On June 7–8, 1984, a significant severe weather and tornado event took place across the central United States from North Dakota to Kansas.

[2] A low-pressure system entered the Midwestern United States on June 7, 1984, and intensified while bringing a surge of moist and humid air coming from the Gulf of Mexico.

Straight-line winds in excess of 100 mph (160 km/h) and very large hail were also reported in eastern Iowa from the storm that went on to drop the tornado in Barneveld, Wisconsin.

A few minutes later, this storm system produced one of the few F5 tornadoes to hit Wisconsin, developing northeast of Mineral Point (five to six miles southwest of Barneveld).

[6] A strong lightning strike cut the electricity to the town just a few minutes before the tornado struck Barneveld, but it was followed by a deafening clap of thunder that awakened many residents.

[8][9] The National Weather Service in Madison reported the next day that the frequency of lightning flashes in the storm exceeded 200 per minute.

As it was in Barneveld, people in these other communities may not have been aware of incoming severe weather nor would they be able to see the tornado until it was already upon them, which increased their odds of injury or death.