Tornadoes hit a small sections of western Wisconsin when they touched down near Cream and Waumandee (Buffalo County) and near Retreat (Vernon County). The tornado near Cream damaged a house and some farm outbuildings.
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.
Tornadoes hit a small sections of western Wisconsin when they touched down near Cream and Waumandee (Buffalo County) and near Retreat (Vernon County). The tornado near Cream damaged a house and some farm outbuildings. The tornado near Waumandee damaged a hunting structure and crops. Trees and crops were damaged by the tornado near Retreat. Other parts of western Wisconsin were hit with high winds that blew down trees and power lines. Numerous trees were blown down in Onalaska (La Crosse County) with some of these landing on and damaging homes. The highest measured wind gust was 68 mph by the automated weather observing equipment at the La Crosse airport (La Crosse 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 Jul 5, 5:00 PM CST, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 600 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday) Issued at 306 PM CDT Tue Jul 5 2016 All eyes on severe threat this evening. 05.20Z analysis shows a low pressure center across southeast SD with a weak stationary front extending northeastward into north-central MN and a warm front draped southward through southwest IA into northeast MO. There's an additional wind shift line farther to the east from southwest MN into northeast IA. Atmosphere is well capped across the tri-state region per 18Z MPX special sounding and noting lack of significant cumulus development on regional satellite. However, surface dewpoints have risen into the upper 60s to lower 70s across the forecast area, resulting in MUCAPE values from 2000 to 3000 J/kg. Farther west, values are topping 5000 J/kg, so more than enough instability for severe storms. A cluster of thunderstorms has already developed north of the CAP and along the stationary front across west-central MN. Discrete supercells with deep layer shear in excess 40 kts are expected across central MN late this afternoon before thunderstorms become more numerous and grow upscale into a convective line/MCS along nose of increasing 850 hPa jet/moisture transport associated with approaching short wave. Best deep layer shear remains north of forecast area, but 0-3 km bulk shear of 30 to 40 kts more than enough to sustain cold-pool dominated convective line. Most probable threat remains damaging wind in excess of 60 mph. Large hail still possible, especially early this evening across southeast MN into western WI. With PWATs rising to near 1.5 inches, heavy rain is also expected, although the faster forward progression of storms should generally limit overall accumulations to less than 2 inches. Best chance for localized flooding will be in urban areas. Cannot rule out the isolated tornado, but anything across our area likely to be of the QLCS variety. Still a few timing differences between convection allowing models, but consensus is for leading line of storms to reach our northwest forecast area between 7 and 10 pm and then race east-southeastward through the rest of the evening along northern extent of CAP/ instability gradient. Additional thunderstorms possible on Wednesday across southeast half of forecast area along weak, southward moving stationary front as ripples of short-wave energy move through southwest flow aloft. However, timing/coverage is uncertain, so chance POPs seem reasonable at this time. Overall, much of the day should be dry, although it will still be warm and muggy with afternoon highs in the lower to mid 80s. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday) Issued at 306 PM CDT Tue Jul 5 2016 Next best chance for thunderstorms, some of which could be strong to severe will be Thursday/Thursday night. Deep layer shear will be relatively strong through the day given an approaching Pacific short-wave trough and with persistent dewpoints in the upper 60s to lower 70s, instability should also exceed 2500 J/kg of MUCAPE. Ongoing convection from a dissipating MCS across mainly IA Thursday morning could play a major role in re-development later in the day. Differences in surface features also a concern. For now, will keep POPs in the upper chance/low likely category and provide greater detail after tonight's severe threat. Thunderstorm chances wane Friday into the weekend with mostly dry conditions as high pressure builds back across the region. Highs will range from the upper 70s to lower 80s. 500 hPa ridge axis shifts eastward early next week with a return to southwest flow aloft and increasing thunderstorm chances. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening) Issued at 600 PM CDT Tue Jul 5 2016 Band of -shra has developed in an area of low level warming over se mn/ne ia...making some progress east. Could upscale to a TS, but main action will come after 00z as strong/severe storms move in from the northwest. Hail and strong-damaging winds are the main threats. Will continue tempo period to highlight most probable time for the stronger storms at krst/klse. Winds may need to be increased in that period. Going to keep cigs vfr for the moment, but will lower if trends dictate the need. Storms should move east by 06z or so, leaving mostly mid level clouds around. Winds a bit tricky on Wed with cold front from tonight laid up west- east orientation across the region. Sagging pressure gradient too. VRB05kt would probably work best, but will try to narrow down a more likely direction. Fairly unsettled weather pattern persists through Thursday, with on and off shra/ts chances. && .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 147 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029- 032>034-041>044-053>055-061-061100- 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- 147 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND CENTRAL INTO SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS AFTERNOON WILL MOVE INTO THE LOCAL AREA THIS EVENING. CONFIDENCE IS INCREASING THAT SOME STORMS WILL BE SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE PRIMARY THREAT. LARGE HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL ARE ALSO POSSIBLE... AND PERHAPS EVEN AN ISOLATED TORNADO. THE MOST LIKELY TIMEFRAME FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE FROM 7 PM UNTIL 2 AM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...AND SEVERE STORMS ARE AGAIN POSSIBLE FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. MORE STORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST FOR MONDAY AS WELL...BUT THAT REMAINS A BIT TOO FAR AWAY TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED...BUT UPDATED WEATHER BRIEFINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE. MW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
452 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ032-033-052345-
MITCHELL-HOWARD-CLAYTON-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE-FLOYD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-
WINONA-DODGE-WABASHA-HOUSTON-MOWER-FILLMORE-OLMSTED-TREMPEALEAU-
BUFFALO-
452 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016
...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ACROSS PARTS OF THE
AREA...
THROUGH 600 PM...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST AT 40 MPH
ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA. THESE STORMS
ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE. HOWEVER THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.
LAT...LON 4420 9305 4419 9255 4437 9255 4437 9243
4445 9243 4441 9208 4460 9200 4459 9117
4409 9118 4405 9122 4407 9131 4399 9132
4398 9142 4378 9124 4264 9137 4264 9208
4291 9209 4291 9303
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 271DEG 37KT 4323 9332
JSBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
605 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034-
041-042-053>055-061-060000-
CLAYTON-ALLAMAKEE-WINNESHIEK-MITCHELL-HOWARD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE-FLOYD-
WINONA-DODGE-WABASHA-HOUSTON-MOWER-FILLMORE-OLMSTED-MONROE-RICHLAND-
CLARK-CRAWFORD-TREMPEALEAU-LA
CROSSE-TAYLOR-BUFFALO-GRANT-VERNON-JACKSON-
605 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016
...STORMS CONTINUING TO MOVE EAST...
THROUGH 600 PM...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST AT 40 MPH
ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST IOWA...AND
WESTERN WISCONSIN. THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE.
HOWEVER THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH
AND MAYBE SOME SMALL HAIL.
LAT...LON 4512 9004 4512 9020 4503 9020 4503 9031
4433 9032 4265 9091 4264 9207 4291 9208
4291 9302 4420 9305 4419 9255 4437 9255
4437 9243 4445 9243 4441 9208 4460 9200
4460 9092 4538 9092 4538 9005
TIME...MOT...LOC 2303Z 269DEG 31KT 4350 9200
JSBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
707 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016
MNZ079-086-087-WIZ032-060130-
DODGE-WABASHA-OLMSTED-BUFFALO-
707 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WABASHA...DODGE...
NORTHWESTERN OLMSTED AND NORTHERN BUFFALO COUNTIES...
AT 705 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM NEAR PRIOR LAKE TO NEAR COURTLAND. MOVEMENT WAS EAST
AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH AND QUARTER SIZE ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
CLAREMONT AROUND 830 PM CDT.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE WASIOJA...DOUGLAS...
ROCK DELL...CONCORD AND GILMANTON.
PREPARE NOW FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER. MOVE INDOORS AND IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED...TAKE ACTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.
LAT...LON 4420 9304 4419 9255 4437 9255 4437 9243
4445 9243 4445 9224 4441 9208 4459 9202
4459 9153 4455 9153 4385 9275 4385 9305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0005Z 274DEG 35KT 4471 9340 4420 9429
JSBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
822 PM CDT TUE JUL 5 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0820 PM TSTM WND GST 6 NNW GENOA 44.19N 92.65W
07/05/2016 E60 MPH OLMSTED MN TRAINED SPOTTER
.
&&
DBThe La Crosse radar (KARX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:52 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Around two dozen trees were blown down in the township of Maxville.
In Alma, significant tree damage occurred, windows were broken and damage occurred to the cemetery.
An EF-1 tornado passed through rural Buffalo County north of Cream. The tornado was on the ground for about three-quarters of a mile and damaged a house and some outbuildings, including a large machine shed.
An EF-1 tornado passed through rural Buffalo County north of Waumandee. The tornado was on the ground for about a half mile and removed the second floor of a hunting structure. Significant crop damage also occurred.
Trees were blown down and the power was out west of Mondovi.
The automated weather observing equipment at the La Crosse airport measured a wind gust of 68 mph.
Numerous trees were blown down in Onalaska along Oak Forest Drive with some of these trees landing on houses. The Onalaska fire department responded to 21 calls because of the storm. There were scattered power outages throughout the city that affected around 700 customers.
One person was trapped and had to be rescued when a fireworks tent was blown down in Onalaska. The person was not injured.
Several trees were blown down in Taylor.
Several trees were blown down northwest of Black River Falls.
Numerous trees were blown down or shredded in about a 100 feet wide swath as intense thunderstorm winds came across Battle Island and into the Blackhawk Park campground.
Several trees were blown down south of Black River Falls.
An EF-0 tornado touched down in rural Vernon County near Retreat. The tornado was on the ground for about three-quarters of a mile and damaged trees and crops along its path.
A brand new shed was destroyed near Wilton.
Trees were snapped off and uprooted in Soldiers Grove. Some of these trees landed on houses and vehicles.
Numerous trees were blown down in Lone Rock damaging some cars and homes.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Wisconsin, 2016Warnings in Wisconsin, July 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: 649325, 646572, 646570, 646571, 646370, 646059, 646088, 646097, 646155, 646157, 655772, 646158, 649267, 646152, 646582, 646149.