For the second straight day, severe storms moved across western Wisconsin on August 28th. These storms produced damaging winds, large hail and another round of heavy rain.
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.
For the second straight day, severe storms moved across western Wisconsin on August 28th. These storms produced damaging winds, large hail and another round of heavy rain. This additional heavy rain aggravated ongoing flooding and caused some new flooding to occur. Water from the West Fork of the Kickapoo River covered roads near Avalanche (Vernon County). Trees were blown down in Viroqua (Vernon County), Lyndon Station (Juneau County) and Plainville (Adams County). Thousands of trees were blown down across southern Adams County in a 3 to 4 mile wide area that started just south of the State Highways 13 and 82 intersection and continued east across Springville and Jackson Townships to the Marquette County line east of Jordan Lake. Houses were damaged by trees that landed on them and boats were blown were dislodged from docks and floated out into Jordan Lake. The only hail that was reported was quarter sized south of Brooks (Adams County). Because of the flooding along the Kickapoo and Pine Rivers, a state of emergency was declared in Viola (Vernon and Richland Counties) and all of Richland County. The State of Wisconsin Governor declared a state of emergency for the entire state. A federal disaster declaration was made for La Crosse, Monroe, Juneau, Adams, Vernon, Crawford and Richland Counties.
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 28, 11:08 AM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1208 PM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018
.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 349 AM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018
At 3 AM, life-threatening flooding was taking place in southern
La Crosse, southern Monroe, and Vernon counties. County Emergency
Management reported that evacuations were taking place in these
areas. Numerous roads have been washed out. This is a particularly
dangerous situation along Coon Creek. In addition, record
flooding is expected along the Kickapoo River at Ontario. Radar
estimates of 5 to locally 12 inches of rain has fallen since 8 PM
Monday night. During the next 2 to 3 hours, the low-level jet
will gradually veer away from our area. As this occurs, the
showers and storms will move east out of these counties. Prior to
this occurring, these areas may see up to another 2 inches of
rain. Due to this, will keep the Flash Flood Watch going through
7 AM this morning.
The 28.00z models are in good agreement that a shortwave trough
will move through the area this evening. As it approaches the area,
another round of showers and storms will develop across the area
this afternoon and then continue into tonight. 0-1 km mixed layer
CAPES will climb into the 2500 to 3500 J/kg range by late morning
across parts of northeast Iowa and in southwest and central
Wisconsin. In addition, the 0-3 km shear will climb into the 40 to
50 knot range. Due to this, expect a damaging wind threat in these
areas. Maybe some isolated tornadoes along some of the bowing
segments. To the north of this area, there will be enough shear
and elevated instability for the potential of some large hail.
With precipitable water values around 2 inches, there is a concern
of additional heavy rain across southwest and central Wisconsin
and northeast Iowa. There may be a need for another Flash Flood
Watch.
.LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Labor Day)
Issued at 349 AM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018
From Wednesday through Thursday, short wave ridging will provide
some much needed dry weather for the area. With 850 mb
temperatures around 9C on Wednesday, high temperatures will be
mainly in the 60s. Warm air advection will develop across the
region on Thursday. As this occurs, 850 mb temperatures will climb
into the 9 to 15C range. This will result in the high temperatures
climbing into the lower and mid 70s.
From Thursday night through Saturday, a longwave trough will move
through the region. This system will provide another round of
showers and storms. Mixed layer CAPES will climb into 1500 to
3000 J/kg. With 0-3 km shear of 30 to 40 knots, may have some
bowing segments with some of these storms from time to time.
From Sunday night into Monday, return flow on the backside of a
departing high may bring some showers and storms back into the
area for the Labor Day. High temperatures will range from the mid
70s to lower 80s.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon)
Issued at 1208 PM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018
Periods SHRA/TSRA to move across the taf sites this afternoon, which
is difficult to put in a taf without it becoming lengthy/complex.
Carried VCTS prevailing with tempo MVFR vsbys MVFR/IFR cigs in TSRA
thru much of the afternoon. Short periods may go LIFR if heavier
TSRA cores pass across the airfields. Forcing/lift wane later this
afternoon/evening as a sfc trough/frontal boundary finally sags SE
of the area. Mainly -SHRA and MVFR cigs to continue into the
evening. MVFR cigs looking to remain across the area overnight, but
eventually drying NW sfc-850mb flow wins out, with rising cigs/
decreasing clouds for Wed morning. Good VFR expected by late morning
and for Wed afternoon as cooler/drier high pressure settles over the
Upper Midwest.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...Through Tonight
Issued at 653 AM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018
Flooding will continue this morning across portions of southwest
and central Wisconsin where 5 to 8 inches of rain fell. Radar
estimates nearly 12 inches of rain fell over portions of La
Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon Counties. Thunderstorms may produce
additional heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches today into this
evening over areas already experiencing flooding issues. The Flash
Flood Watch has been extended through 7 AM Wednesday.
&&
.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Flash Flood Watch through Wednesday morning for WIZ041>044-
053>055-061.
MN...Flash Flood Watch through Wednesday morning for MNZ096.
IA...Flash Flood Watch through Wednesday morning for IAZ011-030.
&&
SHORT TERM...Boyne
LONG TERM...Boyne
AVIATION...Wetenkamp
HYDROLOGY...WetenkampHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 908 AM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018 MNZ079-086>088-094-095-WIZ017-029-032>034-291200- Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo- Trempealeau-Jackson- 908 AM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota into north central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into this evening. A few storms could be strong with gusty winds, locally heavy rainfall, and small hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Thunderstorm chances return Thursday night through Saturday and again Sunday night into Monday. It is too early to determine if there would be a severe weather threat with any of these storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Rainfall reports would be appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. MNZ096-WIZ041>044-053>055-061-291200- Houston-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland- Grant- 908 AM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Iowa...southeast Minnesota and southwest into central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Flooding will continue today across portions of the area. Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into this evening. Some of the storms may become severe with damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall leading flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Thunderstorm chances return Thursday night through Saturday and again Sunday night into Monday. It is too early to determine if there would be a severe weather threat with any of these storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Rainfall and flooding reports would be appreciated. Local spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and early evening. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-291200- Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette- Clayton- 908 AM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for parts of northeast Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered thunderstorms may produce large hail and damaging wind this morning, with additional storms expected this afternoon. Locally heavy rain is also a threat, and frequent lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Thunderstorm chances return Thursday night through Saturday and again Sunday night into Monday. It is too early to determine if there would be a severe weather threat with any of these storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Occasional storm spotter activation is expected today. Rainfall reports would also be appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. Shea
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 1205 PM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ054-055-061- 282015- Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette- Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston- Crawford-Richland-Grant- Including the cities of Osage, Cresco, Decorah, Waukon, Charles City, New Hampton, Oelwein, Elkader, Wabasha, Dodge Center, Rochester, Winona, Austin, Preston, Caledonia, Prairie Du Chien, Richland Center, and Platteville 1205 PM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018 ...SCATTERED STRONG STORMS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST IOWA...AND FAR SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN... Scattered thunderstorms have developed across the area and could produce dime sized hail and wind gusts over 30 mph into the early afternoon. Additional storm development is expected, with severe storms possible later this afternoon. Heavy rain is also possible with these storms and could lead to localized flooding, especially in areas that received heavy rainfall last night. Move indoors if these storms approach your location and have multiple ways of receiving warnings. CA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1206 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NW HIXTON 44.40N 91.04W
08/27/2018 JACKSON WI TRAINED SPOTTER
DELAYED REPORT. MANY TREES DOWN, SOME
SNAPPED. DAMAGE TO CORRAL FENCE. WIND DAMAGE
IS WIDESPREAD AND INCLUDES THE TOWN OF
HIXTON.
&&
DMDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1208 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0718 PM TSTM WND DMG ALMA CENTER 44.44N 90.91W
08/27/2018 JACKSON WI TRAINED SPOTTER
DELAYED REPORT. TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED
FROM RADAR.
&&
DMDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1225 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1224 PM FLOOD VIOLA 43.51N 90.67W
08/28/2018 VERNON WI EMERGENCY MNGR
9 EVACUATIONS IN THE VIOLA AREA SO FAR
&&
SHEASpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 1230 PM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018 WIZ032>034-041-042-053-282100- Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Vernon- Including the cities of Alma, Arcadia, Whitehall, Black River Falls, La Crosse, Sparta, Tomah, and Viroqua 1230 PM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018 ...SCATTERED STRONG STORMS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN... Scattered thunderstorms have developed across southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa and will move into west central Wisconsin through the early afternoon hours. Dime sized hail and wind gusts over 30 mph are possible. Additional storm development is expected, with severe storms possible later this afternoon. Heavy rain is also possible with these storms and could lead to localized flooding, especially in areas that received heavy rainfall last night. Frequent lightning is also occurring with some of these storms, so move indoors if these storms approach your location. Always have multiple ways of receiving warnings. CA
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
130 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018
WIZ042-043-281930-
Juneau-Monroe-
130 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN JUNEAU
AND SOUTHERN MONROE COUNTIES...
At 129 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were clustered near Sparta,
moving northeast at 50 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.
This storm will be near...
Tomah around 150 PM CDT.
New Lisbon around 205 PM CDT.
Necedah around 210 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Leon, Portland,
Norwalk, Camp Douglas and Wilton.
LAT...LON 4391 8998 4387 8996 4372 9079 4373 9091
4390 9091 4421 9001 4425 9004 4417 8997
4413 8999 4413 8997 4412 9001 4409 9003
4402 9000 4401 9001 4398 8996 4392 8995
TIME...MOT...LOC 1829Z 247DEG 46KT 4385 9078
JSBThe La Crosse radar (KARX), 38 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:34 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 4 flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A couple of trees were blown down in Viroqua.
Trees were blown down and the power was out near Lyndon Station. At least one tree landed on a house.
Flood waters from the West Fork of the Kickapoo River covered roads near Avalanche.
Trees were blown down southeast of Lyndon Station. U.S. Highway 12 was closed because of the downed trees.
Thousands of trees were blown down or snapped across southern Adams County. The damage was south of State Highway 82 across Springville and Jackson Townships. The damage started just south of the intersection of State Highways 13 and 82 and continued east to the Marquette County line east of Jordan Lake and was 3 to 4 miles wide in some spots. Some of the downed trees landed on houses. On Jordan Lake, boats were dislodged from docks and floated out into the lake.
Trees were blown down in Plainville.
Up to quarter sized hail fell south of Brooks.
Runoff from heavy rains caused extensive flooding to occur along the Kickapoo River that resulted in numerous road closings. State Highway 131 was closed in several locations as it runs parallel to the river. Other road closures included: State Highway 179 in Steuben, State Highway 171 in Gays Mills, State Highway 60 near Wauzeka, County Highway B north of Gays Mills, County Highway C in Soldiers Grove, County Highway S south of Bell Center and County Highway W between Bell Center and Steuben. One water rescue had to be performed when a elderly man drove his vehicle into flood waters.
Runoff from heavy rains caused flooding to occur along the Pine River from Yuba downstream to Rockbridge.
Flooding along the Kickapoo River prompted some water rescues in Viola. Water was 12 to 18 inches deep in the fire station and was flowing over the upper rail of the State Highway 131 bridge.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, August 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: 779021, 779025, 779022, 779522, 779026, 779023, 779024, 779264, 779028, 779063.