Low pressure triggered a cluster of severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and early evening of July 27. Damaging winds and large hail were reported by storm spotters, law enforcement officials and the public.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS ARX wrote it up.
Low pressure triggered a cluster of severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and early evening of July 27. Damaging winds and large hail were reported by storm spotters, law enforcement officials and the public. In addition, a tornado was reported in Crawford County, which was the first confirmed tornado in this county since June 17, 1987.
A survey team from the La Crosse National Weather Service confirmed the tornado. The path length was 4 miles long and went in a northeasterly direction, touching down 1 mile east of Fairview and staying on the ground until 5 miles west of Soldiers Grove. For most of the path length, the tornado was rated EF0, although the survey team determined it reached EF1 for a short time. Approximate time of the tornado occurrence was 516 p.m. to 526 p.m.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jul 27, 11:12 AM CST, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 1212 PM CDT MON JUL 27 2009 .UPDATE...THIS AFTERNOON A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE 27.12Z MODELS CONTINUE TO SUGGEST THAT THE STRONGEST SHEAR REMAINS IN THE 0-3 KM LAYER /25-35 KNOTS/. THERE WAS SMALLER AREAS OF DEEPER 0-6 KM SHEAR APPROACHING 45 KNOTS MAINLY ALONG THE FRONT IN THE 27.12Z MESO MODELS. IN ADDITION... THE 27.16Z SPC EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR ALREADY OVER 40 KNOTS IN WABASHA AND OLMSTED COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND TREMPEALEAU COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS LOOK TO BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BETWEEN 2 PM AND 8 PM IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA...AND WESTERN WISCONSIN BETWEEN 4 PM AND 9 PM. IF THIS DEEP SHEAR DOES HAPPEN TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAINS ITSELF INTO NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN...THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL OF AN ISOLATED TORNADO. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 235 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2009/ SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT FORECAST FOCUS IS ON THE PCPN CHANCES FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS...STARTING WITH A THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THE 500 MB TROUGH REMAINS PLANTED OVER SOUTHERN CANADA...WITH A CLOSED LOW AND VARIOUS PARCELS OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE TROUGH...AND ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY. THIS LOOKS TO BE THE CASE THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. FIRST...FOR TODAY LATEST RADAR IMAGERY INDICATED A CLUSTER OF SHOWERS/STORMS MOVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL MN. THIS ACTIVITY WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A RIPPLE IN THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW...SOME ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE AND LOW LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION...AND A WEAK BRANCH OF THE LOW LEVEL JET/MOISTURE TRANSPORT. HIGH REZ SHORT TERM MODELS CAPTURE THIS WELL //ARW4...NMM4...SPCWRF...ARXWRF//...AND BRING THIS PCPN ACROSS AT LEAST THE NORTHERN 1/2 OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING. SOME OF THE MODELS HINT AT A DIMINISHING TREND BETWEEN 15-18Z...AS IT MOVES FARTHER INTO WI. NOT CONFIDENT IN THIS AS LATEST RUC SOLUTION STILL BRINGS THE LOW LEVEL JET INTO WESTERN WI. FOR THIS AFTERNOON...A COLD FRONT WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE REGION...RUNNING FROM NORTHEAST WI INTO CENTRAL IA BY 00Z TONIGHT. THE LOW LEVEL JET/MOISTURE TRANSPORT ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT...AND WHILE GFS/NAM SFC DEWPOINTS ARE LIKELY TOO WARM...SBCAPES OF 2000 J/KG APPEAR LIKELY. THE DEEPER WIND SHEAR WILL BE POST FRONT...BUT 20-25 KTS PROGGED IN THE 0-3 KM LAYER ALONG AND AHEAD OF IT. A LOT OF THIS IN THE 0-1 KM LAYER...15-20 KTS BY 00Z. SIG TOR PARAMETER HIGH AS A RESULT. THE HIGH REZ MESO MODELS DEVELOP CONVECTION AHEAD OF THE FRONT EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...ENHANCING IT OVER NORTHEAST IA/SOUTHWEST WI AS IT TAPS INTO THE HIGHER INSTABILITY. THERE WILL BE A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TODAY...MOSTLY FROM EARLY/MID AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. FEEL THE BETTER SEVERE THREAT WILL BE FROM WESTERN/CENTRAL WI INTO NORTHEAST IA. LARGE HAIL PROBABLY THE MAIN THREAT...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND EVEN AN ISOLATED TORNADO ALSO POSSIBLE. THERE IS A CAVEAT TO ALL THIS...AND THAT WOULD BE THE STABILIZING IMPACT FROM THE MORNING CONVECTION. THERE WILL BE SOME SBCIN TO BATTLE. GOING TO TREND THE FORECAST TOWARD INSTABILITY RE-ESTABLISHING ITSELF ACROSS THE NORTHERN 1/2 OF THE AREA...WITH CLEANER AIR/MORE INSTABILITY TO THE SOUTH. ANY CIN WOULD BE A FACTOR FOR WIND/TOR POTENTIAL...AND THIS WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED IF STRONG/SEVERE STORMS DEVELOP LATER TODAY. ON TUESDAY...REMNANTS OF THE FRONT LOOK TO HANG WEST-EAST ACROSS SOUTHERN IA/NORTHERN ILL. A PUSH OF A BRANCH OF THE LOW LEVEL JET/MOISTURE TRANSPORT INTO THIS BOUNDARY SHOULD LEAD TO SOME SHOWER/STORM PRODUCTION. CURRENTLY...THIS SHOULD STAY SOUTH OF MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA...WITH JUST SMALL CHANCES ACROSS NORTHEAST IA/SOUTHWEST WI. FARTHER NORTH...A SPOKE OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY WILL BE ROTATING AROUND THE CLOSED UPPER LEVEL LOW...SLIDING ACROSS NORTHERN PARTS OF THE REGION. AT THE SFC...A TROUGH WILL REFLECT THE UPPER LEVEL ENERGY...WITH THE ADDED INFLUENCE OF ANOTHER LOW LEVEL JET. SOME SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DEVELOP IN RESPONSE TO THIS FORCING...BUT IN THIS CASE...LIKELY STAYS NORTH OF THE LOCAL AREA. WED NIGHT...ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL SWING THOUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS...PUSHING OVER THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY 12Z THU. SOME INFLUENCE FROM A LOW LEVEL JET INTO THIS FEATURE...ALTHOUGH THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT ISN/T OVERLY STRONG...AND LACKING A FEED INTO GULF MOISTURE. THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF A CURVED UPPER LEVEL JET SHOULD ENHANCE THE LIFT WITH THIS FEATURE...AND EXPECT SOME SORT OF MCS TO RESULT OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS/WESTERN MN...MOVING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT WED/THU MORNING. LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY QUASI-OMEGA BLOCK ANCHORED OVER THE WEST COAST LOOKS TO KEEP THE REGION UNDER A NORTHWEST //AND FAIRLY ACTIVE// FLOW THROUGH THE 240 HOURS OF THE GFS/ECMWF SOLUTIONS...WHICH WOULD TAKE US INTO WED OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WOULD CONTINUE THE PATTERN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO FOR THE PAST WEEK OR TWO...WITH GENERALLY COOLER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS. WHAT THIS PATTERN HAS ALSO DONE IS KEEP THE REGION OUT OF THE DEEPER...MORE SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE...AND THEREFORE THE STRONGER/SEVERE STORM THREAT HAS BEEN SMALLER THAN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. DEFINITELY NOT A SUMMER-TIME PATTERN. THAT SAID...A FEW THINGS TO FOCUS ON IN THIS PORTION OF THE LONG TERM AS THE GFS AND EC PRODUCE A PARADE OF SHORTWAVE TROUGHS...SPINNING ONE ACROSS THE REGION THU MORNING...ANOTHER THU NIGHT/FRI...AND THEN ANOTHER LOBE OF ENERGY JUST NORTH FOR FRI/SAT. THE MODELS PRODUCE SOME PCPN FOR THU MORNING...AND THEN AGAIN FRI NIGHT/SAT...ALONG A COLD FRONT/MOISTURE AXIS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHORTWAVE TO THE NORTH. TRYING TO REFINE TIMING IS DIFFICULT THIS MANY DAYS OUT...ESPECIALLY WITH THE VARIOUS BITS OF ENERGY THAT WOULD SLIDE ACROSS THE REGION. IT DOES LOOK REASONABLE THAT THERE WILL BE PCPN CHANCES THROUGH MUCH OF THE END OF THIS WEEK...WITH THU MORNING AND THE FRI NIGHT/SAT TIME FRAME POSSIBLY HOLDING THE BEST CHANCES. TEMPERATURES...AS ALLUDED TOO...WILL STAY AT OR BELOW THE SEASONABLE NORMALS...WITH A FEW DAYS OF 70S LIKELY. AVIATION... CURRENT RADAR SHOWING CONVECTION OVER WESTERN MINNESOTA IN ZONE OF WARM ADVECTION ISENTROPIC LIFT AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. RUC SHOWING ZONE OF WARM ADVECTION/ISENTROPIC LIFT TO PROGRESS SOUTHWARD THOUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WITH MOISTURE TRANSPORT STRENGTHENING BETWEEN 09Z-12Z. EXPECT CONVECTION TO CONTINUE DROPPING SOUTHEAST IN NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT APPROACHING THE KRST TAF SITE AROUND 10Z-11Z AND KLSE AROUND 12Z-13Z. FOR NOW HAVE MENTIONED MAINLY SHRA IN TAFS WITH CB TO INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONGER STORMS. THESE MAY HAVE TO BE UPDATED AS THE CONVECTION NEARS THE TAF SITES. MVFR VISIBILITIES LIKELY WITHIN THE HEAVIER SHOWERS FOR AT LEAST A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING. LATER TODAY...THE COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA. STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARD CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL GIVEN MORNING CONVECTION STABILIZING AFFECT ON THE ATMOSPHERE. HOWEVER...MODELS INDICATE MLCAPES APPROACHING 1000-1500 J/KG BY LATE AFTERNOON AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT ALONG WITH 25 KNOTS OF 0-3KM SHEAR. FRONT WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE TAF SITES DURING PEAK HEATING. WITH THESE UNCERTAINTIES TAFS FOR NOW JUST MENTIONING VCSH FOR THE AFTERNOON HOURS...BUT WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY. AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE...EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. RABERDING && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && SHORT/LONG TERM...RIECK UPDATE...BOYNE AVIATION...RABERDING
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 1152 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2009 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034- 041>044-053>055-061-281100- ADAMS-ALLAMAKEE-BUFFALO-CHICKASAW-CLARK-CLAYTON-CRAWFORD-DODGE- FAYETTE-FILLMORE-FLOYD-GRANT-HOUSTON-HOWARD-JACKSON-JUNEAU-LA CROSSE- MITCHELL-MONROE-MOWER-OLMSTED-RICHLAND-TAYLOR-TREMPEALEAU-VERNON- WABASHA-WINNESHIEK-WINONA- 1152 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA... NORTHEAST IOWA...AND SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A COLD FRONT WILL PRODUCE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AS IT MOVES SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE BETWEEN 2 PM AND 9 PM. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND MAYBE AN ISOLATED TORNADO. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE COLD FRONT WILL SETTLE SOUTH OF THE AREA ON TUESDAY. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS FAR SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN AND NORTHEAST IOWA...BUT ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LEVELS. PERIODIC THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL THEN CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY. AT THIS TIME IT IS TOO EARLY TO DISCERN THE SEVERE POTENTIAL OF ANY OF THESE STORMS. HOWEVER...A COLD FRONT LOOKS TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...AND EARLY INDICATIONS FAVOR CONDITIONS SUPPORTIVE OF STRONGER STORM DEVELOPMENT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 2 PM AND 8 PM IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA...AND 4 PM AND 9 PM IN WESTERN WISCONSIN. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO CALL IS SCHEDULED. BOYNE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 201 PM CDT MON JUL 27 2009 MNZ079-WIZ029-032>034-042>044-272200- ADAMS-BUFFALO-CLARK-JACKSON-JUNEAU-MONROE-TREMPEALEAU-WABASHA- 201 PM CDT MON JUL 27 2009 AT 200 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN BETWEEN INTERSTATE 94 AND HIGHWAY 29. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 58 MPH AND HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE BETWEEN 2 PM AND 5 PM. BE ALERT FOR STORMS THAT MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...AND MOVE INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS IF A WARNING IS ISSUED. PREPARE NOW FOR POSSIBLE STRONG TO DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS. MOVE INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS IF A WARNING IS ISSUED. BOYNE
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:19 UTC.
15 hail, 12 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Sheriff department reported 25 to 30 trees were down along Highway 12 and County Roads K and E.
Wind gusts were around 40 mph.
Two trees were blown down along County Road C.
Some wind damage was also reported in Angelo.
Several trees were damaged at the intersection of County Road AA and A. Damage continued for 2 miles to the east and southeast of this point.
Some trees were reported down in the area as well.
Numerous trees were knocked down near Haven Avenue and County Road A and AA just south of Highway 16. Trees were knocked down on power lines and cars. Roofs were also blown off of mobile homes in that area.
Trees were reported down along Highway 16 near Fort McCoy.
Trees were reported down.
Downed trees were blocking a road just south of Friendship. Pea size hail was also reported.
Trees were reported blown down in many areas east and northeast of Adams. Pea size hail was also reported.
There was dime and nickel size hail, but not enough to cover the ground.
Initial reports suggested seeing debris flying in the air. The tornado formed near a ridge area but traveled into nearby valleys hitting several farms and knocking down trees and branches in a narrow path. Hail was observed before the tornado as well.
A building was damaged at the intersection of Highway 61 and Tavern Road.
Trees were knocked down near County Road D and the Richland County line.
Trees were reported down.
Power lines and trees were down throughout town.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Wisconsin, 2009Warnings in Wisconsin, July 2009
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: 175583, 180033, 175601, 175582, 180043, 180034, 180035, 175569, 175595, 175571, 175600, 175588, 175587, 175586, 175589, 180037, 180036, 180038, 175581, 175597, 175591, 175593, 175572, 180040, 180042, 175598, 180041, 175574.