Several rounds of thunderstorms rolled across western Wisconsin during the afternoon and evening of May 19th. The first round of storms produced wind damage across Buffalo County during the afternoon.
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.
Several rounds of thunderstorms rolled across western Wisconsin during the afternoon and evening of May 19th. The first round of storms produced wind damage across Buffalo County during the afternoon. The second round of storms in the evening produced additional severe wind gusts in Vernon, Grant and Richland Counties. The most significant damage occurred in Gilmanton (Buffalo County) were a dozen power poles were blown down.
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 May 19, 1:20 PM CST, 3 hours 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
220 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
.SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT AND MONDAY)
ISSUED AT 220 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH SERVING AS ONE FOCUS FOR STORM
DEVELOPMENT EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SKIES HAVE CLEARED AHEAD OF THE
SHORTWAVE...MOVING NORTH/NORTHEAST ACROSS IOWA...ALLOWING FOR RAPID
DESTABILIZATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE. MUCAPES PER LATEST RAP ANALYSIS
HAVE RISEN INTO THE 2-3 K J/KG RANGE...WITH 30-40 KTS OF EFFECTIVE
SHEAR. SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT IS SUPPORTED. SEE A POTENTIAL FOR ALL
SEVERE WEATHER TYPES...WITH SUPERCELLS MORPHING INTO BOWING
SEGMENTS. THINK DAMAGING WINDS MIGHT BECOME THE GREATER THREAT LATER
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
HRRR SUGGESTS THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG/SEVERE STORMS
COMING IN TOWARD 06S AS A SHORTWAVE PUSHES NORTHWARD ACROSS IOWA.
INSTABILITY WOULD DECREASE WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING...BUT
GFS/NAM STILL SUGGEST 1000+ J/KG OF MUCAPE AT 06Z...WITH 40+ KTS OF
0-6 KM SHEAR. PLENTY TO CONTINUE A SEVERE THREAT.
FOR MONDAY...ATMOSPHERE PROGGED TO RELOAD FOR THE AFTERNOON/EVENING
WITH MUCAPES UPWARDS OF 2500 J/KG AND MLCAPES UP TO 2000 J/KG. 0-6KM
WIND SHEAR CLIMBS TO 40-50 KTS BY 00Z TUE...SUPPORTIVE OF SUPERCELL
DEVELOPMENT. 0-1KM SHEAR IS 15-20 KTS. IF ALL THIS COMES TO
PASS...ATMOSPHERE WOULD BE RIPE FOR SEVERE WEATHER...WITH ROTATING
SUPERCELLS AND THE GAMBIT OF SEVERE THREATS. THE KEY IS THE
KICKER...AND THAT IS WHERE THE FORECAST CHALLENGE LIES. GFS/NAM
SUGGEST A SHORTWAVE TROUGH COULD LIFT OUT OF THE BASE OF THE UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH FOR THE AFTERNOON/EVENING...BUT ALSO POINT TO POSSIBLE
MCVS SPINNING INTO THE REGION. MEANWHILE...THERE WILL LIKELY BE LEFT
OVER SFC BOUNDARIES FROM CONVECTION TODAY/TONIGHT. WHERE THESE LIE
IS UNKNOWN. CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH IN WHERE/WHEN CONVECTION WILL
FIRE...BUT BELIEVE THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING WOULD BE THE FAVORED
TIME FOR A SEVERE THREAT...AND GENERALLY FROM CENTRAL WI INTO
NORTHEAST IA.
.LONG TERM...(TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)
ISSUED AT 220 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
THE VIRTUALLY STATIONARY UPPER LEVEL LOW FINALLY STARTS TO MAKE ITS
WAY EAST OUT OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS TUE...PER LATEST GFS/NAM/EC. THE
LOW WEAKENS SOME AS IT SLIDES OVER THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
VALLEY TUE NIGHT/WED. MAIN COLD FRONT WITH THIS SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE IT
WILL SLIP THROUGH WITH THE LOW AROUND WED...BUT MODELS KEEP
CONVECTION AT A MINIMUM AROUND IT. RATHER...THE PCPN FOCUS IS
WITH THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT...WHICH IS WELL EAST OF THE
COLD FRONT...WRAPPING NORTH/WEST OF THE LOW. SOME MODEL DISAGREEMENT
WITH HOW FAR SOUTH THE AREAS OF SHOWERS/ISOLD STORMS WOULD REACH
WED...WITH THE GFS MORE SOUTH THAN THE EC. IT REMAINS A MESSY
SCENARIO WITH CLARITY LACKING...BUT TRENDS FAVOR THE GREATER PCPN
CHANCES OVER THE NORTHERN 1/2 OF THE FORECAST AREA. WILL LEAN ON
MODEL CONSENSUS FOR THE CHANCES.
TURNING BACK TO TUE...MUCAPES BUILD TO 1500+ J/KG OVER THE EASTERN
1/2 OF THE FORECAST DURING THE AFTERNOON...WITH 0-6 KM SHEAR OF
30-40 KTS. SOME SUGGESTIONS IN THE GFS/NAM OF A PIECE OF UPPER LEVEL
ENERGY ROTATING AROUND THE LOW...WHICH COULD SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR
SHOWER/STORM DEVELOPMENT. ATMOSPHERE LOOKS GOOD FOR STORM PRODUCTION
IF A SPARK FOR CONVECTION IS THERE...WITH A SEVERE THREAT IN THE
EAST TUE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING. AGAIN...KEY HERE IS WHERE THE PCPN
FOCUSES WILL BE...INCLUDING ANY MESO SCALE BOUNDARIES AND/OR MCVS
LEFT FROM PREVIOUS CONVECTION.
BETTER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GFS AND ECMWF WITH PUSHING THAT
LINGERING LOW EAST/SOUTHEAST ON THU...ALLOWING AN UPPER LEVEL SFC
RIDGE/HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM TO BUILD INTO THE REGION. SHOULD GET A
COUPLE DRIER DAYS AS A RESULT. HOWEVER...WARM/MOIST AIR ON THE
BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH COUPLED WITH A BIT OF UPPER LEVEL ENERGY COULD
RETURN SOME SHOWERS/STORMS TO THE REGION SAT-SUN.
&&
.AVIATION...THROUGH 18Z MONDAY
1236 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
MAIN AVIATION CONCERNS ARE SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPMENT AND
MOVEMENT INTO RST/LSE TAF SITES AND THE SEVERE POTENTIAL WITH
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THE 19.12Z
NAM AND 19.15Z RAP MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW DECENT SOUTHERLY
MOISTURE FLOW INTO THE AREA. BOTH MODELS INDICATE A COUPLE OF UPPER
LEVEL DISTURBANCES TO TRACK INTO THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. THE COMBINATION OF SOUTHERLY MOISTURE FLOW...INSTABILITY AND
LIFT IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL ALLOW
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON.
UNCERTAINTY STILL EXIST AT TIMING OF CONVECTION OVER THE REGION
THIS AFTERNOON. HAVE DELAYED TIMING OF VCTS AT BOTH TAF SITES AND
ADDED TEMPO GROUP FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXIST AT BOTH TAF
SITES MAINLY AFTER 20Z SUNDAY TO AROUND 03Z MONDAY...DUE TO
INCREASING INSTABILITY AND WIND SHEAR OVER THE AREA. BOTH THE 19.12Z
NAM/19.15Z RAP INDICATE FOCUS OF SOUTHERLY MOISTURE FLOW OVER
CENTRAL AND EASTERN WISCONSIN AFTER 06Z MONDAY AND SHOULD PUSH
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY EAST OF THE RST/LSE TAF SITES. LINGERING
RAIN SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE AT BOTH TAF SITES TO AROUND 11Z AND 13Z
MONDAY. IN ADDITION...LATEST BUFKIT SOUNDINGS FROM THE 19.12Z NAM
AND 19.15Z SUGGEST CEILINGS IN THE MVFR RANGE WITH THE RAIN AND
CONVECTION. HAVE INTRODUCED MVFR RANGE CEILINGS AFTER 03Z AND 06Z
AT TAF SITES.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
ISSUED AT 220 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST
MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA.
SOAKING RAINS AND HIGH SOIL MOISTURE FROM A WET SPRING HAS PRIMED
THIS AREA FOR FLASH FLOODING. A SLOW MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL
PRODUCE PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE NEXT FEW
DAYS...WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE INTO MONDAY NIGHT. PWS ARE AROUND
150 PERCENT OR NORMAL...OR GREATER...THROUGH THIS PERIOD. ANY HEAVY
RAINFALL...ESPECIALLY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...WOULD LIKELY
RESULT IN AT LEAST LOCALIZED FLOODING ISSUES...POTENTIALLY MORE
WIDESPREAD.
THIS FLASH FLOOD WATCH MAY BE EXPANDED AND POSSIBLY EXTENDED INTO
MONDAY NIGHT...DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS TODAY...AND IF DETAILS
SUGGEST THE FLOODING THREAT COULD REMAIN.
HOWEVER...MODELS PROVIDE SOME HOPE THAT THE HEAVIER RAIN THREAT
COULD SHIFT NORTH/EAST AS THE OFFENDING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM INCHES
CLOSER FROM THE WEST. RELATIVELY DRIER AIR FROM THE ROCKIES/PLAINS
WOULD PUSH IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST...WHILE THE WARM/MOIST CONVEYOR
BELT WOULD MOVE INTO WI AND NUDGED NORTH.
RIVERS IN THE WATCH AREA WOULD ALSO SEE RAPID RISES ASIDE FROM THE
FLASH FLOODING EFFECTS.
&&
.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...NONE.
MN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING FOR MNZ079-086-087-094-095.
IA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING FOR IAZ008.
&&
SHORT TERM...RIECK
LONG TERM....RIECK
AVIATION.....WETENKAMP
HYDROLOGY....RIECKHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 1151 AM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 IAZ008-MNZ079-086-087-094-095-201000- DODGE-FILLMORE-MITCHELL-MOWER-OLMSTED-WABASHA- 1151 AM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY. THERE WILL BE PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. TWO ROUNDS OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS APPEAR POSSIBLE. STORMS WILL DEVELOP SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 90...THEN LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. INSTABILITY BUILDS THIS AFTERNOON AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP QUICKLY AND COULD BECOME SEVERE. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS... FLASH FLOODING...AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO ARE ALL POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY ON MONDAY...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...LOCALIZED FLOODING...AND EVEN A FEW TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. THERE WILL BE OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS FROM TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE PRIMARY CONCERN WILL BE LOCALIZED FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... IT IS LIKELY THAT SOME SPOTTER GROUPS WILL BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STAY TUNED TO LATER STATEMENTS FOR TIMING. SPOTTERS WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED MONDAY AS WELL. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. IAZ009>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ088-096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044- 053>055-061-201000- ADAMS-ALLAMAKEE-BUFFALO-CHICKASAW-CLARK-CLAYTON-CRAWFORD-FAYETTE- FLOYD-GRANT-HOUSTON-HOWARD-JACKSON-JUNEAU-LA CROSSE-MONROE-RICHLAND- TAYLOR-TREMPEALEAU-VERNON-WINNESHIEK-WINONA- 1151 AM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST IOWA...AND SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. TWO ROUNDS OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS APPEAR POSSIBLE. STORMS WILL DEVELOP SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 90...THEN LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. INSTABILITY BUILDS THIS AFTERNOON AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP QUICKLY AND COULD BECOME SEVERE. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS... FLASH FLOODING...AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO ARE ALL POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY ON MONDAY...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...LOCALIZED FLOODING...AND EVEN A FEW TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. THERE WILL BE OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS FROM TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE PRIMARY CONCERN WILL BE LOCALIZED FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... IT IS LIKELY THAT SOME SPOTTER GROUPS WILL BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STAY TUNED TO LATER STATEMENTS FOR TIMING. SPOTTERS WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED MONDAY AS WELL. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. WETENKAMP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 439 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 MNZ079-087-088-095-WIZ032-192230- BUFFALO-FILLMORE-OLMSTED-WABASHA-WINONA- 439 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 ...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON... A COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS IS SHIFTING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH THROUGH SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA LATE THIS AFTERNOON. AT 430 PM...THE LINE EXTENDED ALONG HIGHWAY 52...FROM MINNEAPOLIS THROUGH THE MINNESOTA-IOWA STATE LINE. SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS. DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MAIN THREAT...WITH LARGE HAIL ALSO POSSIBLE. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CAN OCCUR...AND UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF TORNADO DAMAGE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM NORTHEAST IOWA. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED THROUGH 6 PM INCLUDE... LAKE CITY...WABASHA...ST CHARLES ...FOUNTAIN...EYOTA... ROCHESTER...PRESTON.. .BUFFALO...NELSON.. ..AND DOVER. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM SUNDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. PREPARE NOW FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER. MOVE INDOORS AND IF A WARNING IS ISSUED...TAKE ACTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. BAUMGARDT
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
449 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N NORA SPRINGS 43.17N 93.01W
05/19/2013 FLOYD IA EMERGENCY MNGR
FLOYD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS A BARN IS DOWN
NORTH OF NORA SPRINGS...NUMEROUS LARGE TREES
UPROOTED...AND 1 LARGE TREE FELL ON A HOUSE.
&&
ZTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
457 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0443 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NW ROCHESTER 44.05N 92.53W
05/19/2013 OLMSTED MN BROADCAST MEDIA
TWITTER REPORT RELAYED BY KTTC OF POWER OUT NEAR TARGET
NORTH AND DEBRIS DOWN ON ROADS NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS
AND ASSISI HEIGHTS.
&&
ZTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
506 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0420 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 W OSAGE 43.28N 92.87W
05/19/2013 MITCHELL IA EMERGENCY MNGR
MITCHELL COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS BARN FELL ON
CATTLE HERD...KILLING SOME OF THE CATTLE.
&&
ZTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
509 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 S STEWARTVILLE 43.83N 92.49W
05/19/2013 MOWER MN BROADCAST MEDIA
TWITTER REPORT RELAYED BY KTTC WITH A REPORT OF 30 LARGE
PINE TREES DOWN
&&
ZTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
527 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0523 PM HAIL 4 N ST. CHARLES 44.03N 92.06W
05/19/2013 M1.00 INCH WINONA MN AMATEUR RADIO
ALSO LARGE PIECES OF TIN METAL 6 FT LONG BLOWN OUT
&&
ZTThe La Crosse radar (KARX), 64 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:48 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and power lines were blown down south of Cochrane.
Around a dozen power poles were blown down in Gilmanton.
One inch hail and wind gusts to 50 mph were reported in Eleva.
Trees were blown down across U.S. Highway 14/61 in Westby.
Trees were blown down in Lancaster.
Golf ball sized hail fell east of Potosi.
Wind gusts of 60 mph occurred in the vicinity of the Lone Rock airport.
Runoff from heavy rains pushed the Trempealeau River out of its banks at Dodge. The river crested over a foot above the flood stage at 10.34 feet.
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: 448864, 448865, 448866, 450488, 448867, 448868, 448871, 451737.