Encouraging residents to take immediate shelter, a tornado warning has been issued for Iowa, Grant, and Columbia counties by the National Weather Service, according to US media reports. 

At 4:38 p.m. a confirmed sighting of a tornado was seen west of Boscobel with flying debris, damaging hail and winds, according to a news alert from Iowa County Emergency Management.

Going by Blue River Fire Department’s reports, another tornado is strengthening about 3 miles south of Blue River in Grant County, according to the US Storm Prediction Center. At 4:49 p.m., there were reports of barns blown down and at least one house damaged south of Blue River.

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Earlier, NWS tweeted: “Folks in far northeast Grant County need to be seeking shelter now!”

In Grant County, the National Weather Service issued the tornado warning for northeastern parts. It is feared that damages have been caused at the aforementioned parts.

Meanwhile, the tornado warning in Columbia county has been issued until 6.15 pm local time.

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A flood warning has also been issued for areas due east of La Crosse. Footage from NWS shows streets submerge in water and cars have been left stranded.

“That area’s storms will progress east. It’ll be several hours before it gets to the (Milwaukee) area and we’ll have to see what it looks like by the time it gets there,” said Ben Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. 

Currently, there is a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 9 pm for several counties in southern Wisconsin, including Iowa, Dane and Jefferson.