Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 18, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 22, 2011Monroe County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at May 22, 2011, 4:56 PM CDT for Monroe County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 34 min. 8 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, 4:56 PM CDT (21:56 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2011, 5:30 PM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Monroe County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 45 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:56 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, 4:56 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 S Sparta, WICARS FLIPPED...TURNED...DEBRIS IMPACT HAS DESTROYED NUMEROUS WINDOWS AT BRENNEGEN CHEV DEALER.
May 22, 4:56 PM CDTTORNADO1 S Sparta, WIAT I90 EXIT 25
May 22, 4:56 PM CDTTORNADOS Sparta, WIPRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT BY NWS. LOW END EF1 TORNADO ON SOUTH SIDE OF SPARTA. 70 YARDS WIDE BUT NOT A CONTINUOUS PATH TOWARD WARRENS. TIME ESTIMATED BY SPOTTER REPORTS AND RADAR.
May 22, 4:58 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 601 S Sparta, WI
May 22, 5:00 PM CDTTORNADOSparta, WIDAMAGE TO BUILDINGS ON SOUTH SIDE OF SPARTA
May 22, 5:15 PM CDTTORNADO4 Nw Tomah, WIDAMAGE SURVEY WAS DONE 5/23. TORNADO FORMED 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF TOMAH NEAR COUNTY ROAD M. THE MAXIMUM DAMAGE WAS EF2 IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS ALONG ITS PATH. AT ITS WIDEST POINT IT WAS 800 YARDS WIDE. THE TORNADO DISSIPATED AT 605 PM 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NEKOOSA.
May 22, 5:18 PM CDTHAIL 1.55 Wsw Warrens, WI
May 22, 5:24 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Nw Tomah, WIROFF DAMAGE...DEBRIS...AND TREE DAMAGE ON EGRESS AVE N OF COUNTY E.

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

Green Bay/Straub, WI (KGRB), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 213 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, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 12:00Z on 2011-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 351 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, Green Bay/Straub, WI at 12:00Z on 2011-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 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
351 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-121 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1006 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

042 
WFUS53 KARX 222156
TORARX
WIC081-222230-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0018.110522T2156Z-110522T2230Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN MONROE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 452 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO
  ON THE GROUND NEAR I 90 EXIT 25...OR 3 MILES WEST OF 
  SPARTA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THIS TORNADO WARNING 
  UPGRADES THE PREVIOUS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MONROE 
  COUNTY.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  I 90 EXIT 28 AROUND 500 PM...
  FORT MC COY AND JACKSON PASS AROUND 510 PM...
  TUNNEL CITY AND I 90 EXIT 41 AROUND 515 PM...
  TOMAH AND I 94 EXIT 143 AROUND 520 PM...
  VALLEY JUNCTION AND WARRENS AROUND 525 PM...
  THE REZIN LANDING STRIP AND NORMAY RIDGE AROUND 530 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 4385 9090 4388 9092 4397 9091 4416 9050
      4415 9031 4400 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 245DEG 36KT 4394 9083

$$

BOYNE
5 follow-up statements
571 
WWUS53 KARX 222201
SVSARX

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

WIC081-222230-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110522T2230Z/
MONROE WI-
501 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MONROE COUNTY
UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 456 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO IN 
SPARTA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  FORT MC COY AND JACKSON PASS AROUND 510 PM...
  TUNNEL CITY AND I 90 EXIT 41 AROUND 515 PM...
  TOMAH AND I 94 EXIT 143 AROUND 520 PM...
  VALLEY JUNCTION AND I 90 AND I 94 INTERCHANGE AROUND 525 PM...
  THE REZIN LANDING STRIP AND WYEVILLE AROUND 530 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 4385 9090 4388 9092 4397 9091 4416 9050
      4415 9031 4400 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 245DEG 36KT 4396 9077

$$

BOYNE
046 
WWUS53 KARX 222206
SVSARX

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

WIC081-222230-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110522T2230Z/
MONROE WI-
506 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MONROE COUNTY
UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 505 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR FORT MC COY...OR 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPARTA...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  TUNNEL CITY AROUND 515 PM...
  TOMAH AND I 94 EXIT 143 AROUND 520 PM...
  VALLEY JUNCTION AND I 90 AND I 94 INTERCHANGE AROUND 525 PM...
  THE REZIN LANDING STRIP AND WYEVILLE AROUND 530 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 4385 9090 4388 9092 4397 9091 4416 9050
      4415 9031 4400 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 245DEG 36KT 4398 9069

$$

BOYNE
000 
WWUS53 KARX 222212
SVSARX

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

WIC081-222230-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110522T2230Z/
MONROE WI-
512 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MONROE COUNTY
UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 510 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
POSSIBLE TORNADO LOCATED NEAR FORT MC COY...OR 7 MILES WEST OF 
TOMAH...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  TOMAH AND I 94 EXIT 143 AROUND 520 PM...
  VALLEY JUNCTION AND I 90 AND I 94 INTERCHANGE AROUND 525 PM...
  WYEVILLE AND THE REZIN LANDING STRIP AROUND 530 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 4400 9032 4392 9072 4397 9082 4416 9050
      4415 9032 4415 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 245DEG 36KT 4400 9063

$$

BOYNE
167 
WWUS53 KARX 222219
SVSARX

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

WIC081-222230-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110522T2230Z/
MONROE WI-
519 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN MONROE COUNTY
UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 510 PM...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A LARGE ROTATING WALL 
CLOUD OVER FORT MC COY.

AT 515 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE
DEVELOPING TORNADO LOCATED NEAR TUNNEL CITY...OR NEAR TOMAH...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  VALLEY JUNCTION AND WARRENS AROUND 525 PM...
  WYEVILLE AND THE REZIN LANDING STRIP AROUND 530 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 4400 9032 4400 9033 4395 9058 4404 9070
      4416 9050 4415 9032 4414 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 245DEG 36KT 4403 9054

$$

BOYNE
536 
WWUS53 KARX 222225
SVSARX

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

WIC081-222230-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110522T2230Z/
MONROE WI-
525 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN MONROE COUNTY
UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 522 PM...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A DAMAGE ON THE NORTH 
SIDE OF TOMAH.

AT 524 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR VALLEY JUNCTION...OR NEAR TOMAH...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  NORMAY RIDGE AROUND 530 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 4400 9032 4400 9033 4395 9058 4404 9070
      4416 9050 4415 9032 4414 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 245DEG 36KT 4406 9045

$$

BOYNE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 2:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXJuneau, Monroe44 min
May 22, 2:48 PM CDTTornado WarningARXAdams, Juneau27 min
May 22, 4:16 PM CDTTornado WarningARXLa Crosse, Vernon29 min
May 22, 4:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXLa Crosse, Monroe, Vernon66 min
May 22, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXCrawford, Grant56 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, 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.