This time it was the rain, not the tornado, that wreaked havoc on Kenosha County.

A tornado reported five miles west of Kenosha by National Weather Service trained spotters at 6:11 p.m. tore up some trees. But it reportedly produced less damage than the hail, wind, torrential rains and flash flooding associated with the severe thunderstorms that pelted the county.

“The rain fell at such a speed and intensity that it overwhelmed storm sewers throughout the county and significantly flooded roadways,” Lt. Paul Falduto, of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, said. “I don’t think anywhere in the county was spared from this.”

The National Weather Service reports a total of 1.96 inches fell between 5 and 7 p.m. at the Kenosha Airport, and most of it fell in one hour.

“It is a lot when it follows the rain Kenosha saw Thursday and again Friday morning,” Chris Franks, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said. “It also has a lot do with how fast it fell.”

More than an inch of rain had fallen before the heavy storms Friday evening. By early afternoon 1.25 inches had fallen in New Munster and 1.4 inches in Twin Lakes.

In Pleasant Prairie, the National Weather Service in Sullivan reported 1.73 inches of rain had fallen by early afternoon.

Tornado sirens sounded about 1:30 a.m. Friday from Pleasant Prairie to the northside of Kenosha after meteorologists saw cloud rotation on radar, not in the sky. A tornado warning went out as a result, triggering the sirens.

Franks said a flash flood warning was issued for the county at 5:11 p.m. and a tornado warning was issued at 5:41 p.m. Despite the warning, county highways and Interstate 94 were packed with motorists.

More than a dozen motorists were stranded in high water at various places in the county, with water at times reportedly reaching the vehicle windows and in one case the roof.

“Flash flood warnings are just as serious as tornado warnings,” Franks said.

Sgt. Gil Benn of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department said all stranded motorists were able to be reached and no injuries were reported.

A funnel cloud was reported at about 5:50 p.m. two miles north of Pleasant Prairie, where hail up to a half-inch in diameter also was reported.

The tornado, expected to be confirmed today, did not result in any major property damage or injuries. Two trained spotters reported seeing the same tornado. Meteorologist Rusty Kapela, from the National Weather Service, will inspect the area today and conduct a damage assessment.

“I can’t say 100 percent it was a tornado until I get there,” Kapela said. “But, these are trained spotters. It was most likely a tornado.”

Wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph were reported throughout the county, downing trees and power lines and leaving a trail of debris. Several roads were reportedly blocked by large trees.

As of 7 p.m., We Energies reported 5,800 customers from Kenosha and Racine Counties were without power and 38 power lines were down. Residents near 50th Avenue and on Cooper Road reported sewerage backups and flooding in their basements.

“In 20 years I’ve never seen the entire yard flooded like this,” said Jan Ellis, a resident on Cooper Road. “We are majorly flooded out.”

Late Friday night, We Energies reported the storm knocked out power to about 2,200 customers in Pleasant Prairie and another 3,000 in Kenosha. Utility spokesman Brian Manthey said repairs were under way, but he wasn’t sure when all customers would have their power back.

Traffic signals at a number of intersections in Kenosha lost power, and a number of vehicles became stranded in high water on city streets.

Jackie Ramey, of 6108 50th Avenue, said her neighbors were working desperately to salvage belongings from her basement as she commuted home.

“They are there trying to save what they can,” Ramey said.

Fire departments responded to several structure fires. A Bristol home and a mattress store on 57th Street in Kenosha both caught fire after being struck by lightning. No injuries were reported at either fire.

Kenosha County Joint Dispatch was inundated with calls and both the Sherrif’s Department and the Kenosha Police Department called in extra personnel in an attempt to keep up.

“Operationally, it was a nightmare,” Falduto said.

Kenosha police officer Dusty Nichols said the majority of calls were from stranded motorists.

By 8:45 p.m., both departments had reportedly caught up with the waiting list of calls from dispatch.

Public Works departments worked diligently to clear trees and close roads.

Similar reports came from Waukesha, Walworth and Racine counties.

According to the weather service:

The heavy rain on saturated ground left water 2½ feet deep at an intersection near State Fair Park in West Allis where a truck race was scheduled at the Milwaukee Mile track. The race was postponed until Saturday.

Partly cloudy skies were forecast across Wisconsin today and Sunday.

— The Associated Press contributed to this story