NWS La Crosse Open House - Sep 7th, 2024

⛅❄️ "Unleash Your Inner Meteorologist!" 🌈🌪

Ever wonder how weather forecasts are made? How severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings are issued? And just how that "golf ball" on the bluff detects storms, allowing us to issue those warnings? Learn the answers, and MUCH more, at our NWS La Crosse Open House on Saturday, September 7th from 11am to 4pm! This is a FREE event!!!

Meet the crew of NWS La Crosse -- a dedicated bunch who work around the clock to provide critical and sometimes life-saving weather information when you need it.

Many other NWS partnering agencies and groups will also be on-hand to showcase their cool equipment and what their jobs entail. Check out the "Who Else Will Be Here" tab below for details!

WAFER Food Pantry will be here to accept non-perishable food items to help our community! Your voluntary food donations will be greatly appreciated!

*No smoking, drugs, alcohol, or weapons allowed on the premises. No pets except for trained service animals. No bags, purses, or backpacks allowed inside the facility.

National Weather Service La Crosse

OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, September 7th
11am to 4pm (rain or shine)

* F R E E *

Countdown to the Open House:

How To Find Us / Parking
Things To Do
Who Else Will Be Here
Thank You

In short:

Drive into La Crosse and take Losey Blvd to Main Street, then turn onto Main Street toward the bluff. This road becomes Bliss Road and winds up toward Grandad Bluff. At the top of Bliss, you will see the Alpine Inn -- follow the road to the left onto County Rd F (turning right at the Alpine Inn will take you to Grandad Bluff Outlook - well worth a visit for some breathtaking views!). Drive about 1/4 mile and take the first left turn onto County Rd FA, then continue about a mile to the NWS La Crosse office. Can't miss us!

National Weather Service
N2788 County Rd FA
La Crosse, WI 54601

nws lacrosse

Where to park:

The City of La Crosse is graciously allowing us to use the Hixon Trails parking lot next to our facility with additional grass parking across the road. Our driveway entrance will be reserved as a drop off area with accessible parking available along the road right in front of our office. Please note our office parking lot will be closed for the event.

overhead view of the NWS la Crosse and parking areas

Below is just a small sampling of planned Open House activities!

Tour our office (last one at 3:40pm) - see how forecasts are made and a demonstration of how we issue severe thunderstorm & tornado warnings
Hands-on activities, demonstrations, and games for kids
Emergency vehicle displays
Browse other agency booths - see their cool equipment and learn what they do (see "Who Else Will Be Here" tab for details)
Raffles
Meet your local NWS meteorologists and ask your weather questions
Voluntary food donation collection for WAFER Food Pantry of La Crosse
...and more!!!

Glimpses from Our Last Open House in 2016

Organization	Planned Activities (subject to change)
La Crosse County Sheriff and Emergency Management	Check out a squad car. Demonstrate drone capabilities (subject to weather).
La Crosse Fire Department	A crew from the local fire department will be on hand to answer all your questions and share some interactive fire safety fun! Come see a firefighting rig up close!
La Crosse County Highway Department	Want to see one of those big snow plows up close? This is your chance!
Olmsted County Sheriff and Emergency Management	Tour the Rochester/Olmsted County incident command vehicle "EM-50".
American Red Cross	Personnel will share information about Red Cross services and the support that are offered, specifically during disasters.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources	WI DNR personnel will discuss their work to preserve and enhance the natural resources of WI. Tour a "heavy unit" (tractor plow and Type 4 fire engine) used to fight wildfires.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	Members of the USFWS will be on site to answer questions. Learn about streams and rivers with their "hands-on" stream table model.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Gain a better understanding of locks and dams and what USACE does to ensure safe, reliable navigation along the Mississippi River and other important waterways.
Mississippi Valley Amateur Radio Association Riverland Amateur Radio Club	Local amateur radio operators will be on site to answer questions and demonstrate equipment. Tour their e-comms bus.
WAFER Food Pantry of La Crosse	WAFER volunteers will be collecting non-perishable food items to help our community! Breakfast items, tuna, baked beans, soup, and crackers would be especially appreciated.

An open house like this is a HUGE endeavor requiring many months of planning and many dedicated people to make it a success. We hope everyone's efforts will enrich the day and provide a fun learning experience for all who attend! We express our sincere thanks to the organizations below for their generous donations and time.

Also, a special thank you to the crew from WAFER Food Pantry for being onsite to collect food donations and for all their good work in our community!