Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 77, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 26, 2026Mower County, Minnesota

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 26, 2026, 6:16 PM CDT for Mower County, Minnesota. It was in force for 29 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 26, 2026, 6:16 PM CDT (23:16 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2026, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Mower County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:19 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 nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 153 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 12:00Z on 2026-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 358 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2026-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 25 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
358 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-232 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1737 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
25 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

400 
WUUS53 KARX 262316
SVRARX
MNC099-262345-
/O.NEW.KARX.SV.W.0077.260526T2316Z-260526T2345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
616 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Mower County in southeastern Minnesota...

* Until 645 PM CDT.

* At 615 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Rose Creek,
  or 11 miles east of Austin, moving east at 10 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 remain over mainly rural areas of
  central Mower County, including the following locations... Elkton
  and Dexter.

This includes Interstate 90 in Minnesota between mile markers 186 and
195.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4355 9283 4367 9285 4375 9264 4357 9260
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 249DEG 10KT 4362 9276 

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

$$

Naylor
2 follow-up statements
503 
WWUS53 KARX 262325
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
625 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

MNC099-262345-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260526T2345Z/
Mower MN-
625 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT
FOR CENTRAL MOWER COUNTY...

At 624 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Adams, or 13
miles east of Austin, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Adams, Rose Creek, Dexter, and Elkton.

This includes Interstate 90 in Minnesota between mile markers 186 and
195.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4355 9283 4367 9285 4375 9264 4357 9260
TIME...MOT...LOC 2324Z 263DEG 15KT 4364 9270 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Naylor
309 
WWUS53 KARX 262335
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
635 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

MNC099-262345-
/O.EXP.KARX.SV.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260526T2345Z/
Mower MN-
635 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL MOWER COUNTY WILL
EXPIRE AT 645 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.  However, small
hail and gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 4355 9283 4367 9285 4375 9264 4357 9260
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 249DEG 10KT 4365 9267 

$$

Naylor

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 26, 11:32 AM CDT, 6 hours 44 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Good chance (50-60%) for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon into tonight which will bring a small risk for strong wind gusts. Potential (20-30%) for the same exists again Wednesday afternoon/evening.
  • Above normal temperatures continue through the weekend
Area forecast discussion, May 26, 11:32 AM CDT, 6 hours 44 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1132 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Good chance (50-60%) for showers and thunderstorms this
  afternoon into tonight which will bring a small risk for
  strong wind gusts. Potential (20-30%) for the same exists
  again Wednesday afternoon/evening.

- Above normal temperatures continue through the weekend

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1131 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

2 shots for showers and storms with risk for strong wind gusts

16z WV satellite shows a disturbance over central MN with some
associated convection slowly churning east-northeastward on the
northern side of an upper ridge centered over IA. At the surface,
dewpoints are generally in the upper 50s and lower 60s, a small step
upward compared to yesterday. 26.12z RAOB at MPX and 26.00z RAOB at
DVN show a small uptick in overall moisture through the column as
well with PWAT values approaching 1 inch.

This afternoon into tonight, central MN disturbance will roll east
on the north side of the IA upper ridge before an additional
shortwave dives southeast out of MN, likely (60%) kicking off
showers and thunderstorms. Given the nearby presence of the ridge,
flow through the column is weak with little shear, so organized
convection is not expected and the development of stronger cells
will depend on outflow boundary interactions. That said, 26.12z HREF
DCAPE values range from 750-925 J/kg with a well-mixed boundary
layer expected, so a stray severe wind gust could (5%) occur.
Thinking severe hail is even less likely given relatively skinny
instability profiles and no rotating updrafts to induce greater
residence time for developing hailstones.

Wednesday afternoon and evening, additional convection may develop
as another disturbance dives southeast out of northern MN. With the
aforementioned upper ridge becoming centered over the Dakotas,
uptick in flow aloft will lead to a bit more deep shear - around 25
knots - so cannot rule out weakly organized convection. However,
progged soundings show a return of the mid-level dry air that
prevented updrafts from surviving on Monday. Therefore, while a
severe gust or hail report would be a bit more probable should
thunderstorms develop, the overall chance to get a storm at all is
lower (30%) compared to Tuesday.

Above normal temperatures continue

While a backdoor front pushes through Wednesday night, this should
only knock Thursday's temperatures back to around normal for late
May with highs in the mid to upper 70s. After a good post-frontal
radiational cooling night Thursday, when some lower 40s are possible
in the cranberry region of Wisconsin, temperatures return to several
degrees above normal with highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s through
Tuesday. Exact values are still in a bit more question than usual
given our placement between the central CONUS ridge and persistent
eastern troughiness, but 26.13z NBM interquartile spread
consistently covers the aforementioned range. Given overall pattern,
it appears highly doubtful enough moisture will reach the CWA for
precipitation to happen, even on days when the ridge remains far
enough west for northwesterly flow aloft to become predominant.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1112 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

A MCV will be the focus of showers and thunderstorms late this
afternoon and evening west of the Mississippi River and from mid
evening into the overnight for western Wisconsin. With so much
inconsistency on where they may occur in the CAMs, opted to just
lower ceilings to 10K feet at this time.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Ferguson
AVIATION...Boyne
Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 11:47 AM CDT, 6 hours 29 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1147 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

IAZ008>011-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-
053>055-272100-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-
Mower-Fillmore-Houston-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-
La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-
1147 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Thunderstorms will likely (60 percent chance) develop later this
afternoon and evening and continue into the overnight. Some
thunderstorms may bring strong wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

IAZ018-019-029-030-WIZ061-272100-
Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-Clayton-Grant-
1147 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

APF

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 26, 5:18 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
518 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

MNZ079-WIZ032-262245-
Wabasha MN-Buffalo WI-
518 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL WABASHA AND WEST
CENTRAL BUFFALO COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM CDT...

At 517 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Kellogg, or near Wabasha, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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 strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Alma and Kellogg around 525 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this storm include Rattlesnake Ridge,
Lock And Dam 4, Pioneer Campground, Weaver, Highways 37 And 35, West
Newton, Tell, Conception, and Kruger Campground.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4424 9210 4433 9211 4442 9186 4421 9186
TIME...MOT...LOC 2217Z 267DEG 10KT 4430 9202

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Naylor
Special weather statement, May 26, 5:30 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
530 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

WIZ029-262300-
Clark WI-
530 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL CLARK COUNTY THROUGH
600 PM CDT...

At 530 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Neillsville, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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 east central Clark
County, including the following locations... Chili, Hog Corners,
Highway 73 And 98, Chili Corners, Christie, Globe, Granton, Veefkind,
Lynn, and County Roads H And K.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4457 9065 4470 9076 4483 9032 4457 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 247DEG 7KT 4464 9060

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Naylor
Special weather statement, May 26, 5:41 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
541 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

WIZ029-034-262315-
Jackson WI-Clark WI-
541 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN CLARK AND EAST
CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM CDT...

At 541 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles southeast of Shortville, or 15 miles southeast of Neillsville,
moving northeast at 15 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 southeastern Clark
and east central Jackson Counties, including the following
locations... Pray and City Point.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4427 9047 4439 9055 4451 9032 4428 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 245DEG 15KT 4437 9041

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

Naylor
Special weather statement, May 26, 5:50 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
550 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

MNZ094-262315-
Mower MN-
550 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL MOWER COUNTY THROUGH 615
PM CDT...

At 550 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rose Creek, or 7 miles east of Austin, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny 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 central Mower
County, including the following locations... Elkton, Renova, and
Dexter.

This includes Interstate 90 in Minnesota between mile markers 181 and
198.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4358 9287 4371 9295 4382 9265 4359 9259
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 265DEG 15KT 4367 9282

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Naylor

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 5:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXMower25 min
May 26, 6:53 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXMower37 min

Nearby

Severe 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.