Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 117, NWS La Crosse, WI

July 17, 1997Wabasha County, Minnesota; Buffalo County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 17, 1997, 2:08 AM CDT for Wabasha County, Minnesota; Buffalo County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 62 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 17, 1997, 2:08 AM CDT (07:08 UTC)
Expired
Jul 17, 1997, 3:10 AM CDT
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Whole counties

Counties Wabasha County, MN, Buffalo County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:12 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 17, 2:28 AM CDTHail 0.75Kellogg, MN
Jul 17, 2:29 AM CDTHail 0.75Alma, WI

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 17, 1:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 140 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1997-07-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2132 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1997-07-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -2 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
2132 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-110 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1981 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
127 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

812 
WUUS1 KLSE 170711 RRA
SVRLSE
MNC157-WIC011-170810-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
208 AM CDT THU JUL 17 1997

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
    BUFFALO COUNTY - WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN
    EASTERN WABASHA COUNTY - SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA

* UNTIL 310 AM CDT
 
* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    ALMA
    KELLOGG
    WEAVER

* AT 210 AM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER WABASHA. THE STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST
  AT 10 MPH.

* THE STORM WILL BE NEAR COCHRANE BY 220 AM.

THE MAIN THREAT FROM THIS STORM IS LARGE HAIL. DO NOT GO OUTDOORS.


RIECK/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.

NWS La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 17, 1:15 AM CDT, 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 1:15 AM CDT, 53 minutes before
FIRST PERIOD ZONE INPUT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
115 AM CDT THU JUL 17 1997

MINOR TWEEKS TO ONGOING FORECASTS FOR TODAY.  WILL PLAY THE DEVELOPING
MCS IN EASTERN SD AND WESTERN MN INTO THE FORECAST AREA LATE TONIGHT.

THIS SHOULD DROP TEMPS BACK INTO THE UPPER 60S/LOW 70S AROUND DAYBREAK
FOR MOST AREAS.  THUS WILL DROP THE HEAT ADVISORY FOR ALL BUT FAR
SOUTHWEST WI AS THIS AREA MAY NOT SEE MUCH COOLING EFFECT FROM THE LATE
NIGHT TSRA COMPLEX.

00Z MODELS CONTINUE TO POOL ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ALONG A SURFACE
TROUGH/CONVERGENCE BOUNDARY ACROSS SOUTHERN MN INTO CENTRAL WI...WITH
THE AIRMASS BECOMING VERY UNSTABLE.  APPEARS ANOTHER ROUND OF
CONVECTION...WITH SOME SEVERE...IS IN STORE FOR THE FORECAST AREA LATE
THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING/OVERNIGHT HOURS THURSDAY NIGHT.

RRS

***IOWA
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-

.TODAY...A FEW MORNING THUNDERSTORMS...OTHERWISE HOT AND HUMID.
MOSTLY SUNNY WITH HIGHS 90 TO 95.  SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.

***WISCONSIN
WIZ054-055-061-

...HEAT ADVISORY TODAY...

.TODAY...A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING...THEN
AGAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON.  VERY WARM AND HUMID WITH HIGHS AROUND 90.
SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.

WIZ032>034-041-042-053-

.TODAY...A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING...THEN
AGAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON.  HOT AND HUMID WITH HIGHS 90 TO 95.
SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.

WIZ043-044-

.TODAY...A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.  WARM AND HUMID WITH
HIGHS AROUND 90.  SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.

WIZ017-029-

.TODAY...A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.  WARM AND HUMID WITH
HIGHS NEAR 90.  SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.

***MINNESOTA
MNZ086-094-

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 6 AM...

.TODAY...A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING...THEN
AGAIN LATER THIS AFTERNOON.  VERY WARM AND HUMID WITH HIGHS 85 TO 90.
SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.

MNZ079-086>088-094>096-

.TODAY...A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING...THEN
AGAIN LATER THIS AFTERNOON.  VERY WARM AND HUMID WITH HIGHS 85 TO 90.
SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 16, 10:17 PM CDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1017 PM CDT WED JUL 16 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0900 PM    FRIENDSHIP                WI   FLOODING
07/16/97   ADAMS                          1 FOOT OF WATER IN STREETS

0930 PM    FRIENDSHIP                WI   FLOODING
07/16/97   ADAMS                          2 FEET OF WATER THROUGH
                                          CONSTRUCTION AREA AT
                                          HOSPITAL

1000 PM    2 E ADAMS                 WI   1 INCH HAIL
07/16/97   ADAMS                          SHERIFF REPORT

DB
Local storm report, Jul 16, 10:18 PM CDT, 3 hours 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1017 PM CDT WED JUL 16 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0900 PM    FRIENDSHIP                WI   FLOODING
07/16/97   ADAMS                          1 FOOT OF WATER IN STREETS

0930 PM    FRIENDSHIP                WI   FLOODING
07/16/97   ADAMS                          2 FEET OF WATER THROUGH
                                          CONSTRUCTION AREA AT
                                          HOvSPITAL

1000 PM    2 E ADAMS                 WI   1 INCH HAIL
07/16/97   ADAMS                          SHERIFF REPORT

DB
Special weather statement, Jul 16, 10:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 27 minutes before
WIZ044-170445-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1041 PM CDT WED JUL 16 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CANCELLED FOR ADAMS COUNTY...

AT 1040 PM CDT RADAR AT LA CROSSE INDICATED THAT THE STORM OVER
SOUTHERN ADAMS COUNTY HAD WEAKENED AND IS NO LONGER EXPECTED TO
PRODUCE SEVERE WEATHER.

BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM
UNTIL IT EXITS THE COUNTY AROUND MIDNIGHT.

TMS
Special weather statement, Jul 16, 10:44 PM CDT, 3 hours 24 minutes before
WIZ044-170445-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1041 PM CDT WED JUL 16 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CANCELLED FOR ADAMS COUNTY...

AT 1040 PM CDT RADAR AT LA CROSpSE INDICATED THAT THE STORM OVER
SOUTHERN ADAMS COUNTY HAD WEAKENED AND IS NO LONGER EXPECTED TO
PRODUCE SEVERE WEATHER.

BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM
UNTIL IT EXITS THE COUNTY AROUND MIDNIGHT.

TMS
Local storm report, Jul 16, 10:49 PM CDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1049 PM CDT WED JUL 16 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1015 PM    3 W GRAND MARSH           WI   FLOODING
07/16/97   ADAMS                          THIGH HIGH WATER ACROSS
                                          COUNTY E

DB
Special weather statement, Jul 16, 11:00 PM CDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
WIZ043-044-170500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1100 PM CDT WED JUL 16 1997

...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR ADAMS AND JUNEAU COUTNIES HAS EXPIRED AS
OF 1100 PM...

RADAR INDICATES THAT THE SEVERE STORMS HAVE MOVED OUT THE AREA AND
SEVERE WEATHER IS NO LONGER EXPECTED.

TMS

The office that day

Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 17, 1:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXWabasha61 min
Jul 17, 3:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXDodge, Olmsted55 min
Jul 17, 3:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXWabasha55 min
Jul 17, 4:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Winona60 min
Jul 17, 4:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXHouston45 min
Jul 16, 7:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAdams54 min
Jul 16, 7:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAdams, Juneau60 min
Jul 16, 7:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAdams62 min
Jul 16, 8:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAdams64 min
Jul 16, 9:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXAdams3 hr
Jul 16, 9:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAdams63 min
Jul 17, 2:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXClark57 min
Jul 17, 2:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXTrempealeau61 min
Jul 17, 3:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXLa Crosse45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 1997Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.