La Crosse, Wis. – Rainwater pooled across streets before sunrise, and some low-lying roads remained covered as storms rolled through the La Crosse area. While skies will improve later today, flooding concerns are the immediate story, and another active weather pattern is waiting early next week.
Drivers across parts of western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota should remain alert after heavy thunderstorms prompted a Flood Advisory for portions of the region. According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, excessive rainfall produced urban flooding, overflowing drainage systems and water-covered roadways in parts of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, and Houston County, Minnesota.
Rainfall totals of 0.5 to 1.5 inches had already fallen before daybreak, with another 1 to 2 inches possible in the heaviest bands. Flooding concerns included La Crosse, La Crescent, Onalaska, Holmen, French Island, the La Crosse Regional Airport area, Highway 33 and several low-lying roads. Never attempt to drive through flooded streets. Turn around instead of risking hidden washouts or stalled vehicles.
Conditions steadily improve through the afternoon as sunshine returns and temperatures climb toward 87 degrees. Areas of smoke may develop tonight and linger into Sunday, reducing visibility at times across western Wisconsin.
Sunday stays warm with a high near 86 degrees under partly smoky skies. The weather turns more active again Monday as showers and thunderstorms become likely. Some storms could produce heavy rain and gusty winds. Another chance for thunderstorms continues into Tuesday, July 21, before drier weather returns later in the week.
The broader 6-to-10-day outlook favors above-normal temperatures, keeping midsummer warmth in place across the Upper Midwest even after early-week storms move through.
Five-Day Forecast for La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Today: High 87°F. Becoming sunny after early showers.
- Sunday: High 86°F. Areas of smoke with mostly sunny skies.
- Monday: High 89°F. Showers and thunderstorms likely.
- Tuesday: High 81°F. Sunny after an early storm chance.
- Wednesday: High 78°F. Mostly sunny and comfortable.
