Northeast Iowa experienced strong winds in early April after a cold front moved across the region. Gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common, although the highest wind gust was 55 mph at Oelwein (Fayette County).
Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Northeast Iowa experienced strong winds in early April after a cold front moved across the region. Gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common, although the highest wind gust was 55 mph at Oelwein (Fayette County).
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 2, 4:52 AM CST, 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
552 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016
.UPDATE...THIS MORNING
ISSUED AT 552 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016
HAVE STARTED THE WIND ADVISORY NOW WITH WEST/NORTHWEST WINDS
ALREADY GUSTING TO AROUND 44 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
MINNESOTA. SNOW SHOWERS WILL PRODUCE A QUICK 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH OF
SNOW THIS MORNING WITH VISIBILITY FALLING TO AROUND 1/2 MILE OR
LESS...THROUGH 730 AM. THE STEADIER SNOWS WILL SET IN ACROSS
NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN WHERE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN
EFFECT THROUGH 10 AM. DRIVE WITH CAUTION THIS MORNING SINCE THERE
COULD BE A FEW SLICK SPOTS AND BE READY TO ENCOUNTER STRONG
WEST/NORTHWEST WINDS.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT)
ISSUED AT 321 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016
TWO MAIN CONCERNS TODAY:
1)SNOW...MAINLY ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN THIS MORNING.
2)STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS THROUGH MID AFTERNOON.
A COMPACT AND FAST MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS RACING ACROSS THE
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY THIS MORNING. LIGHT SNOW IS FALLING
ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN AND EASTERN MINNESOTA.
STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS MUCH OF MINNESOTA AND
IOWA EARLY THIS MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACROSS
WESTERN INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH
ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 45 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL
MAINLY BE ACROSS THE OPEN AREAS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST
IOWA...AND THE BLUFF TOPS OF WESTERN WISCONSIN. SNOWFALL REPORTS
SO FAR ACROSS NORTHEAST MINNESOTA HAVE GENERALLY BEEN AROUND 1
INCH. WE ARE ANTICIPATING A QUICK 1 TO 2 INCHES ACROSS TAYLOR AND
NORTHERN CLARK COUNTIES THIS MORNING BEFORE THE SNOW ENDS BY MID
TO LATE MORNING. CANNOT RULE OUT SOME ISOLATED 3 INCH REPORTS
ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST TAYLOR COUNTY. SNOW AMOUNTS WILL TAPER OFF TO
AROUND 1/2 INCH ALONG THE INTERSTATE 94 CORRIDOR WITH ONLY A
DUSTING TO PERHAPS 1/10TH INCH FOR AREAS TO THE SOUTHWEST. WINDS
WILL REMAIN STRONG AND GUSTY THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON THEN SUBSIDE
AS HIGH PRESSURE EDGES IN FROM THE WEST. A COOL AIRMASS...LIGHT
WINDS...AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES...WILL LEAD TO A CHILLY NIGHT
TONIGHT WITH LOWS FALLING INTO THE 20S ACROSS THE ENTIRE FORECAST
AREA. WE MAY EVEN SEE A FEW TEENS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
.LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)
ISSUED AT 321 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016
TEMPERATURES REBOUND ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST
IOWA...AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN ON SUNDAY WITH HIGHS
EDGING INTO THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. THIS IS AHEAD OF ANOTHER
FAST MOVING...COMPACT SYSTEM...IN NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. THIS
FEATURE SWEEPS THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON BRINING A RAIN/SNOW MIX TO
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL INTO NORTHERN WISCONSIN. ANY ACCUMULATING SNOW
WILL BE CONFINED TO FAR NORTHERN WISCONSIN. BREEZY SOUTHWEST WINDS
ARE EXPECTED AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM SUNDAY MORNING. COOLER AIR THEN
RETURNS FOR SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY AS CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS IN. THE HIGH THEN SLIPS EAST LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY AS A
TROUGH PUSHES IN FROM THE WEST. THE TROUGH LOOKS TO BRING A CHANCE
OF RAIN OR SNOW TO THE AREA DEPENDING ON THE WHEN IT ARRIVES.
CURRENT THINKING IS THAT THE WARM AIR ADVECTION/ISENTROPIC LIFT
WOULD PUSH INTO THE FORECAST AREA MAINLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON WHEN
TEMPERATURES WOULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR ALL RAIN. THERE IS GOOD
FORECAST MODEL AGREEMENT THAT THE TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO DEEPEN
AS IT MOVES INTO THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY TUESDAY NIGHT
INTO WEDNESDAY SO WILL HOLD PRECIPITATION CHANCES IN THE 50 TO
60 PERCENT RANGE...AND THIS WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE INCREASED
TODAY. NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THEN PREVAILS THROUGH THE END OF THE
WORK WEEK WITH A COUPLE OF WEEK SHORTWAVES NOTED WITH SMALL
CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION. NO MAJOR WARM UPS ON THE HORIZON GOING
INTO THE WEEKEND WITH HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 40S AND 50S AND LOWS
MAINLY IN THE 20S AND 30S.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 1145 PM CDT FRI APR 1 2016
AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WAS OVER NORTHWEST MINNESOTA LATE THIS
EVENING AND WILL TRACK SOUTHEAST ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN TONIGHT
AND INTO LOWER MICHIGAN BY EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. REGIONAL
RADARS ARE SHOWING A RATHER NARROW BAND OF SNOW ALONG THE WARM
FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOW. THE HI-RES MESO MODELS HAVE
REMAINED CONSISTENT THIS EVENING OF BRINGING THIS BAND OF SNOW
ACROSS THE AREA BEFORE SUNRISE WITH A 2 TO MAYBE 3 HOUR WINDOW FOR
THE SNOW. NOT EXPECTING MUCH IMPACT OTHER THAN SOME MVFR CEILINGS
FROM THIS SNOW...BUT KLSE COULD SEE A SHORT VISIBILITY REDUCTION
AS IT AS A BETTER POTENTIAL FOR A HEAVIER SNOW SHOWER BEING CLOSER
TO THE SURFACE LOW AND BETTER FORCING. ONCE THE WARM FRONT GOES
THROUGH...THE SNOW WILL END AND THE WINDS WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE
NORTHWEST AS A DEEP MIXED LAYER QUICKLY DEVELOPS. LAPSE RATES OF
8-9C/KM WILL ALLOW THE WINDS FROM ABOUT 800 MB TO MIX DOWN AND
PRODUCE WIND GUSTS CLOSE TO 40 KNOTS. THE CORRIDOR OF STRONGER
WINDS ALOFT WILL MOVE TO THE EAST STARTING ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE
MORNING SATURDAY WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR A GRADUAL DIMINISHING
TREND IN THE GUSTS AND THE SUSTAINED WINDS WILL COME DOWN AS HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST DURING THE AFTERNOON TO RELAX THE
GRADIENT. THE CEILINGS SHOULD GO UP TO VFR BY THE MIDDLE OF THE
MORNING AS THE MIXED LAYER DEEPENS WITH THE CLOUDS SCATTERING OUT
DURING THE AFTERNOON.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
ISSUED AT 321 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016
A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE YELLOW RIVER AT NECEDAH FROM
SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE RIVER IS EXPECTED
TO CREST AT 15.2 FEET SUNDAY EVENING. MANY OTHER RIVERS ACROSS THE
AREA ARE RUNNING HIGH BUT ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN WITHIN BANK.
&&
.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR WIZ041>044-
053>055-061.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR WIZ017.
MN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR MNZ086>088-
094>096.
IA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR IAZ008>011-018-
019-029-030.
&&
UPDATE...WETENKAMP
SHORT TERM...WETENKAMP
LONG TERM...WETENKAMP
AVIATION...04
HYDROLOGY...WETENKAMPHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 433 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016 WIZ017-031200- TAYLOR- 433 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 AM THIS MORNING. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW COULD CREATE SLIPPERY TRAVEL THIS MORNING. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST TO AROUND 35 MPH TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SNOWFALL REPORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED TODAY. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ086>088-094>096-WIZ041>044-053>055- 061-031200- MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE- CLAYTON-DODGE-OLMSTED-WINONA-MOWER-FILLMORE-HOUSTON-LA CROSSE- MONROE-JUNEAU-ADAMS-VERNON-CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-GRANT- 433 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...CENTRAL WISCONSIN...SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 4 PM TODAY. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STRONG WIND GUST REPORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED TODAY. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. MNZ079-WIZ029-032>034-031200- WABASHA-CLARK-BUFFALO-TREMPEALEAU-JACKSON- 433 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/2 TO 1 INCH COULD CREATE A FEW SLICK SPOTS ON ROADS THIS MORNING. STRONG NORTHWEST WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SNOWFALL REPORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED TODAY. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. WETENKAMP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
456 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 AM SNOW 2 E LA CROSSE 43.82N 91.19W
04/02/2016 M0.2 INCH LA CROSSE WI OFFICIAL NWS OBS
OBSERVER LOCATION NWS LA CROSSE.
&&
JSBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 522 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016 WIZ029-033-034-041>044-053>055-061-021230- CLARK-TREMPEALEAU-JACKSON-LA CROSSE-MONROE-JUNEAU-ADAMS-VERNON- CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-GRANT- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEILLSVILLE...BLACK RIVER FALLS... LA CROSSE...SPARTA/TOMAH...MAUSTON...VIROQUA...PRAIRIE DU CHIEN... RICHLAND CENTER...PLATTEVILLE 522 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016 ...SLIPPERY TRAVEL AND REDUCED VISIBILITY IN SNOW SHOWERS THIS MORNING... SNOW SHOWERS WILL PRODUCE A QUICK 1/2 TO 1 INCH OF SNOW THIS MORNING AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY TO AROUND 1/2 MILE OR LESS. DRIVE WITH CAUTION THIS MORNING AND BE PREPARED FOR REDUCED VISIBILITY AT TIMES. WETENKAMP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
552 AM CDT SAT APR 2 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0551 AM SNOW 2 E LA CROSSE 43.82N 91.19W
04/02/2016 M0.5 INCH LA CROSSE WI OFFICIAL NWS OBS
OBSERVER LOCATION NWS LA CROSSE.
&&
JSBThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common across Mitchell County during the morning and early afternoon of April 2nd.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common across Floyd County during the morning and early afternoon of April 2nd. The highest recorded wind gust was 52 mph by the automated weather observing equipment at the Charles City airport.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common across Howard County during the morning and early afternoon of April 2nd.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common across Chickasaw County during the morning and early afternoon of April 2nd. The highest recorded wind gust was 57 mph by a mesonet station near Ionia.
Wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph were common across Fayette County during the morning and early afternoon of April 2nd. The highest recorded wind gust was 55 mph by the automated weather observing equipment at the Oelwein airport.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common across Winneshiek County during the morning and early afternoon of April 2nd. The highest recorded wind gust was 50 mph by a mesonet station southeast of Decorah.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common across Allamakee County during the morning and early afternoon of April 2nd.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common across Clayton County during the morning and early afternoon of April 2nd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, April 2016
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: 624301, 624277, 624283, 624282, 624274, 624279, 624404, 624405.