WKBT Bill Graul

My wife's coworker found this at an antique store in La Crosse.
I'm not really sure how to feel about this. 🤷🤣

(June 3, 2025): 25 years! Happy silver anniversary to my beautiful bride, Christy! 💕

We will always have the great story about meeting at our college summer jobs, which was a bungee jumping operation.
We instantly "fell" for each other and "jumped" right into a relationship. 😉😁

I'm looking forward to many many more adventures! 👍

One thing wildfire smoke does is create some interesting (and often times pretty) sunsets and moonsets. 👀☀️🌙
Thanks to Jeff Boyne for the photos, taken in West Salem, WI.
Please feel free to post any photos you've taken in the comments section below. 👍

(9:45 p.m. May 15, 2025): Here's a preliminary list of severe weather reports from the Storm Prediction Center... due to today's storms. Additional reports may be added over the next 12+ hours. (See map below)
🟢= Large hail
🔵= Damaging winds
🔴= Tornadoes
⚫️= Very large hail reports

⛈As expected, the bulk of the severe reports in the Coulee Region and Chippewa Valley were east of the Mississippi River.

🔺Here's a long list of LOCAL storm reports:
*Tornado - 4 SSW Loyal, WI
*Wind Damage/Possible Tornado - 3 NE Colfax, WI

*Numerous reports of VERY large hail (anywhere from 2" to 4" in diameter) in the Altoona, Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls areas.
Hail Size Scale:
2.00" hail - Egg
2.50" hail - Tennis ball
2.75" hail - Baseball
3.00" hail - Apple
4.00" hail - Softball

Scale for additional hail reports below:
1.75" hail - Golf ball
1.50" hail - Ping pong ball
1.00" hail - Quarter

*1.75" hail - Arkdale, WI
*1.75" hail - Adams, WI
*1.75" hail - 3 W Alma Center, WI
*1.50" hail - Near Sextonville, WI
*1.50" hail - 7 S Willard, WI (near Seif, WI)
*1.00" hail - Valley, WI
*1.00" hail - Near Plainville, WI
*1.00" hail - Camp Douglas, WI
*1.00" hail - Elroy, WI
*1.00" hail - Trempealeau, WI
*1.00" hail - Sparta, WI
*1.00" hail - Ithaca, WI
*1.00" hail - Centerville, WI
*1.00" hail - Nelson, WI
*1.00" hail - 5 E Pickwick, MN
*1.00" hail - Winona, MN

⛈There were reports of severe weather in the following counties: Winona, Buffalo, Dunn, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Trempealeau, Jackson, Clark, Monroe, Juneau, Adams and Richland.

✅Please post any photos and/or reports of severe weather in the comments section below. As always, thank you!

(May 15, 2025): Good Thursday morning!
⚠️Here is the latest on the potential for strong to severe storms this afternoon and early evening across the Coulee Region and Chippewa Valley.

⚠️The Storm Prediction Center still has a Level 3 risk of severe weather near and east of the Mississippi River.
I have also included the probability charts from the SPC in the graphics below for strong winds, large hail and tornadoes.

⏰The local timing for the storms looks to be from about 2 to 7 p.m.
It's going to be a rather brief window as these lines of storms will be racing E/NE across the region after they develop.

❓The big question is still exactly where do the lines of storms first fire. Some of the smaller scale models have the storms firing near or just west of the Miss. River... while others don't really fire the storms until they are east of the La Crosse area. (See last 2 graphics below)
Once the storms fire, they will likely rapidly strengthen and this is when they would pose the threat for wind, hail and even some tornadoes. The threat looks to be greater in central and eastern Wisconsin... and into parts of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.

✅Again, the hope is that the storms won't fire until the boundary is east of the La Crosse area... but there is a chance this happens closer to or just west of the Miss. River.
Either way, please make sure you are prepared and stay extra weather aware this afternoon and early evening... just in case.


(Graphics below are courtesy of the SPC, the NWS in La Crosse and Tropical Tidbits)

(May 14, 2025): Good morning everyone!
⚠️Just a heads up that there's a decent chance for strong to severe storms across the region on Thursday afternoon and evening, May 15th.

⚠️The Storm Prediction Center has areas near and east of the Mississippi River in a Level 3 risk, with Level 1 & 2 risks west of the river.

⌚️As of now, the timing window looks to be from about 2 to 8 p.m. as a line of storms is expected to quickly race E/NE across the area.

⚠️The main threats would be large hail and strong winds, but a few tornadoes cannot be fully ruled out.

❓️There is still some uncertainty on the timing of a frontal boundary and the resultant impact on storm formation and strength... so be sure to stay tuned for updates.


(Graphics below courtesy of the SPC and the NWS in La Crosse)

(May 4, 2025): How about a post appreciating our 4-legged and feathered friends?! 🦉🦌🐢🦅🪿

All of the photos are from Jeff Boyne and were taken in the Coulee Region of Wisconsin... except for the 2nd one of the deer relaxing in the shade. I took that photo in Roxborough, CO.

I'd love to see any photos you've taken, please post them in the comments section below. 👍
Happy Spring! 🌷🪻

(May 3, 2025): Attention skywatchers! 👀
If it's clear in your area, look in the western sky and check out Mars hanging out just under the crescent moon. 🌙

Also, farther down and to the right are the 2 bright stars Pollux and Castor. 🌟🌟

The first image below is from EarthSky.org
The photo is my view from my backyard in Littleton, CO. 👍

Went on a great 3.1 mile hike last evening near Deer Creek Canyon... about 15 minutes from the Graul house in Littleton, CO. ⛰️☀️
Hope you all have a great first weekend of May! 🌷🪻👍

(April 29, 2025): After conducting storm surveys today, the NWS has confirmed 4 tornadoes occurred Monday (April 28th) in Eau Claire County, WI. One even started in far northern Buffalo County, WI.

Confirmed tornadoes on Monday evening:
1 - 7:33 PM - 🌪EF-1 tornado (86-110 mph winds) touched down northeast of Mondovi in Buffalo County, then lifted after briefly crossing into southern Eau Claire County. Some structure and tree damage was noted.

2 - 7:48 PM - 🌪EF-1 tornado (86-110 mph winds) briefly touched down just south of Cleghorn & Allen and west of Foster. Multiple pine trees were uprooted and twisted.

3 - 7:57 PM - 🌪EF-0 tornado (65-85 mph winds) occurred near Hale Corner with minor tree and structure damage noted.

4 - 8:07 PM - 🌪EF-1 tornado (86-110 mph winds) touched down south of Augusta and traveled northeast across US-12 before dissipating north of Fairchild. Both structure and tree damage were noted.

I will pass along any additional information the NWS includes as they finalize their damage assessment. 👍

(Photo below is tornado #4, captured SE of Augusta, WI - from Carson Akers)

(April 29, 2025): The bulk of the severe weather reports on Monday were, thankfully, west of the La Crosse area. However, there were some reports in northern portions of the area, including a confirmed tornado in Eau Claire County.

✅️I think the fact the storms became linear (squall line) rather than staying more discrete... and also the later evening into the night timing of the storms (atmosphere becomes more stable)- helped minimize the severe threat in the Coulee Region. 👍

Photos/images below:
1 - Severe reports from the SPC (green is large hail, blue is strong winds and red is tornadoes)
2 - Tornado SE of Augusta, WI - from Carson Akers
3 - Lightning near Lake Neshonoc in West Salem, WI - from Jeff Boyne
4 & 5 - Mammatus clouds in Augusta, WI - from Elliza Ember

Reports:
*Tornado - 10 miles SW of Fall Creek, WI to east of Augusta, WI
*60 mph winds - Withee, WI (Clark Co.)
*1.25" hail - Sidney, WI (Clark Co.)
*1.00" hail - Mazeppa, MN
*0.88" hail - Durand, WI
*0.75" hail - Wilson, WI
*0.70" hail - Zumbro Falls, MN
*0.50" hail - Victory, WI
*0.25" hail - Viroqua, WI

Thank you for sharing your reports and/or photos... and if you have anything to share please, post them in the comments section below. 👍