NWS confirms EF0 tornado in Bancroft; Pine Grove home damaged

By Brandi Makuski

PORTAGE COUNTY — The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF0 tornado touched down in Bancroft during a May 15 storm that also caused significant damage to a home in Pine Grove.

The tornado formed at 5:52 p.m. and remained on the ground until 6:03 p.m., tracking 5.2 miles through mostly open area with peak winds of 65 mph and a maximum width of 45 yards. Officials said the only confirmed damage from the tornado path was trees downed across a road near the start of its track. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

The tornado was part of a fast-moving storm system that triggered four rounds of tornado sirens across Portage County between 6 and 6:40 p.m. The weather had cleared out of the area by about 7 p.m.

In Stevens Point and Plover, the storm brought wind gusts and rain that knocked over garbage cans and small tree limbs, but no injuries or structural damage.

Portage County Sheriff Mike Lukas said a funnel cloud was reported by a weather spotter over the Dewey Marsh, and two tornadoes were initially suspected in the Bancroft area.

In the town of Pine Grove, a tornado damaged the home at 3191 3rd Ave. The storm shifted the house off its foundation by at least a couple of feet. A garden shed in the backyard was lifted off the ground and slammed into the house. A large tree also fell and nearly took out the garage.

The home is owned by Irvin Nigh, who said he and his wife Phyllis were out to dinner at Two Lakes Supper Club when the storm hit.

“As soon as I pulled into the driveway, a neighbor came by,” Nigh said. “She said she pounded on the door and there was nobody here.”

Brady McIntee, who lives nearby, said he saw the storm coming across the field.

“We live right over there in the woods,” he said. “It was hailing, and then it got pretty dead quiet. I told the wife, ‘Looks pretty bad out here.’”

McIntee said they were preparing to leave when his father called.

“He says, ‘Tornado heading for your house. Get ready,’” McIntee said. “It hit. You could feel the wind…stuff was flying.”

McIntee said they stayed inside their trailer and felt the wind pick up again as if another storm cell was coming through.

Beau Meddaugh, who also lives nearby, said, “We’re sitting on the porch watching this. I just watched the second one now.”

No injuries were reported.