The Iowa County Historical Society will commemorate its 50th anniversary with a special presentation by Alex Harrington, Chief Meteorologist for WISC-TV and FOX in Madison, on Saturday, October 17, at 1 p.m. at Barneveld Lutheran Church, 505 Swiss Lane, Barneveld.
Harrington will take attendees back to one of the most devastating events in Wisconsin’s history — the 1984 Barneveld tornado. Through a meteorologist’s perspective, he will provide a vivid account of the powerful storm that nearly wiped out the village of Barneveld and tragically claimed lives.
For Harrington, the historic tornado holds a particularly personal connection. Growing up on his family’s farm in Arena, Wisconsin, just 10 miles north of Barneveld, his fascination with weather began at the young age of four. His early exposure to the power of Mother Nature sparked a lifelong passion for understanding severe weather and helping keep communities informed and safe.
The Barneveld tornado, considered one of the strongest in Wisconsin history, has remained a subject of particular interest throughout Harrington’s career. While attending graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he conducted extensive research into the storm, becoming the first meteorologist to piece together the atmospheric conditions across the Midwest, throughout Wisconsin and locally near Barneveld that combined to produce such a catastrophic tornado.
His research and expertise have made him a recognized authority on the unique and historic storm.
Today, Harrington leads the weather team at Channel 3 in Madison, where he continues his commitment to educating and protecting viewers through accurate weather forecasting. In addition to his broadcasting career, he teaches business courses at Edgewood University, sharing his real-world management experience with students.
Harrington holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from UW-Madison, as well as a Master of Business Administration degree from Edgewood University. He was also recently nominated once again for Best of Madison in the TV Personality category.
Following his presentation, audience members will have an opportunity to share their own memories and personal experiences from that unforgettable day in June 1984. Harrington will also welcome questions from those in attendance, making the afternoon an opportunity to reflect, remember and learn more about a storm that forever changed the Barneveld community.
As the Iowa County Historical Society celebrates 50 years of preserving and sharing local history, this special program promises to be a meaningful tribute to the resilience of a community that faced unimaginable destruction and rebuilt in the years that followed.
The event is open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Refreshments and snacks will be served following the program.