Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 165, NWS La Crosse, WI
NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 16, 1997, 7:39 PM CDT for Adams County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 36 min. 1 report 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
- Sep 16, 1997, 7:39 PM CDT (00:39 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 16, 1997, 8:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 36 min
- Issued by
- NWS La Crosse, WI
- Area
- Whole counties
County Adams County, WI
The radar
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:40 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 7:45 PM CDT | Thunderstorm Wind 55 | Friendship, 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 6:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 145 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 418 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -75 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 821 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 201 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 258 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 4.6
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KLSE 170039 RRA
SVRLSE
WIC001-170115-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
739 PM CDT TUE SEP 16 1997
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
ADAMS COUNTY - CENTRAL WISCONSIN
* UNTIL 815 PM CDT
* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED
ARKDALE
BIG FLATS
GRAND MARSH
EASTON
* AT 737 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WISCONSIN RAPIDS ALONG
THE WISCONSIN RIVER. THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
* THE STORM WILL BE NEAR ARKDALE BY 740 PM AND OPEN COUNTRY EAST OF
FRIENDSHIP AND EASTON AFTER 745 PM.
THE MAIN THREAT FROM THIS STORM IS DAMAGING WINDS. DO NOT GO
OUTDOORS.
RACY/KINGWhat 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 Sep 16, 2:39 PM CDT, 5 hours earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 16, 2:39 PM CDT, 5 hours before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 239 PM CDT TUE SEP 1997 IMMEDIATE FORECAST CONCERN IS FOR SEVERE WEATHER THREAT OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA. TIMING THE ENDING OF THUNDERSTORMS AND AMOUNT OF CLEARING IS A CHALLENGE FURTHER INTO THE NIGHT. MID AFTERNOON SURFACE ANALYSIS HAD AN OCCLUDED/COLD FRONT COMBO RUNNING FROM NC-SW MN AND THEN INTO WRN IA. ANOTHER CONVERGENT AXIS WAS NEAR DSM. SOUTHERLY FLOW WAS ADVECTION WARM/MOIST AIR PARCELS NWD INTO IA AND SRN MN AND THEN OVERTOP A MESO-WARM FRONT LINED UP THROUGH MSP-GRB. THE RESULT HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD OVERRUNNING CONVECTION OVER THE NRN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA. CONVECTION WAS NOW BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE OVER MUCH OF WRN IA AS MID LEVEL CAP WAS BREAKING. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO EXPAND AND INTENSIFY INTO SC MN LATE THIS AFTERNOON. AS THE STORMS TRAVERSE EWD THEY WILL ENCOUNTER 1500-2000 J/KG CAPES AND PLENTY OF JUICE. MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS GIVEN WIND FLOW ALOFT. BEST SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL STILL APPEARS TO BE OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF IA. ONLY ONE MODEL TO CHOOSE FROM TODAY...THE NGM...AND IT APPEARS TO BE REASONABLE. COLD FRONT WILL MOVE TO ERN WI-ERN IA BY 06Z TONIGHT. BAND OF STRONG-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BEGIN TO END IN SE MN/NE IA THIS EVENING AND IN WRN/CNTRL WI AROUND MIDNIGHT. SOME CONCERN ON THE AMOUNT OF CLEARING LATE TONIGHT. NGM TENDS TO CLEAR US OUT ABRUPTLY...BUT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A GRADUAL CLEARING VERY LATE TONIGHT GIVEN THE MID/UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE SEEN ON SATELLITE BACK INTO THE ERN DKTS. NGM MOS MAY BE TOO COOL WITH MORE CLOUDINESS EXPECTED...BUT TEMPERATURES WILL DEFINATELY BE COOLER THAN THE PAST FEW NIGHT. RACY
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 5:19 PM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
IAZ011-030-WIZ053>055-061-162325- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 519 PM CDT TUE SEP 16 1997 ...A LINE OF STRONG OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS POISED TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN AND FAR EASTERN PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA... AT 515 PM...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM DECORAH TO 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF DUBUQUE. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND CONTAINED WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH...PEA SIZED HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINS. THE STORMS WILL IMPACT WAUKON AND CLAYTON BY 530 PM...AND VIROQUA...MT.STERLING...AND LANCASTER BETWEEN 545 AND 6PM. THE STORMS WILL LAST ABOUT A HALF HOUR...WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS CONTINUING INTO EARLY EVENING BEHIND THE MAIN BAND. STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE WEATHER SOURCE FOR LATER STATEMENTS. RACY
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 5:20 PM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
IAZ011-030-WIZ053>055-061-162325- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 519 PM CDT TUE SEP 16 1997 ...A LINE OF STRONG OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS POISED TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN AND FAR EASTERN PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA... AT 515 PM...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM DECORAH TO 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF DUBUQUE. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND CONTAINED WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH...PEA SIZED HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINS. THE STORMS WILL IMPACT WAUKON AND CLAYTON BY 530 PM...AND VIROQUA...MT.STERLING...AND LANCASTER BETWEEN 545 AND 6PM. THE STORMS WILL LAST ABOUT A HALF HOUR...WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS CONTINUING HINTO EARLY EVENING BEHIND THE MAIN BAND. STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE WEATHER SOURCE FOR LATER STATEMENTS. RACY
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 6:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ086>088-094>096-170010- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 606 PM CDT TUE SEP 16 1997 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED EARLY FOR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 729 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN IOWA...MITCHELL - FLOYD - HOWARD - CHICKASAW - WINNESHIEK - FAYETTE - ALLAMAKEE - CLAYTON. IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...DODGE - OLMSTED - WINONA - MOWER - FILLMORE - HOUSTON. THE STORMS HAVE MOVED THROUGH OR JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING...BUT NO SEVERE WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED IN THE CANCELLED WATCH AREA. THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A SMALL PART OF SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN UNTIL 8PM. RACY
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 6:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ086>088-094>096-170010- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 606 PM CDT TUE SEP 16 1997 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED EARLY FOR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 729 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN IOWA...MITCHELL - FLOYD - HOWARD - CHICKASAW - WINNESHIEK - FAYETTE - ALLAMAKEE - CLAYTON. IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...DODGE - OLMSTED - WINONA - MOWER - FILLMORE - HOUSTON. THE STORMS HAVE MOVED THROUGH OR JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING...BUT NO SEVERE WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED IN THE CANCELLED WATCH AREA. THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A SMALL PART OF SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN UNTIL 8PM. RACY
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 7:18 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
WIZ041-042-053-054-170100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 718 PM CDT TUE SEP 16 1997 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED EARLY FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 729 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN WISCONSIN...CRAWFORD - LA CROSSE - MONROE - VERNON. THE STORMS HAVE MOVED THROUGH THE AREA. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING...BUT NO SEVERE WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED IN THE CANCELLED WATCH AREA. A DIFFERENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GRANT AND RICHLAND COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT...BUT WILL PROBABLY BE CANCELLED BY 830 PM. RACY
Special weather statement, Sep 16, 7:19 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
WIZ041-042-053-054-170100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 718 PM CDT TUE SEP 16 1997 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED EARLY FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 729 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN WISCONSIN...CRAWFORD - LA CROSSE - MONROE - VERNON. THE STORMS HAVE MOVED THROUGH THE AREA. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING...BUT NO SEVERE WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED IN THE CANCELLED WATCH AREA. A DIFFERENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GRANT AND RICHLAND COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT...BUT WILL PROBABLY BE CANCELLED BY 830 PM. RACY
The office that day
Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 7:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Juneau | 54 min |
| Sep 16, 7:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Richland | 54 min |
Nearby
Severe 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.