Flash Flood and Flood in Wisconsin, August 4, 2014

Name: Flash Flood and Flood in Wisconsin, August 4, 2014
Start: 2014-08-04T04:00
End: 2014-08-04T11:14
Location: Wisconsin

August 4, 2014 · NWS ARX · 4 events in 1 county or zone

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $37,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

Thunderstorms developed along a slow moving cold front across western Wisconsin during the late morning of August 4th. These storms produced some locally heavy rains that caused some flash flooding to occur near Granton (Clark County). The storms also dropped some hail around Neillsville (Clark County) where nickel sized hail was reported.

What forecasters said that day

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 Aug 4, 2:07 AM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 2:07 AM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
307 AM MON AUG 4 2014

.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 307 AM MON AUG 4 2014

RADAR SHOWING ISOLATED SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ACROSS THE AREA
IN RESPONSE TO A LINGERING FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND WEAK 850-700MB
ISENTROPIC LIFT AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING MID-LEVEL TROUGH PUSHING
SOUTHEAST ACROSS MN.

EXPECTING A GENERAL UPTICK IN SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE TODAY AS
THAT TROUGH SWINGS ACROSS THE AREA AND 0-3KM MLCAPE INCREASES INTO
THE 1000-1500J/KG RANGE BY LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON. 0-3KM BULK
SHEAR STILL ON THE LIGHT SIDE...GENERALLY 10-15KT SO NOT EXPECTING
ANY ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER. HOWEVER...WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER
VALUES HOVERING AROUND 1.5 INCHES AND SLOWER MOVEMENT OF PULSE-TYPE
THUNDERSTORMS...COULD BE SOME HEAVIER DOWNPOURS/RAINFALL RATES.
DESPITE CLOUDS/SCATTERED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...
EXPECTING TEMPERATURES TO TOP OFF IN THE UPPER 70S TO THE MIDDLE
80S.

LOOK FOR THE SHOWERS/STORMS TO SLOWLY DIMINISH TONIGHT AS THE TROUGH
MOVES SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA AND MID-LEVEL/SURFACE RIDGING BUILDS
IN. PLAN ON OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE MIDDLE 50S TO THE LOWER 60S.

HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER UPPER MICHIGAN ON TUESDAY WILL DRAW
DRIER AIR INTO THE REGION ON LIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS. LOOK FOR HIGHS
IN THE 75-80 DEGREE RANGE.

SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES MOVE BACK INTO AREA ALONG AND WEST
OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TUESDAY NIGHT IN RESPONSE TO LIFT AHEAD OF
A MID-LEVEL TROUGH AND WEAK SURFACE LOW OVER THE PLAINS. IN
FACT...THE NAM/GFS PRODUCING A FAIRLY HEAVY WEST TO EAST BAND OF
RAIN ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IA IN RESPONSE TO STRONG 850-500MB
FRONTOGENESIS. WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE EVOLUTION OF THIS AS
THE ECMWF STILL A BIT FARTHER SOUTH AND OUT OF THE AREA WITH THIS
FORCING.

.LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)
ISSUED AT 307 AM MON AUG 4 2014

SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES CONTINUE MAINLY ACROSS NORTHEAST IA
ONTO FAR SOUTHWEST WI WEDNESDAY AS THAT 850-500MB FRONTOGENESIS
SIGNAL PERSISTS.

MID-LEVEL/SURFACE RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO
THURSDAY FOR A RETURN TO DRY AND SEASONABLY WARM CONDITIONS. LOOK
FOR HIGHS THURSDAY IN THE UPPER 70S/LOWER 80S.

FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/ MODELS ARE
TRENDING TOWARD MORE RIDGE BUILDING OVER THE REGION. THIS BEING
SAID...THE GFS STILL WANTS TO PRODUCE SCATTERED SHOWER/THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WHILE THE ECMWF STAYS DRY.
MAINTAINED A SMALLER-END SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM CHANCE IN THIS TIME
FRAME. OTHERWISE...LOOKS LIKE TEMPERATURES WARM A DEGREE OR TWO EACH
DAY UNDER THE RIDGE.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 1129 PM CDT SUN AUG 3 2014

A COLD FRONT HAS DROPPED SOUTH TO ALMOST I-90. JUST NORTH OF THIS
FRONT...ISOLATED/SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS HAVE BEEN FIRING...
WHICH COULD COME INTO THE TAF SITES EARLY THIS MORNING.
THEREFORE...HAVE VCSH INCLUDED. LIGHTNING IS VERY SPORADIC SO NO
VCTS INCLUDED AT THIS TIME. SHOULD ANY OF THESE SHOWERS IMPACT THE
TAF SITES...THE ENVIRONMENT WOULD MOSTLY FAVOR FOG FORMATION GIVEN
DEWPOINTS ALREADY RELATIVELY HIGH AROUND 65F. IN FACT...THE VALLEY
AT LSE IS QUITE HAZY. THEREFORE...HAVE MAINTAINED MVFR BR FOR
09-14Z. ADDITIONALLY...THE CLOUDS THAT WERE COMING INTO MN AT 00Z
ARE THINNING SOME...THUS THE CONCERN STILL EXISTS FOR LIFR
CEILINGS/VISIBILITIES FROM VALLEY FOG AT LSE BETWEEN 10-12Z. A
BREAK IN THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD OCCUR FROM 14-17Z WITH
CONDITIONS RETURNING TO VFR...THEN MORE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
STORMS SHOULD FIRE NEAR THE TAF SITES ALONG THE FRONT. GIVEN THEIR
COVERAGE HAVE LEFT THE VCSH. CERTAINLY A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO COULD
IMPACT THE TAF SITES BUT PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO WARRANT 6 HOURS OR
SO OF VCTS. PRECIPITATION SHOULD DIMINISH BY 00Z MONDAY EVENING AS
THE FRONT DROPS SOUTH.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...NONE.
MN...NONE.
IA...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...DAS
LONG TERM....DAS
AVIATION...AJ

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 4, 3:39 AM CST, 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
439 AM CDT MON AUG 4 2014

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-
032>034-041>044-053>055-061-051100-
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-
439 AM CDT MON AUG 4 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST
IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SEEN ACROSS ACROSS THE AREA
TODAY INTO TONIGHT. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WITH SOME LOCALIZED PONDING
OF WATER WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARD WITH THESE STORMS AS WELL AS SOME
SMALL HAIL AND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MAINLY
ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA INTO FAR SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. HEAVY RAINFALL
COULD RESULT FROM THESE STORMS.

THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL BE SEEN THURSDAY NIGHT AND AGAIN
SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED WITH
THESE STORMS AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY. HOWEVER...ANY
RAINFALL OR HAIL REPORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED.

DAS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 2:40 AM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
340 AM CDT MON AUG 4 2014

WIZ029-040915-
CLARK-
340 AM CDT MON AUG 4 2014

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN CLARK COUNTY...

AT 338 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR HUMBIRD...OR 11 MILES
WEST OF NEILLSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

HEAVY RAINFALL AND PEA SIZE HAIL IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SIDNEY...HIGHWAY 10 AND 12...WILDCAT MOUND...SNYDER LAKE...HIGHWAY 10
AND BALD PEAK ROAD AND THE HIGHGROUND.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

LAT...LON 4443 9068 4449 9080 4451 9080 4451 9084
      4456 9092 4462 9092 4465 9090 4464 9058
TIME...MOT...LOC 0838Z 283DEG 6KT 4458 9082

WETENKAMP

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 3:05 AM CST, 55 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
405 AM CDT MON AUG 4 2014

WIZ029-034-040930-
CLARK-JACKSON-
405 AM CDT MON AUG 4 2014

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN CLARK AND
NORTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTIES...

AT 401 AM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF NEILLSVILLE TO 6 MILES SOUTH OF
HUMBIRD...AND MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING HEAVY DOWNPOURS WHICH COULD LEAD TO
PONDING OF WATER AND POSSIBLY LOCALIZED FLOODING.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  NEILLSVILLE AROUND 415 AM CDT.
  HATFIELD AROUND 425 AM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE ALMA CENTER...
HIGHWAY 95 AND 73...SIDNEY AND HIGHWAY 10 AND 12.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

LAT...LON 4434 9059 4444 9102 4468 9088 4463 9049
TIME...MOT...LOC 0901Z 280DEG 19KT 4461 9071 4444 9090

WETENKAMP

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 heavy rain, 1 flood, 1 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Clark

When: August 4, 4:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Clark County, Neillsville
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.570, -90.600

In Neillsville, 2.35 inches of rain was measured.

Flood, Clark

When: August 4, 6:15 AM CST to 7:45 AM CST
Where: Clark County, 2.93 mi SE of Neillsville Muni Arp to 1.8 mi NNE of Granton Cnngham Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.538, -90.481

Runoff from heavy rain caused water from Jack Creek to partially cover U.S. Highway 10 south of Granton, temporarily reducing the road to one lane. The heavy rain also caused erosion to occur along the sides of Pelsdorf Avenue, Starr Road and Catlin Avenue.

Flash Flood, Clark

When: August 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where: Clark County, 1.24 mi NW of Lynn to 1.21 mi NW of Lynn
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.593, -90.437

Flash flooding along the South Branch of O'Neill Creek partially washed out a culvert on Meridian Road northeast of Granton. In addition, the flooding eroded between 300 and 350 feet along the side of the road adjacent to the culvert.

Hail, Clark

When: August 4, 11:14 AM CST
Where: Clark County, 0.85 mi SE of Neillsville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.560, -90.590

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, August 2014

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: 536597, 536596, 536595, 535183.