Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 30, 1989Crawford County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 30, 1989, 9:25 PM CDT for Crawford County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 50 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 30, 1989, 9:25 PM CDT (02:25 UTC)
Expired
May 30, 1989, 10:15 PM CDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Whole counties

County Crawford County, WI

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 00:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 266 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 00:00Z on 1989-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 00:00Z on 1989-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 144 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
823 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
144 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
240 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KLSE 310225
SVRLSE
WIC023-310315-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
925 PM CDT TUE MAY 30 1989

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1015 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN
        ...CRAWFORD

AT 925 PM CDT..RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 55
MILES SOUTH OF LA CROSSE OR JUST WEST OF PRAIRIE DU CHIEN WISCONSIN.
THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES PER HOUR AND WILL AFFECT AREAS
AROUND PRAIRIE DU CHIEN WISCONSIN BY 930 TO 940 PM CDT.

PEOPLE IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 55 MILES PER HOUR..HAIL 3/4 INCH OR MORE IN DIAMETER..
DEADLY LIGHTNING..AND HEAVY RAIN THAT CAN QUICKLY FLOOD LOW LYING
AREAS.  GO IMMEDIATELY FOR SHELTER IN A REINFORCED STRUCTURE
SUCH AS YOUR HOME.  IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE..STAY AWAY FROM WATER AND
TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES AND TELEPHONE POLES.

REMEMBER..SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN ALSO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITHOUT
WARNING.

STAY TUNED TO RADIO..TELEVISION..OR WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION.

THOMPSON

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 30, 3:35 PM CDT, 5 hours 50 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
335 PM CDT TUE MAY 30 1989

STORM REPORT FOR MAY 29 1989

TIME             EVENT
218 PM CDT       1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AT PRAIRIE DU CHIEN OR
                 55 MILES SOUTH OF LA CROSSE

225 PM CDT       2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL SOUTH SIDE OF PRAIRIE DU CHIEN

815 PM CDT       3/4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AT MONDOVI WISCONSIN OR
                 55 MILES NORTHWEST OF LA CROSSE

1108 PM CDT      3/4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AT ALMA WISCONSIN OR 45 MILES
                 NORTHWEST OF LA CROSSE

STORM REPORT FOR MAY 30 1989

1137 AM CDT       2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AT PRAIRIE DU CHIEN

THOMPSON
Special weather statement, May 30, 5:38 PM CDT, 3 hours 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
540 PM CDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR LA CROSSE AND
ADJACENT AREAS EAST AND SOUTH IN WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT FOR LA CROSSE AND ADJACENT AREAS NORTH
AND EAST IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

AS OF 540 PM CDT..RADAR SHOWED NO THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LA CROSSE
AREA. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AGAIN..THOUGH..THIS
EVENING IN OUR AREA PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..AND
POSSIBLY HAIL.

KEEP ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER THIS EVENING. IF A STORM AFFECTS
YOUR AREA.. GET OFF OF LAKES AND RIVERS. STAY AWAY FROM OPEN FIELDS
AND TALL OBEJECTS SUCH AS TELEPHONE POLES. REMEMBER..LIGHTNING IS A
STORMS WORST KILLER.

STAY TUNED TO RADIO..TELEVISION..OR WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION.

THOMPSON
Special weather statement, May 30, 7:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
730 PM CDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 12 MIDNIGHT CDT FOR VERNON AND
CRAWFORD COUNTY SOUTH OF LA CROSSE IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT FOR LA CROSSE AND ADJACENT AREAS NORTH
AND EAST IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

AS OF 730 PM CDT..RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST IOWA
NEAR AND NORTH OF WATERLOO IOWA MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES PER
HOUR. THESE STORMS WILL PROBABLY BE MOVING ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER INTO CRAWFORD AND VERNON COUNTY BY ABOUT 900 PM CDT.

THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..AND
CERTAINLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL.

PERSONS IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN..ESPECIALLY BOATERS AND CAMPERS..
SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER THIS EVENING. IF A STORM
AFFECTS YOUR AREA..GET OFF OF LAKES AND RIVERS. STAY AWAY FROM OPEN
FIELDS AND TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TELEPHONE POLES. REMEMBER..LIGHTNING
IS A STORMS WORST KILLER.

STAY TUNED TO RADIO..TELEVISION..OR WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION.

THOMPSON
Special weather statement, May 30, 8:35 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROCHESTER MN
830 PM CDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO EXTREME SOUTHEAST MN...

THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN DEVOLOPING IN NORTHEAST IOWA AND MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST INTO EXTREME SOUTHEAST MN.  AT 820 PM CDT A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON COUNTY JUST SOUTH OF SPRING GROVE...
ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LACROSSE WI.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST OVER MOST OF
HOUSTON COUNTY AS AN AREA OF SEVERE STORMS CONINUES IN PARTS OF NORTHEAST
IOWA.
BUSS
Special weather statement, May 30, 8:49 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
850 PM CDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 12 MIDNIGHT CDT FOR VERNON AND
CRAWFORD COUNTY SOUTH OF LA CROSSE IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT FOR LA CROSSE AND ADJACENT AREAS NORTH
AND EAST IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

AS OF 850 PM CDT..RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST SOUTHWEST OF
LA CROSSE EXTENDING INTO NORTHEAST IOWA ABOUT 70 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LA CROSSE.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. THESE STORMS
WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER INTO THE CITY OF
LA CROSSE AND ALSO COMMUNITIES IN CRAWFORD AND VERNON COUNTY WHICH
ARE THE ADJACENT COUNTIES SOUTH OF LA CROSSE BY 900 PM CDT.

THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..AND
CERTAINLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL.

PERSONS IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN..ESPECIALLY BOATERS AND CAMPERS..
SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER THIS EVENING. IF A STORM
AFFECTS YOUR AREA..GET OFF OF LAKES AND RIVERS. STAY AWAY FROM OPEN
FIELDS AND TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TELEPHONE POLES. REMEMBER..LIGHTNING
IS A STORMS WORST KILLER.

STAY TUNED TO RADIO..TELEVISION..OR WEATHER iRADIO FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION.

THOMPSON
Special weather statement, May 30, 9:18 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
920 PM CDT TUE MAY 30 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 12 MIDNIGHT CDT FOR VERNON AND
CRAWFORD COUNTY SOUTH OF LA CROSSE IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT FOR LA CROSSE AND ADJACENT AREAS NORTH
AND EAST IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

AS OF 920 PM CDT..RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM ABOUT
10 MILES EAST OF LA CROSSE INTO NORTHEAST IOWA ABOUT 60 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LA CROSSE. A STATE TROOPER REPORTED PEA SIZE HAIL
AS OF 910 PM 10 MILES EAST OF LA CROSSE.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. THESE STORMS
WILL BE MOVING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN THE REST
OF THIS EVENING.

THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..AND
CERTAINLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL.

PERSONS IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN..ESPECIALLY BOATERS AND CAMPERS..
SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER THIS EVENING. IF A STORM
AFFECTS YOUR AREA..GET OFF OF LAKES AND RIVERS. STAY AWAY FROM OPEN
FIELDS AND TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TELEPHONE POLES. REMEMBER..LIGHTNING
IS A STORMS WORST KILLER.

STAY TUNED TO RADIO..TELEVISION..OR WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION.

THOMPSON

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 1989Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1989

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.