’Twas a warm and muggy day the fifteenth of May, when just past four p.m., the sirens rang.
May storms were on the way.
The temperature at Stanley read 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the air pressure was dropping fast. Translation?
Stay alert and get to safety.
“Storms have really started to blossom along and east of the Mississippi River,” the National Weather Service reported from La Crosse in a 3:45 p.m. radar update. “Large hail and a few tornados continue to be the main threats with these storms as they move to the north and east at a quick clip! Stay ready West Central Wisconsin!”
The National Weather Service at the Twin Cities issued a similar alert.
“Strong winds are over the city of Eau Claire right now,” it posted to Facebook at 4:06 p.m. “We’ve gotten up to ping pong ball size hail reports with gusty and erratic winds. Take cover in the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls area for the next 30 minutes.” A radar indicated tornado warning stretched in quadrangular fashion, from south of Interstate 94 to north and east of Chippewa Falls.
Meanwhile at Stanley, things were relative calm.
At 4:25 p.m., the rain began, Light at first, it became steadier. The temperature dropped one degree as winds picked up, while traffic continued unperturbed along Broadway Avenue.
At 4:36 p.m., lightning flashed, followed by thunder.
Traffic still continued unabated. Rain continued, while temperatures held. High above thunder rolled. Down below, vehicle lights went on for visibility. Muggy air turned to cool and moist precipitation.
The fire danger as posted on Maple Street remained “high” as clouds rolled past overhead.
At 4:57 p.m., the storm arrive—until it didn’t.
Rain slacked, the storm passed, and in the aftermath the fire danger remained “high,” while the river and stream levels remained low.
Elsewhere, the storm brought large hail and even a tornado. But at Stanley it remained largely calm.