Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 29, NWS La Crosse, WI

April 17, 2026Grant County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at Apr 17, 2026, 4:07 PM CDT for Grant County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 38 min. 3 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
Apr 17, 2026, 4:07 PM CDT (21:07 UTC)
Expired
Apr 17, 2026, 4:45 PM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Grant County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:12 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
Apr 17, 4:22 PM CDTHAIL 0.882 Se Lancaster, WINickel size hail at Sheriffs office southeast of Lancaster.
Apr 17, 4:22 PM CDTHAIL 0.882 Se Lancaster, WINickel size hail at Sheriffs office southeast of Lancaster.
Apr 17, 4:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Wnw Montfort, WIHog barn damaged, verified by satellite. Time estimated via radar.

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

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 17, 12:40 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 327 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.

395 
WFUS53 KARX 172107
TORARX
WIC043-172145-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0029.260417T2107Z-260417T2145Z/

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

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin...

* Until 445 PM CDT.

* At 407 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Balltown, or 9 miles southwest of Lancaster,
  moving northeast at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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...
  Lancaster around 415 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Preston, Arthur, Montfort, Potosi, Livingston, Union, and Stitzer.

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 4275 9086 4310 9043 4273 9042 4266 9082
TIME...MOT...LOC 2107Z 230DEG 36KT 4272 9079 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Ferguson
3 follow-up statements
672 
WWUS53 KARX 172116
SVSARX

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

WIC043-172145-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260417T2145Z/
Grant WI-
416 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL GRANT COUNTY...

At 416 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Lancaster, moving northeast at 40 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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Lancaster around 420 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Rockville, Annaton, Arthur, Montfort, Lancaster Municipal Airport,
Livingston, and Union.

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 4280 9077 4305 9043 4278 9043 4272 9072
TIME...MOT...LOC 2116Z 241DEG 35KT 4279 9070 

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

$$

Ferguson
840 
WWUS53 KARX 172128
SVSARX

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

WIC043-172145-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260417T2145Z/
Grant WI-
428 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL GRANT COUNTY...

At 428 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Lancaster, moving northeast at 30 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.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
east central Grant County, including the following locations...
Annaton, Arthur, Montfort, Union, Livingston, and Centerville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4285 9043 4279 9063 4287 9068 4305 9043
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 227DEG 25KT 4286 9059 

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

$$

Ferguson
839 
WWUS53 KARX 172142
SVSARX

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

WIC043-172152-
/O.EXP.KARX.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260417T2145Z/
Grant WI-
442 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL GRANT COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
445 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However, heavy
rain is still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for southwestern
Wisconsin.

&&

LAT...LON 4285 9043 4279 9063 4287 9068 4305 9043
TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 230DEG 36KT 4294 9046 

$$

Ferguson

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, 2:58 PM CDTTornado WarningARXClark, Jackson35 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, 4:09 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.