Hail in Iowa, April 27, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1252 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- While the local severe weather threat is decreasing, still
  cannot fully rule out an isolated severe storm before 8pm this
  afternoon. The tornado threat is quite conditional but still
  non-zero.

- Cooler and drier for the remainder of the work week with highs
  in the 50s and lows in the 30s. Warming up next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1247 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

This Afternoon: Convective Evolution Details

A 998-mb quasi-barbell surface low structure was noted along a
cold front advancing through southwestern MN and northwestern IA
early this afternoon, with broad east to southeast flow ahead
of these low centroids and veering flow on the south side of
these lows behind a warm front. A corridor of clearing developed
within the dry slot ahead of the cold front, allowing for some
airmass recovery in the wake of our morning convection. While
only a few degrees, this insolation was enough to trigger
convective initiation along the front shortly before midday in
northwestern Iowa. With the 850-mb jet already displaced to the
east and surface flow veered to the SSW ahead of the front, the
storms are encountering a vertical wind profile unfavorable for
sustained updraft longevity, featuring compressed and complex
hodographs per HRRR/RAP profiles.

An additional line of convergence along the de-facto warm front
lifting into northeastern Iowa could also spark showers and
storms over the next few hours. While these storms will develop
in a more favorable wind profile featuring looped and elongated
hodographs, the lack of daytime heating ahead of the line will
result in struggling updrafts if any do manage to get going at
all. Thus is the story of our current weather setup--two
potential areas of convective development, but neither has both
the favorable thermodynamic and kinematic profiles in place to
support an organized severe weather threat.

While a very low probability (< 10%) given the relatively
progressive nature of the low/front, should sufficient clearing
take place ahead of the front, there could be enough 0-3-km
MLCAPE and surface vorticity pooled along the front to generate
landspout tornadoes with any convection rooted along the
boundary. However, the degree of recovery ahead of the front
will be key and the window of opportunity for such a setup will
be only an hour or two at any given location.

The threat for severe weather departs once the cold front
passes, which looks to be between 3pm and 8pm tonight.

Rest of the Week: Cooler and Drier

Broad longwave troughing with multiple embedded shortwaves resides
over the north-central U.S. through the remainder of the week,
keeping a continued fetch of polar air in place and temperatures
roughly 10 degrees below normal. Several of these aforementioned
undulations bring periods of clouds and possibly light showers
from Tuesday through Thursday, but the probabilities for
measurable precipitation is quite low and impacts should be
minimal. Lows will be dictated by cloud cover and winds with the
surface high pressure centroid remaining upstream, but the need
for Frost/Freeze headlines will increase from Tuesday through
Friday nights. The pattern shifts for next weekend as ridging
builds in, allowing for more seasonal temperatures to creep
northward.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1247 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

Predominant MVFR flight conditions across much of the area with
some VFR conditions in northeast Iowa and far southwest
Wisconsin. All locations will see MVFR to IFR flight conditions
due to low CIGS, between 500 and 1500ft, by this evening. These
lowered CIGS continue through the overnight before clearing out
during the morning on Tuesday. Scattered showers and storms will
be possible through the afternoon, ending by early evening.

Visibilities remain mostly in the MVFR range for locations
under the stratus deck, during the afternoon then increase to
VFR by the evening. Southeast to southwest winds continue into
the mid afternoon hours before changing to the northwest as a
cold front moves through the region. By midnight, all locations
will be out of the northwest with sustained winds of 15 to 25
mph and gusts of 25 to 35 mph. These stronger winds diminish
throughout the morning.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...None.
IA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Skow
AVIATION...Cecava

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
153 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ088-095-096-WIZ041>044-053>055-061-
282300-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Winona-Fillmore-Houston-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-
Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant-
153 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A line of storms moves through this afternoon, some of which could
be severe. A few damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado
cannot be fully ruled out.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Overnight low temperatures may fall below freezing later this
week, which could damage sensitive vegetation.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

MNZ079-086-087-094-WIZ017-029-032>034-282300-
Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Mower-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-
Jackson-
153 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A line of storms moves through this afternoon, but severe weather
is not expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Overnight low temperatures may fall below freezing later this
week, which could damage sensitive vegetation.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

KDS

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1111 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

IAZ030-WIZ054-055-061-271700-
Clayton IA-Richland WI-Crawford WI-Grant WI-
1111 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

...STRONG WINDS BEHIND A LINE OF SHOWERS THROUGH NOON CDT...

At 1110 AM CDT, automated weather observations reported strong
winds behind a line of showers from 10 miles southeast of Harpers
Ferry to near East Dubuque. These winds will last for 30 to 60
minutes before subsiding.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Automated weather observations.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Platteville, Prairie Du Chien, Richland Center, Lancaster,
Guttenberg, Elkader, Boscobel, Fennimore, Cuba City, Muscoda, Hazel
Green, Dickeyville, Cassville, Garnavillo, Bloomington, Westport,
Preston, Bridgeport, Georgetown, and Lone Rock.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4264 9071 4268 9090 4265 9090 4265 9138
      4289 9146 4341 9019 4317 9019 4321 9029
      4320 9043 4251 9043 4251 9064
TIME...MOT...LOC 1610Z 250DEG 37KT 4314 9097 4254 9060

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Skow

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1121 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

WIZ041-042-053>055-061-271715-
Richland WI-Vernon WI-La Crosse WI-Crawford WI-Monroe WI-Grant WI-
1121 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

...STRONG WINDS BEHIND A LINE OF SHOWERS THROUGH 1215 PM CDT...

At 1119 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong winds behind a
line of showers extending from near La Crosse to near Boscobel.
Movement was northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
La Crosse, Sparta, Tomah, Prairie Du Chien, Richland Center, Viroqua,
Onalaska, West Salem, Boscobel, Westby, Bangor, Hillsboro, Cashton,
Stoddard, Coon Valley, La Farge, La Crosse Airport, Fort Mc Coy,
French Island, and Germantown.

This includes Interstate 90 in Wisconsin between mile markers 1 and
42.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4299 9116 4313 9118 4326 9106 4332 9111
      4337 9122 4341 9120 4345 9123 4352 9122
      4365 9127 4378 9124 4386 9130 4415 9061
      4371 9031 4356 9031 4355 9021 4353 9019
      4332 9019
TIME...MOT...LOC 1619Z 233DEG 27KT 4382 9114 4316 9075

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Skow

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1147 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

WIZ034-042>044-053-271815-
Juneau WI-Jackson WI-Vernon WI-Adams WI-Monroe WI-
1147 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

...STRONG WINDS BEHIND A LINE OF SHOWERS THROUGH 115 PM CDT...

At 1145 AM CDT, automated weather observations reported strong winds
behind a line of showers from 6 miles northwest of Cashton to 6
miles west of Richland Center. Movement was northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Automated weather observations.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Tomah, Mauston, Friendship, New Lisbon, Adams, Elroy, Hillsboro,
Necedah, Wonewoc, Dellwood, New Rome, Fort Mc Coy, Glendale,
Lemonweir, Strongs Prairie, Big Flats, Lindina, Camp Douglas,
Ridgeville, and Lyndon Station.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 94 between mile markers 132 and 147.
 Interstate 90/94 between mile markers 46 and 86.
 Interstate 90 in Wisconsin between mile markers 36 and 45.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4364 9031 4359 9031 4408 9074 4431 9032
      4425 9032 4425 8960 4364 8960
TIME...MOT...LOC 1645Z 235DEG 38KT 4378 9091 4333 9050

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Skow

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
103 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

0445 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WNW Montfort          42.98N 90.48W
04/17/2026                   Grant              WI   Emergency Mngr

            Hog barn damaged, verified by satellite.
            Time estimated via radar.

&&

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