Alert archive / Minnesota / River Flood Warnings in 2026

River Flood Warning 48, NWS La Crosse, WI

September 19, 2026Mower County, Minnesota

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this river flood warning at Sep 19, 2026, 5:42 AM CDT for Mower County, Minnesota. It took effect at Sep 19, 2026, 11:48 AM CDT. It was in force for 33 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Sep 19, 2026, 5:42 AM CDT (10:42 UTC)
In effect from: Sep 19, 2026, 11:48 AM CDT
Expired: Sep 20, 2026, 8:19 PM CDT
In force: 33 hr
Issued by: NWS La Crosse, WI
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: Minor

County Mower County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:45 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.

The river

Written for the forecast point Cedar River at Austin (ASTM5).

Action stage: 12 ft
Minor stage: 15 ft
Moderate stage: 18 ft
Major stage: 20 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this river flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this river flood warning went out at Sep 19, 12:35 AM CDT, 5 hours 7 minutes earlier. Its 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.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 19, 12:35 AM CDT, 5 hours 7 minutes before

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, Sep 19, 4:35 AM CDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before

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

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ094>096-WIZ053>055-061-201345-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant-
435 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A Flood Watch continues for much of the day for areas south of
Interstate 90.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

MNZ079-086>088-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-201345-
Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-
Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-
435 AM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast
Minnesota...central Wisconsin...north central Wisconsin and west
central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

KDS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 19, 12:26 AM CDT, 5 hours 16 minutes before

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

Local storm report, Sep 19, 1:23 AM CDT, 4 hours 19 minutes before

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

Local storm report, Sep 19, 1:24 AM CDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before

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

Local storm report, Sep 19, 1:26 AM CDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before

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

Local storm report, Sep 19, 1:27 AM CDT, 4 hours 15 minutes before

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

Local storm report, Sep 19, 3:44 AM CDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before

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

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 19, 12:21 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ARX	Vernon	4 hr
Sep 19, 9:34 AM CDT	River Flood Watch	ARX	Crawford	24 hr
Sep 19, 9:34 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Crawford	27 hr
Sep 19, 9:34 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Crawford	5 days
Sep 19, 9:34 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Vernon	67 hr
Sep 19, 4:21 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ARX	Clayton, Fayette	4 hr
Sep 19, 6:34 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Clayton	30 hr
Sep 19, 8:16 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ARX	Fayette	29 hr
Sep 19, 8:23 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Winneshiek	45 hr
Sep 19, 8:23 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Clayton	46 hr
Sep 19, 8:42 AM CDT	River Flood Watch	ARX	Floyd	22 hr
Sep 19, 9:22 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ARX	Clayton	39 hr
Sep 18, 9:02 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ARX	Fillmore, Mower	5 hr
Sep 18, 10:59 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ARX	Houston	4 hr
Sep 18, 11:46 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ARX	Fillmore	6 hr
Sep 19, 2:09 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ARX	Fillmore, Mower	9 hr
Sep 19, 2:43 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ARX	Houston	5 hr
Sep 19, 5:24 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ARX	Fillmore	5 hr
Sep 19, 5:42 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Mower	39 hr
Sep 19, 6:23 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Houston	63 hr
Sep 19, 10:05 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ARX	Fillmore, Houston	11 hr
Sep 19, 10:32 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ARX	Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted	8 hr

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in Minnesota, 2026 Every river 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.