Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 79, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 27, 2026Jackson County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 27, 2026, 6:39 PM CDT for Jackson County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 41 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 27, 2026, 6:39 PM CDT (23:39 UTC)
Expired: May 27, 2026, 7:20 PM CDT
In force: 41 min
Issued by: NWS La Crosse, WI
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.25 in
Wind: 50.0 mph

County Jackson County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:39 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, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 265 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 146 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -272 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1326 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 22 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

518 
WUUS53 KARX 272339
SVRARX
WIC053-280100-
/O.NEW.KARX.SV.W.0079.260527T2339Z-260528T0100Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
639 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Eastern Jackson County in west central Wisconsin...

* Until 800 PM CDT.

* At 639 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles southeast
  of Shortville, or 13 miles southeast of Neillsville, moving south
  at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Half dollar size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

* This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  southeastern Jackson County, including the following locations...
  Bear Bluff Township, Pray, and City Point.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4415 9032 4416 9048 4442 9051 4442 9032
      4425 9032 4420 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 349DEG 17KT 4444 9038 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

JSB

5 follow-up statements

079 
WWUS53 KARX 272348
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
648 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

WIC053-280100-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0079.000000T0000Z-260528T0100Z/
Jackson WI-
648 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY...

At 647 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 11 miles southeast
of Shortville, or 16 miles southeast of Neillsville, moving south at
20 mph.

HAZARD...Half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

Locations impacted include...
City Point, Bear Bluff Township, and Pray.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4415 9032 4416 9048 4442 9051 4442 9032
      4425 9032 4420 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 349DEG 19KT 4438 9037 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

JSB

817 
WWUS53 KARX 272355
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
655 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

WIC053-280100-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0079.000000T0000Z-260528T0100Z/
Jackson WI-
655 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY...

At 655 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 12 miles west of
Babcock, or 19 miles southeast of Neillsville, moving south at 
25 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

Locations impacted include...
City Point, Bear Bluff Township, and Pray.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4415 9032 4416 9048 4442 9051 4442 9032
      4425 9032 4420 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2355Z 353DEG 20KT 4432 9038 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

JSB

354 
WWUS53 KARX 280003
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
703 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

WIC053-280100-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0079.000000T0000Z-260528T0100Z/
Jackson WI-
703 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON COUNTY...

At 703 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 12 miles west of
Babcock, or 19 miles north of Tomah, moving south at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

Locations impacted include...
City Point and Bear Bluff Township.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4415 9032 4416 9048 4435 9050 4435 9032
      4425 9032 4420 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 355DEG 21KT 4425 9038 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

JSB

350 
WWUS53 KARX 280017
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
717 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

WIC053-280100-
/O.CON.KARX.SV.W.0079.000000T0000Z-260528T0100Z/
Jackson WI-
717 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY...

At 717 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 13 miles east of
Millston, or 14 miles northeast of Tomah, moving south at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

Locations impacted include...
City Point and Bear Bluff Township.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4415 9032 4416 9048 4435 9050 4435 9032
      4425 9032 4420 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 355DEG 21KT 4417 9037 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

JSB

606 
WWUS53 KARX 280020
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
720 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

WIC053-280030-
/O.CAN.KARX.SV.W.0079.000000T0000Z-260528T0100Z/
Jackson WI-
720 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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 has been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 4415 9032 4416 9048 4435 9050 4435 9032
      4425 9032 4420 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 349DEG 17KT 4415 9037 

$$

JSB

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 27, 6:32 PM CDT, 7 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Another shot (20-50%) for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. A strong thunderstorm or two may develop.
Above normal temperatures continue through the weekend.

Area forecast discussion, May 27, 6:32 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
632 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Another shot (20-50%) for showers and thunderstorms this
  afternoon and evening. A strong thunderstorm or two may
  develop.

- Above normal temperatures continue through the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 123 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

Shower and thunderstorm potential this afternoon/evening

17z WV satellite shows northwesterly flow aloft over our forecast
area with a weak disturbance in this flow over western Lake
Superior. At the surface, a cold front is located over northern WI.

This afternoon and evening, as the weak disturbance moves southeast
and the backdoor cold front begins to push through the area, showers
and thunderstorms may develop. With warm surface temperatures and
dewpoints once again in the 60s, would seemingly expect a similar
outcome to yesterday but with convection favoring our east, away
from the upper ridge building over the eastern Dakotas. Compared to
yesterday, mid levels are drier and am thus concerned that updraft
attempts may struggle. Have therefore kept PoPs in the 20-50 range
for now. In any case, deep boundary layer continues to indicate a
risk for a stray severe gust and, with deep shear just a touch
stronger than Tuesday at around 25 knots, could see a stray severe
hail report once again.

Above normal temperatures ahead

Guidance continues to point toward persistent upper ridge over the
central CONUS with cyclonic flow centered in eastern Canada. After a
post-frontal day with temperatures near normal Thursday and Thursday
night, temperatures return to the 80s for Friday through next
Tuesday. As time goes on and the upper ridge slowly weakens, could
get some afternoon/evening convection Sunday through Tuesday but
confidence in details is very low at this time.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 631 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

A backdoor cold front will move south and southwest through the
area this evening and overnight. There may be a few storms near
KLSE between 28.02z and 28.04z, but confidence was not high
enough to include them in KLSE TAF at this time. Both ceilings
and visibilities should remain primarily VFR.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Ferguson
AVIATION...Boyne

Hazardous weather outlook, May 27, 1:27 PM CDT, 5 hours 12 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
127 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

MNZ088-096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-282230-
Winona-Houston-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-
Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-
127 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Storms are possible (20 to 50 percent) this afternoon and
evening. If a stronger storm forms, then strong wind gusts or hail
would be possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086-087-094-095-WIZ061-282230-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Mower-Fillmore-Grant-
127 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

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

Local storm report, May 27, 6:19 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
619 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

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

0553 PM     Hail             4 SE Loyal              44.70N 90.44W
05/27/2026  M1.00 Inch       Clark              WI   Public

&&

JSB

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 27, 5:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Clark	56 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 2026 Every 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.