Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 21, NWS La Crosse, WI

April 17, 2026Clark County, Jackson County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at Apr 17, 2026, 2:58 PM CDT for Clark County, Jackson County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 35 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
Apr 17, 2026, 2:58 PM CDT (19:58 UTC)
Expired
Apr 17, 2026, 3:33 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.5 in

Counties Clark County, WI, Jackson County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:00 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 17, 9:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC11 hr
Apr 17, 12:40 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 252 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 2026-04-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2026-04-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 188 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2301 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
188 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
229 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

177 
WFUS53 KARX 171958
TORARX
WIC019-053-172045-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0021.260417T1958Z-260417T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
258 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Clark County in central Wisconsin...
  East central Jackson County in west central Wisconsin...

* Until 345 PM CDT.

* At 258 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Shortville, or 9 miles south of Neillsville,
  moving northeast at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and tennis ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Shortville around 305 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Chili,
Ballard Road And Pray Avenue, The Black River Correctional Center,
Chili Corners, Potters Flowage, Lynn, and The Cunningham Airfield.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4437 9032 4423 9067 4432 9079 4473 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 221DEG 40KT 4442 9057 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.50 IN

$$

Baumgardt
4 follow-up statements
421 
WWUS53 KARX 172004 RRA
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
304 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

WIC019-053-172045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260417T2045Z/
Clark WI-Jackson WI-
304 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLARK AND EAST CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTIES...

At 304 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Shortville, or 8 miles southeast of Neillsville,
moving northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Clark and east central Jackson Counties, including the
following locations... Chili, Ballard Road And Pray Avenue, The Black
River Correctional Center, Chili Corners, Lynn, The Cunningham
Airfield, and Seventeen Flowage.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4437 9032 4428 9061 4433 9071 4473 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 230DEG 52KT 4448 9045 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.75 IN

$$

Baumgardt
145 
WWUS53 KARX 172013
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
313 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

WIC019-053-172045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260417T2045Z/
Clark WI-Jackson WI-
313 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLARK AND EAST CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTIES...

At 313 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Shortville, or 11 miles southeast of Neillsville,
moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Shortville, Lynn, Granton, Chili, Ballard Road And Pray Avenue, Chili
Corners, The Cunningham Airfield, Pray, and Nevins.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4430 9054 4438 9061 4455 9050 4473 9032
      4437 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 232DEG 25KT 4447 9039 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

Baumgardt
976 
WWUS53 KARX 172022
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
322 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

WIC019-053-172045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260417T2045Z/
Clark WI-Jackson WI-
322 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLARK AND EAST CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTIES...

At 322 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 9 miles southwest of Marshfield, or 14 miles east of
Neillsville, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Lynn, Chili, The Cunningham Airfield, Chili Corners, and Nevins.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4439 9041 4445 9050 4458 9042 4473 9032
      4440 9033
TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 221DEG 40KT 4455 9029 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Baumgardt
479 
WWUS53 KARX 172033
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
333 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

WIC019-053-172043-
/O.CAN.KARX.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260417T2045Z/
Clark WI-Jackson WI-
333 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLARK AND EAST CENTRAL
JACKSON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for central and
west central Wisconsin.

&&

LAT...LON 4439 9041 4445 9050 4458 9042 4473 9032
      4440 9033
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 221DEG 40KT 4464 9018 

$$

Baumgardt

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 11:06 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXCrawford22 hr
Apr 17, 1:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXGrant37 min
Apr 17, 2:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXGrant, Richland27 min
Apr 17, 2:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXClark, Taylor39 min
Apr 17, 2:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXRichland36 min
Apr 17, 2:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXClark, Jackson30 min
Apr 17, 2:50 PM CDTTornado WarningARXTaylor40 min
Apr 17, 2:57 PM CDTTornado WarningARXRichland18 min
Apr 17, 3:07 PM CDTTornado WarningARXBuffalo, Trempealeau38 min
Apr 17, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatARXAdams, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe50 min
Apr 17, 3:39 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatARXBuffalo, Trempealeau51 min
Apr 17, 3:41 PM CDTTornado WarningARXBuffalo, Trempealeau49 min
Apr 17, 3:48 PM CDTTornado WarningARXCrawford, Vernon42 min
Apr 17, 4:05 PM CDTTornado WarningARXJackson, Trempealeau40 min
Apr 17, 4:07 PM CDTTornado WarningARXGrant38 min
Apr 17, 4:09 PM CDTTornado WarningARXJackson, Trempealeau51 min
Apr 17, 4:30 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedARXClark27 min
Apr 17, 4:35 PM CDTTornado WarningARXClark, Jackson40 min
Apr 17, 4:54 PM CDTTornado WarningARXAdams, Juneau18 min
Apr 17, 4:58 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXGrant32 min
Apr 17, 5:13 PM CDTTornado WarningARXClark33 min
Apr 17, 5:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXClark, Jackson51 min
Apr 17, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXGrant28 min
Apr 17, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXJackson, Monroe38 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Wisconsin, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.