Severe Weather of July 22, 2013

Severe Weather of July 22, 2013

A cold front crossed the Upper Mississippi River Valley region during the afternoon and evening hours of July 22. Southerly flow ahead of the front brought in a warm and muggy airmass, which provided fuel for severe thunderstorms that fired on the cold front. Numerous reports of severe weather were received, mostly in the form of hail, with a tornado as well. Of the 5 funnel clouds confirmed in the region (from north central WI to north central IA), only one funnel produced an actual tornado. The storms also produced heavy rain, but dry conditions leading up to July 22 prevented any flooding.

Overall, the wind profile above the surface was not favorable for tornadoes or highly organized storms. Storms grew and changed quickly, and moved in various directions, illustrating the disorganized nature to the atmosphere Monday.

Tornado southeast of Winona, MN.
Photo courtesy of John Redig.

A storm survey concluded that an EF0 tornado hit the Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge in far southwest Trempealeau Co., Wisconsin.

Details on the tornado:

Rated: EF0 (winds 70-75 mph)
Est. length: 1.1 miles
Est. max width: 40 yards
Est. time: 5:15 to 5:20 p.m.
Damage: Hundreds of trees at wildlife refuge
Began over water in the marshland along the Mississippi River and tracked into the Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge between Winona, MN and Trempealeau, WI. (Click on image to see track)

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Photos / Radar Imagery

Click on any of the images below for a larger image


Wall cloud over the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge	Wall cloud as viewed from Winona, MN area

	Ping Pong Ball Size Hail near Centerville, WI

Tornado near Mississippi River, taken from near Homer, MN. Photo courtesy of Andrew Thorson.	2 inch diameter hail near Fountain, MN

Large hail that fell in Trempealeau, WI.	Tree damage at the Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge.

Mammatus clouds over Tomah, WI.	Mammatus clouds over Tomah, WI.

Tree damage at Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge, WI.	Tree damage at Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge, WI


Radar loop and warnings issued from 2 to 10 pm (images every 30 minutes)	Zoomed in loop of the storm (the one moving southeast) that produced the tornado near Winona, MN. Radar loop from 4:45 to 5:30 pm (images every 5 minutes).

Total Precipitation Estimated By Radar

Local Storm Reports

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

0340 PM     HAIL             STACYVILLE              43.44N 92.78W
07/22/2013  M0.88 INCH       MITCHELL           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL

0400 PM     HAIL             STACYVILLE              43.44N 92.78W
07/22/2013  M1.00 INCH       MITCHELL           IA   PUBLIC

0405 PM     HAIL             MINNEISKA               44.19N 91.87W
07/22/2013  M0.75 INCH       WABASHA            MN   AMATEUR RADIO

0415 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 W LE ROY              43.51N 92.55W
07/22/2013  M52.00 MPH       MOWER              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0415 PM     HAIL             FOUNTAIN                43.74N 92.13W
07/22/2013  E1.00 INCH       FILLMORE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0420 PM     HAIL             FOUNTAIN                43.74N 92.13W
07/22/2013  M2.00 INCH       FILLMORE           MN   PUBLIC

            FACEBOOK POST. TIME ESTIMATED VIA RADAR.

0423 PM     HAIL             3 N PRESTON             43.72N 92.08W
07/22/2013  M0.75 INCH       FILLMORE           MN   AMATEUR RADIO

0425 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 N CHESTER             43.55N 92.36W
07/22/2013  M50.00 MPH       FILLMORE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0426 PM     HAIL             FOUNTAIN                43.74N 92.13W
07/22/2013  M1.00 INCH       FILLMORE           MN   AMATEUR RADIO

0448 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 SE FOUNTAIN CITY      44.10N 91.67W
07/22/2013                   BUFFALO            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTS FUNNEL CLOUD OVER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
            BETWEEN GOODVIEW AND FOUNTAIN CITY. ROTATION CONFIRMED BY
            ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

0505 PM     HAIL             RUSHFORD                43.81N 91.75W
07/22/2013  M1.75 INCH       FILLMORE           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0507 PM     HAIL             2 N TREMPEALEAU         44.04N 91.44W
07/22/2013  M0.88 INCH       TREMPEALEAU        WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT PEROT STATE PARK

0509 PM     HAIL             PICKWICK                43.98N 91.60W
07/22/2013  M0.75 INCH       WINONA             MN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0511 PM     TORNADO          1 S BLUFF SIDING        44.06N 91.62W
07/22/2013                   BUFFALO            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL REPORTS OF TORNADO...CONFIRMED BY MEDIA AND
            EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WITH PHOTOS AND VIDEO.

0517 PM     HAIL             CENTERVILLE             44.07N 91.45W
07/22/2013  E1.75 INCH       TREMPEALEAU        WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PING PONG BALL TO GOLF BALL SIZE REPORTED BY LAW
            ENFORCEMENT AND SPOTTERS

0519 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     BLUFF SIDING            44.07N 91.62W
07/22/2013                   BUFFALO            WI   AMATEUR RADIO

            SEVERAL REPORTS OF A FUNNEL CLOUD IN THIS AREA BY AMATEUR
            RADIO OPERATORS ON BOTH MN AND WI SIDE OF THE RIVER.

0520 PM     TORNADO          5 WSW CENTERVILLE       44.04N 91.54W
07/22/2013                   TREMPEALEAU        WI   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            POSSIBLE TORNADO AT TREMPEALEAU WILDLIFE REFUGE. SWATH OF
            TREES DAMAGED.

0522 PM     HAIL             4 N HOLMEN              44.01N 91.26W
07/22/2013  M0.75 INCH       LA CROSSE          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

0546 PM     HAIL             4 N HOLMEN              44.01N 91.26W
07/22/2013  M0.75 INCH       LA CROSSE          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

            SEVERAL PERIODS OF DIME TO PENNY SIZE HAIL

0551 PM     HAIL             TREMPEALEAU             44.01N 91.44W
07/22/2013  M1.00 INCH       TREMPEALEAU        WI   PUBLIC

            FACEBOOK POST.

0554 PM     HAIL             4 N HOLMEN              44.01N 91.26W
07/22/2013  M1.00 INCH       LA CROSSE          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

            HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE. HAIL PARTIALLY COVERING THE
            GROUND

0607 PM     HAIL             HOLMEN                  43.96N 91.26W
07/22/2013  M0.50 INCH       LA CROSSE          WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0615 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SSW GALESVILLE        44.06N 91.37W
07/22/2013  M1.95 INCH       TREMPEALEAU        WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

0635 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 N HANNIBAL            45.29N 90.78W
07/22/2013                   TAYLOR             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL CLOUD OBSERVED BRIEFLY THEN DISSIPATED.

0655 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 N HANNIBAL            45.26N 90.78W
07/22/2013                   TAYLOR             WI   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FIRE DEPT WATCHING FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR HWY 73 AND COUNTY RD
            M

0658 PM     HAIL             CALEDONIA               43.63N 91.50W
07/22/2013  M1.25 INCH       HOUSTON            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            QUARTER TO HALF-DOLLAR SIZE HAIL

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       CALEDONIA               43.63N 91.50W
07/22/2013  M1.25 INCH       HOUSTON            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NW HOLMEN             43.97N 91.27W
07/22/2013  M1.36 INCH       LA CROSSE          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

0721 PM     HAIL             STODDARD                43.66N 91.22W
07/22/2013  M1.00 INCH       VERNON             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0725 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NNE STODDARD          43.71N 91.19W
07/22/2013                   VERNON             WI   PUBLIC

            LARGE BRANCHES DOWN

0800 PM     HAIL             VIROQUA                 43.56N 90.89W
07/22/2013  M0.75 INCH       VERNON             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 PM     HAIL             CASHTON                 43.74N 90.78W
07/22/2013  M0.50 INCH       MONROE             WI   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED 50 MPH AS WELL.

0804 PM     HAIL             VIROQUA                 43.56N 90.89W
07/22/2013  M0.50 INCH       VERNON             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

Rainfall Reports

LOCATION                       AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON

...IOWA...

...CHICKASAW...
IONIA 2W                       0.05      0700 AM 07/23   43.03N/92.50W

...CLAYTON...
MONONA WWTP                    0.03      0700 AM 07/23   43.04N/91.40W
ELKADER 6SSW                   0.01      0700 AM 07/23   42.78N/91.45W

...FLOYD...
NASHUA 2SW                     0.07      0700 AM 07/23   42.94N/92.57W
CHARLES CITY                   0.07      0700 AM 07/23   43.06N/92.67W
CHARLES CITY                   0.05      0700 AM 07/23   43.07N/92.61W

...HOWARD...
CRESCO 1NE                     0.14      0700 AM 07/23   43.39N/92.09W

...MITCHELL...
ST ANSGAR                      0.53      0630 AM 07/23   43.38N/92.92W
OSAGE                          0.10      0700 AM 07/23   43.28N/92.81W

...WINNESHIEK...
4 S SATTRE                     0.12      0600 AM 07/23   43.34N/91.64W

...MINNESOTA...

...FILLMORE...
SO.FORK ROOT RIVER             0.36      0630 AM 07/23   43.72N/91.98W
2 SSE PILOT MOUND              0.34      0700 AM 07/23   43.79N/92.03W
PRESTON FILLMORE COUNTY AIRPOR 0.13      0700 AM 07/23   43.68N/92.18W

...WINONA...
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6              0.94      0600 AM 07/23   44.00N/91.44W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7              0.26      0600 AM 07/23   43.87N/91.31W
WINONA DAM 5A                  0.12      0600 AM 07/23   44.09N/91.67W
WINONA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT       0.04      0700 AM 07/23   44.08N/91.71W

...WISCONSIN...

...BUFFALO...
ALMA DAM 4                     0.01      0600 AM 07/23   44.33N/91.92W

...CLARK...
NEILLSVILLE 3ESE               0.02      0700 AM 07/23   44.54N/90.53W

...CRAWFORD...
SOLDIERS GROVE                 0.76      0730 AM 07/23   43.39N/90.78W
STEUBEN                        0.11      0545 AM 07/23   43.18N/90.86W

...GRANT...
1 ENE BOSCOBEL                 0.44      0703 AM 07/23   43.15N/90.68W
BOSCOBEL AIRPORT               0.35      0700 AM 07/23   43.16N/90.67W
PLATTEVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT  0.01      0700 AM 07/23   42.69N/90.44W

...JACKSON...
1 E BLACK RIVER FALLS          0.22      0615 AM 07/23   44.30N/90.83W
BLACK RIVER FALLS AREA AIRPORT 0.07      0700 AM 07/23   44.25N/90.86W

...JUNEAU...
NEW LISBON 4ENE                0.03      0700 AM 07/23   43.91N/90.07W
NECEDAH 1W                     0.03      0548 AM 07/23   44.02N/90.08W
VOLK FIELD AIRPORT             0.01      0700 AM 07/23   43.94N/90.25W

...LA CROSSE...
HOLLAND                        1.66      0600 AM 07/23   43.97N/91.29W
HOLMEN 2S                      0.59      0700 AM 07/23   43.93N/91.25W
2 NW ONALASKA                  0.47      0700 AM 07/23   43.90N/91.24W
WEST SALEM 2W                  0.30      0700 AM 07/23   43.90N/91.12W
LA CROSSE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT    0.23      0700 AM 07/23   43.88N/91.26W
LA CROSSE 4NNW                 0.22      0730 AM 07/23   43.87N/91.27W
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT LA CROSSE 0.05      0700 AM 07/23   43.80N/91.26W
FOUR CORNERS                   0.03      0700 AM 07/23   44.07N/90.92W

...RICHLAND...
BOAZ 2NW                       0.31      0700 AM 07/23   43.36N/90.56W

...TAYLOR...
JUMP RIVER 1 NW                0.02      0700 AM 07/23   45.36N/90.80W

...TREMPEALEAU...
GALESVILLE 2WSW                1.95      0700 AM 07/23   44.07N/91.39W
GALESVILLE 3ENE                0.84      0600 AM 07/23   44.09N/91.29W
OSSEO                          0.37      0700 AM 07/23   44.58N/91.22W
ETTRICK 4WNW                   0.11      0636 AM 07/23   44.19N/91.34W
WHITEHALL 2W                   0.04      0658 AM 07/23   44.37N/91.36W

...VERNON...
STODDARD                       1.33      0700 AM 07/23   43.66N/91.22W
VIROQUA                        1.06      0700 AM 07/23   43.56N/90.88W
VIROQUA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT      0.70      0700 AM 07/23   43.58N/90.90W
GENOA DAM 8                    0.51      0600 AM 07/23   43.57N/91.23W
HILLSBORO WSW                  0.02      0700 AM 07/23   43.65N/90.35W
HILLSBORO 2SW                  0.01      0700 AM 07/23   43.63N/90.38W