La Crosse, Wisconsin – A volatile afternoon setup could bring destructive thunderstorms to parts of Wisconsin by mid-afternoon, with the highest impacts expected between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, storms are expected to develop over northeast Iowa and track east into southern Wisconsin during the afternoon. A Level 3 severe risk zone includes areas near Prairie du Chien and Monroe, where large hail exceeding 2 inches, wind gusts up to 70 mph, and a few tornadoes are all possible.
Communities along the I-90 corridor, including La Crosse, Viroqua, and Wisconsin Dells, fall within lower but still notable risk zones, where scattered storms could produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Confidence in storm coverage farther north remains lower, meaning some areas could miss storms entirely while others see intense impacts.
Heavy rain may lead to localized flooding, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Rapid changes in weather conditions could impact travel during the late afternoon and early evening.
Residents are urged to have multiple ways to receive warnings, identify shelter locations ahead of time, and be ready to act quickly if storms approach. The severe threat will diminish after sunset, but additional updates are likely as conditions evolve.
