The tornado that dropped down to splinter homes and lives in Stoughton early Thursday evening was born in a three-mile high mass of swirling air and rumbling thunderstorms that started moving down the length of Wisconsin just as the day was dawning.
Jon Martin, an associate professor of atmosphere and oceanic science, recalls being awakened by deep and rolling thunder in the hour before sunrise Thursday. The growling echoed for as long as 15 seconds after some of the reports and Martin found himself thinking that something powerful was developing high overhead.