Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 76, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 17, 2026Winneshiek County, Iowa

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 17, 2026, 11:40 PM CDT for Winneshiek County, Iowa. It was in force for 28 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 17, 2026, 11:40 PM CDT (04:40 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 2026, 12:08 AM CDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Winneshiek County, IA

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:40 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.

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 17, 6:12 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 210 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 2026-05-18Temperature 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 2026-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 154 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1101 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
154 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
237 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

524 
WUUS53 KARX 180440
SVRARX
IAC191-180530-
/O.NEW.KARX.SV.W.0076.260518T0440Z-260518T0530Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1140 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northern Winneshiek County in northeastern Iowa...

* Until 1230 AM CDT.

* At 1138 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near Harmony to near Ridgeway to near Waucoma,
  moving northeast at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

* Severe thunderstorms will be near...
  Decorah around 1145 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by these severe thunderstorms include
Hesper, Highlandville, Burr Oak, Bluffton, Chimney Rock Campground,
Locust, and Sattre.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for northeastern
Iowa.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9208 4350 9161 4334 9161 4321 9208
TIME...MOT...LOC 0438Z 238DEG 48KT 4353 9209 4336 9197 4309 9201 

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

$$

Falkinham
3 follow-up statements
943 
WWUS53 KARX 180453
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1153 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

IAC191-180530-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0076.000000T0000Z-260518T0530Z/
Winneshiek IA-
1153 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 AM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN WINNESHIEK COUNTY...

At 1153 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Canton to 6 miles south of Mabel to near Ossian,
moving northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

These severe thunderstorms will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Winneshiek County, including the following locations...
State Road 9 And 245th Street, Highway 52 And County W 34, Hesper,
Highlandville, County Roads W 20 And A 34, Burr Oak, and Bluffton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for northeastern
Iowa.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4326 9189 4350 9203 4350 9161 4334 9161
TIME...MOT...LOC 0453Z 244DEG 43KT 4359 9189 4342 9177 4315 9181 

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

$$

Falkinham
097 
WWUS53 KARX 180459
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1159 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

IAC191-180530-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0076.000000T0000Z-260518T0530Z/
Winneshiek IA-
1159 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 AM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN WINNESHIEK COUNTY...

At 1159 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Mabel, or 12
miles northeast of Decorah, moving northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Hesper, Locust, Sattre, and Highlandville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for northeastern
Iowa.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4330 9175 4350 9190 4350 9161 4334 9161
TIME...MOT...LOC 0459Z 238DEG 48KT 4347 9167 

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

$$

Falkinham
878 
WWUS53 KARX 180508
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1208 AM CDT Mon May 18 2026

IAC191-180518-
/O.CAN.KARX.SV.W.0076.000000T0000Z-260518T0530Z/
Winneshiek IA-
1208 AM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN WINNESHIEK COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning has
been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for northeastern
Iowa.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for
northeastern Iowa.

&&

LAT...LON 4330 9175 4350 9190 4350 9161 4334 9161
TIME...MOT...LOC 0506Z 238DEG 48KT 4353 9153 

$$

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 17, 8:19 PM CDT, 3 hours 21 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Severe weather possible between 7 PM and 1 AM tonight. All hazards are possible mainly west of the Mississippi River.
  • Another round of severe weather possible on Monday night between 9 PM and 4 AM. The main threat will be damaging winds. With isolated threats of hail and maybe a few QLCS tornadoes.
Area forecast discussion, May 17, 8:19 PM CDT, 3 hours 21 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
819 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe weather possible between 7 PM and 1 AM tonight. All
  hazards are possible mainly west of the Mississippi River.

- Another round of severe weather possible on Monday night
  between 9 PM and 4 AM. The main threat will be damaging winds.
  With isolated threats of hail and maybe a few QLCS tornadoes.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 805 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

Ongoing non-severe scattered storms across the local area are
inhibiting northward progression of warm front seen through
north-central Iowa on surface observations this evening, keeping
local severe threat conditional, i.e., lower overall confidence.
Intensification of the low level jet, 45 kt south wind on DMX
VWP, suggests a northern shift in warm front surging instability
farther north in the next 1-2 hours. Therefore, initial threat
of surface based, semi-discrete storm mode remains a low
confidence scenario to remain cognizant of until the eventual
MCS on radar imagery quickly shifting east through central
Minnesota arrives in 3+ hours. While main threat with this line
will be damaging winds, should the warm front reach farther
north, a QLCS tornado threat would exist primarily along the
frontal boundary. Therefore, the ongoing Tornado Watch may
require a switch to Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1257 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

This Afternoon

The remnant MCV which brought rain mainly south of Interstate 94
will continue to move northeast away from the area this afternoon.
As it does, the showers and isolated storms currently along
Interstates 90 and 94 will move east northeast away from the area.
Additional rainfall amounts will be up to a half inch. As a warm
front gradually lifts northward, temperatures along and south of
Interstate 94 will warm into the 60s and lower 70s, and into 60s
north of this Interstate. This will result in surface-based CAPES
climbing into the 1000 to 2500 J/kg along and south of Interstate 90
by 7 pm.

Tonight

Late this afternoon and evening, 2-3K J/kg CAPES will develop ahead
of a squall line moving east across eastern South Dakota, eastern
Nebraska, northern Iowa, and southern Minnesota. with 0-6 km
shear approaching 40 knots, there could potentially be some
supercells located along the line (these would likely stay
west of the Upper Mississippi River Vally) and along the warm
front near the Minnesota and Iowa boarder. In addition to the
deep shear, there is 200-300 EHI along the Minnesota and Iowa
boarder and downdraft CAPEs up to 1K J/kg. The discrete
supercells ahead of the squall line would be capable of
producing wet microbursts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes
between 7 PM and 10 PM in southeast Minnesota and northeast
Iowa. The threat will then shift to more damaging winds and
maybe a few QLCS tornadoes as the squall line moves into
southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa between 10 PM and 11 PM.
This line will then gradually weaken as the instability wanes.
The severe weather threat will likely wane by 1 AM Monday.

Monday night

A cold front will move east through the area. There will be 1-2K
J/kg CAPES ahead of this front. With much of the deep (0-6 km) shear
located post frontal, not anticipating any supercells. As a result,
if there is severe weather, it would be located along the cold front
as a squall line. The primary threat would be damaging winds with
secondary threats as hail and QLCS tornadoes. Timing looks to be
rather similar tonight with the squall line moving into northeast
Iowa and southeast Minnesota between 9 PM and 10 PM. It will exit
the area between 2 AM and 4 AM. By this time, the winds will likely
be sub-severe.

Friday into Saturday

A shortwave trough will move east through the area. This will result
in another round of showers and isolated storms. With CAPES less
than 250 J/kg and 0-3 km and 0-6 km shear less than 25 knots, not
anticipating any organized severe weather at this time.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 636 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

MVFR to IFR conditions currently present across the region with
some isolated instances of LIFR along and south of the I-90
corridor. Low clouds are expected to linger for most areas
through later tonight with some low precip chances. The main
chance for storms looks to push east into the region late this
evening - likely between 04-08Z for the terminals. The main
threat with this line of storms will be strong winds and heavy
rainfall so have continued with the TEMPO groups that bring
stronger winds in for a short time period. Lower rain chances
will continue into tomorrow morning behind the line of storms
with most locations lifting back to VFR CIGs through the
morning. Some lower MVFR/IFR CIGs may linger across portions of
SE Minnesota and WC Wisconsin so have kept them at the KRST
terminal through the end of the period.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 106 AM CDT Sun May 17 2026

One to two inch totals are still forecast across the area, with
areas further west more favored for the 2 inch totals. This will
likely not cause river flooding, only within bank rises.

&&

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

&&

UPDATE...JAR
DISCUSSION...Boyne
AVIATION...Barendse
HYDROLOGY...Baumgardt
Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 1:29 PM CDT, 10 hours 11 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
129 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ032>034-041-
181100-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-
Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-
129 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Scattered severe storms are possible later this evening and
early overnight with damaging wind as the main threat as a line
of storms progresses from west to east.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Scattered severe storms possible Monday evening and overnight
with damaging wind the main threat.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Severe storm reports would be greatly appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

WIZ017-029-042>044-053>055-061-181100-
Taylor-Clark-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant-
129 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Scattered strong storms are possible overnight with wind gusts as
high as 45 mph as a line of storms progresses from west to east.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Scattered severe storms possible late Monday evening and
overnight with damaging wind as the main threat.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Severe storm reports would be greatly appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

Boyne

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 17, 10:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1039 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

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

1034 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Nora Springs            43.14N 93.01W
05/17/2026  M70 MPH          Floyd              IA   Fire Dept/Rescue

&&
Local storm report, May 17, 11:00 PM CDT, 40 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1100 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

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

1057 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Austin Airport          43.66N 92.93W
05/17/2026  M61 MPH          Mower              MN   AWOS

&&
Local storm report, May 17, 11:20 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1120 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

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

1042 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 WSW Austin            43.66N 93.01W
05/17/2026  E63 MPH          Mower              MN   Public

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 17, 10:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFloyd, Mitchell66 min
May 17, 10:13 PM CDTTornado WarningARXMitchell62 min
May 17, 10:24 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFloyd, Mitchell51 min
May 17, 10:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXChickasaw, Howard56 min
May 17, 10:54 PM CDTTornado WarningARXChickasaw, Howard51 min
May 18, 12:07 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXAllamakee38 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.