A small, short-lived tornado touched down northwest of Granger (Fillmore County) during the early evening of May 30th. The only damaged produced by the tornado was to a shed.
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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.
A small, short-lived tornado touched down northwest of Granger (Fillmore County) during the early evening of May 30th. The only damaged produced by the tornado was to a shed.
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 30, 5:55 PM CST, 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 655 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) Issued at 226 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 Main short-term fcst concerns are SHRA/TSRA chances thru this evening and again mainly Thu afternoon. 18z data analysis had the remnants of Alberto over southern Indiana with a trough/front to another low over SD. Plenty of deep tropical moisture streaming N/NW ahead of the the lows and trough between them, with plenty of clouds and numerous SHRA and embedded TSRA across much of WI/MN and NE IA. Clouds and SHRA holding temps down across much of the region, with early afternoon temps mostly in the upper 60s to mid 70s, vs. the mid 80s to lower 90s of the past few days. No issues noted with 30.12z model initializations. Models in good agreement as the lead trough axis with the Alberto remnants moves quickly east of the fcst area this evening. Trend then favors a compromise on strength as a secondary, northern stream trough axis drops SE across mainly NE MN/NE WI on Thu, followed quickly by shortwave ridging Thu night. Short-term fcst confidence is good this cycle. In the short term, numerous SHRA, isolated TSRA to continue late this afternoon, mainly over the NE half of the fcst area in the deeper moisture/higher PW airmass ahead of the sfc-mid level trough axis. This axis to pass rather quickly this evening with deeper layered westerly flow and mid level subsidence spreading in behind it. Once the trough axis passes, rain chances diminish rather quickly with loss of lift and decreasing PW values. Bulk of rain chances tonight in the 00-03z period with trend of generally dry after 06z looking good. Compromise on track/strength of the secondary shortwave SE across the region Thu takes the bulk of the forcing/lift with it across NE MN and NE WI and mainly across that portion of the fcst area along/NE of I-94. Airmass remains rather moist Thu with PW values in the 1 to 1.5 inch range. Thu afternoon MUCAPE progged in the 500-2k j/kg range, but as has been the case on many recent days the deep layered shear is on the weak side Thu, with any TSRA expected to stay below severe limits. With passage of that trough axis and loss of diurnal heating, SHRA/TSRA chances look to diminish quickly Thu evening, with dry/quiet weather thru the overnight hours. Blend of guidance highs mainly in the low-mid 80s appears on track for Thu with expectations of partly to mostly sunny skies and 925mb temps in the 20C to 24C range. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday) Issued at 226 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 For Friday thru Saturday night, the main fcst concerns this period are SHRA/TSRA chances centered on Sat afternoon/evening. Model runs of 30.12z in good agreement on the shortwave ridging to slide across the Upper Midwest Fri/Fri night. Tightening consensus (timing) on the next shortwave trough to move into/across the region Sat/Sat night. Fcst confidence in the Fri-Sat night period is generally good this cycle. Ridge of sfc high pressure holds over WI, eastern MN/IA Fri/Fri night under the shortwave ridging aloft. Mid/upper level airmass progged to be dry, with mainly diurnal cumulus on Fri. With a bit of a cool easterly flow around the high Fri, blend of guidance highs in the mid 70s across central WI to mid 80s in parts of NE IA looking well trended. Tightening consensus has the Sfc-850mb trough/front moving into western MN by 12z Sat, to near the MS river by 00z Sun then well east of the fcst area by 12z Sun. On this timing, the strongest/deepest of the lower level thermo-dynamic forcing and PV advection/divergence aloft with the mid level trough would spread across the fcst area mainly Sat afternoon/evening. PW values progged in the 1.5 inch range, however with increasing mid/high clouds already Sat morning and lingering SE low level flow out of the high, MUCAPE values progged to generally remain below 500 J/KG Sat/Sat evening. Given strength/depth of the lift signal, will continue with rain chances Sat/Sat evening as SHRA & TSRA. Deep layered shear increase Sat, but with the limited look of CAPE on Sat, any TSRA Sat are not looking to be severe at this time. More clouds and afternoon convection to hold temps down on Sat. Blend of guidance highs in the 70s for Sat is quite reasonable. For Sunday thru Wednesday (days 4 to 7): the main fcst concerns this period are continued above normal temperatures thru the period and returning SHRA/TSRA chances Tue night/Wed. 30.00z/30.12z medium range model runs in good agreement for rising hgts/shortwave ridging to build across the north-central CONUS Sun into Tue, with the main storm track shifted north/east of the great lakes. Reasonable consistency maintained into Wed as northern Rockies troughing moves into the northern plains and hgts fall over the region ahead of it. Day 4-7 fcst confidence is above average this cycle. Under the rising hgts/ridging aloft, High pressure from the central/ northern plains to build east across the region Sunday into Tue. By later Tue, low pressure progged into the plains ahead of the Rockies trough, with perhaps some moisture return into the fcst area ahead of it by late Tue. More of a push of moisture/instability into the area ahead Tue night/Wed as the sfc-mid level low/trough would approach/move into the Upper Midwest. Some timing differences as usual in the day 6-7 time-frame. Some small SHRA/TSRA chances across the NW half of the fcst area Tue afternoon, increasing and spreading east/south Tue night/Wed quite reasonable at this time. With ridging aloft and a warm 925-850mb airmass over the region, blend of guidance highs 5F to 10F above the normals for Sun-Wed looks well trended for now. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening) Issued at 655 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms continue across the area early this evening as low pressure spins over the Upper Midwest. As of 2345Z, a line of heavy showers was on track to impact KRST. Current trends have this line arriving around 0015Z and lasting up to 1 hour. KAUM reported 27009G15KT 2 1/2SM +RA SCT008 BKN035 as this batch of showers moved through. The upper-level low will begin to move out of the area tonight, ending the threat for showers and storms. Lingering clouds are expected to remain at VFR levels. Will have to watch for fog development late tonight into early Thursday morning. Light winds, clearing skies, ample low-level moisture, and rainfall from today make conditions favorable, but stronger winds aloft may be a deterring factor. Light and variable winds this evening will become westerly around 5-10 kt after sunrise Thursday. Diurnal cumulus clouds are expected to develop by early afternoon, but cloud bases should remain at VFR levels. There could be an isolated shower or storm near the TAF sites Thursday afternoon, but confidence is low at this time. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && SHORT TERM...RRS LONG TERM....RRS AVIATION...Hollan
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 115 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029- 032>034-041>044-053>055-061-311100- 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- 115 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for parts of southeast Minnesota...northeast Iowa and southwest into central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Scattered thunderstorms can be expected through this evening but the overall risk of severe weather is low. The main threat from any storms is brief heavy rain and lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday There is another threat for thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, mainly in Wisconsin. Severe weather looks unlikely. Periodic thunderstorms are forecast Saturday and Saturday night, in addition to times next week. It is too early to discern any severe weather threat at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... No action is needed at this time. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. Shea
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 320 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 IAZ011-MNZ088-096-WIZ032-033-041-053-302230- Allamakee-Winona-Houston-Buffalo-Trempealeau-La Crosse-Vernon- Including the cities of Waukon, Winona, Caledonia, Alma, Arcadia, Whitehall, La Crosse, and Viroqua 320 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 ...A Band of Showers and Thunderstorms With Brief Torrential Downpours Moving Through... A narrow line of showers and thunderstorms from near Wabasha to Winona, Caledonia and Waukon will continue to move north- northeast through 430 pm. The stronger showers and any thunderstorms are capable of producing brief torrential downpours, with up to an inch of rain in 30 minutes and poor visibilities. These rains, if they fall in an urban area, are capable of over- whelming storm drain systems, with ponding of water in low laying areas and on roads and intersections. If traveling this afternoon be alert for poor visibilities in the downpours and potential of water on roads and urban flooding. If a thunderstorm approaches your locations, move indoors until it passes. RRS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
517 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2018
MNZ094-302230-
Mower-
517 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IMPACTING NORTHEASTERN MOWER COUNTY...
At 514 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Grand Meadow,
or 19 miles east of Austin, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with the potential for funnel
clouds.
Locations impacted include...
Grand Meadow, Racine, Dexter, Highways 63 And 16, Hamilton, I 90 Exit
193, County Roads 4 And 8 and Interstate 90 And County 1.
Funnel clouds of this nature rarely touch the ground. However, if
you notice one approaching the ground, seek safe shelter inside a
building.
LAT...LON 4374 9272 4383 9253 4383 9245 4364 9245
4358 9262
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 242DEG 24KT 4371 9257
WetenkampThe La Crosse radar (KARX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:42 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A small, short-lived tornado touched down northwest of Granger and traveled northeast for about a half mile. The tornado damaged a shed near the intersection of County Road 30 and 225th Avenue.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Minnesota, 2018Warnings in Minnesota, May 2018
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: 756991.