Flash Flood Warning 16, NWS La Crosse, WI

682 
WGUS73 KARX 191053
FFSARX

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

IAC043-065-191315-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260919T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Clayton IA-Fayette IA-
553 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 AM CDT THIS
MORNING FOR CLAYTON AND FAYETTE COUNTIES...

At 553 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch 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...
  West Union, Guttenberg, Elkader, Postville, Monona, Fayette,
  McGregor, Garnavillo, Elgin, Clermont, Maynard, Hawkeye, Arlington,
  Marquette, Farmersburg, Waucoma, Volga, Luana and Wadena.

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 4274 9208 4308 9208 4308 9118 4296 9115
      4291 9115 4288 9110 4283 9109 4283 9108
      4277 9107 4276 9106 4275 9107 4273 9103

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

BRM

398 
WGUS73 KARX 191316
FFSARX

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

IAC043-065-191326-
/O.EXP.KARX.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260919T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Clayton IA-Fayette IA-
816 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR CLAYTON AND FAYETTE
COUNTIES...

While rapidly flowing water and rapid rises 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has been replaced by a Flood Warning.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 for portions of
Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest Wisconsin.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT Saturday for
portions of northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin.

&&

LAT...LON 4274 9208 4308 9208 4308 9118 4296 9115
      4291 9115 4288 9110 4283 9109 4283 9108
      4277 9107 4276 9106 4275 9107 4273 9103

$$

KDS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1235 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Moderate to heavy rain is expected overnight. Still expect
  broad totals of 1-3" for much of the local area with localized
  higher amounts of 4-6". Flash flooding and rivers rising into
  flood stage may occur where these heaviest amounts fall -
  these higher amounts are expected to focus near an arc from
  Austin to La Crosse to Richland Center. A Flood Watch is in
  effect for much of the area south of I-94 to address this
  flooding potential.

- An additional round of storms is likely (60-80% chance) in
  far southwest WI and adjacent portions of northeast IA on
  Saturday afternoon/evening. Locally heavy rainfall may occur
  with these storms which would result in additional flooding
  potential.

- Rain chances (20-40%) persist through Monday before trending
  drier for the remainder of the upcoming week with cooler than
  normal temperatures expected.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1212 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

Heavy rain overnight

Axis of showers and thunderstorms with rain rates up to 2" per hour
has developed in the vicinity of an 850/700mb front as increasing
moisture transport interacted with this front and around 1000 J/kg
of elevated instability helped generate stronger updrafts compared
with the showers earlier Friday. Observations of around 2-5" have
been seen in northern Fillmore and northern Mower Counties under
this band. Additionally, an area of scattered showers and storms is
seen around Mason City ahead of a disturbance located over north
central IA as of 03z. If current observational trends hold, areas
from Austin MN to La Crosse to Richland Center will see the heavy
amounts, potentially around 6".

Additional heavy rain possible Saturday afternoon

As a shortwave currently over western Nebraska ejects eastward and
lower level moist advection continues, short window with far
southwest Wisconsin and adjacent parts of northeast Iowa to be south
of the surface front. Thus, as the Nebraska shortwave approaches,
additional showers and thunderstorms will likely (60-80%) develop
there. With PWATs still near 2", efficient rain rates are once again
favored. Of particular concern is the potential for this round of
rain to overlap with where heavy rain occurs overnight Friday night.
Should this occur, flooding concerns would be heightened.
Finally, while highly unlikely given the tendency for
temperature profiles to be moist adiabatic, the window with
surface-based thunderstorms introduces a risk (1%) for a stray
tornado as sfc-500m helicity values look to reach close to 100
m2/s2.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1150 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

IFR or lower conditions are forecast for the next 24 hours at
the terminals. Rain showers and occasional thunderstorms will
occur, with the best chance for thunderstorms continuing through
approximately 10-12z. Rain shower chances will continue through
the rest of the day, with the higher chances at KLSE. Have
maintained TEMPO groups for storms at KRST/KLSE. IFR to LIFR
ceilings will continue through at least Sunday morning. The wind
will initially be out of the east but will become more northerly
throughout this TAF cycle.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1212 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

Ongoing heavy rain from near Albert Lea to Viroqua has led to
flash flooding across portions of Mower, Fillmore, and Houston
Counties. The thunderstorms responsible for this flooding
continue to roll eastward and the axis is now slowly
propagating southward. In any case, rain rates from these
thunderstorms are not expected to let up as the atmosphere
remains anomalously moist. Flash flooding issues will continue
to be possible overnight with river rises expected to focus on
the Root and Kickapoo basins.

Moving ahead to Saturday, likely (60-80%) second round of heavy
thunderstorm looks to occur in far southwest Wisconsin and
adjacent parts of northeast Iowa. Additional flash flooding and
rises on streams and creeks would occur if these thunderstorms
develop with heightened concerns if they overlap areas that
receive multiple inches of rain early Saturday morning. Will
monitor closely overnight as heavy rain early Saturday may
impact Crawford/Richland/northern Grant Counties, locations
that will likely see those afternoon/evening thunderstorms.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Flood Watch through this afternoon for WIZ032>034-041>044-
     053>055-061.
MN...Flood Watch through this afternoon for MNZ079-086>088-094>096.
IA...Flood Watch through this afternoon for IAZ008>011-018-019-029-
     030.

&&

DISCUSSION...Ferguson
AVIATION...Muscha
HYDROLOGY...Ferguson

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1238 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-
032>034-041>044-053>055-061-200945-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-
Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-
Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant-
1238 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast
Minnesota...northeast Iowa and southwest into central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Overnight

Heavy rainfall leading to areal and river flooding primarily on
flashier rivers is possible overnight Friday night. The more
probable area for highest amounts to occur being along and south
of Interstate 94, where a Flood Watch is in effect.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Heavy rainfall leading to areal and river flooding primarily on
flashier rivers continues into the weekend. The heaviest rainfall
is forecast through Saturday with the more probable area for
highest amounts to occur being along and south of Interstate 94
where a Flood Watch is in effect through Saturday afternoon.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

APF

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1226 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1225 AM     Flash Flood      3 ENE Sheldon           43.69N 91.54W
09/19/2026                   Houston            MN   Public

            Mudslides reported on Hwy 76 West of
            Caledonia.

&&

jar

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
123 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0122 AM     Flash Flood      1 SW Lanesboro          43.70N 91.99W
09/19/2026                   Fillmore           MN   County Official

            Mudslides affecting roadway.

&&

jar

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
124 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0124 AM     Flash Flood      1 SSW Lanesboro         43.71N 91.98W
09/19/2026                   Fillmore           MN   County Official

            Water over roadway.

&&

jar

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
126 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0125 AM     Flash Flood      2 WNW Fountain          43.75N 92.16W
09/19/2026                   Fillmore           MN   County Official

            Water over roadway.

&&

jar

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
127 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0127 AM     Flash Flood      2 SSE Peterson          43.77N 91.82W
09/19/2026                   Fillmore           MN   Public

            Water over roadway.

&&

jar

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
344 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0300 AM     Flood            2 W Fillmore            43.74N 92.30W
09/19/2026                   Fillmore           MN   Cocorahs

            Deer Creek flooding.

0300 AM     Rain             2 W Fillmore            43.74N 92.30W
09/19/2026  M6.67 Inch       Fillmore           MN   Cocorahs

&&