Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 63, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 15, 2026Chickasaw County, Floyd County, Iowa

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 2026, 8:46 PM CDT for Chickasaw County, Floyd County, Iowa. It was in force for 44 min. 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
May 15, 2026, 8:46 PM CDT (01:46 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 2026, 9:30 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Chickasaw County, IA, Floyd County, IA

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 153 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:48 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
May 15, 9:15 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 493 E Charles City, IAAWOS station KCCY Charles City Airport.
May 15, 9:30 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 432 N Ionia, IAMesonet station RNHI4 New Hampton.

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 15, 5:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 217 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 2026-05-16Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -37 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
3226 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-37 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
85 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

672 
WUUS53 KARX 160146
SVRARX
IAC037-067-160230-
/O.NEW.KARX.SV.W.0063.260516T0146Z-260516T0230Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
846 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Floyd County in north central Iowa...
  Western Chickasaw County in northeastern Iowa...

* Until 930 PM CDT.

* At 845 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Marble Rock,
  or 7 miles west of Charles City, 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.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
  Charles City around 850 PM CDT.
  Ionia around 915 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include County
Roads B 33 And T 76, Howards Wood Recreational Area, Bradford,
Roseville, Chickasaw, Oakwood, and Bassett.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4291 9289 4312 9291 4317 9246 4291 9245
TIME...MOT...LOC 0145Z 264DEG 25KT 4303 9281 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Falkinham
3 follow-up statements
571 
WWUS53 KARX 160204
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
904 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

IAC037-067-160230-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0063.000000T0000Z-260516T0230Z/
Floyd IA-Chickasaw IA-
904 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN FLOYD AND WESTERN CHICKASAW COUNTIES...

At 904 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Nashua, or 7
miles south of Charles City, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe storm will be near...
  Nashua around 910 PM CDT.
  Ionia around 920 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include County
Roads B 33 And T 76, Howards Wood Recreational Area, Bradford,
Roseville, Chickasaw, Oakwood, and Bassett.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4317 9246 4291 9245 4291 9284 4310 9286
TIME...MOT...LOC 0204Z 264DEG 30KT 4296 9266 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Falkinham
990 
WWUS53 KARX 160215
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
915 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

IAC037-067-160230-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0063.000000T0000Z-260516T0230Z/
Floyd IA-Chickasaw IA-
915 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN FLOYD AND SOUTHWESTERN CHICKASAW COUNTIES...

At 915 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Nashua, or 8
miles southeast of Charles City, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe storm will be near...
  Ionia around 920 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include County
Roads B 33 And T 76, River Ranch Campground, Bunns Woods County Park,
Howards Wood Recreational Area, Bradford, Chickasaw, and County Roads
B 60 And T 64.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4291 9272 4308 9273 4315 9246 4291 9245
TIME...MOT...LOC 0215Z 256DEG 27KT 4299 9255 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Falkinham
756 
WWUS53 KARX 160222
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
922 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

IAC037-067-160231-
/O.EXP.KARX.SV.W.0063.000000T0000Z-260516T0230Z/
Floyd IA-Chickasaw IA-
922 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN FLOYD AND
SOUTHWESTERN CHICKASAW COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 930 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for
north central and northeastern Iowa.

&&

LAT...LON 4291 9272 4308 9273 4315 9246 4291 9245
TIME...MOT...LOC 0221Z 246DEG 28KT 4304 9251 

$$

Falkinham

What 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 May 15, 6:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 1 minute earlier. Its key messages:

  • Storms develop this evening west of the Mississippi River and push east overnight. Storms may become strong to severe with large hail being the primary threat initially before transitioning to a damaging wind threat later into the evening.
  • Additional storms are likely both Saturday evening/night and Sunday evening. While strong to severe storm potential appears more limited on Saturday night, severe potential increases more on Sunday with much of the area in a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe weather.
  • Monday currently has the greatest risk for severe weather over the next four days across the entire local area. Large hail, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes are on the table in this setup as storms move through the region on Monday.
  • With multiple rounds of storms expected this evening through Monday, rises on area rivers into flood stage will be possible where storms frequent the same locations.
Area forecast discussion, May 15, 6:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
645 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Storms develop this evening west of the Mississippi River and
  push east overnight. Storms may become strong to severe with
  large hail being the primary threat initially before
  transitioning to a damaging wind threat later into the
  evening.

- Additional storms are likely both Saturday evening/night and Sunday
  evening. While strong to severe storm potential appears more
  limited on Saturday night, severe potential increases more on
  Sunday with much of the area in a slight risk (level 2 out of
  5) for severe weather.

- Monday currently has the greatest risk for severe weather over
  the next four days across the entire local area. Large hail,
  damaging wind gusts and tornadoes are on the table in this
  setup as storms move through the region on Monday.

- With multiple rounds of storms expected this evening through Monday,
  rises on area rivers into flood stage will be possible where
  storms frequent the same locations.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 135 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

This Evening & Tonight: Storms Likely, Several Strong to Severe
Possible

A fairly notable increase in convective coverage has been
observed across the CAMs over the past couple of forecast
cycles resulting in increasing confidence for strong to severe
storms later this evening and into the overnight hours.
Currently, dewpoints have noticeably increased this morning,
reaching into the 50s as of noon for many locations. While
dewpoints are increasing, soundings at this point remain well
mixed with a fairly dry boundary layer. As we head over the next
few hours, the conceptual model in this case will essentially
be a waiting game for the boundary layer to become saturated
sufficiently such that you can lift saturated parcels into the
deepening convective layer. Once this occurs, expecting storms
to develop quickly (around 6-8pm as shown in the CAMs) along a
stationary boundary over portions of northern IA through
southeast MN and into western WI. At convective initiation, the
environment seems primed for supercells at first, capable of
large to even very large hail with mid-level lapse rates to
around 7 C/km and very elongated hodographs. This coupled with
deep inverted-v soundings would suggest damaging wind threat
with any RFD in developing supercells.

However, as we head later into the evening and storms move eastward,
deep-layer shear begins to weaken which will result in storms
clustering and trending more linear with time as they approach the
Mississippi River as hinted at in a number of the CAMs. As a result,
expecting the threat for hail to decrease with a maintaining
damaging wind threat. Some tornado potential cannot be ruled out
during this period either as low-level hodograph curvature increases
as the low-level jet ramps up in addition to greater saturation in
the boundary layer after dark. However, this is contingent on if we
can get saturation closer to the surface as LCL heights at
convective initiation would not be conducive for tornadoes.
Eventually, storms begin to push eastward into western WI and
eventually exit the area after midnight. Not anticipating any
flooding concerns with this first round of rainfall with amounts
generally ranging in the 0.25" to 1" range with storms being fairly
progressive in their movement.

This Weekend: Additional Rounds of Storms

As we head into tomorrow, skies clear out for the morning and
afternoon hours on Sunday with zonal flow persisting aloft. However,
as we head into the evening and overnight hours in particular on
Saturday, a weak axis of 850mb moisture transport transverses a
stationary boundary situated across portions of northeast IA and
southwest WI. As this occurs, some of the CAMs initiate convection
across portions of eastern IA that slowly pushes northward through
the overnight and into Sunday morning. Overall, the environment is
not overly favorable during this period as instability is relatively
limited, generally under 1000 J/kg. Consequently, this coupled with
weak deep layer shear should keep this to more of a stratiform
precipitation band with embedded convective cells with limited
severe potential.

The more significant implication of this round of convection on
Sunday morning will be how much we recover going into the
afternoon and evening on Sunday. Currently, the synoptic
factors in play to advect moisture into the region are quite
favorable as there is a profound 850mb moisture transport axis
that pushes north into the local area on Sunday evening. As a
result, instability values (2000- 3000 J/kg of MLCAPE) increase
rather quickly during the late afternoon and into the evening
with the moisture transport axis aiding as a focus for
convective development. Shear profiles are somewhat displaced
from the instability with the main synoptic trough situated over
the rockies still with a stronger upper-level jet streak to the
north. As a result, storm updrafts may struggle to maintain,
however given the aforementioned ample instability and mid-
level lapse rates of 8-9 C/km, this would certainly still favor
a severe hail risk. Damaging wind gusts cannot be fully ruled
out with any descending hail cores, however given a noticeable
capping inversion in the NAM/GFS soundings during this period,
storms will likely be elevated in nature which would also
minimize the tornado threat as well.

Monday: Potential for Severe Storms Areawide Monday

Monday currently appears to have the greatest risk for severe storms
areawide over the next 4 days as the previously advertised upper-
level trough pushes through the Great Plains and into the Upper
Midwest and becomes neutral to perhaps negatively tilted on Monday
evening. As this occurs, cyclogenesis occurs at the exit region of
this feature with a pronounced cold front in eastern MN. This
coupled with a fairly profound 850mb moisture transport axis into
the region will enable ample moisture to push northward through the
area with the grand ensemble (GEFS/EC/Canadian ensemble) having very
high probabilities (80-100%) for dewpoints over 65 degrees. As a
result, instability profiles are fairly impressive across
deterministic and ensemble guidance with modest probabilities (50-
70%) for MUCAPE exceeding 1500 J/kg on Monday evening in the EC
ensemble. The one question that remains is exactly how shear
profiles will manifest as the 250mb jet streak is somewhat displaced
from the main 500mb shortwave. As a result, while hodographs exhibit
some low-level and mid-level elongation, the upper-levels are more
disorganized. Consequently, this may result in a QLCS storm mode
assuming upper-level support continues to remain absent which would
favor a damaging wind and embedded tornado threat. That being said,
ample instability and mid-level lapse rates of 7-8 C/km in the
recent GFS would suggest at least some severe hail is possible as
well, particularly if we can get any supercellular structures going.

The environment for heavy rainfall in this particular setup seems
rather favorable as well with precipitable waters pushing over 1.5"
which are about the climatological maximum based on KDVN sounding
climatology. The key question from a heavy rain/flooding perspective
will be: 1. How the rainfall from the previous rounds of storms
manifests and 2. How progressive the storm evolution is on Monday
evening and if we have multiple rounds of discrete and linear modes
throughout this timeframe. Overall, the inter-quartile range in the
grand ensemble (GEFS/EC/Canadian) for rain amounts with just this
Monday round ranges from 0.25" to 1" with 95th percentile values up
to 2". So certainly could contribute further to any flooding
potential where storms occurred from previous rounds.

In all, Monday appears to be a fairly active day from a severe
weather perspective with all hazards on the table depending on how
all the various severe weather ingredients shake out. Now is the
time to be thinking about your severe weather safety plan and have
multiple ways of receiving warnings if you have not already done so,
especially considering each day from this evening through Monday
contains at least some degree of risk for severe weather.

Tuesday - Thursday: Cooling Trend

As we head past Monday and head later into the week, cold air
advection behind the front will allow for cooler temperatures to
move in for the middle of the upcoming week. As a result, the
10th to 90th spread for highs in the NBM falls to the upper 50s
to upper 60s for much of the local area on Wednesday, likely
our coolest day for the upcoming week.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 638 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

The main concern the next 3 to 5 hours is thunderstorms moving
through both terminals. Thunderstorms are hanging around the
vicinity of RST and there will likely be intermittent periods of
VCTS and thunderstorms overhead with MVFR visibilities and
possibly ceilings. A similar situation at LSE, except delayed by
about an hour. Expect gusty and erratic winds during and in the
vicinity of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms may eventually become
more organized as a final round passes through the terminals,
likely ending no later than 05z. After that, expect VFR
conditions with clearing skies and lightening winds. Winds will
gradually shift to northwesterly by Saturday morning.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...None.
IA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Naylor
AVIATION...DLH
Hazardous weather outlook, May 15, 3:24 AM CDT, 17 hours 22 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
324 AM CDT Fri May 15 2026

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-WIZ061-161000-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Grant-
324 AM CDT Fri May 15 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered to numerous severe storms possible this evening into
tonight with damaging wind as the main threat and large hail and
an isolated tornado as secondary threats.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Daily strong to severe storm potential Saturday through Monday
Night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Any severe storm reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

A webinar is scheduled for 2:00 PM CDT Today.

MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-161000-
Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-Taylor-Clark-
Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-
Crawford-Richland-
324 AM CDT Fri May 15 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A line of strong to severe storms with damaging wind and large
hail as the main hazards possible this evening into tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Daily strong to severe storm potential Saturday through Monday
Night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Any severe storm reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

A webinar is scheduled for 2:00 PM CDT Today.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 15, 6:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
652 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

WIZ033-160030-
Trempealeau WI-
652 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
THROUGH 730 PM CDT...

At 652 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Galesville, or 8 miles south of Arcadia, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southern
Trempealeau County, including the following locations... Peacock
Hill, Beach Corners, Frenchville, Ettrick, Thimble Park, Iduna, and
Hegg.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4431 9117 4425 9117 4425 9115 4411 9115
      4405 9154 4407 9155 4410 9154 4411 9155
      4413 9155 4414 9156
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 244DEG 36KT 4413 9147

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Falkinham

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 8:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFloyd45 min
May 15, 8:35 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFloyd11 min
May 15, 9:51 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXWinneshiek24 min
May 15, 10:07 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXWinneshiek23 min
May 15, 10:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFayette51 min
May 15, 10:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAllamakee, Clayton, Winneshiek46 min
May 15, 10:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXClayton48 min
May 15, 11:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXClayton24 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 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.