Alert archive / Wisconsin / Flash Flood Warnings in 2016

Flash Flood Warning 18, NWS La Crosse, WI

August 11, 2016Buffalo County, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this flash flood warning at Aug 11, 2016, 1:16 PM CDT for Buffalo County, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 3 hr. 3 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
Aug 11, 2016, 1:16 PM CDT (18:16 UTC)
Expired
Aug 11, 2016, 4:15 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Buffalo County, WI, Trempealeau County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:19 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
Aug 11, 1:30 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD6 Ne Alma, WIHIGHWAY 37 CLOSED FROM HIGHWAY 35 IN ALMA TO INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 88
Aug 11, 1:30 PM CDTFLASH FLOODIndependence, WIWATER LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE IN TOWN. WATER OVER ELM STREET AND APPROACHING HOMES.
Aug 11, 2:02 PM CDTFLASH FLOODIndependence, WIEVACUATIONS IN PLACE AROUND LAKE IN TOWN AS WATER LEVELS RISE

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

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 149 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 2016-08-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2016-08-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 2 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1072 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
73 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

056 
WGUS53 KARX 111816
FFWARX
WIC011-121-112115-
/O.NEW.KARX.FF.W.0018.160811T1816Z-160811T2115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
116 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN TREMPEALEAU COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...
  BUFFALO COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

* UNTIL 415 PM CDT

* AT 114 PM...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO
  REPORT CLOSED ROADS AND RISING WATER IN SOME AREAS FROM
  HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT. THIS IS STILL AN ACTIVE FLASH FLOOD
  SITUATION AS WATER CONTINUES TO DRAIN INTO NEW AREAS.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  ARCADIA...WHITEHALL...ALMA...BUFFALO...BLAIR...INDEPENDENCE...
  STRUM...BUFFALO CITY...MODENA...ELEVA...WAUMANDEE...COCHRANE...
  GILMANTON...PIGEON FALLS...NELSON...MAXVILLE AND MONTANA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE.

&&

LAT...LON 4451 9204 4456 9204 4460 9182 4459 9117
      4432 9117 4414 9176 4420 9187 4423 9189
      4425 9189 4427 9190 4429 9193 4431 9191
      4433 9192 4436 9197 4441 9208

$$

SHEA
2 follow-up statements
283 
WGUS73 KARX 111836
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
136 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2016

WIC011-121-112115-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-160811T2115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TREMPEALEAU WI-BUFFALO WI-
136 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR
NORTHERN TREMPEALEAU AND BUFFALO COUNTIES...

AN ACTIVE FLASH FLOOD SITUATION CONTINUES IN PARTS OF BUFFALO AND
TREMPEALEAU COUNTIES IN WESTERN WISCONSIN.

WATER LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE AS IT DRAINS FROM HARD HIT AREAS THIS
MORNING. 5 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN THIS AREA EARLY THIS MORNING.

HIGHWAYS ARE BEING CLOSED AND SOME COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING RISING
WATER APPROACH HOMES. THERE HAVE BEEN RESCUES AND LOTS OF ROAD
DAMAGE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE.

IF YOU LIVE NEAR A RIVER...CREEK OR COMMUNITY LAKE...MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT CROSS HIGH WATER ON FOOT OR IN YOUR
VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4451 9204 4456 9204 4460 9182 4459 9117
      4432 9117 4414 9176 4420 9187 4423 9189
      4425 9189 4427 9190 4429 9193 4431 9191
      4433 9192 4436 9197 4441 9208

$$

SHEA
918 
WGUS73 KARX 112107
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
407 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2016

WIC011-121-112115-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-160811T2115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TREMPEALEAU WI-BUFFALO WI-
407 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR
NORTHERN TREMPEALEAU AND BUFFALO COUNTIES...

FLOODING CONTINUES OVER SECTIONS OF BUFFALO AND TREMPEALEAU COUNTIES
IN WESTERN WISCONSIN. MUCH OF THE FLASH FLOODING IS ENDING BUT THERE
IS STILL RISING WATER IN DRAINAGE AREAS AND ON RIVERS.

THERE ARE ALSO NUMEROUS HIGHWAYS AND ROADS CLOSED...WASHOUTS AND
DAMAGED BRIDGES. TRAVEL WILL REMAIN DIFFICULT TO DANGEROUS...AND
COULD BECOME EVEN WORSE AFTER SUNSET TONIGHT.

THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 415 PM...BUT AN
AERIAL FLOOD WARNING WILL REPLACE IT TO HIGHLIGHT CONTINUED HIGH
WATER LEVELS...PONDING WATER...AND OTHER RELATED FLOOD PROBLEMS.

EXTREME CAUTION IS RECOMMENDED. IF YOU CAN AVOID THAT SECTION OF
WESTERN WISCONSIN...IT WOULD BE WISE TO FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE.

&&

LAT...LON 4451 9204 4456 9204 4460 9182 4459 9117
      4432 9117 4414 9176 4420 9187 4423 9189
      4425 9189 4427 9190 4429 9193 4431 9191
      4433 9192 4436 9197 4441 9208

$$

SHEA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 11, 4:01 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryARXBuffalo, Trempealeau5 hr
Aug 11, 4:05 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchARXAdams, Buffalo, Clark, Crawford, Grant, Jackson and 7 more24 hr
Aug 11, 6:03 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXBuffalo, La Crosse, Trempealeau87 min
Aug 11, 6:23 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXBuffalo, Trempealeau4 hr
Aug 11, 6:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXClark, Taylor4 hr
Aug 11, 7:30 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXClark, Jackson45 min
Aug 11, 7:39 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXClark, Jackson, Trempealeau3 hr
Aug 11, 8:47 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXAdams, Juneau43 min
Aug 11, 9:09 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXBuffalo, Trempealeau5 days
Aug 11, 10:16 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXBuffalo, Trempealeau3 hr
Aug 11, 1:40 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXBuffalo, Trempealeau39 hr
Aug 11, 4:19 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningARXBuffalo, Trempealeau6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Wisconsin, 2016Every flash flood warning in 2016

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.