Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 16, NWS La Crosse, WI

March 30, 1998Grant County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 30, 1998, 6:36 PM CST for Grant County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 34 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
Mar 30, 1998, 6:36 PM CST (00:36 UTC)
Expired
Mar 30, 1998, 7:10 PM CST
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Whole counties

County Grant County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:39 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
Mar 30, 6:42 PM CSTHail 0.75Livingston, 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
Mar 30, 2:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 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, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 1998-03-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 226 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, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 1998-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 152 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
226 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-57 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1587 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
152 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
127 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

412 
WUUS1 KLSE 310037 RRA
SVRLSE
WIC043-310110-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
636 PM CST MON MAR 30 1998


* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
    EASTERN GRANT COUNTY - SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN

* UNTIL 710 PM CST

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    LANCASTER
    STITZER
    FENNIMORE

* AT 635 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 25 MILES NORTH OF DUBUQUE...JUST EAST OF
  LANCASTER. THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE STORM WILL BE WILL NE NEAR LIVINGSTON BY 645 PM.

THIS STORM WILL CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND. DO NOT GO
OUTDOORS.



KRC/SHEA

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 30, 1:43 PM CST, 4 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 30, 1:43 PM CST, 4 hours 53 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISSCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
143 PM CST MON MAR 30 1998

FORECAST CONCERN FOR TONIGHT IS HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL WITH FRONT
STRETCHED ACROSS AREA AND INCREASING DYNAMICS TO DEAL WITH. RAIN
THREAT OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS CERTAINLY A CONCERN AND MAY BRING
MORE PROBLEMS TO AREA RIVERS.

AS MENTIONED...SURFACE FRONT AT 18Z EXTENDS FROM CENTRAL WISCONSIN
INTO NORTHEAST IOWA. GOOD CONVERGENCE ALONG FRONT AS -SHRA CONTINUE
TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE...ESPECIALLY UPSTREAM. STRONGER CELLS NOW
POPPING OVER EASTERN IOWA STILL IN LINE FOR POSSIBLE EVENING SEVERE
WEATHER INTO SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN BUT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR.

UPPER LEVEL POSITIVELY TILTED TROUGH ALREADY EJECTING OUT OF SOUTH-
WEST AND AS IT MOVES INTO CENTRAL PLAINS TONIGHT...FLOW TO BECOME
MORE SOUTHERLY. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THIS AND MAY LEAD TO
FRONT ACTUALLY PUSHING BACK NORTH GRADUALLY. IN ANY EVENT...FORCING
WILL INCREASE ALONG BAROCLINIC ZONE. CATEGORICAL POPS IN ORDER WITH
WIDESPREAD CONVECTION EXPECTED AND TEMPERATURES REMAINING FAIRLY
STEADY.

HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FLOOD WATCH WITH PAST RAINFALL ADDED TO
EXPECTED RAIN. PERHAPS OUTLOOKS MAY BE BEST TO STRESS THREAT.

SHE^A

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 30, 4:53 PM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-
032>034-041>044-053>055-061-310125-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
453 PM CST MON MAR 30 1998

...MORE HEAVY RAINS TO HIT REGION OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS...

A POTENT EARLY SPRING STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS TO SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST IOWA AND
WESTERN WISCONSIN TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. BESIDES THE SEVERE
WEATHER THREAT...HEAVY RAIN WILL BE FALLING IN AREAS THAT
HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED ABUNDANT RAINFALL OVER THE PAST WEEK.

MANY AREA RIVERS ARE RISING RELATIVELY QUICKLY AND FORECAST
TO REACH OR APPROACH FLOOD STAGE DURING THIS WEEK. OBVIOUSLY
THIS WEATHER FORECAST WILL NOT MAKE MATTERS BETTER.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE URGES PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY HAVE TROUBLE
WITH HIGH WATER OR HAVE PROPERTY ALONG AREA RIVERS TO PAY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO RIVER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS THIS WEEK.
RIVER CREST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FOR MANY LOCATIONS NOW AND
WILL BE UPDATED AT LEAST DAILY.

YOU CAN OBTAIN RIVER INFORMATION BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR BY CHECKING OUR HOMEPAGE AT WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/ARX.

SHEA
Special weather statement, Mar 30, 4:53 PM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-
032>034-041>044-053>055-061-310125-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
453 PM CST MON MAR 30 1998

...MORE HEAVY RAINS TO HIT REGION OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS...

A POTENT EARLY SPRING STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS TO SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST IOWA AND
WESTERN WISCONSIN TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. BESIDES THE SEVERE
WEATHER THREAT...HEAVY RAIN WILL BE FALLING IN AREAS THAT
HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED ABUNDANT RAINFALL OVER THE PAST WEEK.

MANY AREA RIVERS ARE RISING RELATIVELY QUICKLY AND FORECAST
TO REACH OR APPROACH FLOOD STAGE DURING THIS WEEK. OBVIOUSLY
THIS WEATHER FORECAST WILL NOT MAKE MATTERS BETTER.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE URGES PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY HAVE TROUBLE
WITH HIGH WATER OR HAVE PROPERTY ALONG AREA RIVERS TO PAY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO RIVER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS THIS WEEK.
RIVER CREST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FOR MANY LOCATIONS NOW AND
WILL BE UPDATED AT LEAST DAILY.

YOU CAN OBTAIN RIVER INFORMATION BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR BY CHECKING OUR HOMEPAGE AT WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/ARX.

SHEA
Special weather statement, Mar 30, 5:42 PM CST, 54 minutes before
IAZ011-029-030-WIZ043-044-054-055-061-310035-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
542 PM CST MON MAR 30 1998

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM...

THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUE FROM CENTRAL WISCONSIN
SOUTHWEST THROUGH THE PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AREA TO EAST OF WATERLOO.
THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING HAIL 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER
OR SMALLER AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

AS THESE STORMS TRACK NORTHEAST...THEY HAVE BEEN MOVING OVER THE
SAME AREAS SINCE 3PM. RADAR ESTIMATES OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN
ARE STRETCHED ACROSS SOUTHERN CRAWFORD COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN.

BESIDES THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL...BE ALERT FOR FLASH FLOODING
OR MUDSLIDES. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

SHEA
Special weather statement, Mar 30, 5:42 PM CST, 54 minutes before
IAZ011-029-030-WIZ043-044-054-055-061-310035-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
542 PM CST MON MAR 30 1998

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM...

THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUE FROM CENTRAL WISCONSIN
SOUTHWEST THROUGH THE PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AREA TO EAST OF WATERLOO.
THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING HAIL 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER
OR SMALLER AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

AS THESE STORMS TRACK NORTHEAST...THEY HAVE BEEN MOVING OVER THE
SAME AREAS SINCE 3PM. RADAR ESTIMATES OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN
ARE STRETCHED ACROSS SOUTHERN CRAWFORD COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN.

BESIDES THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL...BE ALERT FOR FLASH FLOODING
OR MUDSLIDES. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

SHEA
Special weather statement, Mar 30, 6:14 PM CST, 22 minutes before
IAZ011-029-030-310115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
614 PM CST MON MAR 30 1998

PARTS OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 141 HAVE BEEN DROPPED IN
NORTHEAST IOWA. THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE NO LONGER UNDER A
WATCH...
          CLAYTON     FAYETTE     ALLAMAKEE

PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
NIGHT THOUGH.

SHEA
Special weather statement, Mar 30, 6:14 PM CST, 22 minutes before
IAZ011-029-030-310115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
614 PM CST MON MAR 30 1998

PARTS OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 141 HAVE BEEN DROPPED IN
NORTHEAST IOWA. THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE NO LONGER UNDER A
WATCH...
          CLAYTON     FAYETTE     ALLAMAKEE

PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
NIGHT THOUGH.

SHEA

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 1998Every 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.