Wisconsin had some pretty wicked weather this past year, ranging from blizzards to record flooding.
We're talking winter snow storms, severe thunderstorms, high winds, large hail and droughts. Rusty Kapela, Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says given the right weather conditions, Wisconsin can really get pounded.
"This was a very interesting year for Wisconsin in the weather department and it seems like every year gets more unusual than the previous year and you wonder how the heck we can top the previous year. So, but looking back at 2007 all I can says is "Wow, what a year!"
Kapela says record rains in our state, for example, caused five deaths, numerous mud slides, road closures, and flooded homes and businesses.
"The flooding, my gosh, we had a ton of rain in the southwest part of the state during the month of August. Some recording stations have seen 20 inches; one station topped out at 21.74 inches of rain."
Those 22 inches in one month is a lot, Kapela says, when you compare it to the average of 32-35 inches for the entire year! Total damage to property and crops from the rain was about $112.5-million. The rain is responsible for five deaths: a man got swept away in his truck in Richland County, one man was struck by lightning while golfing and three people were killed when lighting struck down a live power line, sending it to standing water, in which a mother, daughter and friend were electrocuted.
NOTE: Many people died or were injured in traffic accidents over the past year, but Wisconsin Emergency Management says those deaths are not attributed to the weather because driving too fast for conditions is usually the reason for the incident.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:30 MP3)
