Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 30, 2019

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 30, 2019
Start: 2019-06-30T14:20
End: 2019-06-30T16:38
Location: Wisconsin

June 30, 2019 · NWS ARX · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $51,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS ARX wrote it up.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved across portions of western Wisconsin during the afternoon of June 30th. These storms primarily produced damaging winds with the southern half of Grant County hit the hardest. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down with an estimated 20,000 customers without power. A 75 mph wind gust was measured by the automated weather observing equipment at the Platteville airport (Grant County).

What forecasters said that day

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 Jun 30, 1:11 PM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 30, 1:11 PM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
211 PM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 210 PM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

Convection has quickly reformed early this afternoon across
eastern Minnesota into northern Wisconsin ahead of yet another
short wave trough moving across the top of the upper level ridge.
The lower levels of the atmosphere have not recovered quickly in
the wake of the earlier morning convection, but MUCAPES are in
the 1000-1500 J/Kg range. The latest runs of the HRRR seem to have
a good handle on this activity and continue to move it southeast
along the edge of the MUCAPE gradient and it should clear the
eastern parts of the area by late this afternoon.

This activity should help to reinforce the synoptic front that
looks to extend from southwest Minnesota into southern Wisconsin.
This front is not expected to move much, if at all overnight, and
likely will be the focus for additional development overnight.
Several runs of the RAP have been showing a moderate band of
frontogenesis to exist along the front. As the low level jet gets
going and intersects the boundary, the RAP and HRRR all show a
band of convection oriented from central Minnesota into southern
Wisconsin, developing overnight. With precipitable water amounts
near 2 inches and warm cloud depths of 4 km or so, concerned that
this overnight activity will be heavy rain producers with the rain
falling over ground that is already saturated by the rains of the
last couple of days. A flash flood watch is looking more likely
for areas generally along and north of Interstate 90. This
activity should then begin to diminish/move off to the east after
sunrise with the diurnal decay of the low level jet.

Unfortunately, it does not look like the synoptic front is going
to move much and should still be near the vicinity for Monday
afternoon. By mid to late afternoon, the RAP is showing the
moisture transport axis redeveloping back into the front over
southern and central Minnesota with another round of convection
forming. Along with the continued heavy rain threat, this activity
could also have a damaging wind threat. ML CAPES may recover back
into the 2000-3000 J/Kg range with the potential of 40 to 50 knots
of shear in the 0-6 km layer.

.LONG TERM...(Monday night through Sunday)
Issued at 210 PM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

No large scale pattern change looks to occur over the upcoming
week. A flat upper level ridge will remain over the central part
of the country with troughing over the western conus and over
central Canada. The two long wave troughs will push several short
wave troughs across the flat ridge and over the Upper Midwest. The
surface boundary will get pushed around some by convective
complexes, but in the big picture, it will remain over the region.
As the short wave troughs cross the region, they will interact
with the front and likely cause additional convective complexes to
form. This will necessitate the inclusion of rain chances everyday
into next weekend. Depending on where the convective complexes
form and how much rain is dropped, the concern for additional
flooding remains elevated.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon)
Issued at 1229 PM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

Much uncertainty exists with how the convection is going to play
out during the next 24 hours. This is due to the CAMs not handling
the existing convection. For this afternoon, thinking the line of
storms near the Twin Cities will drop southward into the TAF
sites. It should reach KRST around 30.20z and KLSE around 30.21z.
These storms should last 2 to 3 hours. Main threat with these
storms will be heavy rain and gusty winds.

For tonight, not sure how this is going to play out. If the
storms, move more down the I-94 corridor this afternoon than there
would likely be redevelopment near the Mississippi River. If this
bows further west, than much of the redevelopment would be west
and south of the TAF sites.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for WIZ061.

MN...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for MNZ079-086>088-
     094>096.

IA...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for IAZ008>011-018-019-
     029-030.

&&

SHORT TERM...04
LONG TERM...04
AVIATION...Boyne

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 30, 10:29 AM CST, 3 hours 51 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1129 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-011100-
Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-
Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-
1129 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central
Wisconsin...north central Wisconsin...southwest Wisconsin and
west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Afternoon heat index readings will range from 95 to 100 degrees.

Thunderstorms are possible again later this afternoon and
tonight. Some of the thunderstorms could become severe with a
threat for damaging winds, heavy rain which may lead to flooding,
and possibly some large hail. A Flash Flood Watch may be needed.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Additional thunderstorm chances will be found Monday through
Saturday. An ongoing risk will be for heavy rainfall and flash
flooding where repeat storms occur. It is too early to determine
the risk for severe storms during this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation could be needed later today and this evening.
In addition, rainfall reports are always appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ061-011100-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-Grant-
1129 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Minnesota and southwest
Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A Heat Advisory is in effect through mid-evening. Afternoon heat
index readings will range from 100 to 105 degrees.

Thunderstorms are possible again later this afternoon and
tonight. Some of the thunderstorms could become severe with a
threat for damaging winds, heavy rain which may lead to flooding,
and possibly some large hail. A Flash Flood Watch may be needed.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Additional thunderstorm chances will be found Monday through
Saturday. An ongoing risk will be for heavy rainfall and flash
flooding where repeat storms occur. It is too early to determine
the risk for severe storms during this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation could be needed later today and this evening.
In addition, rainfall reports are always appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

04

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 30, 8:55 AM CST, 5 hours 25 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
955 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

IAZ008>011-018-019-MNZ094>096-301545-
Floyd-Winneshiek-Chickasaw-Howard-Allamakee-Mitchell-Fillmore-Mower-
Houston-
955 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

...STRONG WINDS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA...

At 950 AM CDT, radar indicated a thunderstorm outflow boundary
extending from near Austin to near Stoddard. Movement was south at
45 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this boundary.

These winds will be near...
  Lyle around 1000 AM CDT.
  New Albin around 1005 AM CDT.
  Lansing and St. Ansgar around 1015 AM CDT.
  Harpers Ferry around 1030 AM CDT.
  Rudd around 1035 AM CDT.
  Rockford around 1045 AM CDT.

LAT...LON 4371 9305 4374 9125 4361 9127 4358 9123
      4337 9122 4332 9112 4320 9111 4313 9118
      4308 9118 4308 9208 4291 9208 4291 9302
TIME...MOT...LOC 1450Z 002DEG 38KT 4362 9303 4364 9125

JSB

Special weather statement, Jun 30, 9:09 AM CST, 5 hours 11 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1009 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

WIZ041>044-053>055-301600-
Juneau-Richland-Vernon-La Crosse-Adams-Crawford-Monroe-
1009 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN LA
CROSSE...SOUTHERN JUNEAU...VERNON...RICHLAND...CRAWFORD...ADAMS AND
SOUTHERN MONROE COUNTIES...

At 1007 AM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Wautoma to near Elroy to near
Stoddard. Movement was southeast at 45 mph.

Wind gusts up to 55 mph are possible with these storms. The
strongest winds will be found in Adams County where there a few
trees may be blown down.

These storms will be near...
  Wonewoc around 1010 AM CDT.
  Viroqua around 1025 AM CDT.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
these storms pass.

LAT...LON 4364 9031 4355 9031 4355 9019 4323 9019
      4320 9041 4321 9055 4316 9070 4311 9103
      4378 9125 4387 9044 4414 8960 4364 8960
TIME...MOT...LOC 1507Z 310DEG 40KT 4402 8927 4372 9019 4363 9116

JSB

Special weather statement, Jun 30, 9:22 AM CST, 4 hours 58 minutes before

Special Weather Statement...corrected
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1022 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

WIZ041>044-053>055-301600-
Juneau-Richland-Vernon-La Crosse-Adams-Crawford-Monroe-
1022 AM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN LA
CROSSE...SOUTHERN JUNEAU...VERNON...RICHLAND...CRAWFORD...ADAMS AND
SOUTHERN MONROE COUNTIES...

At 1007 AM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Wautoma to near Elroy to near
Stoddard. Movement was southeast at 45 mph.

Wind gusts up to 55 mph are possible with these storms. The
strongest winds will be found in Adams County where a few trees may
be blown down.

These storms will be near...
  Wonewoc around 1010 AM CDT.
  Viroqua around 1025 AM CDT.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
these storms pass.

LAT...LON 4364 9031 4355 9031 4355 9019 4323 9019
      4320 9041 4321 9055 4316 9070 4311 9103
      4378 9125 4387 9044 4414 8960 4364 8960
TIME...MOT...LOC 1507Z 310DEG 40KT 4402 8927 4372 9019 4363 9116

JSB

Special weather statement, Jun 30, 1:26 PM CST, 54 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
226 PM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

MNZ079-086>088-WIZ029-032>034-302000-
Wabasha-Olmsted-Dodge-Winona-Buffalo-Jackson-Trempealeau-Clark-
226 PM CDT Sun Jun 30 2019

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WINONA...OLMSTED...
WABASHA...DODGE...BUFFALO...SOUTHERN CLARK...JACKSON AND TREMPEALEAU
COUNTIES...

Through 330 PM, scattered strong thunderstorms will be found north
of Interstate 90.  These storms will produce very heavy rain, wind
gusts to 30 mph, and small hail.

Locations impacted include...
Rochester, Winona, Black River Falls, Arcadia, Mondovi, Dodge Center,
Wabasha, Neillsville, Whitehall, Mantorville, Alma, Buffalo, Kasson,
Byron, Goodview, Plainview, Eyota, Osseo, Blair and Hayfield.

Torrential rainfall may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your
vehicle through flooded roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

LAT...LON 4420 9305 4419 9255 4437 9255 4437 9243
      4445 9243 4445 9224 4441 9208 4456 9204
      4460 9092 4464 9092 4468 9032 4434 9032
      4385 9292 4385 9305
TIME...MOT...LOC 1922Z 325DEG 29KT 4397 9294

JSB

Local storm report, Jun 30, 2:06 PM CST, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
306 PM CDT SUN JUN 30 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0300 PM     HAIL             4 SSE AUSTIN            43.62N 92.95W
06/30/2019  M0.88 INCH       MOWER              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0300 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SSE AUSTIN            43.62N 92.95W
06/30/2019  E55 MPH          MOWER              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

Local storm report, Jun 30, 2:14 PM CST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
314 PM CDT SUN JUN 30 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0314 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 N LYLE                43.58N 92.94W
06/30/2019  E60 MPH          MOWER              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CA

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:20 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, La Crosse

When: June 30, 2:20 PM CST
Where: La Crosse County, 0.85 mi SW of Holmen
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.960, -91.260

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: June 30, 3:11 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, Mt Sterling
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.320, -90.930

A tree was blown down onto State Highway 171 in Mt. Sterling.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When: June 30, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Grant County, 0.69 mi N of Platteville
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.740, -90.480

The automated weather observing equipment at the Platteville airport measured a gust of 75 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When: June 30, 4:38 PM CST
Where: Grant County, Elmo
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.630, -90.430

Lots of trees and power lines were blown down across much of Grant County. The hardest hit areas were across the southern half of the county, including Cuba City which was hit particularly hard with damaging winds. 20,000 customers across the county were without power.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, June 2019

Sources

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: 835333, 835366, 835401, 835616.