16-05-2025
Mayville & Juneau, Wisconsin, Suffer Severe Damage After Tornado Reports
The small towns of Mayville and Juneau, WI, suffered "significant" damage after tornado reports on May 15, 2025, according to The Dodge County Sheriff's Department.
Photos and videos posted on social media showed the extensive damage, with a snapped-in-half silo, roofs blown off or damaged, and trees covering the roadways.
The Dodge County Sheriff's Department released a lengthy statement on its Facebook page. It was titled, "Significant Weather-Related Damage."
Megan Lee, a reporter for WTMJ-TV, posted damage photos on X and wrote, "Devastating damage in Juneau, Wisconsin tonight. A barn completely wrecked and a silo snapped in half. My heart is breaking for these Wisconsinites."
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said in a news conference that a "cluster of storms" caused significant damage to Juneau and Mayville, with powerlines and trees down elsewhere. Juneau and Mayville were the epicenter of the response, Schmidt said. He said that, at this point, only one person was taken to the hospital for injuries in the City of Juneau. "There may have been another minor injury that occurred."
"We have people who are without homes," Schmidt said, adding that some people "lost their roofs and have nowhere to go."
Schmidt asked people who don't live in Juneau or Mayville to stay away while authorities help clean up the communities.
"At about 6:00 pm on Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Dodge County Area had significant storm cells that moved through the Dodge County area. As a result, significant damage has occurred, which primarily occurred in the Juneau and Mayville areas," the Sheriff's Department wrote in a written statement.
"Currently, residents in those affected areas are encouraged to shelter in place while emergency crews work to clean up damage and restore power," the statement added. "Many streets and highways are closed due to power lines and trees being down. We are asking that all non–residents avoid the cities of Juneau and Mayville to allow emergency responders to assist those affected."
A video posted by a storm chaser named Vince Waelti showed Mayville, WI, right after the tornado struck. That video showed downed trees and damaged roofs, minimally.
WKOW-TV described the Mayville tornado damage as "significant," largely based on Waelti's video. According to that station, the National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado was spotted on radar in Dodge County "that looked like it hit the city of Mayville just after 6 p.m." on May 15.
Here are the photos posted by Lee on X:
Another image shared by WTMJ-TV showed a "flattened silo."
Vortix wrote on X, "Had a rather brief but strong tornado to hit Juneau, #Wisconsin a few moments ago. While the TVS had a VROT of 65kts, the debris was only lofted up 5kft at most. The NWS shall investigate soon."
Other damage photos show buildings with roofs blown off.
The Sheriff's Department advised, "DO NOT drive around barricades or emergency vehicles unless directed to do so, as the streets and highways are closed for your safety."
"City of Juneau residents who have been displaced from their homes are encouraged to report to Dodgeland Schools 401, S. Western Ave, Juneau, WI," they wrote. "City of Mayville residents who have been displaced from their homes are encouraged to report to the Tag Center, 1700 Breckenridge St, Mayville."
The department added: "Red Cross and Dodge County Health and Human Services/Public Health are on scene to assist. At this point, only minor injuries have been reported to emergency personnel. Additional information will be relayed to the public later this evening at 8:30 pm. A press conference will be held at the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, 124 West St."
