Severe Storms: July 31, 2008

A severe line of thunderstorms moved swiftly into Minnesota from South Dakota during the morning hours of July 31, 2008. The heaviest storms moved to the south east and roughly followed the Minnesota River. The main damage from these storms was due to the strong winds. One of the stronger wind gusts reported in Minnesotas was 86 mph at the Madison Airport in Lac Qui Parle County. there were many reports of tree damage. A semi truck was blown over in Appleton in Swift County. A large building that was under construction in Swift County was destroyed. Farther to the east, the winds blew down some of the Minnesota Vikings training camp tents in Mankato. By lunchtime the storms had moved out of Minnesota and into Wisconsin and Illinois. By 3pm the derecho had reached Chicago.

Below are local storm reports courtesy the National Weather Service.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
148 PM CDT THU JUL 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0520 AM     HAIL             8 NE MONTEVIDEO         45.03N 95.60W
07/31/2008  M1.75 INCH       CHIPPEWA           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0550 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 NW MADISON            45.04N 96.25W
07/31/2008  E70.00 MPH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREE DAMAGE. 60 TO 70 MPH WIND GUSTS.

0555 AM     HAIL             5 NW MADISON            45.06N 96.26W
07/31/2008  M0.75 INCH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 AM     TSTM WND DMG     5 NW MADISON            45.06N 96.26W
07/31/2008                   LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TOPS BROKEN OFF TREES

0602 AM     HAIL             DAWSON                  44.93N 96.05W
07/31/2008  E0.75 INCH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0610 AM     HAIL             S BOYD                  44.85N 95.90W
07/31/2008  M0.75 INCH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 50 TO 60 MPH WIND GUST.

0610 AM     TSTM WND DMG     APPLETON                45.20N 96.02W
07/31/2008                   SWIFT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED AT 80 MPH. MANY LARGE TREES DOWN AND
            A SEMI TRUCK BLOWN OVER.

0610 AM     HAIL             4 W MONTEVIDEO          44.95N 95.80W
07/31/2008  M1.75 INCH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0610 AM     TSTM WND DMG     DAWSON                  44.93N 96.05W
07/31/2008                   LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MANY LARGE TREES TOPPLED ACROSS TOWN, ALONG WITH LARGE
            BRANCHES. SEVERAL LARGE TREES ALSO REPORTED DOWNED OVER
            LOCAL ROADS.

0613 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 SSE MADISON           44.99N 96.18W
07/31/2008  M86.00 MPH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   AWOS

0615 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MADISON                 45.01N 96.19W
07/31/2008                   LAC QUI PARLE      MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            WOOD FENCE SNAPPED AND TIN ROOF DAMAGED AT RADIO STATION.
            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AROUND TOWN...MANY ROADS BLOCKED.
            FLAG POLE DOWN. POWER LINES DOWN. ROAD SIGNS DOWN.

0615 AM     TSTM WND DMG     APPLETON                45.20N 96.02W
07/31/2008                   SWIFT              MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES DOWN IN TOWN.

0615 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WSW BIG BEND CITY     45.14N 95.86W
07/31/2008                   CHIPPEWA           MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

            TOP OF 18 INCH DIAMETER TREE SNAPPED OFF. CORN FIELD
            FLATTENED.

0615 AM     HAIL             5 N DANUBE              44.86N 95.10W
07/31/2008  M1.00 INCH       RENVILLE           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0615 AM     TSTM WND GST     ESE APPLETON            45.20N 96.02W
07/31/2008  E70.00 MPH       SWIFT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WINDOWS BREAKING.

0616 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MADISON                 45.01N 96.19W
07/31/2008                   LAC QUI PARLE      MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            10 INCH TREE DOWN

0620 AM     HAIL             1 N DANUBE              44.81N 95.10W
07/31/2008  M1.00 INCH       RENVILLE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0637 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MADISON                 45.01N 96.19W
07/31/2008                   LAC QUI PARLE      MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            UPROOTED TREES. LIGHT TOWER BEND OVER AT BASEBALL FIELD.


0650 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W MONTEVIDEO          44.95N 95.80W
07/31/2008                   LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WIND SPEED ESTIMATED AT 60-70 MPH WITH TREES DOWN AND
            QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0650 AM     TSTM WND DMG     OLIVIA                  44.78N 95.00W
07/31/2008                   RENVILLE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE TREES DOWN BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN.

0654 AM     TSTM WND GST     WABASSO                 44.40N 95.25W
07/31/2008  M51.00 MPH       REDWOOD            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     TSTM WND DMG     12 NW MURDOCK           45.35N 95.57W
07/31/2008                   SWIFT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            130 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BUILDING//UNDER CONSTRUCTION//
            DESTROYED.

0703 AM     TSTM WND DMG     RAYMOND                 45.02N 95.24W
07/31/2008                   KANDIYOHI          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0710 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N MORGAN              44.46N 94.92W
07/31/2008                   REDWOOD            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TURKEY BARN ROOF BLOWN OFF.

0711 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PRINSBURG               44.94N 95.19W
07/31/2008                   KANDIYOHI          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0713 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 E PRINSBURG           44.94N 95.10W
07/31/2008                   KANDIYOHI          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0716 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BLOMKEST                44.94N 95.02W
07/31/2008                   KANDIYOHI          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0716 AM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SSE CLARA CITY        44.89N 95.31W
07/31/2008                   CHIPPEWA           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MANY TREES DOWN OR BROAKEN OFF

0720 AM     TSTM WND GST     RAYMOND                 45.02N 95.24W
07/31/2008  E60.00 MPH       KANDIYOHI          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0720 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LAKE LILLIAN            44.95N 94.88W
07/31/2008                   KANDIYOHI          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0723 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 SSE RENVILLE          44.78N 95.20W
07/31/2008  M75.00 MPH       RENVILLE           MN   MESONET

            WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

0727 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 W LITCHFIELD          45.12N 94.59W
07/31/2008                   MEEKER             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL DROPPED BRIEFLY THEN WENT BACK UP.

0730 AM     TSTM WND DMG     5 W OLIVIA              44.79N 95.11W
07/31/2008                   RENVILLE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ONE FOOT DIAMETER TREES DOWN.

0734 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 W NEW ULM             44.32N 94.52W
07/31/2008  M68.00 MPH       BROWN              MN   AWOS

            AIRPORT.

0736 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 W WINTHROP            44.54N 94.41W
07/31/2008  M60.00 MPH       SIBLEY             MN   MESONET

            MNDOT.

0742 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 N GAYLORD             44.61N 94.22W
07/31/2008  M67.00 MPH       SIBLEY             MN   STORM CHASER

0750 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 ESE NEW SWEDEN        44.45N 94.16W
07/31/2008                   NICOLLET           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ARM SIZE BRANCHES BROKEN OFF.

0754 AM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW ULM                 44.31N 94.46W
07/31/2008                   BROWN              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES BLOWN DOWN.

0804 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 NNW GREENLAND         44.26N 93.75W
07/31/2008  M65.00 MPH       LE SUEUR           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ELYSIAN WEATHER STATION.

0807 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MANKATO                 44.17N 93.99W
07/31/2008                   BLUE EARTH         MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            4 INCH BRANCHES, 6 TO 10 INCH TREES BLOWN DOWN.

0807 AM     TSTM WND GST     NNE LE CENTER           44.39N 93.73W
07/31/2008  M84.00 MPH       LE SUEUR           MN   MESONET

            LE CENTER HIGH SCHOOL.

0814 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MANKATO                 44.17N 93.99W
07/31/2008                   BLUE EARTH         MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES REPORTED DOWN AROUND MANKATO.

0816 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 W MORRISTOWN          44.22N 93.53W
07/31/2008  M58.00 MPH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN NEAR HWY 60.

0820 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     HOWARD LAKE             45.06N 94.07W
07/31/2008                   WRIGHT             MN   PUBLIC

            CITIZEN REPORT...NOT CONFIRMED.

0823 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S MORRISTOWN          44.21N 93.44W
07/31/2008                   RICE               MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            LARGE HAY BALES BLOWN ACROSS ROAD. 18 INCH DIAMETER TREE
            BLOWN DOWN.

0824 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST REDWOOD FALLS           44.54N 95.11W
07/31/2008  M59.00 MPH       REDWOOD            MN   ASOS

0830 AM     HAIL             2 N FREEBORN            43.80N 93.56W
07/31/2008  M0.75 INCH       FREEBORN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 50 MPH WIND GUST.

0830 AM     TSTM WND DMG     OWATONNA                44.09N 93.22W
07/31/2008                   STEELE             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE TREES DOWN IN CENTRAL PARK. MINOR STREET FLOODING.
            PORT-O-POTTY BLOWN 20 FEET. SMALL TO MEDIUM LIMBS ON
            GROUND...DEBRIS EVERYWHERE.

0833 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 N MORRISTOWN          44.28N 93.44W
07/31/2008  M58.00 MPH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0835 AM     TSTM WND GST     OWATONNA                44.09N 93.22W
07/31/2008  M72.00 MPH       STEELE             MN   AWOS

            AIRPORT.

0836 AM     TSTM WND DMG     5 S FARIBAULT           44.22N 93.27W
07/31/2008                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEMI TRUCK BLOWN OVER ON I-35.

0836 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MANKATO                 44.17N 93.99W
07/31/2008                   BLUE EARTH         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MN VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP TENTS AND CROWD CONTROL FENCES
            ALL BLOWN DOWN. 8 INCH DIAMETER LIMB OFF TREE...ON MSMU
            CAMPUS. SEVERAL OTHER 2 TO 4 INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES.
            POWER OUT IN SOME AREAS...NEAR CAMPUS.

0838 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 N MORRISTOWN          44.28N 93.44W
07/31/2008  M68.00 MPH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CEDAR LAKE.

0838 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 W MORRISTOWN          44.22N 93.46W
07/31/2008  M61.00 MPH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            30 FOOT PINE TREE UPROOTED. 18 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN.

0840 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N MANCHESTER          43.74N 93.45W
07/31/2008                   FREEBORN           MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            8 INCH DIAMETER BRANCH DOWN.

0840 AM     TSTM WND DMG     OWATONNA                44.09N 93.22W
07/31/2008                   STEELE             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            ONE 6 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN. ONE 12 TO 18 IBCH DIAMETER
            TREE DOWN.

0840 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MEDFORD                 44.17N 93.24W
07/31/2008                   STEELE             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            MULTIPLE TREES UP TO 24 INCH DIAMETER BLOWN DOWN IN TOWN
            ROADS BLOCKED. HARDWOODS SNAPPED OFF AT 6 FEET OFF
            GROUND...PINES ARE UPROOTED.

0840 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BLOOMING PRAIRIE        43.87N 93.05W
07/31/2008                   STEELE             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SMALL TREE DOWN...MANY BRANCHES AND OTHER DEBRIS ON
            LAWNS.



PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
125 PM CDT THU JUL 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0852 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 W DODGE CENTER        44.03N 92.87W
07/31/2008  M84.00 MPH       DODGE              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0852 AM     TSTM WND GST     WEST CONCORD            44.15N 92.90W
07/31/2008  M60.00 MPH       DODGE              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0855 AM     TSTM WND GST     WEST CONCORD            44.15N 92.90W
07/31/2008  M50.00 MPH       DODGE              MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0855 AM     TSTM WND GST     DODGE CENTER            44.03N 92.85W
07/31/2008  M63.00 MPH       DODGE              MN   AWOS

0858 AM     TSTM WND GST     BYRON                   44.03N 92.65W
07/31/2008  M54.00 MPH       OLMSTED            MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0925 AM     TSTM WND DMG     SPRING VALLEY           43.69N 92.39W
07/31/2008                   FILLMORE           MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREE DOWN

0940 AM     TSTM WND GST     ROCHESTER               44.01N 92.48W
07/31/2008  M61.00 MPH       OLMSTED            MN   ASOS

1055 AM     TSTM WND GST     PRAIRIE DU CHIEN        43.04N 91.14W
07/31/2008  M60.00 MPH       CRAWFORD           WI   AWOS

1100 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 S LYNXVILLE           43.20N 91.05W
07/31/2008  M53.00 MPH       CRAWFORD           WI   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

1110 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PRAIRIE DU CHIEN        43.04N 91.14W
07/31/2008                   CRAWFORD           WI   EMERGENCY MNGR

            1 TELEPHONE POLE DOWN ALONG WITH TREE BRANCHES.

1124 AM     TSTM WND GST     LANCASTER               42.85N 90.71W
07/31/2008  E60.00 MPH       GRANT              WI   PUBLIC

            TREE BLOWN ONTO HOME BUT NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

1139 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PLATTEVILLE             42.74N 90.48W
07/31/2008                   GRANT              WI   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN TOWN.


Last modified: July 21, 2008
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