Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 58, NWS La Crosse, WI
NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at Aug 7, 2026, 3:56 PM CDT for Fayette County, Iowa. It was in force for 34 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
- Aug 7, 2026, 3:56 PM CDT (20:56 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 7, 2026, 4:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS La Crosse, WI
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.25 in
County Fayette County, IA
The radar
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 143 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:56 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 tornado 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 1:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 275 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 506 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -343 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1332 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 33 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 211 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 250 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.3
The text
As transmitted.
978
WFUS53 KARX 072056
TORARX
IAC065-072130-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0058.260807T2056Z-260807T2130Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
356 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Fayette County in northeastern Iowa...
* Until 430 PM CDT.
* At 355 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Fairbank, or 12 miles west of Oelwein, moving east
at 40 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.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Fairbank around 400 PM CDT.
Oelwein around 410 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include County
Roads 3 And W 13.
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 4264 9208 4275 9208 4265 9170
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 291DEG 34KT 4269 9216
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
Ferguson3 follow-up statements
527
WFUS53 KARX 072057 CCA
TORARX
IAC065-072130-
/O.COR.KARX.TO.W.0058.260807T2056Z-260807T2130Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
357 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Fayette County in northeastern Iowa...
* Until 430 PM CDT.
* At 357 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Fairbank, or 11
miles west of Oelwein, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* The tornado will be near...
Fairbank around 400 PM CDT.
Oelwein around 410 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include County
Roads 3 And W 13.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4264 9208 4275 9208 4265 9170
TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 291DEG 34KT 4269 9216
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
Ferguson553
WWUS53 KARX 072107
SVSARX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
407 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
IAC065-072130-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0058.000000T0000Z-260807T2130Z/
Fayette IA-
407 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
At 407 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Fairbank, or 7
miles west of Oelwein, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
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 tornado will be near...
Oelwein around 415 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include County
Roads 3 And W 13.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 4264 9208 4275 9208 4265 9170
TIME...MOT...LOC 2107Z 290DEG 28KT 4269 9206
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
Ferguson394 WWUS53 KARX 072125 SVSARX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 425 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 IAC065-072134- /O.EXP.KARX.TO.W.0058.000000T0000Z-260807T2130Z/ Fayette IA- 425 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM CDT... The tornadic portion of the storm which prompted the warning has moved southeast into Buchanan County. Therefore, the Tornado Warning for southwestern Fayette County will be allowed to expire. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for northeastern Iowa. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service La Crosse. Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for southern Fayette County until 445 PM with strong wind gusts and large hail still possible with this storm. && LAT...LON 4264 9208 4275 9208 4265 9170 TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 291DEG 34KT 4263 9187 $$ Ferguson
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Aug 7, 1:11 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Severe storm risk this afternoon remains a lower confidence forecast owing to early morning storms. Pockets of damaging winds and heavy rain would be the main threats, which look to be focusing over south-central MN and north-central IA.
- Additional rounds of storms return to the forecast from early Sunday morning through midweek. There may exist a severe weather threat with these storms, but confidence in such details is low at this time.
- Seasonal temperatures continue for the weekend with a slight cooling trend by midweek as the storm risk pushes south.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 7, 1:11 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 111 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe storm risk this afternoon remains a lower confidence forecast owing to early morning storms. Pockets of damaging winds and heavy rain would be the main threats, which look to be focusing over south-central MN and north-central IA. - Additional rounds of storms return to the forecast from early Sunday morning through midweek. There may exist a severe weather threat with these storms, but confidence in such details is low at this time. - Seasonal temperatures continue for the weekend with a slight cooling trend by midweek as the storm risk pushes south. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 110 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 This Afternoon: Storm Details Several rounds of storms have developed since sunrise on the nose of a 850-700-mb theta-e ridge that is advancing eastward just ahead of a surface cold front bifurcating Minnesota from SW to NE. As expected, the complex hodographs and linear forcing, coupled with a narrow instability axis in which storms have little residence time, have resulted in transient storm structures and a rapid upscale growth. The southern side of the line has become the dominant feature as of 18Z and is making the southeastward turn as the cold pool becomes established. This trend will continue over the next few hours, with damaging winds being the main threat. Additional storms may form along the nose the the theta-e ridge, but time is running out for this to occur before the cold front arrives. The cold front may serve as a source for additional convective initiation, but there has been ample anvil shading along the front and any risk for these storms may be displaced further north towards northern Wisconsin. Sunday Morning: Next Round of Storms, Heavy Rain Threat? Cooler and more stable air filters southward tonight in the wake of the cold front and persists for much of Saturday as the front stalls and pivots near I-80 in Iowa. Lee cyclogenesis along the Front Range helps push this (now warm) front northward across the region once again late Saturday night into Sunday morning. Aided by a 30-40 kt LLJ, these storms could be more robust in nature and produce heavy rainfall. While confidence is increasing that there will be some sort of MCS across the region, the devil is in the details as to when exactly it will form, which will dictate its track. Aided by increasing Gulf moisture and PWATs of 1.5 to 2 inches, coupled with an increasing line parallel storm motion, this complex could put down efficient rainfall rates in short order and will need to be monitored for any flooding risk. Early Next Week: Continued Storm Risk The lower tropospheric front stalls between central Iowa and southern Minnesota for later Sunday through Tuesday, presenting multiple windows of opportunities for convection that could bring heavy rain. However, details of these storms remain very nebulous and will be refined over the coming days. Mid to Late Week: Drier and Cooler The medium to longer range solutions are in general agreement that a a polar airmass will build southward through mid to late week as the surface baroclinic zone sags southward. This should result in cooler and drier weather, though with the surface front not far away, it will not take much of a wobble in the forecast to bring this rain back northward. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1200 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 Primary concern over the next 24 hours is the likelihood (60%) for TS to move west to east across the area this afternoon and evening, affecting both LSE/RST. Have maintained previous TAF posture of TS mentions with TEMPO groups of IFR visibility but with timing adjustments. After TS departs to the east, northwesterly winds should be predominant and should (80%) serve to keep stratus/fog concerns confined to the Wisconsin River valley around OVS overnight into Saturday morning. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && DISCUSSION...Skow AVIATION...Ferguson
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 7, 9:08 AM CDT, 6 hours 48 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 908 AM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029- 032>034-041>044-053>055-061-081815- Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette- Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston- Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau- Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant- 908 AM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong storms are possible this afternoon and evening with damaging winds (15% chance) as the main hazard. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Additional rounds of storms are possible on Sunday and into early next week, some of which may approach severe levels and produce heavy rain. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... No action needed. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. KDS
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 7, 2:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
240 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
IAZ009-018-019-072015-
Floyd IA-Chickasaw IA-Howard IA-
240 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN HOWARD...EASTERN FLOYD
AND CHICKASAW COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM CDT...
At 239 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Elma to near Charles City to 7 miles
southwest of Greene. Movement was east at 40 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.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Charles City and Elma around 245 PM CDT.
Nashua and Ionia around 250 PM CDT.
New Hampton and Jerico around 255 PM CDT.
Protivin around 300 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Bradford,
Chickasaw, Oakwood, New Hampton Airport, Powersville, Republic,
Colwell County Park, and Alta Vista.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
north central and northeastern Iowa.
&&
LAT...LON 4300 9280 4321 9259 4321 9255 4325 9255
4335 9245 4329 9208 4323 9208 4299 9233
4291 9244 4291 9292
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 275DEG 33KT 4329 9242 4300 9273 4284 9294
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
FergusonSpecial weather statement, Aug 7, 3:17 PM CDT, 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
317 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
MNZ087-088-094>096-WIZ032>034-041-072045-
Olmsted MN-Fillmore MN-Winona MN-Mower MN-Houston MN-Buffalo WI-
Jackson WI-Trempealeau WI-La Crosse WI-
317 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WINONA...SOUTHEASTERN OLMSTED...
SOUTHEASTERN MOWER...WESTERN HOUSTON...FILLMORE...SOUTHEASTERN
BUFFALO...NORTHWESTERN LA CROSSE...WESTERN JACKSON AND TREMPEALEAU
COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM CDT...
At 315 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking decaying thunderstorms
generating strong wind gusts along a line extending from near Blair
to near St. Charles to 8 miles southwest of Preston. Movement was
east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Winona, Black River Falls, Arcadia, Whitehall, Preston, Buffalo,
Holmen, Goodview, St. Charles, Chatfield, Spring Valley, Eyota,
Rushford, Lewiston, Trempealeau, Galesville, Blair, Independence,
Spring Grove, and Strum.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 94 between mile markers 92 and 121.
Interstate 90 in Minnesota between mile markers 224 and 271.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
northeastern Iowa.
&&
LAT...LON 4400 9221 4419 9195 4420 9187 4424 9189
4459 9142 4453 9105 4428 9068 4384 9149
4350 9165 4351 9264
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 276DEG 37KT 4428 9132 4390 9200 4358 9219
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
FergusonThe office that day
Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 3:20 AM CDT | Dense Fog Advisory | ARX | Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd, Howard and 2 more | 6 hr |
| Aug 7, 1:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell | 57 min |
| Aug 7, 2:40 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ARX | Chickasaw | 35 min |
| Aug 7, 2:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Chickasaw, Fayette, Floyd | 54 min |
| Aug 7, 3:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Fayette | 58 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 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.