8:30 PM Update: Storm threat is ending for the night
Updated: 8:30 p.m.
The severe threat is coming to an end for the night. At this time there are no warnings.
The only two counties left in the Tornado Watch are Racine and Kenosha counties. In these counties a few cells are still pushing through, but after that the storm threat is over for the night.
Updated: 7:13 p.m. April 2, 2026
All tornado warnings have been cancelled. Severe thunderstorm warnings remain for parts of Waukesha and Jefferson Counties. Tornadoes will still be possible as these storms move east. The isolated thunderstorms have started to form more of a line which is decreasing the tornado threat slightly but tornadoes, strong wind and large hail are all still possible.
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Updated: 7:04 p.m. April 2, 2026
Tornado warnings have been issued for some of our southwest counties. As of 7 PM parts of Jefferson County are under a tornado warning until 7:45 PM. More tornado warnings have been issued in Rock County as well. Multiple storm spotters have reported wall clouds and even funnel clouds, but none of the funnel clouds have touched the ground yet so no damage has been reported.
Here is a radar image that will update with time:
All of southeast Wisconsin remains under a Tornado Watch but the watch has been extended until 11 PM to account for the ongoing storms across the area and more approaching from the west.
Here is a watch and warning graphic that will update with time:
In addition to the risk for tornadoes, some large hail has been reported with some of these storms. Some of the hail has been above 1" in diameter which can cause significant damage. Very strong wind is also possible with wind gusts to 70 mph. After a full morning and afternoon of steady rain, some locations have already picked up over 2" of rain. With a water logged ground we could definitely see some trees come down with the stronger wind gusts.
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4:45pm Update
We have a confirmed tornado just east of Iowa city on that tornado warning to our south. The movement is to the northeast at 45mph. While we don't have an immediate tornado threat, this warning is verification that dynamics are coming together to produce tornadic storms. Activity is expected to continue and move up into southern Wisconsin this evening.
4:30pm Update:
The tornado watch has still been extended for all of Southeast Wisconsin. Still expected to expire around 8pm when the storms arrive.
2:45pm Update:
A tornado watch has been issued for Walworth County out ahead of stronger storms on the way in. A Flood Watch has been issued for Kenosha Lake with the threat of heavy rain over the course of the next few days.
Current severe warnings are holding to our southwest and will arrive within the next few hours.
Updated 1pm:
Rain is still in progress with cold temps in the 30s and low 40s. Over the next few hours I anticipate generally just rain, severe potential only ramps up as a warm front moves in later on. This looks to hold off until around 4pm. From that time through about 9pm we will have the potential for storms to strengthen. As you can see the warmup may not get going until the evening as that's when storms will have enough instability to spark up. Aside from severe weather we have seen some spots reach an inch for rainfall so minor flooding is also a concern.
Stay with CBS58 for updates through the day.
Updated: 9:50 a.m. April 2, 2026
The threat for wintry mix has ended. The winter weather advisory was allowed to expire on time at 9 AM Thursday. We had a brief dry break for a bit in some counties but the rain is starting to fill back in as it moves in from northern Illinois. No thunderstorms have been reported yet. That storm risk will increase in the afternoon and evening.
Here is a radar image that will update with time:
One factor today that will determine how much and how intense severe storms we get is the location of the warm front. Currently that front is to our south in Illinois with the center of the low pressure near Kansas City. The low is expected to move NE across Wisconsin this afternoon and bring the warm front with it. As that warm front arrives in the afternoon and evening the temperatures will quickly rise and our chance for severe storms will increase. But, sometimes in spring the lake breeze can prevent the warm front from getting too far into southern Wisconsin or at least keep it away from lakeside areas. We will be watching the location for that front closely.
The timing and threats for severe storms as outlined below remains on track so check out the details there. 3-10 PM is the best timing for the storms with all hazards of severe weather possible including tornadoes.
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Posted: 5:09 a.m. April 2, 2026
We are waking up to some steady rain in some locations and steady wintry mix in others. All rain is falling south of I-94 and that rain is steady at times. Northern counties are dealing with wintry mix with some sleet and steady freezing rain possible. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in place for all of our northern half of counties until 9 AM. By 9 most of wintry mix should have switched over to rain.
On a morning like Thursday with the possibility for icy spots and wintry mix, the air temperatures become so important. A lot of communities are seeing temperatures around the freezing mark of 32 degrees. Road temperatures may be a touch warmer than surface temps in some locations after the warm start to the week which may prevent some initial icing. Bridges, overpasses and other elevated driving surfaces will be the most susceptible to ice.
Here's a look at temperatures that will update with time:
After the morning mix everyone switches over to just rain for the rest of the day. Heavy rain is likely at times and long stretches of steady rain are possible. Flooding is one of our weather threats for Thursday with wet basements and some minor street flooding possible. Rain totals for most of southeast Wisconsin will range from 0.75-1.50" but some isolated locations could see up to or even over 2" of rain.
The timing for strong to severe storms looks best from the mid-afternoon hours through the evening. 3-9 PM looks like the best time for any strong to severe storms. Any breaks that we get from the rain, especially if we manage to see some peeks of sunshine, will likely increase our threat for widespread severe weather. Even without any dry breaks we could get some severe storms, but any breaks in the action would really increase that threat.
A Level 3 Enhanced Risk for severe storms is in place from the Storm Prediction Center for our southern counties, mainly south of I-94. Northern counties still have a chance for strong to severe storms and remain under a Level 2 Slight Risk.
In addition to the previously mentioned flooding threat, all other hazards with severe weather are possible. The threat for tornadoes is definitely present, if they happen they could even be strong tornadoes. Overall, damaging wind will be the biggest threat. Some large hail will also be possible.
Download the CBS 58 Weather app to track all of the storms and get alerts if and when watches or warnings are issued.
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