Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 12, NWS La Crosse, WI

March 29, 1998Buffalo County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 29, 1998, 4:45 PM CST for Buffalo County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 60 min. 3 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: Mar 29, 1998, 4:45 PM CST (22:45 UTC)
Expired: Mar 29, 1998, 5:45 PM CST
In force: 60 min
Issued by: NWS La Crosse, WI
Area: Whole counties

County Buffalo County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:48 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
Mar 29, 4:51 PM CST	Hail 0.75	Alma, WI
Mar 29, 5:00 PM CST	Hail 0.75	Nelson, WI
Mar 29, 5:15 PM CST	Tornado F0	Maxville, 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
Mar 29, 11:00 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr
Mar 29, 2:00 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr
Mar 29, 2:45 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 155 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 551 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 160 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 251 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KLSE 292246
SVRLSE
WIC011-292345-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
445 PM CST SUN MAR 29 1998

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
    NORTHWESTERN BUFFALO COUNTY - WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN

* UNTIL 545 PM CST

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    NELSON
    MAXVILLE
    ALMA

* AT 445 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EAU CLAIRE...JUST
  SOUTHWEST OF WABASHA MINNESOTA. THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 45 MPH.

* THE STORM WILL BE NEAR NELSON AT 505 PM AND MAXVILLE AT 510 PM.

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

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN tEFFECT. REMEMBER...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IN A STRONG
BUILDING.

SHEA/NELSON

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 Mar 29, 3:00 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 29, 3:00 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
300 PM CST SUN MAR 29 1998

...MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT WILL BE SEVERE
CONVECTION...

LATEST TRENDS INDICATE SEVERE POTENTIAL INCREASING ACROSS ARX COUNTY
WARNING AREA ALONG WARM FRONT. MAIN THREAT HAS BEEN MOSTLY LARGE HAIL
BUT SHOULD INCLUDE TORNADIC ACTIVITY AS SHEER PROFILES INCREASE. ARX
88D INDICATING SEVERAL SEVERE CELLS.

SECONDARY SURFACE WARM FRONT HAS DEVELOPED AND IS NOW MOVING NORTH
THROUGH THE CWA. THIS SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGHT THE EVENING. LATEST RUC
SHOWING MAX PRESSURE FALL BULLSEYE RIGHT OVER CWA. MID 70 DEGREE AIR AND
AROUND 60 DEGREE DEWPOINTS HAS ADVECTED IN FROM THE SOUTH. SATELLITE
SHOWS CLEAR SKIES IN SOUTHERN PORTION OF CWA.

FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW GOOD SEVERE POTENTIAL CONTINUING INTO THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS. WITH GOOD HEATING AND GOOD SURFACE MOISTURE FLUX
CONVERGENCE CONTINUING... EXPECT ACTIVITY TO CONTINUE AND WILL INDICATE
IN SUGGESTIONS. NGM MOS ACCEPTED.

KRC

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 29, 1:07 PM CST, 3 hours 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
107 PM CST SUN MAR 29 1998

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

0947 AM    WADENA                    IA   .75 INCH HAIL
03/29/98   FAYETTE                        DIME SIZED HAIL COVERING
                                          THE GROUND

1005 AM    2N ST OLAF                IA   .75 INCH HAIL
03/29/98   CLAYTON

1005 AM    NEW MINER                 WI   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/29/98   JUNEAU

1027 AM    3S NEW ROME               WI   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/98   ADAMS                          TREES DOWN

1030 AM    NEW ROME                  WI   1.75 INCH HAIL      J
03/29/98   ADAMS

NELSON

Local storm report, Mar 29, 2:44 PM CST, 2 hours 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
244 PM CST SUN MAR 29 1998

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

0218 PM    NEAR MEDFORD              WI   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/98   TAYLOR

TMC

Local storm report, Mar 29, 2:44 PM CST, 2 hours 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
244 PM CST SUN MAR 29 1998

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

0218 PM    NEAR MEDFORD              WI   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/98   TAYLOR

TMC

Special weather statement, Mar 29, 3:58 PM CST, 47 minutes before

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-
032>034-041>044-053>055-061-300155-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
358 PM CST SUN MAR 29 1998

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR TAYLOR COUNTY UNTIL
800 PM...

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN UNTIL 900
PM...

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA AND
NORTHEASTERN IOWA UNTIL 800 PM...

AT 350 PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE
SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS THE WATCH AREA. A FEW
OF THESE HAVE BEEN SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL BEING REPORTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

PERSONS IN THESE WATCH AREAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER
AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACH OR A WARNING BE ISSUED.

KRC

Special weather statement, Mar 29, 3:58 PM CST, 47 minutes before

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-
032>034-041>044-053>055-061-300155-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
358 PM CST SUN MAR 29 1998

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR TAYLOR COUNTY UNTIL
800 PM...

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN UNTIL 900
PM...

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA AND
NORTHEASTERN IOWA UNTIL 800 PM...

AT 350 PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE
SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS THE WATCH AREA. A FEW
OF THESE HAVE BEEN SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL BEING REPORTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

PERSONS IN THESE WATCH AREAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER
AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACH OR A WARNING BE ISSUED.

KRC

Local storm report, Mar 29, 4:16 PM CST, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
416 PM CST SUN MAR 29 1998

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

0349 PM    HAYFIELD                  MN   .88 INCH HAIL
03/29/98   DODGE

0400 PM    SALEM CORNERS             MN   .88 INCH HAIL
03/29/98   OLMSTED

0402 PM    BYRON                     MN   .75 INCH HAIL
03/29/98   OLMSTED

TMC

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 29, 10:05 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Juneau	25 min
Mar 29, 10:24 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Adams	31 min
Mar 29, 2:18 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Taylor	47 min
Mar 29, 2:38 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Buffalo	57 min
Mar 29, 2:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	La Crosse, Trempealeau	34 min
Mar 29, 3:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Trempealeau	29 min
Mar 29, 3:14 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Jackson, Monroe	61 min
Mar 29, 5:16 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ARX	Buffalo	14 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 1998 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

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.