Wisconsin, 1997

Funnel Clouds in Wisconsin, July 20, 1997

July 20, 1997 · NWS ARX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Several funnel clouds were observed by spotters, but no touchdowns were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS ARX wrote it up.

Several funnel clouds were observed by spotters, but no touchdowns were reported.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, La Crosse

When
July 20, 8:25 PM CST to 8:28 PM CST
Where
La Crosse County, 2 mi N of Holmen
Coordinates
43.907, -91.115 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, La Crosse

When
July 20, 8:55 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
La Crosse County, 5 mi NE of La Crosse
Coordinates
43.907, -91.115 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Vernon

When
July 20, 9:17 PM CST to 9:18 PM CST
Where
Vernon County, 1 mi NW of Westby
Coordinates
43.594, -90.834 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5606853, 5606855, 5606854.