Mother Nature Causes Havoc With Fair

Even though the initial line of storms that came through the area were not as bad as predicted, officials decided to shut down the Fond du Lac County Fair for a period of time to allow the storms to pass. This was the right choice as winds did pick up and torrential rains fell.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Fond du Lac Police Department took some widespread calls of trees and a few wires down and it looked like we dodged a bullet.

And then it ended. Or did it? It looked on radar that it was all done for the night. The gates opened back up, and though delayed, the main stage grandstand shows of Switchfoot and Collective Soul were back on.

Shortly after 9pm however, new showers and thunderstorms quickly developed in Green Lake and Fond du Lac Counties. The Green Lake cell went warned for hail and high winds and the Fond du Lac cell made a fast bee line towards the fairgrounds. Heavy rain and lightning caused officials to permanently call the fair off for the night.

The Green Lake cell would go on to become tornado warned with funnel clouds being reported along it’s southeast trek into Dodge County. Trained weather spotters reported the funnel clouds one mile north of Randolph at 9:46 pm and another three miles north of Beaver Dam at 10:06 pm.

As of the writing of this article, no confirmed reports of tornadoes have been reported. This could change as daylight comes Sunday morning.

The weather looks to calm down for Sunday, the last day of the fair. Prized animals will be on display with their ribbons. Rides will be going and the incredible fair food will still be available. Entertainment includes Remington’s Ride at noon in the 107.1 FM Bull Pen and 2 pm brings on the demolition derby in the grandstands area.