Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 155, NWS La Crosse, WI
NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 8, 2026, 4:34 PM CDT for Howard County, Winneshiek County, Iowa; Fillmore County, Minnesota. It was in force for 41 min. 1 report 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
- Jul 8, 2026, 4:34 PM CDT (21:34 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 8, 2026, 5:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 41 min
- Issued by
- NWS La Crosse, WI
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Howard County, IA, Winneshiek County, IA, Fillmore County, MN
The radar
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:33 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 5:13 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Cresco, IA | Social media report of a tree down across street from library, which took out power. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 39 minutes after it went out.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 1:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 196 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 369 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -82 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1085 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 33 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 12 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 57 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
The text
As transmitted.
050
WUUS53 KARX 082134
SVRARX
IAC089-191-MNC045-082215-
/O.NEW.KARX.SV.W.0155.260708T2134Z-260708T2215Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
434 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Howard County in northeastern Iowa...
Northwestern Winneshiek County in northeastern Iowa...
South central Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota...
* Until 515 PM CDT.
* At 434 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from Lime Springs to 9 miles west of Cresco to near
Riceville, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Severe thunderstorms will be near...
Cresco around 440 PM CDT.
Ridgeway around 500 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these severe thunderstorms include Vernon
Springs County Park, Saratoga, Maple Leaf, Vernon Springs, Bonair,
County Roads V 58 And A 46, and Burr Oak.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4353 9230 4347 9187 4330 9195 4323 9217
4335 9256
TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 289DEG 27KT 4347 9225 4340 9230 4336 9243
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Falkinham1 follow-up statement
251
WWUS53 KARX 082152
SVSARX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
452 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MNC045-082201-
/O.CAN.KARX.SV.W.0155.000000T0000Z-260708T2215Z/
Fillmore MN-
452 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL FILLMORE COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
northeastern Iowa.
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9230 4350 9208 4347 9187 4330 9195
4324 9213 4324 9214 4339 9244
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 278DEG 27KT 4346 9208 4339 9213 4335 9226
$$
IAC089-191-082215-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0155.000000T0000Z-260708T2215Z/
Howard IA-Winneshiek IA-
452 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT
FOR EASTERN HOWARD AND NORTHWESTERN WINNESHIEK COUNTIES...
At 451 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 7 miles southwest of Harmony to Cresco to 7 miles
south of Lime Springs, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
These severe storms will be near...
Cresco around 455 PM CDT.
Ridgeway around 505 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these severe thunderstorms include Vernon
Springs County Park, Vernon Springs, Bonair, County Roads V 58 And A
46, Burr Oak, Bluffton, and Chimney Rock Campground.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9230 4350 9208 4347 9187 4330 9195
4324 9213 4324 9214 4339 9244
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 278DEG 27KT 4346 9208 4339 9213 4335 9226
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
FalkinhamWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 8, 1:06 PM CDT, 3 hours 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Clusters of storms developing over southern Minnesota into western Wisconsin advance southeast this evening. Some storms may be severe and produce locally heavy rainfall of (1-3"), mainly west of the Mississippi River.
- Quieter weather for the remainder of the week with a 20-30% chance of afternoon storms for Thursday.
- Cooler for the end of the week with warmth returning early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 8, 1:06 PM CDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 106 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Clusters of storms developing over southern Minnesota into western Wisconsin advance southeast this evening. Some storms may be severe and produce locally heavy rainfall of (1-3"), mainly west of the Mississippi River. - Quieter weather for the remainder of the week with a 20-30% chance of afternoon storms for Thursday. - Cooler for the end of the week with warmth returning early next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 100 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 This Afternoon: Severe Weather and Heavy Rain Risk A convective complex that moved through central Minnesota gradually decayed and shifted northward through the morning hours as it ran into a more stable airmass, with the back edge of the anvil shield serving as the trigger for new convective development around noon as return southerly flow streamed up through the Siouxland. These cells have already grown into a multi-cell complex with additional cells developing further upstream along I-90. Given the earlier initiation timeframe and continued convective debris lingering over the forecast area, concerns area shifting more towards a heavy rain threat vs. severe threat with these storms. There looks to be a period before 00Z where storms could train along the I-90 corridor in southeastern Minnesota before the convective cold pools take over and propagate to the southeast, which should result in the convective complex sagging southward as well. Multiple runs of the HRRR through the day have been focusing the QPF axis of 1-3 inches (with some pixels of 4-5 inches) between I-35 and Highway 52 in southeast Minnesota and far northeast Iowa, an area that remains saturated from last week's deluge. Given these trends, have issued a flood watch for much of the area west of the Mississippi River through midnight tonight. There severe threat remains on the table, but will probably be more focused west of the Mississippi River (maybe even closer to I-35) where there will be better recovery of the airmass. There is some southeastward elongation in the 1-5-km hodographs that could support some storms organization, but with cells already growing upscale into clusters, severe weather will likely be focused in narrow corridors where the convective cold pools can organize. As the storms become more outflow dominant in the evening, the severe weather threat should wane. Thursday Afternoon: Scattered Showers and Storms Cooler and slightly less humid air filters southward on Thursday in the wake of this afternoon's storms, but vertical thermal profiles will still support pulse convection during the afternoon with MLCAPE values of 1500-2000 J/kg and little to no inhibition. Shear profiles and forcing will be weak and therefore storms will struggle to organize. Very localized heavy rainfall of 1-2 inches would be the main threat with these storms given their slower storm motions. Cool End to the Week, Warmer Next Week Upper level ridging builds in for the weekend and into early next week, keeping the threat for rainfall at bay while at the same time pumping heat northward into the northern CONUS. At this point, the warmest temperatures are progged to be more over High Plains with the Upper Mississippi River Valley falling under a weak east to southeasterly flow under or just west of the surface high pressure reflection. This may act to temper temperatures and dewpoints compared to locations further west, though to the exact degree is less certain. Highs are still forecast to reach into the upper 80s to low 90s no matter how you slice the forecast, making it feel solidly like summer. The ridge flattens around midweek, but how fast it amplifies earlier in the week will dictate whether this flattening brings convection down into our region or if the storms stay to the north and we remain under the heat. The various ensembles groups remain in their respective camps on how this will unfold with no clear leaning one way or another. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1250 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 Primarily VFR conditions continue through the next few hours with light southwest winds ahead of expected showers and storms that move northwest to southeast across the region this afternoon into tonight, generally in the 20z to 09z timeframe. That said, there are some storms have already developed along I-35 this afternoon. These storms are expected to bring heavy rainfall leading to MVFR/IFR ceilings and visibilities. Also can't rule out some strong gusty winds as they move through. MVFR to IFR ceilings linger through the overnight hours behind the showers/storms. There is also the indication that patchy fog could develop across the region alongside these lower ceilings, but any fog that does develop should burn off fairly quickly through the morning hours. Confidence in fog impacts is currently not high enough to include at the TAF sites, but is something to monitor overnight. Winds gradually shift to the northwest through Thursday morning generally 10KT or less. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...Flood Watch until midnight CDT tonight for MNZ086>088-094>096. IA...Flood Watch until midnight CDT tonight for IAZ008>011-018-019. && DISCUSSION...Skow AVIATION...Falkinham
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 8, 1:28 PM CDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 128 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 IAZ029-030-MNZ079-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-061-092230- Fayette-Clayton-Wabasha-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson- La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant- 128 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Iowa...southeast Minnesota...central Wisconsin...north central Wisconsin...southwest Wisconsin and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A few severe thunderstorms are possible (20-30% chance) later this afternoon and evening. Heavy rainfall, damaging winds and a brief tornado are the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Severe weather and rainfall reports would be appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. IAZ008>011-018-019-MNZ086>088-094>096-092230- Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Dodge- Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston- 128 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Iowa...northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A flood watch is in effect through midnight as storms may produce heavy rainfall and renewed flooding. A few severe thunderstorms are possible (20-30% chance) later this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds and a brief tornado are the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Severe weather and rainfall reports would be appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. KDS
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 8, 4:33 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
433 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0422 PM Rain 4 WSW Austin 43.64N 93.05W
07/08/2026 M1.84 Inch Mower MN Public
Rain measurement since 2:30 PM. Rain still
ongoing at time of report.
&&
BRMLocal storm report, Jul 8, 4:34 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
434 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0429 PM Rain 2 WSW Mapleview 43.67N 93.02W
07/08/2026 M2.16 Inch Mower MN Public
Rain measurement so far. Rain still ongoing
at time of report.
&&
BRMThe office that day
Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 12:37 PM CDT | Flood Watch | ARX | Allamakee, Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell, Winneshiek | 10 hr |
| Jul 8, 4:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Howard, Mitchell | 44 min |
| Jul 8, 5:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Howard, Mitchell | 60 min |
| Jul 8, 5:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ARX | Mitchell | 23 min |
| Jul 8, 5:33 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ARX | Howard, Mitchell | 3 hr |
| Jul 8, 5:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Howard, Winneshiek | 50 min |
| Jul 8, 6:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek | 42 min |
| Jul 8, 6:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Fayette, Winneshiek | 38 min |
| Jul 8, 4:35 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | ARX | Mower | 4 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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.