Overview
|
A unseasonably warm and moist airmass provided a ripe environment for a east/northeast moving cold front to spark a line of strong to severe thunderstorms on the afternoon of Thursday, May 15th 2025. The atmosphere was initially "capped", but once surface temperatures warmed sufficiently, coupled with the lift provided by the front, storms "exploded" southwest along the boundary - quickly becoming severe. Initially, large hail was the primary concern, but as the storms continued to evolve, the threat for tornadoes increased. Damage surveys indicate three tornadoes occurred in Clark County, WI Thursday evening, including an EF2 tornado near Unity and Colby. The line of storms exited into eastern Wisconsin by early evening.
*** Storm damage continues to evaluated. Check back for updated information & more details. *** |
 Reflectivity radar loop from noon to 6 pm on Tue May 15th, 2025. |
Tornadoes
Select a tornado from the table to zoom into the track and view more information. The default table view is limited to 8 tracks, but can be scrolled by a mouse wheel or dynamically expanded. Additionally, the table can fill the entire window by clicking the small circular expanding arrow icon at the very top right of the table and returned to its original size by clicking the button again. The side information panel that opens over the map can be closed using the "X" on the upper right corner of the pop-up. Zoom into the map and click damage points to see detailed information and pictures from the surveys.
|
NOTE: times shown below are local to your device's time zone. |
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 |
 |
|||||
| Tornadoes that fail to impact any ratable damage indicators on the EF-Scale are rated EF-Unknown (EF-U) | |||||
Radar
Header
| Caption | Caption | Caption | Caption |
Hail
The largest hail reported in the area was 2" diameter hail in Humbird, WI (Clark County). In addition, golfball size (1.75" diameter hail) was reported near Adams and Arkdale in Adams County, WI; Buckhorn State Park (Juneau County, WI); and just west of Alma Center, WI (Jackson County, WI).
Public Information Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 1105 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025 ...HAIL REPORTS... Location Size Time/Date Provider ...Minnesota... ...Olmsted County... 4 NE Rochester 1.00 in 0237 PM 05/15 Public ...Winona County... Winona 1.00 in 0256 PM 05/15 Public 2 E Winona 1.00 in 0257 PM 05/15 Public 2 SE Winona 1.00 in 0257 PM 05/15 Public 2 ESE Winona 1.00 in 0258 PM 05/15 Emergency Mngr 5 E Pickwick 1.00 in 0300 PM 05/15 Public 3 SE Winona 0.75 in 0256 PM 05/15 Public 1 SE Winona 0.50 in 0257 PM 05/15 Public ...Wisconsin... ...Adams County... 1 E Adams 1.75 in 0418 PM 05/15 Law Enforcement 1 WNW Arkdale 1.75 in 0425 PM 05/15 Trained Spotter Arkdale 1.25 in 0426 PM 05/15 Public ...Buffalo County... Nelson 1.00 in 0302 PM 05/15 Trained Spotter 3 NE Nelson 0.70 in 0331 PM 05/15 Trained Spotter ...Clark County... Humbird 2.00 in 0425 PM 05/15 Public 7 S Willard 1.50 in 0440 PM 05/15 Public ...Jackson County... 3 W Alma Center 1.75 in 0408 PM 05/15 Public Alma Center 1.00 in 0417 PM 05/15 Public ...Juneau County... 1 N Buckhorn State Park 1.75 in 0418 PM 05/15 Public Camp Douglas 1.50 in 0434 PM 05/15 Public Mauston 1.25 in 0525 PM 05/15 Public Elroy 1.00 in 0424 PM 05/15 Law Enforcement Elroy 1.00 in 0426 PM 05/15 Law Enforcement 3 SSW Plainville 1.00 in 0430 PM 05/15 Trained Spotter Camp Douglas 1.00 in 0432 PM 05/15 Public Elroy 1.00 in 0432 PM 05/15 Public 1 NNE Camp Douglas 1.00 in 0439 PM 05/15 Other Federal Mauston 0.70 in 0433 PM 05/15 Law Enforcement Mauston 0.25 in 0405 PM 05/15 Public ...Monroe County... Sparta 1.00 in 0410 PM 05/15 Public Sparta 1.00 in 0415 PM 05/15 Public Sparta 0.88 in 0418 PM 05/15 Law Enforcement Wilton 0.70 in 0414 PM 05/15 Trained Spotter ...Richland County... 1 ENE Sextonville 1.50 in 0324 PM 05/15 Public 1 SSE Sextonville 1.50 in 0335 PM 05/15 Public Ithaca 1.00 in 0328 PM 05/15 Emergency Mngr Ithaca 1.00 in 0343 PM 05/15 Emergency Mngr ...Trempealeau County... Trempealeau 1.00 in 0257 PM 05/15 Public 1 W Trempealeau 1.00 in 0301 PM 05/15 Public Trempealeau 1.00 in 0307 PM 05/15 Public Centerville 1.00 in 0316 PM 05/15 Law Enforcement Arcadia 1.00 in 0318 PM 05/15 Public Centerville 0.70 in 0310 PM 05/15 Law Enforcement 2 NNE Trempealeau 0.50 in 0307 PM 05/15 Public ...Vernon County... 2 E La Farge 1.25 in 0350 PM 05/15 Public 2 S Genoa 1.00 in 0345 PM 05/15 Public Valley 1.00 in 0401 PM 05/15 Public 3 N Victory 0.75 in 0335 PM 05/15 Public 2 WNW Viola 0.75 in 0341 PM 05/15 Trained Spotter La Farge 0.70 in 0345 PM 05/15 Emergency Mngr 1 W Hillsboro 0.70 in 0406 PM 05/15 Emergency Mngr Genoa 0.25 in 0345 PM 05/15 Fire Dept/Rescue 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. $$
Wind
The strongest wind gusts were not associated with severe thunderstorms - rather they were due to low pressure that formed behind the line of storms. This phenomenon is known as a "wake low". Wake lows develop when air sinks and warms on the back side of a line of thunderstorms, becoming less dense and creating a pressure gradient. This pressure difference drives air towards the low, potentially causing strong (potentially very strong) winds.
Public Information Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 105 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025 ...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS PAST 12 HOURS... Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon ...Iowa... ...Chickasaw County... New Hampton 52 MPH 0545 PM 05/15 43.07N/92.46W New Hampton 46 MPH 0544 PM 05/15 43.05N/92.30W Lawler 36 MPH 0215 PM 05/15 43.18N/92.18W ...Clayton County... Monona 32 MPH 0604 PM 05/15 43.04N/91.39W ...Fayette County... Oelwein Municipal Airport 47 MPH 0555 PM 05/15 42.68N/91.97W ...Floyd County... Charles City Airport 54 MPH 0415 PM 05/15 43.07N/92.62W Rudd 51 MPH 0325 PM 05/15 43.18N/92.83W Greene 44 MPH 0555 PM 05/15 42.93N/92.81W Nora Springs 36 MPH 0255 PM 05/15 43.20N/93.02W 2 NE Dougherty 33 MPH 0325 PM 05/15 42.95N/93.01W ...Howard County... Saratoga 53 MPH 0450 PM 05/15 43.37N/92.47W Saratoga 48 MPH 0600 PM 05/15 43.35N/92.42W Riceville 47 MPH 0530 PM 05/15 43.36N/92.48W ...Mitchell County... Saint Ansgar 37 MPH 0415 PM 05/15 43.39N/92.98W Osage 31 MPH 0325 PM 05/15 43.31N/92.84W ...Winneshiek County... Decorah 42 MPH 0255 PM 05/15 43.25N/91.70W Decorah Municipal Airport 40 MPH 0555 PM 05/15 43.27N/91.72W ...Minnesota... ...Dodge County... U.s.14 - Byron - Mp 200 58 MPH 0430 PM 05/15 44.02N/92.71W Dodge Center Airport 52 MPH 0455 PM 05/15 44.02N/92.82W Hayfield 43 MPH 0547 PM 05/15 43.89N/92.85W ...Fillmore County... T.h.52 - Canton - Mp 2 55 MPH 0530 PM 05/15 43.52N/91.89W U.s.63 - Le Roy - Mp 0.5 54 MPH 0630 PM 05/15 43.51N/92.37W Preston Airport 53 MPH 0515 PM 05/15 43.68N/92.17W ...Houston County... Hokah 34 MPH 0305 PM 05/15 43.80N/91.43W T.h.44 - Hokah - Mp 60 30 MPH 0455 PM 05/15 43.72N/91.44W ...Mower County... U.s.218 - Lyle - Mp 4 53 MPH 0635 PM 05/15 43.56N/92.95W I-90 - Dexter - Mp 195 50 MPH 0625 PM 05/15 43.73N/92.68W Austin Municipal Airport 49 MPH 0415 PM 05/15 43.67N/92.92W Austin 44 MPH 0215 PM 05/15 43.56N/93.02W Lyle 40 MPH 0230 PM 05/15 43.51N/92.94W ...Olmsted County... Rochester International Airp 64 MPH 0455 PM 05/15 43.90N/92.50W I-90 - Eyota - Mp 226 55 MPH 0450 PM 05/15 43.96N/92.21W U.s.63 - Stewartville - Mp 3 52 MPH 0445 PM 05/15 43.90N/92.48W Byron 30 MPH 0425 PM 05/15 44.03N/92.63W ...Wabasha County... U.s.61 - Kellogg - Mp 53 56 MPH 0400 PM 05/15 44.28N/91.99W U.s.63 - Lake City - Mp 62.9 50 MPH 0540 PM 05/15 44.38N/92.37W Lake City 30 MPH 0530 PM 05/15 44.44N/92.28W ...Winona County... I-90 - Ridgeway - Mp 261 49 MPH 0500 PM 05/15 43.91N/91.54W Winona Municipal Airport 39 MPH 0555 PM 05/15 44.07N/91.70W I-90 - La Crescent - Mp 276. 38 MPH 0320 PM 05/15 43.86N/91.30W ...Wisconsin... ...Buffalo County... Montana 41 MPH 0720 PM 05/15 44.40N/91.56W ...Clark County... NEILLSVILLE 53 MPH 0444 PM 05/15 44.61N/90.65W Greenwood 53 MPH 0500 PM 05/15 44.72N/90.60W ...Crawford County... Soldiers Grove 42 MPH 0630 PM 05/15 43.38N/90.90W Prairie Du Chien Airport 40 MPH 0455 PM 05/15 43.02N/91.12W Steuben 36 MPH 0525 PM 05/15 43.21N/91.00W Crawford Co. Sth 27 Sb 0.25 33 MPH 0709 PM 05/15 43.31N/90.94W ...Grant County... Boscobel Airport 54 MPH 0523 PM 05/15 43.15N/90.68W Lancaster 49 MPH 0541 PM 05/15 42.83N/90.69W Platteville Municipal Airpor 43 MPH 0755 PM 05/15 42.68N/90.43W Lancaster 40 MPH 0455 PM 05/15 42.83N/90.79W ...Jackson County... 1 E Black River Falls 34 MPH 0715 PM 05/15 44.30N/90.73W Black River Falls Area Airpo 32 MPH 0755 PM 05/15 44.25N/90.85W ...Juneau County... Volk Field 37 MPH 0727 PM 05/15 43.93N/90.27W Cutler 31 MPH 0735 PM 05/15 44.03N/90.26W Mauston Airport 30 MPH 0415 PM 05/15 43.83N/90.13W Necedah 30 MPH 0448 PM 05/15 44.03N/90.08W ...La Crosse County... La Crosse Regional Airport 55 MPH 0457 PM 05/15 43.88N/91.25W I-90 Eb At Ush 53 Nb 43 MPH 0522 PM 05/15 43.86N/91.24W LA CROSSE 42 MPH 0633 PM 05/15 43.81N/91.25W Onalaska 40 MPH 0509 PM 05/15 43.89N/91.18W La Crosse 39 MPH 0708 PM 05/15 43.82N/91.19W ...Monroe County... Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport 40 MPH 0646 PM 05/15 43.97N/90.73W Warrens 32 MPH 0825 PM 05/15 44.12N/90.41W Tomah 30 MPH 0625 PM 05/15 43.99N/90.67W ...Richland County... Richland Center 34 MPH 0415 PM 05/15 43.37N/90.38W ...Taylor County... Westboro 37 MPH 0600 PM 05/15 45.37N/90.31W Gilman 31 MPH 0315 PM 05/15 45.17N/90.82W 3 NE Lublin 30 MPH 0214 PM 05/15 45.11N/90.69W Medford Airport 30 MPH 0335 PM 05/15 45.10N/90.30W ...Trempealeau County... Osseo 41 MPH 1210 PM 05/15 44.59N/91.27W ...Vernon County... Viroqua Municipal Airport 47 MPH 0715 PM 05/15 43.58N/90.90W La Farge 34 MPH 0605 PM 05/15 43.60N/90.63W 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. $$
Rain Reports
Public Information Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 1102 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025 ...Rainfall Reports from the Past 24 Hours... Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon ...Iowa... ...Howard County... 3 E Elma 0.23 in 0950 AM 05/16 43.25N/92.38W ...Minnesota... ...Olmsted County... 1 W Oronoco 0.15 in 1030 AM 05/16 44.17N/92.55W Rochester 4.7 N 0.13 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.08N/92.48W ...Wabasha County... Lake City 9.7 SW 0.51 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.34N/92.41W Lake City 0.31 in 1045 AM 05/16 44.44N/92.28W Wabasha 6.2 WNW 0.31 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.39N/92.16W Lake City 0.9 NNE 0.28 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.45N/92.27W Lake City 0.25 in 1050 AM 05/16 44.44N/92.27W Lake City 0.7 SE 0.25 in 0800 AM 05/16 44.43N/92.27W Mazeppa 3.3 SSE 0.25 in 0800 AM 05/16 44.23N/92.51W ...Winona County... Winona 6.9 ESE 0.11 in 0646 AM 05/16 44.00N/91.55W ...Wisconsin... ...Adams County... Nekoosa 8.0 SSE 0.96 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.21N/89.85W Friendship 6.4 NNE 0.55 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.06N/89.79W ...Buffalo County... Mondovi 12.1 SSE 0.54 in 0656 AM 05/16 44.40N/91.60W ...Clark County... Greenwood 0.6 NNW 1.21 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.77N/90.60W COLBY 0.96 in 0858 AM 05/16 44.91N/90.32W Owen 1E 0.93 in 0600 AM 05/16 44.95N/90.55W Thorp 10.1 S 0.64 in 0600 AM 05/16 44.81N/90.82W Thorp 0.5 NNE 0.36 in 0600 AM 05/16 44.97N/90.80W NEILLSVILLE 0.23 in 0901 AM 05/16 44.61N/90.65W 4 NNW Sidney 0.23 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.61N/90.65W Neillsville 1W 0.21 in 1000 AM 05/16 44.56N/90.61W ...Juneau County... New Lisbon 1.10 in 1045 AM 05/16 43.87N/90.17W Necedah 0.65 in 1048 AM 05/16 44.03N/90.08W NECEDAH NWR RY DAM NECEDAH 5 0.62 in 1010 AM 05/16 44.06N/90.17W Mauston Airport 0.35 in 1035 AM 05/16 43.83N/90.13W 1.0 E Mauston 0.32 in 0630 AM 05/16 43.79N/90.06W ...Taylor County... Westboro 0.1 NW 1.17 in 0700 AM 05/16 45.36N/90.30W Medford 0.98 in 1045 AM 05/16 45.30N/90.30W Westboro 0.97 in 1045 AM 05/16 45.37N/90.31W Medford 0.8 ENE 0.83 in 0700 AM 05/16 45.14N/90.33W Medford Airport 0.24 in 1035 AM 05/16 45.10N/90.30W 3 NE Lublin 0.21 in 1014 AM 05/16 45.11N/90.69W ...Trempealeau County... 0.8 SW Pigeon Falls (IFLOWS) 0.86 in 0550 AM 05/16 44.42N/91.22W Blair (IFLOWS) 0.59 in 0335 AM 05/16 44.30N/91.23W Courtland 0.3 SW 0.47 in 0700 AM 05/16 44.27N/91.35W ...Vernon County... Westby 5.8 NW 0.14 in 0700 AM 05/16 43.70N/90.95W 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. $$
Storm Reports
 |
 |
| SPC Storm Reports | Local Storm Reports |
Photos & Video
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Camp Douglas, WI (Courtesy of Alicia Macklin) |
Necedah, WI (Courtesy of Amy Michalek) |
Humbird, WI (Courtesy of Barbara Hardwick) |
Richland County (Courtesy of Kevin Nolen) |
| Caption (source) |
Caption (source) |
Caption (source) |
Caption (source) |
Additional Information
SPC Outlooks for Tuesday, May 15th from 4 days prior up to day of event
 |
 |
 |
|
| SPC Day 4 Probabilistic Outlook | SPC Day 3 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 3 Probabilistic Outlook | ... |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| SPC Day 2 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 2 Tornado Outlook | SPC Day 2 Hail Outlook | SPC Day 2 Wind Outlook |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| SPC Day 1 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook | SPC Day 1 Hail Outlook | SPC Day 1 Wind Outlook |
 |
Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged! Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site. |
|
Follow us on X
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
ARX RSS Feed