Web Portal Changes: The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) hosted at https://water.weather.gov will be replaced by the National Water Prediction Service (NWPS), with a target of March 2024. Existing AHPS content and features will be preserved and expanded within NWPS.

Experimental National Water Center Products: The National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, and Flood Hazard Outlook, and real-time geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model forecasts, continue to be accessible via https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations, as described in the StoryMap here.

Weather Forecast Office La Crosse, WI

North Central River Forecast Center

Air Quality Alert

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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Probability Information Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period Short-term Probabilistic Guidance (Experimental)

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Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (CDT) Datum: Not Available Metadata

NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. NOTE: Forecasts for the Mississippi River at Winona Dam 5a are issued routinely during the warm season, and as needed at other times of the year.

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Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 661 Moderate Flood Stage: 659 Flood Stage: 655 Action Stage: 650 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 663.35 ft on 04/19/1965 (2) 661.95 ft on 04/17/2001 (3) 661.60 ft on 04/11/1997 (4) 661.37 ft on 04/19/1969 (5) 660.51 ft on 04/26/2023 (P) Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 660.51 ft on 04/26/2023 (P) (2) 656.55 ft on 05/25/2019 (3) 658.75 ft on 04/03/2019 (4) 657.00 ft on 07/02/2014 (5) 658.17 ft on 04/15/2011 Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records (1) 639.65 ft on 08/17/1936 (2) 642.96 ft on 01/27/1944 (3) 643.95 ft on 12/13/1980 Show More Low Water Records For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov. Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers not showing? Why aren't the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers showing on the ESRI Map? Possible reasons: There are no FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers for the location which you are viewing on ESRI Maps. The FEMA Web Mapping Service (WMS) is down. Note: Your zoom level may have changed. ESRI's zoom levels must be between 14 and 16 to show National Flood Hazard layers.

Zoom Level:16 Legend FEMA Layer Gauge Location Disclaimer Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
664	Water reaches the top of the protective earthen levee.
663.35	Water levels reach the flood of record.
663	Lock walls go underwater.
660	Lock and dam 5A closes to navigation.
651	Water begins to impact campsites along river upstream at Merrick State Park.
Photos (1) Downstream view at Winona Dam 5A, September 11th, 2012 (2) Downstream view at Winona Dam 5A, September 11th, 2012

About This Location

Latitude: 44.088300° N, Longitude: 91.669900° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 640.4 ft 655 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps Vertical Datum Elevation (gauge height = 640.4) Elevation (gauge height = flood stage) Elevation information source NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks Other 640.4 ft Not Available U.S. Army Corps of Engineers utilizes the 1912 Datum Current/Historical Observations: Corps of Engineers (COE) Info for Winona Dam 5a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Winona Dam 5a

Additional Information

How low could the river get? Link to text page with Hourly River Stage Level and Water Temperatures

Resources

Hydrologic Resources Text Products Past Precipitation Forecast Precipitation River Forecast Centers River Stage Summary Inundation Mapping Locations

Additional Resources Area Hydrographs NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting AHPS Iframes for Developers Mobile iNWS for emergency management Snow Information

Collaborative Agencies The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here. NWS Information National Weather Service La Crosse Weather Forecast Office N2788 County Rd FA La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 784-7294 Ask Questions/Webmaster Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:29 PM Disclaimer Credits Glossary Privacy Policy About Us Career Opportunities