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NEW INFO: Winds of White Lake Twister Topped 140 MPH Save Email Print
Reporter: WSAW Staff

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The National Weather Service is saying the tornado that destroyed the Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort in White Lake had winds in excess of 140 miles per hour.

That classifies as an EF3, which means winds between 140 and 165 mph.

The NWS also says the tornado was at least 1/4-mile wide as it crossed Highway 55.

More information is expected to be available as its investigation continues.

Storms also produced baseball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour.

Officials say at least five tornadoes touched down, mainly across central Wisconsin, with 2 more unconfirmed reports at this time.

The Langlade County Sheriff's Department says the worst damage was at the Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort.

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Seven people had been reported missing at one point, but all have since been accounted for.

The rustic resort that runs along the Wolf River allows camping and includes cabins and a kayaking business.

Numerous trees were toppled and there was at least one report of a kayak slicing through a pine tree.

Gina Panzica of the Langlade County Rural Fire Control says "the resort was leveled."

However, no serious injuries were reported there.

Five homes in Marathon County have also been damaged, according to authorities there.

Among those include a mobile home, which they say has been destroyed.

The residences are near the intersection of Highway 153 and County Road J in the town or Reid.

Authorities are also reporting two other homes near Plover River Road in Reid have been damaged.

So far, they have confirmed one injury to a teenage boy who was cut by glass, but it's not known whether he was near the Highway 153/County Road J area or the Plover River Road area.

Several minor injuries were reported statewide.

In Wisconsin Rapids, the police department is reporting baseball-sized hail and broken glass, sporadic power outages and downed power lines.

The following pictures were e-mailed to NewsChannel 7 by Sue Long.

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She says they were taken 30 minutes after the storm.


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