Temperatures warmed into the 40s over the first few days of February which was enough to allow the ice to break up on some rivers. The ice break up created ice jams on the Kickapoo and Platte Rivers that lead to some minor flooding.
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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.
Temperatures warmed into the 40s over the first few days of February which was enough to allow the ice to break up on some rivers. The ice break up created ice jams on the Kickapoo and Platte Rivers that lead to some minor flooding.
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 Feb 4, 2:38 PM CST, 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 238 PM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 237 PM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 The strong low-level cold push in the wake of the frontal passage this morning has sent temps crashing in its wake with single digits/teens across parts of southern Minnesota with 20s and 30s still east into Wisconsin as of 20Z. High pressure to the north across southern Canada will briefly impact the area tonight with drier northerly flow and more seasonable overnight lows down into the single digits to low teens. The flow aloft quickly becomes southwesterly on Tuesday with a shortwave trough ejecting northeast. It's a difficult forecast both with precip types and placement with several potential sources of lift. A mid-level fgen area may focus snow in a band across southern or central Minnesota eastward into Wisconsin. High res consensus at this time favors southwest MN into north central WI with the snow band, but will have to monitor later guidance. Additional broad isentropic ascent/warm advection will likely lead to light precip developing northeast across the remainder of the area in this regime during the afternoon and evening. At this point, the best potential for 1 to 3 inches of snow looks to be across the northern half of the area given the frontogenetic forcing, with locally higher amounts possible near any focused banding, especially across north central WI as it looks now. An advisory for snow may ultimately be needed for some areas as confidence increases in the placement of fgen snow bands. Shallow moisture depths may result in more of a wintry mix farther south with light icing potential. The highest icing is expected south and east of the area, but an advisory may be needed for light icing/wintry mix across portions of the area. Precip will end Tuesday night possibly as a light mix if enough lift hangs around long enough as the mid-levels dry out. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 237 PM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 More amplified southwest flow will develop on Wednesday as the main trough ejects from the Rockies. This trough will lift into the Upper MS Valley on Thursday with the associated surface cyclone tracking northeast from the central plains northeast into the Great Lakes. Although the general evolution of the system is similar among models, differences in low track would impact thermal fields and associated precip types. This system will likely spread a wintry mix/snow across the area Wed night and Thursday, but it's too early to have a good handle on amounts. A much colder airmass will slide south as the system departs with 850 mb temps falling to around -20C. Temps will fall into the single digits on either side of zero Thursday night, only recovering into the single digits and low teens on Friday. With high pressure dropping south into the northern plains, enough of a northwest wind may allow wind chills to fall into the 15 to 25 below zero Thursday night through Friday night at times. The weekend should start off dry and chilly with high pressure over the area. However, by late in the weekend into early next week models indicate increased precip chances as shortwave troughs continue to eject out of the plains within a progressive west/southwest flow but very low predictability at this range. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1134 AM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 IFR conditions expected to improve into VFR by 21z at KRST and after 23Z at KLSE as low pressure pulls east away from the region. Gusty northwest winds generally in the 10 to 15kt range with gusts around 25kt will subside this evening as high pressure slides down from the Dakotas. Another area of low pressure will move out of the Northern Plains Tuesday morning, but looks like any snow from this system will stay out of the KRST/KLSE sites through 18z (end of this TAF period) with VFR conditions continuing until then. Light snow or a wintry mix looks to move into the KRST/KLSE airports in the afternoon. Better detail will be forthcoming in the 05.00Z TAF issuance. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 237 PM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 Rises will continue on area rivers and streams from snowmelt runoff and rainfall before the colder air arriving slows the runoff. At this time, most river levels are forecast to remain below flood stage, although ice jams will remain possible into tonight. If you live near a river or stream continue to monitor river levels and ice conditions closely. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && SHORT TERM...JM LONG TERM...JM AVIATION...DAS HYDROLOGY...JM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 211 PM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029- 032>034-041>044-053>055-061-051200- 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- 211 PM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Minnesota...northeast Iowa and southwest into central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight Ice jams are also possible through tonight as runoff from melting snow continues, and ice breaks up on streams and rivers. Localized flooding could result from the recent runoff. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Several bouts of wintry weather are expected Tuesday afternoon through Thursday night, including the potential for both accumulating snow and some ice accumulation. At this time, it appears 2 to 3 inches of snow are possible Tuesday afternoon and night along with a light glaze of ice, though amounts could change based on storm track. Additional accumulating snow or ice appears likely later Wednesday into Thursday, though at this time, it remains too early to determine exact amounts. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Any icing or snow reports over the next few days would be appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. DAS
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 913 AM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 WIZ029-034-042-041700- Clark-Jackson-Monroe- Including the cities of Neillsville, Black River Falls, Sparta, and Tomah 913 AM CST Mon Feb 4 2019 ...Temperatures Falling Fast With Some Freezing Drizzle Possible Later This Morning... Much colder air will be pushing into the area through 11 am. Some patchy drizzle is also possible. With temperatures falling below the freezing mark by 11 am, be prepared for some freezing of moisture on roadways. Slippery stretches could occur on any untreated surfaces. Slow down and drive with caution. DAS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
An ice jam on the Platte River caused flooding to occur near Rockville. The ice jam formed after temperatures warmed into the 40s during the early part of February. The river crested over a foot above the flood state at 10.19 feet.
An ice jam on the Kickapoo River caused flooding to occur in and around Gays Mills. The ice jam formed after temperatures warmed into the 40s during the early part of February. The river crested less than a half foot above the flood stage at 13.2 feet.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, February 2019
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: 808301, 808300.