Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 17, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 22, 2011Houston County, Minnesota; La Crosse County, Vernon County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at May 22, 2011, 4:16 PM CDT for Houston County, Minnesota; La Crosse County, Vernon County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 29 min. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 22, 2011, 4:16 PM CDT (21:16 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2011, 4:45 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Houston County, MN, La Crosse County, WI, Vernon County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 12 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:20 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
May 22, 4:16 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGHokah, MN1 FOOT DIAMETER PINE TREE SNAPPED. WIND ESTIMATED 60 MPH.
May 22, 4:21 PM CDTTORNADO2 S La Crescent, MNPOSSIBLE BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN. SEVERAL TREES SNAPPED OFF AND BRANCHES THROWN. 80 YARDS WIDE DAMAGE JUST NORTH OF ROOT RIVER ON HWY 26. REPORTED BY OFF DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE.
May 22, 4:22 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD7 S La Crosse, WIFC REPORT ON TARGET LAKE. SOUTHERN LA CROSSE COUNTY.
May 22, 4:35 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Ese Barre Mills, WISOME TOPS OF TREES WERE BROKEN OFF ALONG COUNTY ROAD M.
May 22, 4:37 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 E Barre Mills, WIA FEW TREES BLOWN DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD II

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 22, 12:07 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 231 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 12:00Z on 2011-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 20 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2011-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 207 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
20 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
981 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
207 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
243 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

107 
WFUS53 KARX 222116
TORARX
MNC055-WIC063-123-222145-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0017.110522T2116Z-110522T2145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
416 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL HOUSTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...
  NORTHWESTERN VERNON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN...
  SOUTHERN LA CROSSE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

* UNTIL 445 PM CDT

* AT 415 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO NEAR HOKAH...OR 5 MILES SOUTH OF LA CRESCENT...MOVING EAST
  AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  IRISH HILL AND MOUNT LA CROSSE AROUND 425 PM...
  HIGHWAY 33 AND COUNTY O A AND BARRE MILLS AROUND 430 PM...
  COON VALLEY AND ST JOSEPH AROUND 435 PM...
  MIDDLE RIDGE AROUND 440 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM SUNDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHEASTERN IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN.

&&

LAT...LON 4368 9092 4368 9121 4365 9150 4375 9155
      4388 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2116Z 256DEG 41KT 4376 9130

$$

BOYNE
6 follow-up statements
002 
WWUS53 KARX 222119
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
419 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC055-WIC063-123-222145-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110522T2145Z/
HOUSTON MN-LA CROSSE WI-VERNON WI-
419 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN VERNON...
SOUTHERN LA CROSSE AND EAST CENTRAL HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM
CDT...

AT 415 PM CDT...SPOTTERS REPORTED 50 TO 60 MPH WINDS IN HOKAH 
MINNESOTA WITH A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

AT 415 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR HOKAH...OR NEAR LA CRESCENT...MOVING EAST AT 
45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  IRISH HILL AND THE TOP OF 10 MILE HILL AROUND 425 PM...
  HIGHWAY 33 AND COUNTY O A AND BARRE MILLS AROUND 430 PM...
  COON VALLEY AND ST JOSEPH AROUND 435 PM...
  MIDDLE RIDGE AROUND 440 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND 
COVER YOUR HEAD.
&&

LAT...LON 4368 9092 4368 9121 4366 9142 4378 9142
      4388 9092 4387 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2119Z 256DEG 41KT 4377 9125

$$

BOYNE
960 
WWUS53 KARX 222122
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
422 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC055-WIC063-123-222145-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110522T2145Z/
HOUSTON MN-LA CROSSE WI-VERNON WI-
422 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN VERNON...
SOUTHERN LA CROSSE AND EAST CENTRAL HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM
CDT...

AT 415 PM CDT...SPOTTERS REPORTED 50 TO 60 MPH WINDS IN HOKAH 
MINNESOTA WITH A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

AT 420 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR GOOSE ISLAND...OR NEAR LA CRESCENT...MOVING EAST
AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MOUNT LA CROSSE AROUND 425 PM...
  IRISH HILL AROUND 430 PM...
  HIGHWAY 33 AND COUNTY O A AND THE TOP OF 10 MILE HILL AROUND 
  435 PM...
  COON VALLEY AND ST JOSEPH AROUND 440 PM...
  MIDDLE RIDGE AND COUNTY ROADS G AND H AROUND 445 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND 
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4368 9092 4368 9121 4366 9142 4378 9142
      4388 9092 4387 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2122Z 261DEG 32KT 4377 9125

$$

BOYNE
152 
WWUS53 KARX 222126
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
426 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC055-WIC063-123-222145-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110522T2145Z/
HOUSTON MN-LA CROSSE WI-VERNON WI-
426 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN VERNON...
SOUTHERN LA CROSSE AND EAST CENTRAL HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM
CDT...

AT 424 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR GOOSE ISLAND...OR NEAR LA CROSSE...MOVING EAST
AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HIGHWAY 33 AND COUNTY O A AND THE TOP OF 10 MILE HILL AROUND 435
  PM...
  COON VALLEY AND ST JOSEPH AROUND 440 PM...
  MIDDLE RIDGE AND COUNTY ROADS G AND H AROUND 445 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND 
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4368 9092 4368 9121 4366 9142 4378 9142
      4388 9092 4387 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 261DEG 35KT 4377 9122

$$

BOYNE
951 
WWUS53 KARX 222131
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
431 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC055-WIC063-123-222145-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110522T2145Z/
HOUSTON MN-LA CROSSE WI-VERNON WI-
431 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN VERNON...
SOUTHERN LA CROSSE AND EAST CENTRAL HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM
CDT...

AT 429 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR IRISH HILL...OR NEAR LA CROSSE...MOVING EAST AT
40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HIGHWAY 14 61 AND COUNTY N AROUND 435 PM...
  COON VALLEY AND ST JOSEPH AROUND 440 PM...
  MIDDLE RIDGE AND NEWBURG CORNERS AROUND 445 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4368 9092 4368 9121 4366 9142 4378 9142
      4388 9092 4387 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 261DEG 35KT 4379 9117

$$

BOYNE
239 
WWUS53 KARX 222134
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
434 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC055-WIC123-222143-
/O.CAN.KARX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110522T2145Z/
HOUSTON MN-VERNON WI-
434 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN VERNON AND EAST CENTRAL
HOUSTON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED INTO SOUTHERN LA 
CROSSE COUNTY.

LAT...LON 4377 9092 4373 9092 4373 9125 4377 9125
      4379 9126 4381 9126 4388 9092 4387 9091
      4377 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2133Z 261DEG 35KT 4380 9114

$$

WIC063-222145-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110522T2145Z/
LA CROSSE WI-
434 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN LA CROSSE COUNTY
UNTIL 445 PM CDT...

AT 429 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR IRISH HILL...OR NEAR LA CROSSE...MOVING EAST AT
40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  THE COULEE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST AND ST JOSEPH AROUND 440 PM...
  MIDDLE RIDGE AND NEWBURG CORNERS AROUND 445 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4377 9092 4373 9092 4373 9125 4377 9125
      4379 9126 4381 9126 4388 9092 4387 9091
      4377 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2133Z 261DEG 35KT 4380 9114

$$

BOYNE
404 
WWUS53 KARX 222144
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
444 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

WIC063-222152-
/O.EXP.KARX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110522T2145Z/
LA CROSSE WI-
444 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN LA CROSSE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
445 PM CDT...

AT 445 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IS NO LONGER 
INDICATING A TORNADO IN LA CROSSE COUNTY...SO THE TORNADO WARNING 
HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

EVEN THOUGH THIS WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM FOR EASTERN HOUSTON COUNTY IN 
SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...SOUTHEASTERN WINONA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST 
MINNESOTA...  NORTHWESTERN VERNON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN...
LA CROSSE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...AND WESTERN MONROE 
COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

LAT...LON 4377 9092 4373 9092 4373 9125 4377 9125
      4379 9126 4381 9126 4388 9092 4387 9091
      4377 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 261DEG 35KT 4381 9102

$$

BOYNE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 1:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXDodge, Mower, Olmsted57 min
May 22, 2:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFillmore, Mower57 min
May 22, 2:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXDodge, Olmsted, Wabasha45 min
May 22, 2:43 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFillmore62 min
May 22, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXOlmsted, Winona37 min
May 22, 3:21 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyARXFillmore24 min
May 22, 3:46 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFillmore, Houston29 min
May 22, 4:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXHouston, Winona66 min
May 22, 2:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXJuneau, Monroe44 min
May 22, 2:48 PM CDTTornado WarningARXAdams, Juneau27 min
May 22, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXCrawford, Grant56 min
May 22, 4:56 PM CDTTornado WarningARXMonroe34 min
May 22, 5:04 PM CDTTornado WarningARXTaylor26 min
May 22, 5:05 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryARXLa Crosse95 min
May 22, 5:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXJackson, La Crosse, Monroe25 min
May 22, 5:07 PM CDTTornado WarningARXClark, Taylor38 min
May 22, 5:28 PM CDTTornado WarningARXJuneau, Monroe32 min
May 22, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXJackson, Juneau30 min
May 22, 5:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXRichland49 min
May 22, 5:57 PM CDTTornado WarningARXJuneau19 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Wisconsin, 2011Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

Sources

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