Fast-moving storms caused limited damage in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Fast-moving storms produced funnel clouds, tornado warnings and winds gusting as high as 72 mph as they swept through southeastern Wisconsin Friday afternoon, but damage was limited mainly to downed trees and power lines.

The National Weather Service said the 72 mph gust was recorded near Lake Geneva in Walworth County, and a gust of 60 mph was measured at a school in Union Grove in Racine County.

Among damage reports were trees knocked down in Janesville, Williams Bay, Genoa City and Racine.

Funnel clouds were sighted near Waterford, Sturtevant and Franksville, all in Racine County, and a trained spotter reported a tornado touched down at an intersection near Waterford and Union Grove.

Nick Brueggeman, 13, of Union Grove, was home alone about a half mile from the reported tornado.

"It was kind of calm and silent for a second, and then in a matter of 10 seconds the front of the house was pelted with hail and really heavy wind," he said. "The hail was probably half an inch around. The sky was pretty dark."

He said he went to the basement until the storm eased.

In Franksville, about 205 students, 30 staff members, 10 parents and four bus drivers were under lockdown at North Cape Elementary School during the worst of the storm.

School officials had everyone move to the end of the building away from the storm and stay there 10 minutes while the storm passed, said Amy Martin, school business manager.

"There was tons of hail," she said. "The trees outside were touching the ground from the wind. The kids were aware there was a tornado, and they were given very firm and direct orders to not panic. To keep the kids calm, the teachers told stories (and) told them not to worry."

The Racine Unified School District used a bulletin on its Web site to say the district was holding children back from going home at the schedule time because of the storm.

In Milwaukee, Mitchell International Airport halted landings and take-offs while the storm moved through, spokeswoman Pat Rowe said.

Thousands of utility customers in the region lost electrical service but most had it restored later in the day.