La Crosse, WI

Weather Forecast Office

Tornadoes of Memorial Day: May 27, 2019

Overview

A low pressure system moved from the Central Plains to across northeast Iowa during late afternoon on Monday, May 27th (Memorial Day). The storm system brought clouds and widespread rain (moderate to heavy at times) to much of southeast Minnesota and western/central Wisconsin, but south of Interstate 90, the atmosphere was favorable for stronger storms. For those locations, a mix of sun and clouds and a warmer, more moist airmass coupled with a favorable low level wind profile (wind shear) that could (and would) support thunderstorms capable of tornadoes. In addition, a warm front associated with the low provided another focus for tornadic development.

Locally, 7 tornadoes were confirmed. 3 were brief touchdowns in Fillmore Co, MN with the other 4 having longer tracks (near Charles City, IA, near Elma, IA, near Saratoga, IA, and the last around Greenleafton, MN).

Radar loop

Tornado
Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports
Rainfall
Environment

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Charles City, IA
Floyd County, IA

Date	May 27, 2019
Time (Local)	12:23 to 12:37 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1 (high end)
Est. Peak Winds	110 mph
Path Length	10 miles
Max Width	105 yards
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: The tornado began about 1/2 mile west-southwest of the Floyd County fairgrounds. The tornado heavily damaged many outbuildings on the fairgrounds as it moved northeast,but missed the city. The fairgrounds sustained high-end EF-1 damage. The tornado continued northeast producing high-end EF-1 damage for another 3-4 miles before weakening to EF-0 intensity. The damage path ended about 7 miles north of Charles City.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Elma, IA
Chickasaw / Howard Counties

Date	May 27, 2019
Time (Local)	1:10 to 1:15 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	83 mph
Path Length	4 miles
Max Width	25 yards
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: A brief tornado touched down in rural northwest Chickasaw County and then damaged a couple of farm buildings just on the Howard Co. Iowa side of the county line, southwest of Elma.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Saratoga, IA
Howard County, IA

Date	May 27, 2019
Time (Local)	1:25 to 1:43 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	105 mph
Path Length	12.7 miles
Max Width	95 yards
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: This tornado tracked through mainly open fields, but did strike a wind turbine near Highway 9 and some cattle barns south of Lime Springs, before dissipating near Lime Springs, IA.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Greenleafton, MN
Howard County, IA / Fillmore County, MN

Date	May 27, 2019
Time (Local)	1:49 to 1:58 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	80 mph
Path Length	6.5 miles
Max Width	30 yards
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: Damaged some farm buildings and several trees as it moved north towards Greenleafton.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - HWY63/Beaver Creek, MN
Fillmore County, MN

Date	May 27, 2019
Time (Local)	1:23 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	0.2 miles
Max Width	25
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: Flipped a farm shed over a tree line into nearby farm. Tornado was rain wrapped according to spotters.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Etna, MN
Fillmore County, MN

Date	May 27, 2019
Time (Local)	1:29 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	73 mph
Path Length	0.2 miles
Max Width	15 yards
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: Damage to trees at nearby cemetery

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - 3 E Spring Valley, MN
Fillmore County, MN

Date	May 27, 2019
Time (Local)	1:40 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	0.3 miles
Max Width	25 yards
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: Damage to cattle barn just north of Highway 16 a few miles east of Spring Valley.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Photos & Video:

Charles City, IA


195th St Charles City (NWS La Crosse)	195th St Charles City (NWS La Crosse)	195th St Charles City (NWS La Crosse)	195th St Charles City (NWS La Crosse)

195th St Charles City (NWS La Crosse)	Floyd Co Fairgrounds (NWS La Crosse)	Floyd Co Fairgrounds (NWS La Crosse)	Floyd Co Fairgrounds (NWS La Crosse)

1629 Shadow - north of Charles City (NWS La Crosse)

Saratoga, IA


Tornado near Saratoga (Sara Lee Roethler)	Tornado near Saratoga (Justin Zimmerman)	Tornado near Saratoga (Roger Monteith)	Near HWY 9 (Doug Nelson)

Near HWY 9 (Doug Nelson)	Wind turbine damage along Lilac Ave (NWS La Crosse)

Greenleafton, MN


South of Greenleafton, MN (NWS La Crosse)

Other Fillmore Co, MN Tornadoes


Damaged shed that was flipped into nearby field. (Fillmore Co Emergency Management)	Tree damage at cemetary just west of Etna, MN. (Fillmore Co Emergency Management)	Damage to a cattle barn along Highway 16 east of Spring Valley, MN. (Fillmore Co Emergency Management)

Radar:

How to read the images [all 0.5 degree]:

Upper left (Reflectivity): relative strength of the storm. Warmer ("hotter") colors indicate a stronger storm.
Upper right (Correlation Coefficient): indicates how much of what the radar sees is the "same shape". The closer the radar returns are to dark red/purple, the more similar the returns are. In this case, note the green to dark blue associated with the tornadic circulation. That is an indication of debris a loft - different shapes, tumbling - not alike.
Bottom left (Storm Relative Motion): indicates circulations in storms. The red color shows winds moving away from the radar, the greens moving toward.
Bottom right (Velocity): radar indicated wind speeds.


North Charles City, IA - Tornado Circulation	Saratoga, IA (Near The Start) - Tornado Circulation	Saratoga, IA (Near End of Path)-Tornado Circulation	Greenleafton, MN - Tornado Circulation

Storm Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
829 AM CDT TUE MAY 28 2019

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

0200 PM     TORNADO          1 S GREENLEAFTON        43.57N 92.21W
05/27/2019                   FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED HOG BUILDING WITH
            ROOF DAMAGE.

0200 PM     TORNADO          1 S GREENLEAFTON        43.57N 92.21W
05/27/2019                   FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED HOG BUILDING WITH
            ROOF DAMAGE.

0158 PM     TORNADO          3 SE GREENLEAFTON       43.54N 92.17W
05/27/2019                   FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            RELAYED VIA HARMONY FIRE DEPT. OUTBUILDING
            DAMAGED. LOTS OF TREE DAMAGE.

0158 PM     TORNADO          2 S GREENLEAFTON        43.55N 92.21W
05/27/2019                   FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            RELAYED VIA HARMONY FIRE DEPARTMENT. BARN,
            SHED, AND OUTBUILDING DAMAGED.

0158 PM     TORNADO          3 SE GREENLEAFTON       43.54N 92.17W
05/27/2019                   FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            RELAYED VIA HARMONY FIRE DEPT. OUTBUILDING
            DAMAGED. LOTS OF TREE DAMAGE.

0158 PM     TORNADO          2 S GREENLEAFTON        43.55N 92.21W
05/27/2019                   FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            RELAYED VIA HARMONY FIRE DEPARTMENT. BARN,
            SHED, AND OUTBUILDING DAMAGED.

0153 PM     TORNADO          4 S GREENLEAFTON        43.53N 92.21W
05/27/2019                   FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED BARN DOWN/DAMAGED.

0153 PM     TORNADO          4 S GREENLEAFTON        43.53N 92.21W
05/27/2019                   FILLMORE           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED BARN DOWN/DAMAGED.

0150 PM     TORNADO          LIME SPRINGS            43.45N 92.28W
05/27/2019                   HOWARD             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM LIME
            SPRINGS. TORNADO NEAR LIME SPRINGS WITH
            ROOF, HOME, TREE DAMAGE. POWER LINES DOWN.
            HOUSE TO HOUSE SEARCHES BEING CONDUCTED. DID
            NOT GO DIRECTLY THROUGH TOWN.

0128 PM     TORNADO          ELMA                    43.25N 92.44W
05/27/2019                   HOWARD             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR 180TH STREET JUST
            NORTH OF ELMA MOVING SLOWLY NORTH.

1230 PM     TORNADO          1 N CHARLES CITY        43.08N 92.68W
05/27/2019                   FLOYD              IA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TORNADO ON GROUND 1 MILE TO 4 MILES NORTH OF
            CHARLES CITY IOWA. DAMAGE TO SOME HOUSES.

1230 PM     TORNADO          CHARLES CITY            43.07N 92.68W
05/27/2019                   FLOYD              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FLOYD CONTY FAIRGROUNDS,
            SOME BUILDINGS DESTROYED. ALSO SOME HOUSES
            DAMAGED. SOME DAMAGE ALSO TO FERTILIZED
            PLANT.


&&

Rain Reports

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
822 AM CDT Tue May 28 2019

...24 HOUR PRECIPITATION REPORTS...

Location                     Amount    Time/Date       Lat/Lon

...Iowa...

...Allamakee County...
Lansing 4.1 NW               0.73 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.40N/91.29W
3 SE Waterville              0.54 in   0707 AM 05/28   43.17N/91.24W

...Chickasaw County...
New Hampton                  0.39 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.06N/92.32W
New Hampton 0.4 SW           0.27 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.06N/92.32W
Ionia 2W                     0.27 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.03N/92.50W

...Clayton County...
Mcgregor                     0.79 in   0744 AM 05/28   43.02N/91.19W
Volga 1NE                    0.70 in   0609 AM 05/28   42.81N/91.52W
Strawberry Point             0.51 in   0700 AM 05/28   42.69N/91.53W
Monona                       0.50 in   0744 AM 05/28   43.04N/91.39W
Guttenberg Dam 10            0.42 in   0600 AM 05/28   42.79N/91.10W

...Fayette County...
Oelwein 0.3 E                0.55 in   0600 AM 05/28   42.68N/91.91W
Fayette                      0.50 in   0646 AM 05/28   42.85N/91.82W
Waucoma 3.2 S                0.48 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.01N/92.03W

...Floyd County...
Charles City                 0.58 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.06N/92.67W
Nashua 2SW                   0.34 in   0700 AM 05/28   42.94N/92.57W

...Howard County...
Riceville                    1.34 in   0500 AM 05/28   43.40N/92.50W
Cresco 1NE                   0.49 in   0730 AM 05/28   43.39N/92.09W

...Mitchell County...
St.Ansgar                    1.16 in   0520 AM 05/28   43.38N/92.92W
Osage                        0.62 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.28N/92.81W
Osage 4.7 E                  0.58 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.28N/92.72W

...Winneshiek County...
7 ENE Decorah                0.73 in   0730 AM 05/28   43.34N/91.64W
Decorah 4.9SE                0.66 in   0600 AM 05/28   43.26N/91.70W
Decorah                      0.47 in   0530 AM 05/28   43.30N/91.79W

...Minnesota...

...Dodge County...
Hayfield 0.3 SSE             1.69 in   0630 AM 05/28   43.89N/92.85W
Hayfield                     1.59 in   0517 AM 05/28   43.89N/92.85W
Mantorville 1.9 ESE          1.18 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.05N/92.72W

...Fillmore County...
Wykoff 3.1 NW                2.34 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.74N/92.31W
Preston Airport              1.96 in   0515 AM 05/28   43.68N/92.17W

...Houston County...
3 SSW Freeburg               2.80 in   0725 AM 05/28   43.57N/91.39W
Brownsville 3.1 S            1.84 in   0600 AM 05/28   43.65N/91.28W
Caledonia                    1.54 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.63N/91.50W
La Crescent 0.7 N            1.31 in   0730 AM 05/28   43.84N/91.30W

...Mower County...
Ostrander 5.1 WNW            1.72 in   0442 PM 05/27   43.65N/92.52W
Austin 2.4 W                 0.75 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.67N/93.02W

...Olmsted County...
Rochester International Airp 3.26 in   0700 AM 05/27   43.90N/92.50W
2 W High Forest              2.84 in   0500 AM 05/28   43.85N/92.59W
Rochester                    2.75 in   0523 AM 05/28   44.01N/92.49W
Rochester                    2.67 in   0743 AM 05/28   44.01N/92.49W
Rochester 3.2 WNW            2.28 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.04N/92.53W
Byron                        2.17 in   0516 AM 05/28   44.04N/92.64W
2 NNW Rochester              2.10 in   0600 AM 05/28   44.05N/92.49W
Byron                        2.06 in   0730 AM 05/28   44.04N/92.64W
1 W Chester                  2.02 in   0624 AM 05/28   44.00N/92.38W
Mayo Helipad                 2.00 in   0516 AM 05/28   44.02N/92.48W
Mayo Helipad                 1.93 in   0735 AM 05/28   44.02N/92.48W
2 NE Rochester               1.92 in   0600 AM 05/28   44.04N/92.44W
Elgin 2SSW                   1.58 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.10N/92.27W

...Wabasha County...
Wabasha                      1.61 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.38N/92.05W
Plainview                    1.41 in   0529 AM 05/28   44.16N/92.17W
Lake City                    1.15 in   0515 AM 05/28   44.45N/92.27W
Zumbro Falls 3.5 SSW         0.68 in   0504 AM 05/28   44.24N/92.46W

...Winona County...
Minnesota City               1.80 in   0600 AM 05/28   44.16N/91.81W
1 W Stockton                 1.80 in   0515 AM 05/28   44.03N/91.79W
2 SE Winona                  1.77 in   0633 AM 05/28   44.03N/91.63W
4 SW Winona                  1.72 in   0630 AM 05/28   43.98N/91.71W
Winona 1.3 SSW               1.66 in   0655 AM 05/28   44.03N/91.68W
La Crescent Dam 7            1.42 in   0600 AM 05/28   43.87N/91.31W
Saint Charles                1.41 in   0745 AM 05/28   43.97N/92.06W
Winona Municipal Airport     0.63 in   0735 AM 05/28   44.07N/91.70W

...Wisconsin...

...Adams County...
Nekoosa 8.0 SSE              1.61 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.21N/89.85W
Grand Marsh 1.9 SSW          1.29 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.86N/89.72W
Oxford 4.0 W                 1.07 in   0630 AM 05/28   43.79N/89.64W
Grand Marsh 1.0 W            0.48 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.89N/89.73W

...Buffalo County...
Mondovi 0.5 NNE              1.83 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.58N/91.66W
Mondovi 12.1 SSE             1.75 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.40N/91.60W
Alma Dam 4                   1.52 in   0600 AM 05/28   44.33N/91.92W
Cochrane                     1.28 in   0744 AM 05/28   44.22N/91.83W

...Clark County...
Colby 5.9 WSW                1.11 in   0700 PM 05/27   44.87N/90.42W
Loyal                        0.02 in   0744 AM 05/28   44.74N/90.50W

...Crawford County...
Gays Mills 0.3 SE            1.20 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.32N/90.85W
De Soto 1SE                  0.95 in   0600 AM 05/28   43.42N/91.19W
Prairie Du Chien             0.68 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.05N/91.13W
Steuben 4SE                  0.67 in   0734 AM 05/28   43.13N/90.84W
Eastman                      0.66 in   0421 PM 05/27   43.17N/91.02W
Prairie Du Chien  Airport    0.64 in   0735 AM 05/28   43.02N/91.12W

...Grant County...
Muscoda 0.5 WSW              0.57 in   0741 AM 05/28   43.18N/90.44W
Boscobel                     0.49 in   0703 AM 05/28   43.15N/90.68W
Fennimore                    0.39 in   0745 AM 05/28   42.98N/90.66W
Platteville Municipal Airpor 0.34 in   0735 AM 05/28   42.68N/90.43W

...Jackson County...
Black River Falls 1.7 NNE    1.27 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.32N/90.83W
1 E Black River Falls        0.98 in   0715 AM 05/28   44.30N/90.73W
Black River Falls Area Airpo 0.93 in   0735 AM 05/28   44.25N/90.85W

...Juneau County...
Mauston                      1.95 in   0742 AM 05/28   43.80N/90.07W
Necedah 5.0 ESE              1.89 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.99N/89.99W
New Lisbon 5.2 ENE           1.80 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.91N/90.07W
Mauston Airport              1.64 in   0735 AM 05/28   43.83N/90.13W
Uscrn Site                   1.09 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.06N/90.17W                W

...La Crosse County...
1 NNE Barre Mills            2.00 in   1103 PM 05/27   43.85N/91.11W
St. Joseph 3W                1.67 in   0744 AM 05/28   43.78N/91.10W
La Crosse NWS Office         1.65 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.82N/91.19W
La Crosse Regional Airport   1.13 in   0653 AM 05/28   43.88N/91.25W

...Monroe County...
Sparta 3.8 S                 1.72 in   0630 AM 05/28   43.89N/90.80W
Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport    1.60 in   0735 AM 05/28   43.97N/90.73W

...Richland County...
Cazenovia 4.3 WNW            1.42 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.54N/90.28W
1 SSE Richland Center        0.88 in   0744 AM 05/28   43.32N/90.38W

...Taylor County...
Medford Airport              1.24 in   0735 AM 05/28   45.10N/90.30W
3 NE Lublin                  1.16 in   0714 AM 05/28   45.11N/90.69W
Medford                      0.94 in   0730 AM 05/28   45.30N/90.30W

...Trempealeau County...
Trempealeau Dam 6            1.64 in   0600 AM 05/28   44.00N/91.44W
Ettrick 4WNW                 1.62 in   0657 AM 05/28   44.19N/91.34W
Trempealeau 7.6 NNW          1.56 in   0700 AM 05/28   44.11N/91.48W

...Vernon County...
2 NE Genoa                   2.90 in   0725 AM 05/28   43.59N/91.21W
Genoa Dam 8                  1.92 in   0600 AM 05/28   43.57N/91.23W
Stoddard 0.1 SW              1.91 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.66N/91.22W
Viroqua Municipal Airport    1.59 in   0735 AM 05/28   43.58N/90.90W
Hillsboro 0.5 WSW            1.51 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.65N/90.35W
Viroqua 0.8 ESE              1.50 in   0700 AM 05/28   43.55N/90.87W

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

$$

Environment


12 PM Surface Pressure and Winds	12 PM Visible Satellite	12 PM Surface Observations

Near-storm environment summary.


12 PM MLCAPE & CIN	12 PM 0-1 KM Shear Vector	Significant Tornado Parameter (Fixed Layer)

Additional environmental data.


Figure 7: Caption	Figure 8: Caption	Figure 9: Caption

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