Alert archive / Minnesota / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS La Crosse, WI

September 18, 2026Houston County, Minnesota

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this flash flood warning at Sep 18, 2026, 10:59 PM CDT for Houston County, Minnesota. It was in force for 4 hr. 2 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
Sep 18, 2026, 10:59 PM CDT (03:59 UTC)
Expired
Sep 19, 2026, 2:43 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Houston County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:00 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
Sep 19, 12:01 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD3 Sse Sheldon, MNWater about to cover entrance road.
Sep 19, 12:25 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD3 Ene Sheldon, MNMudslides reported on Hwy 76 West of Caledonia.

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 00:00Z, 4.0 hours before the alert went out and 222 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 00:00Z on 2026-09-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2026-09-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 122 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
470 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
122 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
447 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

552 
WGUS53 KARX 190359
FFWARX
MNC055-190800-
/O.NEW.KARX.FF.W.0013.260919T0359Z-260919T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1059 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Houston County in southeastern Minnesota...

* Until 300 AM CDT.

* At 1059 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
           drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Caledonia, Houston, Hokah, Brownsville, Mound Prairie, Money Creek,
  Reno, Yucatan, Sheldon, Black Hammer, Highway 44 And Sanden Road,
  Beaver Creek Valley State Park, Dun Romin Park Campground, County
  14 And White Tail Road, Freeburg, County Roads 3 And 24, Perkins
  and County Roads 15 And 4.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 4382 9146 4379 9126 4376 9125 4371 9127
      4365 9127 4364 9126 4362 9127 4358 9123
      4357 9123 4355 9124 4351 9123 4361 9173
      4385 9173

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

BRM
3 follow-up statements
557 
WGUS73 KARX 190455
FFSARX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1155 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

MNC055-190800-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260919T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Houston MN-
1155 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM CDT SATURDAY FOR
HOUSTON COUNTY...

At 1155 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 6 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Caledonia, Houston, Hokah, Brownsville, Mound Prairie, Money Creek,
  Reno, Yucatan, Sheldon, Black Hammer, Highway 44 And Sanden Road,
  Beaver Creek Valley State Park, Dun Romin Park Campground, County
  14 And White Tail Road, Freeburg, County Roads 3 And 24, Perkins
  and County Roads 15 And 4.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 4382 9146 4379 9126 4376 9125 4371 9127
      4365 9127 4364 9126 4362 9127 4358 9123
      4357 9123 4355 9124 4351 9123 4361 9173
      4385 9173

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

JAW
088 
WGUS73 KARX 190525
FFSARX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1225 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

MNC055-190800-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260919T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Houston MN-
1225 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM CDT EARLY THIS
MORNING FOR HOUSTON COUNTY...

At 1225 AM CDT, local law enforcement reported thunderstorms
producing heavy rain. A mudslide was reported on Highway 76 west of
Caledonia near Badger Creek. Water going over the roadway at Beaver
Creek Valley State Park. Between 4 and 6.5 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1.5 inches are possible in
the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Law enforcement reported.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Caledonia, Houston, Hokah, Brownsville, Mound Prairie, Money Creek,
  Reno, Yucatan, Sheldon, Black Hammer, Highway 44 And Sanden Road,
  Beaver Creek Valley State Park, Dun Romin Park Campground, County
  14 And White Tail Road, Freeburg, County Roads 3 And 24, Perkins
  and County Roads 15 And 4.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 4382 9146 4379 9126 4376 9125 4371 9127
      4365 9127 4364 9126 4362 9127 4358 9123
      4357 9123 4355 9124 4351 9123 4361 9173
      4385 9173

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

JAW
397 
WGUS73 KARX 190743
FFSARX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
243 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

MNC055-190753-
/O.CAN.KARX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260919T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Houston MN-
243 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR HOUSTON COUNTY HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A
FLOOD WARNING...

While rapidly flowing water have ended, flooded roadways remain
across the area. Therefore the Flash Flood Warning has been replaced
by a Flood Warning. Please refer to that bulletin for more
information.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT Saturday for
portions of Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

&&

LAT...LON 4382 9146 4379 9126 4376 9125 4371 9127
      4365 9127 4364 9126 4362 9127 4358 9123
      4357 9123 4355 9124 4351 9123 4361 9173
      4385 9173

$$

BRM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 18, 9:02 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXFillmore, Mower5 hr
Sep 18, 11:46 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXFillmore6 hr
Sep 19, 2:09 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningARXFillmore, Mower9 hr
Sep 19, 2:43 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningARXHouston5 hr
Sep 19, 5:24 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningARXFillmore5 hr
Sep 19, 5:42 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXMower39 hr
Sep 19, 5:42 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXMower39 hr
Sep 19, 6:23 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXHouston63 hr
Sep 19, 10:05 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXFillmore, Houston11 hr
Sep 19, 10:32 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningARXFillmore, Mower, Olmsted8 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.