Excessive Heat — Crawford, Wisconsin

2023-08-22 to 2023-08-24 · Crawford, Wisconsin

Event narrative

The combination of anomalously high temperatures and humidity on Tuesday, August 22nd and Wednesday, August 23rd resulted in maximum heat indices of 98 to 115 degrees across Crawford County. The maximum heat index reached 106 degrees on Tuesday in De Soto and 115 degrees on Wednesday at the automated weather observation station in Prairie Du Chien.

Wider weather episode

While parts of the 2023 summer had warm to hot temperatures, it took until mid to late August for the combination of hot temperatures and higher humidity levels to build a heat wave. Excessive heat advisories and warnings were initially issued on Tuesday, August 22nd and lasted through Thursday, August 24th. Heat indices reached and exceeded 100 degrees each day, with overall highest heat indices occurring on Wednesday, August 23rd. During this time, maximum daytime heat indices reached 120 degrees in southwest Wisconsin at Fennimore (Grant County), Lancaster (Grant County), and the City of La Crosse (La Crosse County). Many sites from western into central Wisconsin recorded heat indices of 100 to 120 degrees over the three days from August 22nd to August 24th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1138563. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.