Severe storms impacted western and central Wisconsin. The storms produced damaging winds from Holmen (La Crosse County) south to Potosi (Grant County) and east to Union Center (Juneau County).
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.
Severe storms impacted western and central Wisconsin. The storms produced damaging winds from Holmen (La Crosse County) south to Potosi (Grant County) and east to Union Center (Juneau County). Holmen was hit exceptionally hard with hundreds of trees either uprooted or snapped off by the high winds. Several trees were blown down near Union Center with one of these landing on a pickup truck.
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, 1:43 PM CST, 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 243 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday) Issued at 243 PM CDT Thu Aug 4 2016 Atmosphere remains primed for potentially strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening along and south of I-90 as a cold front sweeps across the region. Lingering activity from last night's convection has moved east of the forecast area with a secondary line of showers and thunderstorms ahead of the cold front from east of Austin to near Winona, moving east- southeast around 30 mph. SPC mesoanalysis depicts a storm environment with roughly 20 to 40 kts of deep layer shear and up to 3000 J/kg of SBCAPE. As storms drop south, shear and surface convergence weaken, but instability remains steady if not increasing slightly. Convection allowing models still struggling a bit with timing/evolution of storms, but in general agreement that severe chances diminish later this evening, moving out of the forecast area in the 02-05Z period. Primary threats remain strong winds, hail, and heavy rain. Forward motion of storms precludes widespread flooding, but could still see urban ponding/flash flooding with rain rates around one inch per hour. Tonight through Friday will be dry as surface high pressure builds across the region. Temperatures will be much cooler with afternoon highs only in the mid 70s to lower 80s. With dew points falling into the 50s to near 60 degrees, tomorrow will be pleasant. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday) Issued at 243 PM CDT Thu Aug 4 2016 Continued dry and pleasant conditions for the weekend with high pressure dominating the regional weather pattern. Temperatures each day will top out in the mid 70s to near 80 degrees with light wind. There exists a slight chance for showers and storms on Monday across the far southwest forecast area as moisture begins to increase along southerly return flow. Otherwise, expect continued dry conditions with similar temperatures to the weekend. Tuesday through Thursday, 500 hPa ridge attempts to build across the eastern two-thirds of the CONUS. One short wave flattens the ridge somewhat Monday night into Tuesday with additional ill- resolved waves in southwest flow aloft Wednesday into Thursday. Many details to work out given model differences, but chance POPs seem reasonable at this time. Higher confidence in a return to warmer/more humid conditions with highs Tuesday and beyond into the mid 80s with dew points once again approaching 70 degrees. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) Issued at 1230 PM CDT Thu Aug 4 2016 Scattered shra/ts with cold front likely to impact krst/klse this afternoon/evening...mostly southeast of krst by 21-22z and klse near 00z. Some higher wind gusts and very heavy rain likely with the stronger storms. Most cigs look vfr right now - per latest sfc obs with ongoing convection - and will trend forecast that way for the moment. Can/t rule out a period of mvfr though, and will make adjustments if needed. The front slides through this evening, clearing skies and shifting winds to the west-north. && .ARX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && SHORT TERM...ROGERS LONG TERM...ROGERS AVIATION...Rieck
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 234 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ086>088-094>096-WIZ041>044-053>055- 061-051000- MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE- CLAYTON-DODGE-OLMSTED-WINONA-MOWER-FILLMORE-HOUSTON-LA CROSSE- MONROE-JUNEAU-ADAMS-VERNON-CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-GRANT- 234 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST IOWA...AND SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS INTO THE EVENING. A FEW COULD BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN. HAIL ALSO POSSIBLE. LOCALIZED OR URBAN FLOODING COULD OCCUR WITH THE HEAVY RAIN. SEVERE THREAT RUNS THROUGH 10 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL STORM CHANCES SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER APPEARS LOW AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED INTO THIS EVENING. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. MNZ079-WIZ017-029-032>034-051000- WABASHA-TAYLOR-CLARK-BUFFALO-TREMPEALEAU-JACKSON- 234 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WESTERN INTO NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTO THE EVENING. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND GUSTS COULD ACCOMPANY SOME OF THE STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL STORM CHANCES SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER APPEARS LOW AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. RIECK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 1142 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 WIZ033-034-041830- TREMPEALEAU-JACKSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARCADIA...WHITEHALL...BLACK RIVER FALLS 1142 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 ...A FEW STRONG STORMS INTO EARLY AFTERNOON... THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. HEAVY RAIN WILL ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS...WITH A QUICK 1/2 TO 1 INCH IN AN HOUR COMMON. LOCALIZED OR URBAN FLOODING COULD RESULT WHERE THE RAINFALL RATES ARE THE HIGHEST. IN ADDITION...WIND GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. RIECK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 106 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 MNZ086-087-094-042000- DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DODGE CENTER...ROCHESTER...AUSTIN 106 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 ...A FEW STRONG STORMS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL TRACK EAST SOUTHEAST EAST ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH 3 PM. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF SMALL HAIL...STRONG WIND GUSTS...AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN FALLS. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE...CONTAINING A LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THREAT. TAKE SHELTER INDOORS WHEN STORMS APPROACH. RIECK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 147 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 MNZ079-086>088-094-095-WIZ032-033-042100- WABASHA-DODGE-OLMSTED-WINONA-MOWER-FILLMORE-BUFFALO-TREMPEALEAU- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WABASHA...DODGE CENTER...ROCHESTER... WINONA...AUSTIN...PRESTON...ALMA...ARCADIA...WHITEHALL 147 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 ...THUNDERSTORMS TRACKING EAST... THUNDERSTORMS ARE TRACKING EAST SOUTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW WERE STRONG...CAPABLE OF 40 MPH WIND GUSTS...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND SMALL HAIL. RAINFALL UP TO 1 INCH IN AN HOUR IS POSSIBLE. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE...CONTAINING A LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THREAT. TAKE SHELTER INDOORS WHEN STORMS APPROACH. RIECK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 215 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 IAZ008>011-MNZ079-087-088-094>096-WIZ032-033-041-042100- MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-WABASHA-OLMSTED-WINONA-MOWER- FILLMORE-HOUSTON-BUFFALO-TREMPEALEAU-LA CROSSE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OSAGE...CRESCO...DECORAH...WAUKON... WABASHA...ROCHESTER...WINONA...AUSTIN...PRESTON...CALEDONIA... ALMA...ARCADIA...WHITEHALL...LA CROSSE 215 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016 ...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE...TRACKING EAST... STORMS CONTINUE TO SPARK AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT...WORKING EAST SOUTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...BUT EXPANDING INTO WESTERN WISCONSIN AND PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA. A FEW OF THE STORMS WERE STRONG...CAPABLE OF 40 MPH WIND GUSTS...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND SMALL HAIL. RAINFALL UP TO 1 INCH IN AN HOUR IS POSSIBLE...RESULTING IN LOCALIZED OR URBAN FLOODING. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE...CONTAINING A LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THREAT. TAKE SHELTER INDOORS WHEN STORMS APPROACH. RIECK
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
219 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0159 PM TSTM WND GST 4 N STEWARTVILLE 43.91N 92.50W
08/04/2016 M36 MPH OLMSTED MN ASOS
ASOS STATION ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
/RST/.
&&
NWS LA CROSSE WI
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
254 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0230 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 ESE ROCHESTER 44.00N 92.45W
08/04/2016 U1.40 INCH OLMSTED MN PUBLIC
1.4 INCHES OF RAIN IN 45 MINUTES BY MAYO
HIGH SCHOOL. REPORT RELAYED BY MEDIA.
&&
MAHThe La Crosse radar (KARX), 17 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:19 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Hundreds of trees were damaged or uprooted in Holmen. Especially hard hit was the Remington Hills subdivision where at least one tree fell on a house. After the storm, over 500 residents were without power.
A wind gust of 60 mph occurred at the NWS La Crosse office blowing down several branches.
A wind gust of 71 mph was measured on the south side of Holmen.
An estimated 60 mph wind gust occurred on the south side of Holmen. Numerous trees were snapped off or uprooted.
An estimated 60 mph wind gust occurred on the north side of La Crosse. Several small trees were blown down and minor street flooding also occurred.
Numerous trees were blown down in West Salem along with power lines. A tree was split in half with the section that came down blocking a part of the street. Nearly 1,500 residences were without power after the storm.
Several large trees were blown down along County Highway M south of West Salem.
An estimated 60 mph wind gust occurred in the city of La Crosse.
Winds of 58 mph were reported on the south side of La Crosse.
Damage to corn fields occurred in the Cashton area from thunderstorm wind gusts.
Locally heavy rain caused street flooding to occur in the city of La Crosse. Liberty Street near Madison was briefly impassable because of the flooding. At least two vehicles became stuck in the street flooding.
Several large trees and some power lines were blown down near Union Center. A pickup truck was damaged when a tree fell on it.
Power lines were blown down in Potosi.
Tree limbs were blown down just west of Hazel Green.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, August 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: 652527, 652497, 652961, 652502, 652503, 652507, 652513, 652936, 658244, 652525, 652520, 652559, 652562, 652927.