Township roads across Jackson County that were covered with flood waters starting in April, opened up by the middle of May as the waters receded.
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.
Township roads across Jackson County that were covered with flood waters starting in April, opened up by the middle of May as the waters receded.
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 Apr 30, 10:48 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 1148 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 330 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 A FRONTAL BOUNDARY RESTS ROUGHLY FROM NORTH CENTRAL WI INTO CENTRAL IA LATE THIS AFTERNOON...AND WILL SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR SHOWER/STORM DEVELOPMENT. LATEST HRRR/NAM12 SUGGESTS CONVECTION SHOULD START TO FIRE BETWEEN 22-00Z THIS AFTERNOON/TONIGHT. RAP13 MUCAPES UPWARDS OF 1000 J/KG ALONG THE BOUNDARY THIS EVENING...WITH 0-3 KM SHEAR VALUES AROUND 40 KTS. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LOOK POSSIBLE FOR A FEW HOURS THIS EVENING...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREATS. THE PRECIPITATION FOCUS THEN TURNS TO THE WEST WHERE RAIN WILL DEVELOP ACROSS MN/IA IN RESPONSE TO UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND SOME SLOPING LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENETIC LIFT. THE HIGHER PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL BE ACROSS THE WEST ON WED...MOSTLY WEST OF A CHARLES CITY IA TO MONDOVI WI LINE. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 330 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 SLOW MOVING...IMPACTFUL WEATHER SYSTEM GOING TO DROP RAIN AND SNOW ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. HOW MUCH...WHAT AND WHERE ARE STILL IN QUESTION...BUT EVERYONE WILL GET WET. LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY DEPICTS AN UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH DRIVING EAST NORTHEAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS...WITH ANOTHER PIECE OF ENERGY ACROSS THE PAC NORTHWEST. THE NORTHERN SHORTWAVE KICKS NORTHEAST TONIGHT...BUT GFS/NAM SUGGESTS THAT A BIT OF THIS ENERGY WILL HANG BACK ACROSS THE PLAINS. THE PAC NW SHORTWAVE WILL DRIVE EAST SOUTHEAST...STRENGTHENING AND PHASES WITH THE NORTHERN SHORTWAVE THU/THU NIGHT. A 500 MB LOW DEVELOPS IN RESPONSE AND LIKELY GETS CUTOFF FROM THE MEAN FLOW BY 00Z SAT. 300 MB JET HELPS SHARPEN UP THE MID LEVEL TROUGH...AND ITS RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION HOLDS UP ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA WED-THU NIGHT...ENHANCING THE AVAILABLE LIFT. LOOKING AT THE LOW LEVEL THERMODYNAMICS...TIGHT PACKING SETS UP NORTHEAST-SOUTHWEST LATER TONIGHT...AND MEANDERS BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE REGION INTO FRIDAY. THE FRONTOGENETIC LIFT IS VERY STRONG...AND PROLONGED. WEST-EAST TIME/HEIGHT X-SECTIONS HAS APPRECIABLE FRONTOGENETIC RESPONSE FROM 900-700 MB OVERNIGHT TONIGHT...THROUGH AT LEAST 12Z FRIDAY. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT ISN/T IMPRESSIVE...WITH PW/S FROM 100 TO 150 PERCENT OF NORMAL FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF SATURATION FOR THE LIFT TO WORK ON HOWEVER...PER RH FIELDS AND BUFKIT SOUNDINGS. THE REGION IS GOING TO GET WET...AND THEN STAY WET FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. QUESTIONS ARISE WITH WHETHER IT WILL BE MORE RAIN OR SNOW...HOW MUCH OF EACH WILL FALL...AND THEN POTENTIAL TRAVEL IMPACTS AND RIVER REPINES. WEST-EAST RUNNING X-SECTION BISECTING THE FORECAST AREA SHOWS A WARM LAYER CENTERED AROUND 800 MB AT 00Z THU...REGRESSING EAST DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND ON THU. BELOW ZERO SOUNDING ALOFT AT LSE LATER THU AFTERNOON. RAIN SHOULD GRADUALLY MIX WITH AND CHANGE OVER TO SNOW THU NIGHT IN THE FAR WEST...SHIFTING BACK TO RAIN THU AFTERNOON. THERE WILL BE SOME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...MOSTLY WEST OF CHARLES CITY IA TO MEDFORD WI. IF THIS WAS JANUARY...SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS UPWARDS OF 10 INCHES WOULD BE LIKELY. HOWEVER...LATE APRIL GROUNDS WILL WORK TO MELT MUCH OF THE SNOWFALL INITIALLY. HEAVY SNOWFALL RATE OVERNIGHT WED SHOULD OVERCOME A LOT OF THAT...AND SEE A POTENTIAL FOR 4 TO 6 INCHES FROM AUSTIN AND ROCHESTER NORTHWEST. MOST OF THIS WILL BE ON THE COLDER...GRASSY SURFACES. COBB OUTPUT AND SREF PLUMES SUGGEST OVER 12 INCHES IN SOME LOCATIONS. PER COORDINATION WITH SURROUNDING OFFICES...WILL NOT GO WITH A WINTER STORM WATCH AT THIS TIME. BELIEVE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL BE NEEDED AT THE VERY LEAST FOR A FEW COUNTIES TO THE WEST FOR WED NIGHT/THU MORNING. ROADS WILL BE WET...BUT SNOW FALL RATES COULD MAKE THEM SNOW/SLUSH COVERED DURING THAT MORNING RUSH. SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GFS/EC/GEM WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE LATE WEEK SYSTEM. THE 30.00Z GEM/EC KEEPING THE UPPER LEVEL CLOSED LOW ACROSS THE NORTH...GRADUALLY LIFTING IT INTO CANADA AND SHUNTING IT NORTHEAST. THE 30.12Z GFS CUTS OFF THE UPPER LEVEL LOW...HANGING IT ACROSS THE MID/LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY...MEANDERING SLOWLY EAST ACROSS THE GULF STATES. SENSIBLE WEATHER VIA THE GFS WOULD FAVOR QUIET...MORE SEASONABLE CONDITIONS. THE EC WOULD ALLOW FOR ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH TO DIVE ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY FOR THE NEW WORK WEEK...BRINGING PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...AND THEN A BLAST OF COLDER AIR POST THE SYSTEM BY MID WEEK. THE GFS HAS GENERALLY FAVORED THIS SOUTHERN TAKE ON THE UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER ITS PAST FEW RUNS...WHILE THE EC HAS STAYED TO THE NORTH. MODEL DIFFERENCES KEEP THE FORECAST CONFIDENCE LOW ON THE DETAILS...AND WILL LEAN HEAVILY ON THE CONSENSUS FOR NOW. && .AVIATION...WEDNESDAY ISSUED AT 1148 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 AS UPPER LOW APPROACHES FROM WESTERN STATES...ALREADY SEEING LOW LEVEL RESPONSE WITH LOW LEVEL JET INCREASING LATE THIS EVENING OVER CORN BELT AND PLAINS. ELEVATED AIR OVER FRONT CONTINUES TO SATURATE RELATIVELY HIGH BASED /VFR/ CONVECTION IN A LONG BAND FROM NORTHEAST WISCONSIN INTO NORTHERN IOWA. LIGHTNING THREAT CONTINUES TO LOWER AS ANY REMAINING MUCAPE DECREASES. SHORT TERM AND HIGHER RESOLUTION MODELS CONTINUE TREND OF THIS BAND SLOWLY WORKING NORTHWEST AS RESPONSE FROM DIGGING UPPER TROUGH ROTATES BEST LIFT BACK THAT WAY. CHANCE BAND COULD REMAIN MORE STATIONARY AS LOW LEVEL JET CONTINUES TO PRODUCE LIFT...BUT IF NOT THEN WOULD EXPECT A BREAK IN PRECIPITATION AT LEAST FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TODAY. THEN BAND MOVES BACK INTO AREAS LATER TODAY AND CEILINGS CONTINUE TO LOWER AS SATURATION CONTINUES. MIGHT EVEN SEE PRECIPITATION BEGIN TO MIX LATE IN TAF PERIODS AS COLD ENOUGH AIR SWEEPS IN...WITH SOME IFR DEVELOPING. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 330 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 AN ACTIVE FEW DAYS WILL BRING A MEDLEY OF PRECIPITATION TYPES AND IMPACTS TO THE UPPER MIDWEST. FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...BETWEEN 1.5 AND 2 INCHES OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA...WITH LESSER AMOUNTS / 1 TO 1.5 INCHES / ACROSS WESTERN AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN. CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE THAT SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IOWA WOULD SEE THE HIGHER AMOUNTS. FURTHERMORE...MUCH COLDER AIR WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR WET HEAVY SNOW...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR 4 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY RAINFALL AND/OR SNOWFALL WOULD CREATE SIGNIFICANT WITHIN BANK RISES /POSSIBLY ABOVE FLOOD STAGE/ ON AREA RIVERS...STREAMS...AND TRIBUTARIES THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && MESOSCALE....SHEA SHORT TERM...RIECK LONG TERM....RIECK AVIATION.....SHEA HYDROLOGY....ZT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 723 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 IAZ010-011-029-030-MNZ096-WIZ017-029-033-034-041>044-053>055-061- 011100- ADAMS-ALLAMAKEE-CLARK-CLAYTON-CRAWFORD-FAYETTE-GRANT-HOUSTON-JACKSON- JUNEAU-LA CROSSE-MONROE-RICHLAND-TAYLOR-TREMPEALEAU-VERNON- WINNESHIEK- 723 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA... SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BRING A RISK OF LIGHTNING AND HAIL TO PARTS OF THE AREA THIS EVENING. LARGE HAIL IS STILL POSSIBLE WITH STRONGER STORMS AND A WARNING OR TWO IS STILL POSSIBLE THIS EVENING. MOST OF THE ACTIVITY WILL BE FROM NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN LOOKS TO SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA FROM WEDNESDAY INTO SUNDAY. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME. THIS RAINFALL WILL LIKELY IMPACT RIVER LEVELS AND ELEVATE THE THREAT OF ADDITIONAL FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION DOES NOT LOOK LIKELY THIS EVENING...BUT ANY OBSERVATIONS OF HAIL WOULD BE APPRECIATED. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ079-086>088-094-095-WIZ032-011100- BUFFALO-CHICKASAW-DODGE-FILLMORE-FLOYD-HOWARD-MITCHELL-MOWER-OLMSTED- WABASHA-WINONA- 723 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA... SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BRING A LIGHTNING AND HAIL RISK MAINLY THIS EVENING. AN OCCASIONAL STRONGER STORM COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL BRIEFLY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY CONFIDENCE IS INCREASING THAT A BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL DEVELOP WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. HOWEVER...WHERE THIS BAND SETS UP IS STILL A BIT UNCERTAIN. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT THE EASTERN EDGE OF THIS HEAVY SNOW BAND COULD EXTEND ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR 4 OR MORE INCHES OF ACCUMULATION MAINLY ON GRASSY SURFACES. HOWEVER...SOME ACCUMULATION IS STILL POSSIBLE ON ROADWAYS WHEN SNOWFALL RATES ARE HIGHEST. THAT COULD IMPACT THE THURSDAY MORNING COMMUTE. THE COMBINATION OF MELTING SNOW AND RAINFALL WILL LIKELY PUSH LIQUID ACCUMULATION AMOUNTS INTO THE 1 TO 3 INCH RANGE THROUGH FRIDAY. THIS WILL IMPACT RIVER LEVELS AND ELEVATE THE THREAT OF ADDITIONAL FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION DOES NOT LOOK LIKELY THIS EVENING BECAUSE OF THE WIDELY SCATTERED NATURE OF THE HAIL AND STORMS. IF YOU DO WITNESS HAIL...PLEASE REPORT IT. IN ADDITION...SNOW OBSERVATIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. 04/DAS/SHEA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 713 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ094-095-010115- CHICKASAW-FILLMORE-FLOYD-HOWARD-MITCHELL-MOWER- 713 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL THIS EVENING... AT 706 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IOWA INTO SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...UP TO 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER...ALONG WITH BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED THROUGH 830 PM INCLUDE... OSAGE...CRESCO...SPRING VALLEY...AUSTIN...ST ANGSAR...CHARLES CITY...NEW HAMPTON ZT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 717 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 MNZ088-010045- WINONA- 717 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO WINONA COUNTY... AT 715 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR I-90 IN SOUTHWEST WINONA COUNTY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. SMALL HAIL UP TO 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS MAY ACCOMPANY THIS THUNDERSTORM. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE... FREMONT...I 90 EXIT 242...LEWISTON...I 90 EXIT 249...WILSON...STOCKTON AND MINNESOTA CITY. ZT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 731 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 MNZ086-010130- OLMSTED 731 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING ROCHESTER AREA... AT 728 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNNESOTA...WHICH WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO OLMSTED COUNTY AND THE ROCHESTER AREA BETWEEN 830 AND 9 PM. SMALL HAIL UP TO 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER AND BRIEF TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS. DIME SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED EARLIER BY BROADCAST MEDIA IN AUSTIN...WHICH WAS COVERING THE GROUND. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE... HIGH FOREST...I 90 EXIT 205...ROCHESTER AIRPORT...I 90 EXIT 209...SIMPSON AND I 90 EXIT 218...STEWARTVILLE...SALEM CORNERS...ROCK DELL...POTSDAM...EYOTA. SMALL HAIL MAY FALL FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND COVER THE GROUND. ZT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 734 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 MNZ087-010130- OLMSTED 734 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING ROCHESTER AREA... AT 728 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNNESOTA...WHICH WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO OLMSTED COUNTY AND THE ROCHESTER AREA BETWEEN 830 AND 9 PM. SMALL HAIL UP TO 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER AND BRIEF TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS. DIME SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED EARLIER BY BROADCAST MEDIA IN AUSTIN...WHICH WAS COVERING THE GROUND. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE... HIGH FOREST...I 90 EXIT 205...ROCHESTER AIRPORT...I 90 EXIT 209...SIMPSON AND I 90 EXIT 218...STEWARTVILLE...SALEM CORNERS...ROCK DELL...POTSDAM...EYOTA. SMALL HAIL MAY FALL FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND COVER THE GROUND. ZT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 809 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 IAZ008>011-018-019-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041-042- 010300- ALLAMAKEE-BUFFALO-CHICKASAW-CLARK-DODGE-FILLMORE-FLOYD-HOUSTON-HOWARD -JACKSON-LA CROSSE-MITCHELL-MONROE-MOWER-OLMSTED-TAYLOR-TREMPEALEAU-WA BASHA-WINNESHIEK-WINONA- 809 PM CDT TUE APR 30 2013 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL THIS EVENING... NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THIS EVENING...GENERALLY NORTHEAST BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH. THE MAJORITY OF THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...BETWEEN PEA AND DIME SIZE...ALONG WITH BRIEF GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL. THE SMALL HAIL MAY FALL LONG ENOUGH TO BRIEFLY COVER THE GROUND. THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS...THEN DIMINISH IN INTENSITY. ZT
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Stetzer Road in the Town of Melrose was closed starting in April until May 16th due to flooding and high water on the Black River and Germann Valley Creek.
Hawk Island Road in the Town of Manchester was closed starting in April until May 9th due to flooding and high water on the Black River.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, May 2013
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: 451760, 451761.