isn’t enough snow.

    This shit is absolutely wild.

    • @[email protected]
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      1611 months ago

      Same here in Ottawa, ON, Canada. We had an actual thunderstorm yesterday and now it’s going up to 6C today. Absolutely insane weather for February

  • Dem Bosain
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    2211 months ago

    In Michigan. Had a thunderstorm roll through a few hours ago. It was 60°F today.

    “Tip-up” festival tomorrow. Tip-ups are an ice-fishing rig. There’s no ice.

    Winter Carnival at Michigan Tech this weekend. The big draw is enormous snow sculptures built by the students. It rained all night Thursday.

    • @[email protected]
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      811 months ago

      The last 3 days we had rain, then yesterday an inch or two of snow.

      This is Winnipeg, Manitoba … aka Winterpeg because it’s usually -40 this time of year.

      Every month the weather just gets weirder and weirder.

      sigh

      • Flying Squid
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        411 months ago

        it’s usually -40 this time of year.

        It used to be usually -40.

    • @sysadmin420
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      211 months ago

      Ice races were cancelled in South Dakota as well, no ice here too a couple weeks ago.

  • Flying Squid
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    1011 months ago

    I didn’t look up the temperature yesterday, but warm enough for me to be out in the sun in a T-shirt here in Indiana.

    Today it’s supposed to be 55. It was warmer than that yesterday for sure, but 55 in February in Indiana when I was a kid? Unheard of.

  • @FollyDolly
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    811 months ago

    I believe it. My chickens have started laying again. In February. Normally we’d have snow on the ground, but not this year.

  • @aeharding
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    611 months ago

    Yeah I live in Madison and it was really odd having a practically summer thunderstorm in early feb.

    • Pistcow
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      511 months ago

      Washington has some summer like days the past couple week’s. Really weird.