Two rounds of storms moved across western Wisconsin on July 23rd. The first occurred in the afternoon and produced a tornado and wind damage.
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.
Two rounds of storms moved across western Wisconsin on July 23rd. The first occurred in the afternoon and produced a tornado and wind damage. A brief EF0 tornado occurred just east of La Crosse (La Crosse County) that damaged trees along its path. The storms also produced high winds that caused considerable damage in and near Stoddard (Vernon County). A camper was blown over injuring the occupants and numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Trees were also blown down from near Viroqua (Vernon County) east to Ontario (Vernon County) and La Farge (Vernon County). The second round of storms occurred in the late evening and blew down trees near Wauzeka (Crawford 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 23, 1:10 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 210 PM CDT Sat Jul 23 2022 .DISCUSSION...(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 211 PM CDT Sat Jul 23 2022 Key Messages: - Threat for flooding tonight in the wake of this afternoon's strong to severe storms. - Cooler temperatures on deck for next week. - Rain chances return Tuesday, storms possible. Possible Flooding Threat Tonight: In the wake of this afternoon's strong to severe storms, flooding could become a threat. If storms take up a training pattern, the same locations could see multiple rounds of precipitation, increasing their risk for flooding impacts. HREF has continued to suggest a maximum rainfall axis along Interstate 90, though depending on storm tracks, this location could shift. The max total solution from HREF suggests that 5+ inches are possible, with some areas possibly receiving upwards of 7 inches of rain. Probability matched mean runs orient the axis similarly, but leans towards a 2-4 inch solution, with some spots of 5+ inches possible. Again, these amounts and impacted locations could shift depending on how storms orient themselves this afternoon into this evening. But with training storms expected, lingering flooding is certainly a risk for the overnight hours. Cooler Next Week, Rain Chances Return Tuesday: Cooler temperatures are on the way next week with highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s as the area settles into a northwest flow pattern. The EC has been trending towards these cooler temperatures for the past couple runs, adding to confidence. These highs would be a bit below normal (around 5 degrees) for this time of year, but also a nice respite from warmer temperatures we have seen this past week! Precipitation chances return Tuesday as bits of shortwave energy and a cold front move across the area. Still some timing and spatial differences between ensemble and deterministic models, but in general the precip looks to arrive in the afternoon to evening. There are some thunderstorm chances associated with the showers, though storm parameters are generally more favorable to the south of the area. Higher CAPE values are to the south, but GEFS suggests a 20-40% chance of exceeding 1000 J/kg in the southern half of the area. Timing of the front would impact if this instability can be utilized in the development of storms, but peak time for CAPE values appears to be Tuesday evening. More favorable deep layer shear is to the west, which again, depending on timing, could be a contributor to storm development in the west. GEFS suggests a 10-20% chance of PWATs greater than 2 inches across the area, with higher values to the south. Deterministic models come to a solution of about 1.5-1.75 inches across the area, which would help fuel storms and could contribute to the potential for locally heavy rain. However, with varying model solutions, not high confidence with that yet. Overall, severe risk still appears low. As for rainfall totals, the EC suggests a couple tenths with lower amounts towards the north, though this will be more refined as the event nears. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 1221 PM CDT Sat Jul 23 2022 Ongoing thunderstorms to the west will move into the area at the beginning of the TAF period. When thunderstorms reach the airports, expect deteriorated visibilities and lower ceilings. Periods of MVFR conditions are expected with the storms. Winds will also be gusty, particularly at KRST where gusts could be as high as 50 kts. Showers and storms will linger into the late evening at both sites before clearing out overnight. Ceilings should remain lower overnight before skies become clearer tomorrow morning. South/southeast winds will become more west/northwest and less gusty overnight. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for WIZ061. MN...NONE. IA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for IAZ018-019-029-030. && DISCUSSION...Dahl AVIATION...Dahl
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 407 AM CDT Sat Jul 23 2022 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029- 032>034-041>044-053>055-061-241315- 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- 407 AM CDT Sat Jul 23 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Minnesota...northeast Iowa and southwest into central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A potentially significant severe weather event has become increasingly likely for this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds in excess of 70 mph, large hail near 2", and heavy rainfall are the main threats. Cannot rule out the possibility for isolated tornadoes. Repeated rounds of heavy rain would increase the threat for localized flash and urban flooding. There are some questions on where the highest impacts may occur and this could still shift north or south. Afternoon and early evening heat indices around 100 are expected this afternoon but mainly for areas south of highway 18 across portions of northeast Iowa and far southwest Wisconsin. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Storms are possible Tuesday night into Wednesday. At this time, organized severe weather is not expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters will likely be needed this afternoon and evening. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
241 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0238 PM TSTM WND GST 4 W PRESTON 43.67N 92.16W
07/23/2022 M49 MPH FILLMORE MN AWOS
REPORTED AT FILLMORE CO. AIRPORT
&&
SHEAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
243 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0240 PM FLOOD AUSTIN 43.67N 92.97W
07/23/2022 MOWER MN BROADCAST MEDIA
STREET FLOODING REPORTED
&&
SHEAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
248 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0247 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 W ROCHESTER 44.01N 92.54W
07/23/2022 M1.90 INCH OLMSTED MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
SHEAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
259 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0257 PM TSTM WND GST 2 N RUSHFORD 43.84N 91.75W
07/23/2022 E50 MPH FILLMORE MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
&&
SHEAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
313 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0313 PM TSTM WND GST NODINE 43.90N 91.45W
07/23/2022 E45 MPH WINONA MN PUBLIC
&&
SHEAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
319 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 W LEWISTON 43.98N 91.93W
07/23/2022 WINONA MN EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES BLOWN DOWN
&&
SHEAThe La Crosse radar (KARX), 4 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:21 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several large trees were blown down across and near La Crosse. Some of the downed trees caused damage to homes and buildings.
An estimated 70 mph wind gust occurred in Stoddard with lots of trees blown down. At the marina campground, at least one camper was flipped with the occupants sustaining minor injuries. Several vehicles were damaged by downed trees or branches. A rail line was closed when trees fell across it.
An estimated 60 mph wind gust occurred on French Island. Numerous trees were blown down on the north end of the island, prompting the Town of Campbell to close Nelson Park.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down northeast of Stoddard.
Two large trees were blown down north of Stoddard.
Several large tree branches were blown down in Onalaska.
An EF0 tornado developed in the La Crosse River valley east of the city of La Crosse and moved southeast through marshlands before dissipating northwest of Barre Mills. Damage from this tornado was limited to some trees.
Runoff from heavy rain caused street flooding to occur in La Crosse.
Several large trees were blown down east of Viroqua.
An estimated 60 mph wind gust occurred west of Norwalk.
Several large trees were blown down in Ontario.
Several trees were blown down in Kendall.
Several large trees were blown down in Hillsboro.
Several trees were blown down west of Wauzeka.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Wisconsin, 2022Warnings in Wisconsin, July 2022
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: 1049050, 1049039, 1049051, 1049319, 1049040, 1049314, 1049911, 1049053, 1049339, 1049048, 1049340, 1049342, 1049341, 1049350.