The large storm system that has been keeping things unsettled and stormy for us and really the entire Midwest continues to edge its way eastward toward us, keeping things breezy, humid, and a little damp today.  In the wake of Sunday night’s severe storms that produced heavy rain and strong winds, there are still a number of Flood Warnings in effect for today and even some that won’t expire for a couple of additional days while severe weather remains a concern for us in the short term.  Look for occasional sunshine today that may work to destabilize the atmosphere, settting the stage for some strong thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening.  Right now the biggest concern appears to be damaging wind gusts that may topple or completely uproot trees.  We’ll also have to keep an eye on rainfall amounts as soils are very soggy and can’t hold much more if any additional moisture.  The rainfall from today’s showers doesn’t appear to be as heavy as Sunday’s but even a small dose now would make things worse, so the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the eastern part of our viewing area.  There is also a marginal tornado threat and of course a chance for some hail in some of the stronger storms.

A look at some of the highest rainfall amounts across the area. Rochester received 2.07″ officially Sunday, a record for the date.

The latest Storm Prediction Center outlook places the eastern half of our area in the slight risk category for severe storms today and tonight.

Posted under severe weather, Uncategorized

It certainly has been a cool and wet first half of April with temperatures running about eleven degrees below normal on average and rainfall amounts approaching triple the normal value in Rochester as of the midpoint in the month.  The official rainfall total in the Med City has been 3.89 inches, which is 2.42 inches of moisture above normal to date and from the look of things, we have quite a bit more on the way for the latter part of this week.  We’re enjoying the most pleasant part of the week right now with sunshine and light winds making for a decent Tuesday afternoon, but after this it will be all down hill for the next few days thanks to a large, messy storm system that, just like last week, looks to bring heavy rain and then some accumulating snow to the region.   Expect rain to develop in the middle of our Wednesday with some heavy downpours and thunderstorms Wednesday evening.  We’ll keep the cool, blustery theme going Thursday with light rain that will eventually transition to a rain and snow mixture late in the day before becoming all snow Thursday night.  Nothing is set in stone yet, but there is the potential that many of us may have to dig out of a coating of five or six inches of snow Friday morning on the back side of this storm system.  There’s also a chance that it will be wetter snow and not as deep, so there are many possibilities ahead of us as that part of the system is a few days away.

An inch or two of rain may fall by early Thursday as shown on our FutureCast. Some spots may receive as much as three inches causing some localized flooding.

Heavy rain and the possibility of heavy snow melt/runoff may cause flooding in some spots this week. A Flood Watch is in effect from Wednesday afternoon through late Thursday night for much of the local area.

Posted under Uncategorized

It may not have been the prettiest looking weather of the year, but the past few days have yielded a significant amount of much needed rainfall in our area.  For the week, Rochester has officially registered slightly more than a full inch of rain which essentially brings us up to what is considered to be the normal amount for October up to this point with a total of 1.83 inches as of Thursday.  This stands as the wettest week in the area since late July.  If you’re hoping for sunshine and a chance to dry out after four solid days of wet, dreariness, we do actually have a long stretch of sunny, but cool days ahead starting tomorrow and possibly running through the first weekend of November.

Here’s a look at some rainfall totals as of 11:00 AM:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1100 AM CDT THU OCT 25 2012

…24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ACROSS THE AREA…

LOCATION                   RAINFALL    TIME     LAT/LON

IOWA

…ALLAMAKEE COUNTY…
DORCHESTER                 0.38        0700 AM  43.47N 91.51W
DORCHESTER 3S              0.18        0700 AM  43.42N 91.51W

…CHICKASAW COUNTY…
IONIA                      0.39        0700 AM  43.03N 92.50W
NEW HAMPTON                0.23        0700 AM  43.06N 92.31W
NEW HAMPTON 2S             0.22        0700 AM  43.04N 92.32W

…CLAYTON COUNTY…
STRAWBERRY POINT           0.00        0700 AM  42.69N 91.53W

…FAYETTE COUNTY…
WAUCOMA 3S                 0.22        0700 AM  43.01N 92.03W
ELDORADO                   0.01        0700 AM  43.05N 91.81W

…FLOYD COUNTY…
COLWELL                    1.57        0700 AM  43.16N 92.59W
CHARLES CITY COOP          0.92        0700 AM  43.08N 92.67W
CHARLES CITY AWOS          0.84        0700 AM  43.07N 92.61W
CHARLES CITY CEDAR RVR     0.60        0700 AM  43.06N 92.67W
NASHUA                     0.59        0700 AM  42.94N 92.57W

…HOWARD COUNTY…
ELMA                       1.03        0700 AM  43.24N 92.44W
CRESCO                     0.72        0700 AM  43.37N 92.11W

…MITCHELL COUNTY…
ST ANSGAR 4E               1.32        0700 AM  43.37N 92.83W
OSAGE                      1.11        0700 AM  43.28N 92.81W

…WINNESHIEK COUNTY…
BLUFFTON                   1.06        0700 AM  43.41N 91.90W
DECORAH 8ENE               0.25        0700 AM  43.34N 91.64W
CALMAR                     0.19        0700 AM  43.18N 91.87W
DECORAH UPPER IA RVR       0.14        0700 AM  43.30N 91.80W
DECORAH AWOS               0.10        0700 AM  43.28N 91.74W

MINNESOTA

…DODGE COUNTY…
MANTORVILLE 2ESE           0.83        0700 AM  44.05N 92.72W
DODGE CENTER AWOS          0.62        0700 AM  44.03N 92.83W

…FILLMORE COUNTY…
WHALAN 3SSE                3.00        0700 AM  43.69N 91.90W
LANESBORO                  2.15        0700 AM  43.72N 91.97W
HARMONY                    2.15        0700 AM  43.55N 92.01W
HIGHLAND                   1.82        0700 AM  43.65N 91.84W
SPRING VALLEY 3E           1.77        0700 AM  43.68N 92.33W
PRESTON                    1.40        0700 AM  43.67N 92.07W
CARIMONA                   1.31        0700 AM  43.66N 92.15W
CHATFIELD 9ESE             1.30        0700 AM  43.79N 92.03W
PILOT MOUND                1.27        0700 AM  43.78N 92.03W
PRESTON 1 NNE              1.22        0700 AM  43.68N 92.08W
OSTRANDER                  1.08        0700 AM  43.61N 92.43W
PRESTON AWOS               0.64        0700 AM  43.68N 92.18W
SPRING VALLEY 1 NW         0.61        0700 AM  43.70N 92.40W
SPRING VALLEY              0.57        0700 AM  43.69N 92.39W

…HOUSTON COUNTY…
SPRING GROVE 4N            1.55        0700 AM  43.61N 91.62W
HOUSTON                    1.31        0700 AM  43.77N 91.57W
LA CRESCENT 1NNW           1.18        0700 AM  43.83N 91.31W
MOUND PRAIRIE              1.17        0700 AM  43.78N 91.45W
CALEDONIA                  0.65        0700 AM  43.63N 91.50W
CALEDONIA 5S               0.38        0700 AM  43.56N 91.51W

…MOWER COUNTY…
GRAND MEADOW               1.27        0700 AM  43.71N 92.56W
AUSTIN  TURTLE CREEK       0.93        0700 AM  43.65N 92.98W
LANSING                    0.92        0700 AM  43.75N 92.95W
AUSTIN WTR TRTMNT PLANT    0.63        0700 AM  43.67N 92.97W
AUSTIN AWOS                0.61        0700 AM  43.67N 92.93W
AUSTIN  DOBBINS CR         0.61        0700 AM  43.67N 92.95W
AUSTIN 3S                  0.07        0700 AM  43.62N 93.00W

…OLMSTED COUNTY…
POST TOWN                  1.43        0700 AM  44.09N 92.82W
ROCHESTER MAPLE VALLEY     1.31        0700 AM  44.02N 92.42W
BYRON                      1.30        0700 AM  44.07N 92.66W
DOVER 1E                   1.17        0700 AM  43.97N 92.12W
ROCHESTER 3W               0.98        0700 AM  44.01N 92.53W
ROCHESTER – CASCADE CREEK  0.92        0700 AM  44.03N 92.48W
BYRON 6S                   0.89        0700 AM  43.96N 92.63W
ELBA                       0.87        0700 AM  44.05N 92.05W
ROCHESTER – BEAR CREEK     0.87        0700 AM  43.92N 92.48W
ELGIN 2SSW                 0.86        0700 AM  44.10N 92.27W
ROCHESTER 5SW              0.86        0700 AM  43.98N 92.56W
ROCHESTER – SILVER CREEK   0.81        0700 AM  44.03N 92.42W
ROCHESTER 6ENE             0.80        0700 AM  44.05N 92.37W
ROCHESTER BELTLINE         0.72        0700 AM  43.91N 92.50W
ROCHESTER ASOS             0.72        0700 AM  43.91N 92.50W

…WABASHA COUNTY…
ZUMBRO FALLS 4SSW          1.67        0700 AM  44.24N 92.46W
LAKE CITY                  1.38        0700 AM  44.45N 92.26W
THEILMAN                   0.80        0700 AM  44.28N 92.19W
KELLOGG                    0.73        0700 AM  44.32N 92.00W
WABASHA                    0.68        0700 AM  44.39N 92.05W

…WINONA COUNTY…
RUSHFORD 6NNE              2.48        0700 AM  43.89N 91.69W
WINONA 4SE                 1.70        0700 AM  44.02N 91.61W
ROLLINGSTONE 2NW           1.57        0700 AM  44.12N 91.85W
LEWISTON                   1.21        0700 AM  43.98N 91.87W
DAKOTA                     0.90        0700 AM  43.92N 91.37W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7          0.79        0700 AM  43.87N 91.31W
ALTURA                     0.79        0700 AM  44.15N 92.01W
WINONA DAM 5A              0.65        0700 AM  44.09N 91.67W
MINNESOTA CITY             0.50        0700 AM  44.16N 91.81W
WINONA AWOS                0.41        0700 AM  44.08N 91.70W

WISCONSIN

…BUFFALO COUNTY…
ALMA DAM 4                 0.56        0700 AM  44.33N 91.92W

…CLARK COUNTY…
OWEN                       1.78        0700 AM  44.98N 90.55W
NEILLSVILLE 1W             1.07        0700 AM  44.56N 90.61W

…JACKSON COUNTY…
BLACK RIVER FALLS STP      1.54        0700 AM  44.29N 90.85W
BLACK RIVER FALLS RAWS     1.22        0700 AM  44.30N 90.84W
BLACK RIVER FALLS 2NNE     1.18        0700 AM  44.32N 90.83W
BLACK RIVER FALLS          1.16        0700 AM  44.38N 90.84W
HATFIELD DAM               1.00        0700 AM  44.41N 90.73W
BLACK RIVER FALLS AWOS     0.56        0700 AM  44.25N 90.86W

…LA CROSSE COUNTY…
HOLMEN                     1.77        0700 AM  43.97N 91.27W
WEST SALEM 2W              1.33        0700 AM  43.90N 91.12W
WEST SALEM 1W              1.13        0700 AM  43.90N 91.09W
HOLMEN 2S                  1.09        0700 AM  43.93N 91.25W
LA CROSSE 4NNW             0.96        0700 AM  43.87N 91.27W
LA CROSSE ASOS             0.89        0700 AM  43.88N 91.26W
LA CROSSE                  0.87        0700 AM  43.80N 91.37W
LA CROSSE WFO              0.85        0700 AM  43.82N 91.19W
LA CROSSE 5SE              0.61        0700 AM  43.77N 91.15W

…MONROE COUNTY…
FOUR CORNERS               0.95        0700 AM  44.07N 90.92W
WARRENS                    0.19        0700 AM  44.10N 90.59W
SPARTA WASTE WTR           0.08        0700 AM  43.94N 90.82W
TUNNEL CITY                0.02        0700 AM  44.01N 90.57W

…RICHLAND COUNTY…
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW        0.00        0700 AM  43.36N 90.42W

…TAYLOR COUNTY…
JUMP RIVER                 1.82        0700 AM  45.36N 90.80W
MEDFORD                    1.50        0700 AM  45.13N 90.34W
GAD 6E                     1.15        0700 AM  45.14N 90.20W
LUBLIN DIAMOND LAKE        0.64        0700 AM  45.11N 90.69W

…TREMPEALEAU COUNTY…
TREMPEALEAU 2NW            1.85        0700 AM  44.03N 91.46W
GALESVILLE 2WSW            1.83        0700 AM  44.07N 91.39W
ETTRICK                    1.49        0700 AM  44.11N 91.22W
GALESVILLE 3ENE            1.34        0700 AM  44.09N 91.29W
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6          1.30        0700 AM  44.00N 91.44W
OSSEO                      0.26        0700 AM  44.58N 91.22W

…VERNON COUNTY…
STODDARD                   0.07        0700 AM  43.66N 91.24W
VIROQUA 4NE                0.04        0700 AM  43.61N 90.82W
GENOA                      0.03        0700 AM  43.57N 91.23W
ONTARIO 3E                 0.02        0700 AM  43.72N 90.60W

Posted under rainfall amounts

The weekend storm system that brought clouds, rain, and cold winds to the region allowed some locations to make a decent dent in the 2012 rainfall deficit while some other spots were disappointed with the totals.  Ahead of its arrival, we were anticipating quite a deluge of rain as well as some strong or severe thunderstorm activity.  The good news is, we avoided the severe weather, and while some spots did get the heavy rainfall that was promised, more than half of the area received less than an inch and remains in a moderate to severe drought.  Rochester received less than half an inch of rain from the two day storm between Friday night and midday Sunday and still has a small deficit for the month of October and a large deficit for the year.

Rochester is more than 7 inches below normal for rainfall this year and remains in a "Moderate Drought."

There will be some rain chances ahead for the middle and latter portion of the week, although the totals are expected to be much less impressive across the area.  The overall pattern does look a little more active in the next couple of weeks, so there may be more frequent bouts of light rain for the second half of the month.

Here’s a look at some of the local rainfall totals from the National Weather Service office in La Crosse: 

Rainfall Totals from Weekend Storm System

 

The mid-autumn storm system that swept through the Upper Midwest this past weekend brought widespread, beneficial rains to much of the area. The precipitation came in two main rounds, the first of which started late Friday night and continued into Saturday morning. The next wave began late Saturday night and persisted much of Sunday, slowly pushing east across the region by late afternoon. Rainfall amounts varied from less than 0.50″ across parts of southeast Minnesota and north central Wisconsin to a healthy swath of 1 to 3 inches extending from northeast Iowa to southwest and central Wisconsin. There were isolated amounts between 3 and 4 inches reported. The image below shows the 48 hour radar derived rainfall totals (Friday night through 5pm Sunday). For reference, green shading represents 1.0 – 2.0 inches, blue and cyan colors are 2.0 – 3.0″, and orange and yellow between 3.0 – 5.0″. Also note the white outlined oval near La Crosse, which is a data artifcact. This reduction is due to how the radar algorithms estimate rainfall, and amounts are likely a bit higher here.

48-hour radar derived rainfall totals ending 5pm Sunday October 14th

The widespread rains are expected to provide some, but minimal, improvement in the ongoing drought plaguing the region. Normal rainfall for a week in mid-October is between 0.5 to 0.7 inches, and current deficits since January 1st are running around 7 inches or more. This rain will help, but certainly won’t end the drought. More information on how this rain will impact the drought will be provided in the upcoming weekly drought statement. The listing below is a preliminary 48 hour rainfall listing from around the area (Friday October 12th through Sunday October 14th). A more complete listing will be published Monday once official cooperative observers report rainfall from Sunday.

 

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
855 PM CDT SUN OCT 14 2012

...48 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ENDING 7 PM SUNDAY OCTOBER 14TH...

...LOCATION...                             ...TIME...      ...AMT...

...IOWA...

...ALLAMAKEE COUNTY...
LANSING 4SE                                700 PM OCT 14     2.17 IN
WAUKON                                     700 PM OCT 14     2.00 IN
ION                                        700 PM OCT 14     1.96 IN
DORCHESTER HWY 76                          700 PM OCT 14     1.46 IN

...CHICKASAW COUNTY...
3 SW RICHFIELD                             700 PM OCT 14     2.52 IN

...CLAYTON COUNTY...
MONONA WWTP                                700 PM OCT 14     2.48 IN
VOLGA RVR                                  700 PM OCT 14     1.77 IN
ELKADER                                    700 PM OCT 14     1.60 IN
GARBER                                     700 PM OCT 14     1.51 IN
TURKEY RIVER                               700 PM OCT 14     1.40 IN

...FAYETTE COUNTY...
ELDORADO 1E                                700 PM OCT 14     3.26 IN
OELWEIN AWOS                               700 PM OCT 14     3.06 IN
FAYETTE                                    700 PM OCT 14     1.88 IN

...FLOYD COUNTY...
CHARLES CITY AWOS                          700 PM OCT 14     0.92 IN

...HOWARD COUNTY...
CRESCO                                     700 PM OCT 14     1.01 IN

...MITCHELL COUNTY...
SAINT ANSGAR                               700 PM OCT 14     0.32 IN

...WINNESHIEK COUNTY...
DECORAH AWOS                               700 PM OCT 14     1.40 IN
DECORAH (860 FT)(COOP)                     700 PM OCT 14     1.39 IN
BLUFFTON                                   700 PM OCT 14     1.26 IN

...MINNESOTA...

...DODGE COUNTY...
DODGE CENTER AWOS                          700 PM OCT 14     0.18 IN

...FILLMORE COUNTY...
PILOT MOUND                                700 PM OCT 14     1.43 IN
LANESBORO                                  700 PM OCT 14     0.97 IN
PRESTON AWOS                               700 PM OCT 14     0.81 IN

...HOUSTON COUNTY...
BROWNSVILLE                                700 PM OCT 14     2.16 IN
CALEDONIA 5S                               700 PM OCT 14     1.95 IN
LA CRESCENT 1N                             700 PM OCT 14     1.63 IN
MOUND PRAIRIE                              700 PM OCT 14     1.40 IN

...MOWER COUNTY...
AUSTIN AWOS                                700 PM OCT 14     0.44 IN
AUSTIN 3S                                  700 PM OCT 14     0.43 IN

...OLMSTED COUNTY...
DOVER 1E                                   700 PM OCT 14     0.94 IN
ROCHESTER 6NE                              700 PM OCT 14     0.59 IN
ROCHESTER AIRPORT                          700 PM OCT 14     0.48 IN
1 SSE STEWARTVILLE                         700 PM OCT 14     0.38 IN
ROCHESTER 3S                               700 PM OCT 14     0.30 IN

...WABASHA COUNTY...
WABASHA 5SE                                700 PM OCT 14     0.89 IN
1 E LAKE CITY                              700 PM OCT 14     0.28 IN

...WINONA COUNTY...
WINONA 5WSW                                700 PM OCT 14     1.81 IN
STOCKTON                                   700 PM OCT 14     1.75 IN
WINONA AWOS                                700 PM OCT 14     1.44 IN
BEAVER                                     700 PM OCT 14     0.87 IN

...WISCONSIN...

...ADAMS COUNTY...
FRIENDSHIP                                 700 PM OCT 14     2.58 IN

...BUFFALO COUNTY...
DODGE                                      700 PM OCT 14     0.84 IN

...CLARK COUNTY...
NEILLSVILLE                                700 PM OCT 14     1.75 IN

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
STEUBEN                                    700 PM OCT 14     2.19 IN
LYNXVILLE DAM 9                            700 PM OCT 14     2.17 IN

...GRANT COUNTY...
BOSCOBEL RAWS                              700 PM OCT 14     2.18 IN
BOSCOBEL ASOS                              700 PM OCT 14     2.13 IN
PLATTEVILLE AWOS                           700 PM OCT 14     1.58 IN
CUBA CITY                                  700 PM OCT 14     0.99 IN

...JACKSON COUNTY...
BLACK RIVER FALLS AWOS                     700 PM OCT 14     1.69 IN
HATFIELD                                   700 PM OCT 14     1.35 IN

...JUNEAU COUNTY...
NECEDAH RAWS                               700 PM OCT 14     3.44 IN
NECEDAH 1W                                 700 PM OCT 14     2.09 IN
MAUSTON                                    700 PM OCT 14     1.81 IN
MATHER 3NW                                 700 PM OCT 14     1.75 IN

...LA CROSSE COUNTY...
LA CROSSE 5SSE                             700 PM OCT 14     2.35 IN
LA CROSSE NWS OFFICE                       700 PM OCT 14     2.01 IN
3 SW BARRE MILLS                           700 PM OCT 14     1.39 IN
LA CROSSE AIRPORT                          700 PM OCT 14     1.37 IN

...MONROE COUNTY...
KENDALL                                    700 PM OCT 14     2.20 IN
TUNNEL CITY 1S                             700 PM OCT 14     2.03 IN
WARRENS 5WSW                               700 PM OCT 14     1.86 IN
SPARTA / FT MCCOY AWOS                     700 PM OCT 14     1.76 IN

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
RICHLAND CENTER                            700 PM OCT 14     1.67 IN
RICHLAND CENTER 4N                         700 PM OCT 14     1.40 IN

...TAYLOR COUNTY...
GAD 6E                                     700 PM OCT 14     0.72 IN
MEDFORD                                    700 PM OCT 14     0.57 IN

...TREMPEALEAU COUNTY...
GALESVILLE 2SW                             700 PM OCT 14     1.20 IN
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6                          700 PM OCT 14     1.11 IN
GALESVILLE 2WSW                            700 PM OCT 14     1.07 IN
ETTRICK 4WNW                               700 PM OCT 14     0.99 IN

...VERNON COUNTY...
HILLSBORO                                  700 PM OCT 14     3.20 IN
ONTARIO                                    700 PM OCT 14     3.01 IN
STODDARD                                   700 PM OCT 14     2.06 IN
READSTOWN                                  700 PM OCT 14     1.92 IN
DE SOTO 1SE                                700 PM OCT 14     1.75 IN
GENOA DAM 8                                700 PM OCT 14     1.02 IN

Posted under rainfall

It was a warm and very dry September for us in ou area as high temperatures were just a little warmer than normal while rainfall was way below normal.  Stagnant high pressure was dominant in the regionfor te last half of the month, bringing incredibly beautiful weather, but suppressing any rainfall potential.  The atmosphere itself was very dry under that high pressure, allowing for wild daily fluctuations of temperatures with 30s and 40s typical in the mornings across the local area and afternoon highs commonly in the 70s more often than not.  Our current rainfall deficit for 2012 in Rochester now stands at 6.94 inches!  Looking ahead at the forecast, we’re expcting just a little rain on Thursday and then perhaps some more down the road in the second half of next week, but otherwise the dry weather trend appears to continue in the meantime.

We enjoyed a lot of picture perfect "postcard" weather in September, but the lack of rainfall remains a big concern for the entire area.

 Weather Summary from the NWS in La Crosse, WI:

 Rochester Minnesota

...SEPTEMBER IN ROCHESTER WAS MARKED BY SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES AND WELL BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION...

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH WAS 61.8 DEGREES. THIS WAS
0.9 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE AVERAGE HIGH WAS 75.6 DEGREES...WHILE
THE AVERAGE LOW WAS 48.0 DEGREES. THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE FOR THE
MONTH WAS 93 DEGREES...WHICH OCCURRED ON THE 4TH. WHILE THE LOWEST
TEMPERATURE IN SEPTEMBER WAS 32 DEGREES WHICH OCCURRED ON THE 23RD.

ROCHESTER RECEIVED 1.29 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION DURING THE MONTH
WHICH WAS 2.16 INCHES BELOW NORMAL. ONLY 0.02 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION
OCCURRED DURING THE LAST 13 DAYS OF SEPTEMBER. THE GREATEST 24-HOUR
AMOUNT WAS 0.69 INCHES THAT OCCURRED ON THE 4TH AND 5TH.

...RECORDS...

THERE WERE NO RECORDS ESTABLISHED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

...DISCUSSION...

THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER STARTED OFF VERY WARM WITH TWO DAYS OF 90
DEGREES OR HIGHER THROUGH THE FIRST 11 DAYS. COOLER TEMPERATURES DID
INVADED THE REGION AS A COUPLE OF COLD FRONT PASSAGES MADE THEIR WAY
ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST DURING THE MIDDLE PART OF THE MONTH. THERE
WERE 6 DAYS WHERE THE HIGH TEMPERATURES ONLY MANAGED TO MAKE IT INTO
THE UPPER 50S AND 60S OVER THE LAST HALF OF SEPTEMBER.

PRECIPITATION IN ROCHESTER WAS WELL BELOW NORMAL DURING THE MONTH AS
WEATHER SYSTEMS WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN ACROSS THE REGION. THERE
WERE ONLY 7 DAYS OF MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION DURING SEPTEMBER. ONLY
1 OF THOSE DAYS HAD OVER A HALF INCH OF PRECIPITATION IN ROCHESTER. A
SEVERE DROUGHT CONTINUED DURING SEPTEMBER ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA.

...LOOKING AHEAD TO OCTOBER...

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH IS 48.4 DEGREES. THE AVERAGE
HIGH DROPS FROM 65 DEGREES ON THE 1ST...TO 51 DEGREES ON THE 31TH.
THE AVERAGE LOW DROPS FROM 44 DEGREES ON THE 1ST...TO 34 DEGREES ON
THE 31ST. THE WARMEST OCTOBER ON RECORD WAS IN 1963 WITH AN AVERAGE
OF 58.1 DEGREES...AND THE COLDEST OCTOBER WAS 37.9 DEGREES IN 1917.

THE AVERAGE OCTOBER PRECIPITATION IS 2.24 INCHES. THE WETTEST OCTOBER
OCCURRED IN 1911...WHEN 9.11 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION FELL. THE DRIEST
OCTOBER WAS 1893...WHEN THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATION REPORTED FOR THE
MONTH. THE AVERAGE SNOWFALL IS EIGHT TENTHS OF AN INCH. THE RECORD
SNOWFALL TOTAL FOR THE MONTH IS 7.9 INCHES...WHICH OCCURRED IN 2009.

Posted under fall

While it wasn’t necessarily the biggest or heaviest rain event of the season, Wednesday and early Thursday’s rainfall was very much appreciated and extremely important.  Most spots in the viewing area registered more than a quarter of an inch and some areas almost reached a full inch, cutting just a little out of that huge five to ten inch rainfall deficit for 2012 that has been the weather headline for months.  The first measurable rainfall in a week may have at least greened up the lawns and gardens a little anyway.  Here’s a look at the local rainfall summary:

A nice, gentle, soaking rain was just what the doctor ordered. The highest amounts locally fell in northern Iowa

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
915 AM CDT THU SEP 13 2012

...24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ACROSS THE AREA...

LOCATION                   RAINFALL    TIME     LAT/LON

IOWA

...ALLAMAKEE COUNTY...
DORCHESTER 3S              0.66        0700 AM  43.42N 91.51W
WAUKON                     0.53        0700 AM  43.27N 91.47W
LANSING 4SE                0.27        0700 AM  43.32N 91.16W
HARPERS FERRY              0.23        0700 AM  43.17N 91.24W
ION                        0.18        0700 AM  43.11N 91.27W

...CHICKASAW COUNTY...
NEW HAMPTON                0.73        0700 AM  43.06N 92.31W
IONIA                      0.70        0700 AM  43.03N 92.50W
NEW HAMPTON 2S             0.69        0700 AM  43.04N 92.32W

...CLAYTON COUNTY...
VOLGA                      0.31        0700 AM  42.81N 91.52W
MONONA                     0.25        0700 AM  43.04N 91.40W
ELKADER 6SSW               0.23        0700 AM  42.79N 91.45W
STRAWBERRY POINT           0.21        0700 AM  42.69N 91.53W
MARQUETTE                  0.19        0700 AM  43.04N 91.21W
MCGREGOR                   0.08        0700 AM  43.02N 91.17W
GUTTENBERG                 0.06        0700 AM  42.79N 91.10W
GARBER                     0.04        0700 AM  42.74N 91.26W

...FAYETTE COUNTY...
OELWEIN AWOS               0.48        0700 AM  42.68N 91.97W
ELDORADO                   0.47        0700 AM  43.05N 91.81W
OELWEIN 1WNW               0.39        0700 AM  42.68N 91.93W
FAYETTE                    0.38        0700 AM  42.85N 91.82W

...FLOYD COUNTY...
CHARLES CITY AWOS          0.77        0700 AM  43.07N 92.61W
CHARLES CITY COOP          0.70        0700 AM  43.08N 92.67W
NASHUA                     0.69        0700 AM  42.94N 92.57W
COLWELL                    0.64        0700 AM  43.16N 92.59W
CHARLES CITY CEDAR RVR     0.52        0700 AM  43.06N 92.67W

...HOWARD COUNTY...
CRESCO                     0.62        0700 AM  43.37N 92.11W

...MITCHELL COUNTY...
ST ANSGAR 4E               0.60        0700 AM  43.37N 92.83W
OSAGE                      0.53        0700 AM  43.28N 92.81W

...WINNESHIEK COUNTY...
DECORAH 8ENE               0.72        0700 AM  43.34N 91.64W
CALMAR                     0.69        0700 AM  43.18N 91.87W
DECORAH UPPER IA RVR       0.69        0700 AM  43.30N 91.80W
DECORAH AWOS               0.51        0700 AM  43.28N 91.74W
BLUFFTON                   0.49        0700 AM  43.41N 91.90W

MINNESOTA

...DODGE COUNTY...
MANTORVILLE 2ESE           0.17        0700 AM  44.05N 92.72W
DODGE CENTER AWOS          0.14        0700 AM  44.03N 92.83W

...FILLMORE COUNTY...
HARMONY                    0.70        0700 AM  43.55N 92.01W
HIGHLAND                   0.64        0700 AM  43.65N 91.84W
PRESTON 1 NNE              0.47        0700 AM  43.68N 92.08W
CARIMONA                   0.46        0700 AM  43.66N 92.15W
PRESTON AWOS               0.45        0700 AM  43.68N 92.18W
PRESTON                    0.45        0700 AM  43.67N 92.07W
SPRING VALLEY 3SW          0.45        0700 AM  43.66N 92.41W
LANESBORO                  0.44        0700 AM  43.72N 91.97W
CHATFIELD 9ESE             0.43        0700 AM  43.79N 92.03W
PILOT MOUND                0.43        0700 AM  43.78N 92.03W
SPRING VALLEY 3E           0.40        0700 AM  43.68N 92.33W
SPRING VALLEY              0.37        0700 AM  43.69N 92.39W
SPRING VALLEY 1 NW         0.31        0700 AM  43.70N 92.40W

...HOUSTON COUNTY...
CALEDONIA 5S               0.75        0700 AM  43.56N 91.51W
CALEDONIA 1 NW             0.68        0700 AM  43.62N 91.48W
CALEDONIA                  0.65        0700 AM  43.63N 91.50W
SPRING GROVE 4N            0.65        0700 AM  43.61N 91.62W
HOUSTON                    0.58        0700 AM  43.77N 91.57W
MOUND PRAIRIE              0.57        0700 AM  43.78N 91.45W
LA CRESCENT 1NNW           0.53        0700 AM  43.83N 91.31W

...MOWER COUNTY...
AUSTIN WWTP                0.50        0700 AM  43.67N 92.97W
GRAND MEADOW               0.50        0700 AM  43.71N 92.56W
AUSTIN  DOBBINS CR         0.45        0700 AM  43.67N 92.95W
AUSTIN  TURTLE CREEK       0.42        0700 AM  43.65N 92.98W
AUSTIN AIRPORT             0.41        0700 AM  43.67N 92.93W
LANSING                    0.37        0700 AM  43.75N 92.95W
AUSTIN 3S                  0.01        0700 AM  43.62N 93.00W

...OLMSTED COUNTY...
DOVER 1E                   0.37        0700 AM  43.97N 92.12W
ELBA                       0.36        0700 AM  44.05N 92.05W
ROCHESTER AP 2NE           0.35        0700 AM  43.93N 92.48W
ROCHESTER INTL AIRPORT     0.33        0700 AM  43.91N 92.50W
ROCHESTER 5SW              0.30        0700 AM  43.98N 92.56W
BYRON 6S                   0.28        0700 AM  43.96N 92.63W
ROCHESTER  SILVER CREEK    0.27        0700 AM  44.03N 92.42W
ROCHESTER 3W               0.25        0700 AM  44.01N 92.53W
ROCHESTER BELTLINE         0.25        0700 AM  43.91N 92.50W
ROCHESTER  CASCADE CREEK   0.25        0700 AM  44.03N 92.48W
ROCHESTER  BEAR CREEK      0.24        0700 AM  43.92N 92.48W
ELGIN 2SSW                 0.23        0700 AM  44.10N 92.27W
POST TOWN                  0.16        0700 AM  44.09N 92.82W
BYRON                      0.14        0700 AM  44.07N 92.66W

...WABASHA COUNTY...
THEILMAN                   0.21        0700 AM  44.28N 92.19W
WABASHA                    0.16        0700 AM  44.39N 92.05W
KELLOGG                    0.14        0700 AM  44.32N 92.00W
ZUMBRO FALLS 4SSW          0.14        0700 AM  44.24N 92.46W
LAKE CITY                  0.10        0700 AM  44.45N 92.26W

...WINONA COUNTY...
LA CRESCENT DAM 7          0.55        0700 AM  43.87N 91.31W
ROLLINGSTONE 2NW           0.39        0700 AM  44.12N 91.85W
ALTURA 5W                  0.37        0700 AM  44.06N 92.04W
MINNESOTA CITY             0.28        0700 AM  44.16N 91.81W
WINONA 4SE                 0.27        0700 AM  44.02N 91.61W
LEWISTON                   0.26        0700 AM  43.98N 91.87W
STOCKTON                   0.24        0700 AM  44.03N 91.77W
WINONA DAM 5A              0.22        0700 AM  44.09N 91.67W
ALTURA                     0.21        0700 AM  44.15N 92.01W
WINONA AWOS                0.18        0700 AM  44.08N 91.70W

WISCONSIN

...BUFFALO COUNTY...
ALMA DAM 4                 0.15        0700 AM  44.33N 91.92W

...CLARK COUNTY...
NEILLSVILLE 1W             0.20        0700 AM  44.56N 90.61W
NEILLSVILLE 3SW            0.19        0700 AM  44.53N 90.64W
OWEN                       0.11        0700 AM  44.98N 90.55W

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN           0.21        0700 AM  43.05N 91.13W
FERRYVILLE                 0.15        0700 AM  43.35N 91.10W
STEUBEN                    0.14        0700 AM  43.18N 90.87W
SOLDIERS GROVE             0.14        0700 AM  43.39N 90.78W
LYNXVILLE DAM 9            0.07        0700 AM  43.21N 91.10W

...GRANT COUNTY...
BOSCOBEL ASOS              0.08        0700 AM  43.16N 90.68W
BOSCOBEL RAWS              0.07        0700 AM  43.15N 90.68W
BURTON                     0.04        0700 AM  42.72N 90.82W
MUSCODA                    0.01        0700 AM  43.20N 90.44W
LANCASTER 4WSW             0.00        0700 AM  42.83N 90.79W

...JACKSON COUNTY...
MATHER 3NW                 0.38        0700 AM  44.17N 90.35W
HATFIELD DAM               0.23        0700 AM  44.41N 90.73W
BLACK RIVER FALLS STP      0.23        0700 AM  44.29N 90.85W
BLACK RIVER FALLS AWOS     0.21        0700 AM  44.25N 90.86W
BLACK RIVER FALLS RAWS     0.20        0700 AM  44.30N 90.84W
BLACK RIVER FALLS          0.19        0700 AM  44.38N 90.84W
BLACK RIVER FALLS 2NNE     0.19        0700 AM  44.32N 90.83W

...JUNEAU COUNTY...
NECEDAH 5WNW               0.65        0700 AM  44.06N 90.17W
NECEDAH 1W                 0.63        0700 AM  44.02N 90.08W
CAMP DOUGLAS VOLK          0.61        0700 AM  43.94N 90.26W
NEW LISBON 4ENE            0.24        0700 AM  43.91N 90.07W

...LA CROSSE COUNTY...
LA CROSSE 5SE              0.71        0700 AM  43.77N 91.15W
LA CROSSE                  0.63        0700 AM  43.80N 91.37W
LA CROSSE WEATHER          0.59        0700 AM  43.82N 91.19W
HOLMEN 2S                  0.53        0700 AM  43.93N 91.25W
LA CROSSE AIRPORT          0.50        0700 AM  43.88N 91.26W
WEST SALEM 2W              0.50        0700 AM  43.90N 91.12W

...MONROE COUNTY...
TUNNEL CITY                0.57        0700 AM  44.01N 90.57W
SPARTA WWTP                0.50        0700 AM  43.94N 90.82W
CATARACT                   0.47        0700 AM  44.08N 90.85W
FOUR CORNERS               0.45        0700 AM  44.07N 90.92W
WARRENS                    0.38        0700 AM  44.10N 90.59W

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW        0.05        0700 AM  43.36N 90.42W

...TAYLOR COUNTY...
JUMP RIVER                 0.08        0700 AM  45.36N 90.80W
MEDFORD 4NW                0.06        0700 AM  45.21N 90.36W
LUBLIN DIAMOND LAKE        0.06        0700 AM  45.11N 90.69W

...TREMPEALEAU COUNTY...
TREMPEALEAU 2NW            0.29        0700 AM  44.03N 91.46W
GALESVILLE 3ENE            0.27        0700 AM  44.09N 91.29W
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6          0.25        0700 AM  44.00N 91.44W
WHITEHALL 2W               0.20        0700 AM  44.37N 91.36W
ETTRICK                    0.20        0700 AM  44.11N 91.22W
OSSEO                      0.16        0700 AM  44.58N 91.22W

...VERNON COUNTY...
COON VALLEY 5E             0.78        0700 AM  43.71N 90.92W
WESTBY 3ENE                0.78        0700 AM  43.68N 90.81W
WESTBY 2NNE                0.71        0700 AM  43.70N 90.85W
STODDARD                   0.59        0700 AM  43.66N 91.24W
GENOA                      0.58        0700 AM  43.57N 91.23W
COON VALLEY 6S             0.55        0700 AM  43.61N 91.01W
WESTBY 3SE                 0.47        0700 AM  43.62N 90.82W
SEAS BRANCH HAUGEN         0.47        0700 AM  43.61N 90.85W
VIROQUA 4NE                0.44        0700 AM  43.61N 90.82W
VIROQUA AWOS               0.42        0700 AM  43.58N 90.90W
ONTARIO                    0.42        0700 AM  43.72N 90.59W
KILMER                     0.40        0700 AM  43.55N 90.90W
ONTARIO 3E                 0.39        0700 AM  43.72N 90.60W
VIROQUA 4WSW               0.35        0700 AM  43.54N 90.96W
VIROQUA 3ESE               0.35        0700 AM  43.55N 90.82W
LIBERTY POLE 2SW           0.28        0700 AM  43.49N 90.95W
READSTOWN                  0.13        0700 AM  43.45N 90.76W
LA FARGE                   0.11        0700 AM  43.57N 90.64W
HILLSBORO 1 WSW            0.08        0700 AM  43.65N 90.35W
HILLSBORO                  0.08        0700 AM  43.65N 90.33W

Posted under rainfall amounts

A cold front has swept through the Upper Mississippi Valley today, ushering in some cool, Canadian air and producing some light rain showers and gusty winds for us.  Unfortunately, as we’ve seen so many times this year, rainfall amounts have been sparse with this rain event locally with less than a tenth of an inch being registered in most locations.  As we look ahead to the weekend and next week, rain chances look meager with sunshine and seasonably mild weather expected instead.  We learned earlier this week that most of our viewing area has either entered the US Drought Monitor’s outlook or moved up a category in that outlook because of our current spell of appreciable rainfall. 

Extreme Drought conditions keep expanding across the Midwest with many locations now entering the Drought Monitor Outlook as "abnormally dry."

Moderate to Extreme Drought conditions continue to linger in much of Minnesota. Rochester and a large part of southeastern Minnesota are now in the "abnormally dry" category.

Drought conditions in Iowa remain dire as much of the state is still in Extreme Drought or worse.

Mason City's rainfall deficit is approaching a foot for the year.

Rochester's rainfall deficit for the year is approaching five inches.

Posted under Uncategorized

A cold front overnight triggered quite an intense line of thunderstorms in our area that toppled trees, knocked down power lines, damaged roofs, and even started some fires.  If there is any good news in all of this, it’s the rainfall we received from those thunderstorms.  Below is a map showing doppler radar estimates of how much rain fell overnight.  This is helpful in enabling us to see specifically where the highest amounts fell and giving us an idea of how much fell between observation points.

Beneficial rain fell across the entire viewing area Tuesday night. The highest amounts were reported in northeastern Iowa where more than 5 inches were estimated on doppler radar. Southern Minnesota registered a quarter of an inch to a little more than an inch of rainfall.

Severe Weather of September 4-5, 2012

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Rainfall Totals

Photos

Local Storm Reports

Storms developed rapidly on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 4th across parts of western Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.  They produced sporadic large hail as they continued to grow, expand in coverage area, and moved into northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin.  Hail over 2 inches in diameter was reported with stronger storms along with localized wind gusts ranging from 60 to 75 mph.  As storms moved into southwest Wisconsin, at least one tornado formed in northwest Grant County, Wisconsin.

Heavy rain also fell that led to flash flooding.  The terrain in the region enhances the flood threat.

In addition, a second area of thunderstorms developed over eastern South Dakota by mid evening which progressed east and prompted additional warnings for strong thunderstorm winds.

Storm Reports from Sept.4-5, 2012	Afternoon / Evening Radar	Late Evening / Overnight Radar

 

Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged. Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.

 

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Storm Photos

Photo submissions courtesy of local photographers and media partners.

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Rainfall Totals

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
736 AM CDT WED SEP 5 2012

…24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ACROSS THE AREA…

LOCATION                   RAINFALL    TIME     LAT/LON

IOWA

…ALLAMAKEE COUNTY…
HARPERS FERRY              1.52        0700 AM  43.17N 91.24W
ION                        1.43        0700 AM  43.11N 91.27W
DORCHESTER                 1.39        0700 AM  43.47N 91.51W
LANSING 4SE                1.38        0700 AM  43.32N 91.16W
WAUKON                     1.18        0700 AM  43.27N 91.47W
DORCHESTER 3S              0.64        0700 AM  43.42N 91.51W

…CHICKASAW COUNTY…
NEW HAMPTON                0.90        0700 AM  43.06N 92.31W
IONIA-LITTLE CEDAR RIVER   0.67        0700 AM  43.03N 92.50W
IONIA 2W                   0.61        0700 AM  43.03N 92.50W

…CLAYTON COUNTY…
GUTTENBERG DAM 10          2.91        0600 AM  42.79N 91.10W
MONONA                     2.30        0700 AM  43.04N 91.40W
GARBER                     2.16        0700 AM  42.74N 91.26W
ELKADER                    2.08        0700 AM  42.84N 91.40W
VOLGA                      1.19        0700 AM  42.81N 91.52W
MARQUETTE                  1.13        0700 AM  43.04N 91.21W
EDGEWOOD                   0.85        0700 AM  42.65N 91.40W
STRAWBERRY POINT           0.60        0700 AM  42.69N 91.53W
MCGREGOR                   0.55        0700 AM  43.02N 91.17W
LITTLEPORT                 0.41        0700 AM  42.75N 91.37W

…FAYETTE COUNTY…
OELWEIN AWOS               1.17        0700 AM  42.68N 91.97W
ELDORADO                   0.63        0700 AM  43.05N 91.81W

…FLOYD COUNTY…
COLWELL                    0.77        0700 AM  43.16N 92.59W
CHARLES CITY COOP          0.76        0700 AM  43.08N 92.67W
NASHUA ISU AG STATION      0.62        0700 AM  42.94N 92.57W
CHARLES CITY CEDAR RVR     0.52        0700 AM  43.06N 92.67W
CHARLES CITY AWOS          0.78        0700 AM  43.07N 92.61W

…HOWARD COUNTY…
CRESCO                     0.98        0700 AM  43.37N 92.11W

…MITCHELL COUNTY…
ST ANSGAR 4E               0.54        0700 AM  43.37N 92.83W

…WINNESHIEK COUNTY…
CALMAR                     2.08        0700 AM  43.18N 91.87W
DECORAH UPPER IA RIVER     1.29        0700 AM  43.30N 91.80W
DECORAH AWOS               1.46        0700 AM  43.28N 91.74W
BLUFFTON                   1.05        0700 AM  43.41N 91.90W

MINNESOTA

…DODGE COUNTY…
DODGE CENTER AWOS          0.82        0700 AM  44.03N 92.83W
MANTORVILLE                0.65        0700 AM  44.07N 92.77W

…FILLMORE COUNTY…
HIGHLAND                   1.48        0700 AM  43.65N 91.84W
LANESBORO                  1.03        0700 AM  43.72N 91.97W
LANESBORO-ROOT RIVER       0.82        0700 AM  43.72N 91.97W
SPRING VALLEY 3E           0.74        0700 AM  43.68N 92.33W
PILOT MOUND                0.48        0700 AM  43.78N 92.03W
SPRING VALLEY              0.45        0700 AM  43.69N 92.39W
CARIMONA                   0.44        0700 AM  43.66N 92.15W
PRESTON AWOS               0.34        0700 AM  43.68N 92.18W

…HOUSTON COUNTY…
CALEDONIA                  1.07        0700 AM  43.63N 91.50W
MOUND PRAIRIE              0.94        0700 AM  43.78N 91.45W
HOUSTON                    0.51        0700 AM  43.77N 91.57W

…MOWER COUNTY…
AUSTIN AWOS                0.68        0700 AM  43.67N 92.93W
AUSTIN  DOBBINS CR         0.68        0700 AM  43.67N 92.95W
GRAND MEADOW               0.46        0700 AM  43.71N 92.56W
LANSING                    0.44        0700 AM  43.75N 92.95W
AUSTIN 3S                  0.03        0700 AM  43.62N 93.00W

…OLMSTED COUNTY…
ROCHESTER – BEAR CREEK     0.73        0700 AM  43.92N 92.48W
ROCHESTER MAPLE VALLEY     0.72        0700 AM  44.02N 92.42W
ROCHESTER ASOS             0.69        0700 AM  43.91N 92.50W
ROCHESTER BELTLINE         0.67        0700 AM  43.91N 92.50W
ELBA                       0.66        0700 AM  44.05N 92.05W
BYRON                      0.59        0700 AM  44.07N 92.66W
DOVER 1E                   0.59        0700 AM  43.97N 92.12W
POST TOWN                  0.52        0700 AM  44.09N 92.82W
ROCHESTER – CASCADE CREEK  0.47        0700 AM  44.03N 92.48W
ROCHESTER – SILVER CREEK   0.47        0700 AM  44.03N 92.42W
ROCHESTER 5SW              0.03        0700 AM  43.98N 92.56W

…WABASHA COUNTY…
KELLOGG                    0.68        0700 AM  44.32N 92.00W
WABASHA                    0.13        0700 AM  44.39N 92.05W
LAKE CITY                  0.12        0700 AM  44.45N 92.26W

…WINONA COUNTY…
WINONA DAM 5A              1.02        0600 AM  44.09N 91.67W
MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5       0.96        0600 AM  44.16N 91.81W
WINONA AWOS                0.84        0700 AM  44.08N 91.70W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7          0.67        0600 AM  43.87N 91.31W
ALTURA                     0.46        0700 AM  44.15N 92.01W
DAKOTA                     0.01        0700 AM  43.92N 91.37W

WISCONSIN

…BUFFALO COUNTY…
ALMA DAM 4                 1.00        0600 AM  44.33N 91.92W
MONDOVI 6S                 0.40        0700 AM  44.48N 91.67W

…CLARK COUNTY…
NEILLSVILLE 1W             0.30        0700 AM  44.56N 90.61W
NEILLSVILLE 3SW            0.15        0700 AM  44.53N 90.64W

…CRAWFORD COUNTY…
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AWOS      2.30        0700 AM  43.30N 89.76W
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN           2.20        0700 AM  43.05N 91.13W
LYNXVILLE DAM 9            1.88        0600 AM  43.21N 91.10W
SOLDIERS GROVE             1.18        0700 AM  43.39N 90.78W
STEUBEN                    1.02        0700 AM  43.18N 90.87W

…GRANT COUNTY…
ROCKVILLE                  3.62        0700 AM  42.73N 90.64W
PLATTEVILLE                2.60        0700 AM  42.75N 90.47W
BURTON                     2.42        0700 AM  42.72N 90.82W
BOSCOBEL RAWS              0.77        0700 AM  43.15N 90.68W
PLATTEVILLE AWOS           0.62        0700 AM  42.69N 90.44W
MUSCODA                    0.60        0700 AM  43.20N 90.44W

…JACKSON COUNTY…
HATFIELD DAM               0.27        0700 AM  44.41N 90.73W
BLACK RIVER FALLS RAWS     0.18        0700 AM  44.30N 90.84W
BLACK RIVER FALLS          0.16        0700 AM  44.38N 90.84W
BLACK RIVER FALLS AWOS     0.15        0700 AM  44.25N 90.86W
MATHER 3NW                 0.07        0700 AM  44.17N 90.35W

…JUNEAU COUNTY…
NEW LISBON 4ENE            0.06        0700 AM  43.91N 90.07W
NECEDAH 5WNW               0.05        0700 AM  44.06N 90.17W
CAMP DOUGLAS VOLK          0.05        0700 AM  43.94N 90.26W
NECEDAH 1W                 0.02        0700 AM  44.02N 90.08W

…LA CROSSE COUNTY…
LA CROSSE MISSISSIPPI RVR  1.00        0700 AM  43.80N 91.37W
LA CROSSE 5SE              0.83        0700 AM  43.77N 91.15W
LA CROSSE WEATHER OFFICE   0.57        0700 AM  43.82N 91.19W
LA CROSSE 4NNW             0.49        0700 AM  43.87N 91.27W
LA CROSSE ASOS             0.35        0700 AM  43.88N 91.26W
HOLLAND                    0.25        0700 AM  43.97N 91.29W
WEST SALEM 2W              0.25        0700 AM  43.90N 91.12W

…MONROE COUNTY…
TUNNEL CITY                0.21        0700 AM  44.01N 90.57W
SPARTA AWOS                0.17        0700 AM  43.96N 90.74W
WARRENS                    0.15        0700 AM  44.10N 90.59W
FOUR CORNERS               0.15        0700 AM  44.07N 90.92W

…TAYLOR COUNTY…
LUBLIN DIAMOND LAKE        0.06        0700 AM  45.11N 90.69W

…TREMPEALEAU COUNTY…
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6          0.49        0600 AM  44.00N 91.44W
OSSEO                      0.40        0700 AM  44.58N 91.22W
GALESVILLE 3ENE            0.28        0700 AM  44.09N 91.29W
ETTRICK                    0.26        0700 AM  44.11N 91.22W

…VERNON COUNTY…
DESOTO 1SE                 2.60        0700 AM  43.41N 91.19W
READSTOWN                  1.76        0700 AM  43.45N 90.76W
GENOA DAM 8                1.34        0600 AM  43.57N 91.23W
COON VALLEY 6S             1.34        0700 AM  43.61N 91.01W
VIROQUA 4WSW               1.02        0700 AM  43.54N 90.96W
LIBERTY POLE 2SW           0.98        0700 AM  43.49N 90.95W
VIROQUA 3ESE               0.56        0700 AM  43.55N 90.82W
SEAS BRANCH HAUGEN         0.55        0700 AM  43.61N 90.85W
LA FARGE                   0.50        0700 AM  43.57N 90.64W
VIROQUA 4NE                0.44        0700 AM  43.61N 90.82W
WESTBY 3SE                 0.43        0700 AM  43.62N 90.82W
WESTBY 2NNE                0.36        0700 AM  43.70N 90.85W
COON VALLEY 5E             0.32        0700 AM  43.71N 90.92W
HILLSBORO                  0.28        0700 AM  43.65N 90.33W
ONTARIO                    0.21        0700 AM  43.72N 90.59W
HILLSBORO 1 WSW            0.19        0700 AM  43.65N 90.35W

Storm Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
257 AM CDT WED SEP 05 2012

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

0401 PM     HAIL             3 W UTICA               43.98N 92.01W
09/04/2012  M1.75 INCH       WINONA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTED 1 MILE SOUTH OF ST. CHARLES

0410 PM     HAIL             6 SSW UTICA             43.90N 92.00W
09/04/2012  M2.00 INCH       WINONA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTED 4 MILES NW OF CLYDE

0425 PM     HAIL             GOODVIEW                44.07N 91.71W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       WINONA             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

0425 PM     HAIL             3 WNW WINONA            44.06N 91.71W
09/04/2012  E0.88 INCH       WINONA             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

0426 PM     HAIL             STOCKTON                44.03N 91.77W
09/04/2012  E1.75 INCH       WINONA             MN   PUBLIC

0426 PM     HAIL             WINONA                  44.05N 91.66W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       WINONA             MN   PUBLIC

            RELAYED FROM KTTC-TV

0447 PM     HAIL             WINONA                  44.05N 91.66W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       WINONA             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

0501 PM     HAIL             1 E WINONA              44.05N 91.64W
09/04/2012  M0.25 INCH       WINONA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MOSTLY PEA WITH SOME DIME SIZED HAIL ON THE EAST SIDE OF
            WINONA

0506 PM     HAIL             PRESTON                 43.67N 92.08W
09/04/2012  M0.25 INCH       FILLMORE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL COVERING THE GROUND

0523 PM     HAIL             5 N CANTON              43.60N 91.93W
09/04/2012  M2.50 INCH       FILLMORE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0530 PM     HAIL             HART                    43.88N 91.74W
09/04/2012  E0.75 INCH       WINONA             MN   PUBLIC

0540 PM     HAIL             NEW ALBIN               43.50N 91.29W
09/04/2012  M1.75 INCH       ALLAMAKEE          IA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY KWWL

0544 PM     HAIL             NEW ALBIN               43.50N 91.29W
09/04/2012  E1.75 INCH       ALLAMAKEE          IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0545 PM     HAIL             2 E NODINE              43.90N 91.41W
09/04/2012  M0.25 INCH       WINONA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0550 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 S JUNCTION            44.91N 90.90W
09/04/2012  E40.00 MPH       CLARK              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ALSO PEA SIZED HAIL

0550 PM     HAIL             MOUND PRAIRIE           43.78N 91.45W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       HOUSTON            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0558 PM     HAIL             MOUND PRAIRIE           43.78N 91.45W
09/04/2012  E2.00 INCH       HOUSTON            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0600 PM     HAIL             SPRING GROVE            43.56N 91.64W
09/04/2012  E2.50 INCH       HOUSTON            MN   PUBLIC

0605 PM     HAIL             SPRING GROVE            43.56N 91.64W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       HOUSTON            MN   PUBLIC

0609 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GREENWOOD               44.77N 90.60W
09/04/2012                   CLARK              WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREE DOWN NEAR THE POST OFFICE IN GREENWOOD.

0613 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LOYAL                   44.74N 90.50W
09/04/2012                   CLARK              WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            SEVERAL SMALL TREES DOWN AROUND TOWN.

0613 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 S LONGWOOD            44.84N 90.60W
09/04/2012  E50.00 MPH       CLARK              WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PEA TO DIME SIZED HAIL ALSO

0617 PM     TSTM WND GST     VEEFKIND                44.70N 90.39W
09/04/2012  E60.00 MPH       CLARK              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0623 PM     HAIL             LA CROSSE               43.83N 91.23W
09/04/2012  E0.75 INCH       LA CROSSE          WI   PUBLIC

0625 PM     HAIL             5 SE LA CROSSE          43.78N 91.16W
09/04/2012  E0.50 INCH       LA CROSSE          WI   BROADCAST MEDIA

0631 PM     HAIL             MARQUETTE               43.04N 91.18W
09/04/2012  E1.75 INCH       CLAYTON            IA   PUBLIC

0636 PM     HAIL             DORCHESTER              43.47N 91.52W
09/04/2012  E2.00 INCH       ALLAMAKEE          IA   CO-OP OBSERVER

0645 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DE SOTO                 43.43N 91.20W
09/04/2012                   VERNON             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN FROM GENOA TO DESOTO AND POINTS EAST

0646 PM     HAIL             PRAIRIE DU CHIEN        43.04N 91.14W
09/04/2012  E1.25 INCH       CRAWFORD           WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0656 PM     TSTM WND GST     RED MOUND               43.46N 91.15W
09/04/2012  E80.00 MPH       VERNON             WI   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0656 PM     HAIL             BRODTVILLE              42.95N 91.06W
09/04/2012  M1.00 INCH       GRANT              WI   911 CALL CENTER

0700 PM     HAIL             DE SOTO                 43.43N 91.20W
09/04/2012  M0.25 INCH       VERNON             WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0725 PM     HAIL             HARPERS FERRY           43.20N 91.15W
09/04/2012  E1.25 INCH       ALLAMAKEE          IA   PUBLIC

0729 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RICHLAND CENTER         43.34N 90.38W
09/04/2012                   RICHLAND           WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN ON NORTH EDGE OF RICHLAND CENTER

0740 PM     HAIL             3 NW RICHLAND CENTER    43.37N 90.43W
09/04/2012  M1.50 INCH       RICHLAND           WI   PUBLIC

            IN THE COMMUNITY OF LIME RIDGE

0740 PM     TORNADO          PATCH GROVE             42.94N 90.97W
09/04/2012                   GRANT              WI   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MULTIPLE REPORTS OF TORNADO ON THE GROUND.

0750 PM     HAIL             WAUKON                  43.27N 91.48W
09/04/2012  E0.50 INCH       ALLAMAKEE          IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

0803 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 ENE BOSCOBEL          43.15N 90.69W
09/04/2012  M48.00 MPH       GRANT              WI   MESONET

0805 PM     TSTM WND GST     GLEN HAVEN              42.83N 91.07W
09/04/2012  M70.00 MPH       GRANT              WI   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL REPORTS OF 70 MPH GUSTS ACROSS NORTHERN AND
            WESTERN GRANT COUNTY. COMMUNITIES INCLUDE GLEN
            HAVEN…BAGLEY…BLOOMINGTON

0815 PM     HAIL             PRAIRIE DU CHIEN        43.04N 91.14W
09/04/2012  E0.75 INCH       CRAWFORD           WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0830 PM     HAIL             4 W LANCASTER           42.85N 90.79W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       GRANT              WI   EMERGENCY MNGR

0835 PM     TSTM WND GST     GLEN HAVEN              42.83N 91.07W
09/04/2012  E60.00 MPH       GRANT              WI   EMERGENCY MNGR

0835 PM     TSTM WND GST     PLATTEVILLE             42.74N 90.48W
09/04/2012  M46.00 MPH       GRANT              WI   AWOS

0920 PM     TSTM WND DMG     POTOSI                  42.69N 90.71W
09/04/2012                   GRANT              WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN ACROSS ROAD IN POTOSI. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
            RADAR.

0958 PM     HAIL             CLERMONT                43.00N 91.65W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       FAYETTE            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

1018 PM     HAIL             CALMAR                  43.18N 91.87W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       WINNESHIEK         IA   CO-OP OBSERVER

1037 PM     HAIL             CALMAR                  43.18N 91.87W
09/04/2012  E1.50 INCH       WINNESHIEK         IA   CO-OP OBSERVER

1042 PM     HAIL             3 ESE CALMAR            43.16N 91.81W
09/04/2012  E1.00 INCH       WINNESHIEK         IA   PUBLIC

1156 PM     HAIL             CHARLES CITY            43.07N 92.68W
09/04/2012  E0.50 INCH       FLOYD              IA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

1215 AM     TSTM WND GST     ROCKFORD                43.05N 92.95W
09/05/2012  E60.00 MPH       FLOYD              IA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

1230 AM     TSTM WND GST     CHARLES CITY            43.07N 92.68W
09/05/2012  M46.00 MPH       FLOYD              IA   AWOS

1234 AM     TSTM WND GST     AUSTIN                  43.67N 92.97W
09/05/2012  M53.00 MPH       MOWER              MN   AWOS

1246 AM     TSTM WND GST     DODGE CENTER            44.03N 92.85W
09/05/2012  M59.00 MPH       DODGE              MN   AWOS

1255 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 S ROCHESTER           43.94N 92.48W
09/05/2012  M55.00 MPH       OLMSTED            MN   ASOS

0105 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 SW CRESCO             43.32N 92.19W
09/05/2012  M46.00 MPH       HOWARD             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0106 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 S ROCHESTER           43.94N 92.48W
09/05/2012  M61.00 MPH       OLMSTED            MN   ASOS

0109 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 W PRESTON             43.67N 92.18W
09/05/2012  M56.00 MPH       FILLMORE           MN   AWOS

0110 AM     TSTM WND GST     ROCHESTER               44.01N 92.48W
09/05/2012  M74.00 MPH       OLMSTED            MN   MESONET

0110 AM     TSTM WND DMG     ROCHESTER               44.01N 92.48W
09/05/2012                   OLMSTED            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES DOWN AND POWER OUTAGES IN NORTHWEST PART OF TOWN.

0113 AM     TSTM WND GST     HARMONY                 43.56N 92.01W
09/05/2012  E50.00 MPH       FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0130 AM     TSTM WND GST     7 N MABEL               43.62N 91.77W
09/05/2012  E55.00 MPH       FILLMORE           MN   PUBLIC

0132 AM     TSTM WND GST     DECORAH                 43.31N 91.79W
09/05/2012  M40.00 MPH       WINNESHIEK         IA   AWOS

0135 AM     TSTM WND GST     PLAINVIEW               44.17N 92.17W
09/05/2012  E50.00 MPH       WABASHA            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0200 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 E LA CROSSE           43.83N 91.19W
09/05/2012  M45.00 MPH       LA CROSSE          WI   MESONET

Posted under severe weather

While all eyes continue to watch Tropical Storm Isaac in the Gulf of Mexico, we in the Upper Mississippi Valley are looking ahead to the end of the week when that storm may get close enough to actually impact our weather.  At this point, the National Hurricane Center’s five day cone forecast spreads the potential of rain in our direction by Friday night or Saturday morning.  With that said, the probability seems somewhat remote as it appears Isaac will first weaken to a tropical depression by Wednesday after making landfall in the Gulf coast Tuesday evening, and then begin to move eastward by the time it moves as far north as the mid Mississippi Valley around St. Louis.  The best case scenario as suggested by some computer model runs over the weekend, was for Isaac to produce some scattered thunderstorms in far southeastern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, and through Chicago on its northern flank.  Right now that doesn’t look as likely, but it’s not completely impossible, so we will be watching, waiting, and hoping for some rainfall from this storm system.  The current rainfall deficit for north Iowa for the past year is around 10 inches and that area is in Extreme Drought while southern Minnesota is under Abnormally Dry to Moderate Drought conditions with deficits for the summer around four or five inches.

The current forecast track for Isaac. It's depicted here at a hurricane track as the storm is expected to reach hurricane status before making landfall late Tuesday.

While it currently seems unlikely that Isaac will bring much rain to our region, there is still a lot of time before the storm gets close enough to directly impact the Midwest. There is just a slight chance for some rain for our area from Isaac at this point in our weekend forecast.

Posted under Tropical weather

The latest drought monitor has been released and although we’ve received some nice, soaking showers in the past couple of days, very little has changed in the local drought headlines.  Much of north Iowa remains in the Severe Drought category of the drought monitor suggesting that crop loss may be inevitable for a large part of the local area and that only the longest period of wet weather would bring relief from the dryness.  Meanwhile, on the Minnesota side of the border there are some spots in Severe Drought while a large area is fortunate enough to be only slightly dry and not even listed in a drought monitor category.  For instance, Rochester is not officially in a drought category, but there is a rainfall deficit of more than two and a half inches and given a week or two of persistent dryness, we could slip into the Abnormally Dry category or some form of drought category so we’re still hoping for rain to keep things green and healthy.  The rainfall forecast is looking somewhat favorable for the area as we head into the weekend because a storm system is going to bring scattered showers and thunderstorms tonight and through a large portion of tomorrow with a quarter to possibly half an inch of rainfall possible.  That wouldn’t be a drought “buster,” but it would be a start.  Beyond that, we’ll have cooler weather for a couple of days before smaller rain chances slowly creep back into the forecast later next week.

The majority of our area remains dry while the driest conditions are well to the south in the region.

The southern tier of counties in Minnesota and southwestern part of the state is the driest while the rest is only slightly drier than normal.

The entire state of Iowa continues to suffer through our summer long drought with some locations as much as eight inches below normal for the year in rainfall.

Posted under Drought