Wind damage to Pierre the Voyageur, in Two Harbors.
Image credit: Adelle Whitefoot &Lake County News-Chronicle, via Duluth News Tribune
Intense winds swept across Minnesota and persisted for over 36 hours during March 7th and 8th, 2017, following the passage of a strong cold front associated with an unusually deep low pressure system.
Sustained winds of 30-40 mph were common across the state, with dozens of stations recording gusts in excess of 50 mph. Grand Marais, on the north shore of Lake Superior, recorded a 66 mph gust during the afternoon of the 7th. The Minneapolis International Airport clocked a 60 mph gust during the morning of 8th, tying it for the strongest March wind gust on record for the Twin Cities, back to 1896.
The relentless winds resulted in scattered, mostly minor damage. The US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis lost some siding panels, homeowners reported losing shingles, and the large statue of Pierre the Voyageur that stands over Two Harbors lost its right arm and paddle.
The winds resulted from the same low pressure system that had produced Minnesota's earliest tornadoes on record on March 6th. As the cold front passed, the warm and stormy conditions moved out, and the strengthening system began driving high winds across the state.
Episodes of strong regional winds often accompany intense low pressure systems, occasionally with far greater impacts. Ferocious winds associated with one such system in October of 1949 produced tornado-like results across Minnesota.
Below are Public Information Statements from the National Weather Service, containing maximum wind gust details from March 7-8, 2017.
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
105 PM CST Wed Mar 8 2017
...Wind Reports...
Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon
Fairmont AP 63 MPH 0413 PM 03/07 43.64N/94.42W
Belgrade 3ESE 62 MPH 0435 PM 03/07 45.43N/94.93W
Starbuck 8SSW 61 MPH 0950 PM 03/07 45.49N/95.56W
Ellendale 5NNE 61 MPH 0251 AM 03/08 43.95N/93.27W
Minneapolis-St. Paul AP-MSP 60 MPH 0726 AM 03/08 44.88N/93.23W
St. Paul Dwtn AP 60 MPH 0759 AM 03/08 44.93N/93.06W
Canby AP 58 MPH 0614 PM 03/07 44.73N/96.27W
Crystal AP 58 MPH 0301 PM 03/07 45.06N/93.35W
Clearwater 1SE 58 MPH 0435 PM 03/07 45.39N/94.03W
Richfield 2WSW 57 MPH 1150 PM 03/07 44.86N/93.32W
Sauk Centre 2SE 57 MPH 0835 PM 03/07 45.71N/94.93W
Clara City 2WSW 57 MPH 1210 AM 03/08 44.95N/95.41W
Harding 3WNW 57 MPH 0540 PM 03/07 46.14N/94.10W
Marietta 5SSW 57 MPH 0420 PM 03/07 44.94N/96.44W
Alexandria AP 56 MPH 1235 AM 03/08 45.87N/95.39W
Robbinsdale 56 MPH 0612 AM 03/08 45.02N/93.35W
Maple Lake 2SSW 56 MPH 0226 PM 03/07 45.20N/94.02W
Minnesota Lake 56 MPH 0510 PM 03/06 43.84N/93.84W
Isanti 2NNW 56 MPH 1003 PM 03/07 45.52N/93.27W
Eden Prairie AP (Flyg Cloud) 56 MPH 0101 AM 03/08 44.83N/93.46W
Paynesville AP 56 MPH 0352 PM 03/07 45.37N/94.75W
Redwood Falls AP 56 MPH 0101 AM 03/08 44.55N/95.08W
St. Cloud AP 56 MPH 0944 PM 03/07 45.54N/94.05W
Granite Ledge 7N 55 MPH 0358 AM 03/08 45.90N/93.85W
Sauk Centre AP 55 MPH 0932 PM 03/07 45.71N/94.93W
Eau Claire AP 55 MPH 0803 AM 03/08 44.87N/91.49W
Cannon Falls 7SSE 55 MPH 1030 PM 03/07 44.41N/92.86W
Osceola AP 55 MPH 0235 AM 03/08 45.31N/92.69W
Appleton AP 54 MPH 1035 PM 03/07 45.23N/96.00W
Benson AP 54 MPH 0253 PM 03/07 45.33N/95.66W
Coon Rapids 2ESE 54 MPH 0340 PM 03/07 45.16N/93.27W
Rogers 2NNE 54 MPH 0215 PM 03/07 45.23N/93.54W
Glenwood AP 54 MPH 0154 AM 03/08 45.64N/95.32W
Mora AP 54 MPH 0236 AM 03/08 45.90N/93.27W
Winthrop 2W 54 MPH 0800 AM 03/08 44.54N/94.41W
Morris AP 54 MPH 0933 PM 03/07 45.57N/95.99W
New Richmond AP 54 MPH 0615 AM 03/08 45.15N/92.54W
Stanton AP 54 MPH 0754 AM 03/08 44.48N/93.02W
Cumberland AP 54 MPH 0435 AM 03/08 45.50N/91.98W
Lake Elmo AP 53 MPH 0552 AM 03/08 45.00N/92.85W
Colfax 7ESE 53 MPH 0822 AM 03/08 44.96N/91.59W
Willmar AP 53 MPH 0255 PM 03/07 45.12N/95.08W
2 SSW Eau Claire 53 MPH 0734 AM 03/08 44.79N/91.52W
Granite Falls AP 53 MPH 1232 AM 03/08 44.75N/95.56W
Little Falls AP 53 MPH 0732 PM 03/07 45.95N/94.35W
Twin Lakes 5SE 53 MPH 0610 PM 03/06 43.51N/93.35W
Red Wing 4W 53 MPH 1250 AM 03/08 44.60N/92.70W
Rice 1NNW 53 MPH 0121 PM 03/07 45.77N/94.23W
Olivia AP 53 MPH 0553 AM 03/08 44.78N/95.03W
Owatonna AP 53 MPH 1255 AM 03/08 44.12N/93.26W
Long Prairie AP 52 MPH 0736 PM 03/07 45.90N/94.87W
Blaine AP 52 MPH 0354 AM 03/08 45.15N/93.21W
Mora 1ENE 52 MPH 0308 PM 03/07 45.89N/93.27W
Alexandria 2SSE 52 MPH 1230 AM 03/08 45.84N/95.37W
Red Wing AP 52 MPH 0355 AM 03/08 44.59N/92.50W
Prior Lake 2WSW 51 MPH 0229 PM 03/07 44.71N/93.46W
Santiago 3E 51 MPH 0420 PM 03/07 45.53N/93.75W
Victoria 1WSW 51 MPH 1248 PM 03/08 44.86N/93.69W
Faribault AP 51 MPH 0434 AM 03/08 44.32N/93.31W
Litchfield 3S 51 MPH 0411 PM 03/07 45.07N/94.53W
Menomonie AP 51 MPH 0815 AM 03/08 44.89N/91.88W
Mankato AP 51 MPH 1114 PM 03/07 44.22N/93.92W
Hanley Falls 51 MPH 1200 AM 03/08 44.69N/95.61W
Waseca 1SSE 51 MPH 0516 PM 03/07 44.06N/93.49W
Henderson 4ENE 51 MPH 0912 AM 03/08 44.57N/93.84W
Milaca 8N 51 MPH 0415 PM 03/07 45.88N/93.66W
New Prague 2W 51 MPH 0620 AM 03/08 44.54N/93.62W
Rice Lake AP 51 MPH 0235 AM 03/07 45.43N/91.77W
New Ulm AP 51 MPH 0753 AM 03/08 44.32N/94.50W
Blue Earth 2NW 50 MPH 0235 AM 03/08 43.66N/94.12W
New Germany 1NW 50 MPH 0600 PM 03/07 44.91N/93.99W
Waseca AP 49 MPH 0834 AM 03/08 44.07N/93.55W
Cambridge AP 49 MPH 1235 AM 03/08 45.56N/93.27W
Madison AP 49 MPH 0955 PM 03/07 45.00N/96.18W
Osceola 1NE 49 MPH 0907 PM 03/07 45.34N/92.67W
Glencoe AP 49 MPH 0416 AM 03/08 44.76N/94.08W
Lakeville AP 49 MPH 0813 AM 03/08 44.63N/93.23W
Silver Lake 3E 49 MPH 0211 PM 03/07 44.91N/94.12W
Madelia 3ENE 49 MPH 1240 PM 03/06 44.08N/94.37W
Prior Lake 48 MPH 1240 AM 03/08 44.74N/93.44W
Branch 8ENE 48 MPH 0420 PM 03/07 45.55N/92.80W
St. Bonifacius 4ENE 48 MPH 1118 PM 03/07 44.94N/93.68W
St. James AP 48 MPH 0234 AM 03/08 43.99N/94.56W
Little Falls 2SSE 48 MPH 0607 AM 03/08 45.95N/94.34W
Maple Lake AP 48 MPH 0533 PM 03/07 45.25N/94.00W
Mayer 1NE 48 MPH 0220 PM 03/07 44.91N/93.87W
Montevideo AP 48 MPH 0532 PM 03/07 44.98N/95.71W
Princeton AP 48 MPH 0834 AM 03/08 45.56N/93.61W
Minnetonka 47 MPH 0741 AM 03/08 44.92N/93.47W
Buffalo AP 47 MPH 0734 AM 03/08 45.16N/93.84W
Loretto 2NW 47 MPH 1022 PM 03/07 45.08N/93.66W
Hutchinson AP 47 MPH 0853 AM 03/08 44.86N/94.38W
Harris 2N 47 MPH 0820 PM 03/07 45.64N/92.99W
Carver 3S 47 MPH 1249 AM 03/08 44.72N/93.64W
Bock 3WNW 46 MPH 0354 PM 03/07 45.81N/93.61W
Wyoming 6WSW 46 MPH 0206 AM 03/08 45.30N/93.10W
Tony AP (Rusk County) 46 MPH 1235 AM 03/08 45.50N/91.00W
Rush City AP 46 MPH 0334 PM 03/07 45.70N/92.95W
South St. Paul AP 46 MPH 0254 PM 03/07 44.86N/93.03W
Chetek AP 46 MPH 0335 PM 03/07 45.31N/91.64W
Cottage Grove 1ESE 45 MPH 0107 AM 03/08 44.80N/92.90W
Zumbrota 45 MPH 0757 AM 03/08 44.30N/92.68W
Spring Valley 1SSW 45 MPH 0152 AM 03/08 44.83N/92.25W
Bloomington 3W 45 MPH 0403 PM 03/07 44.83N/93.39W
Dundas 5WNW 45 MPH 0605 PM 03/06 44.48N/93.29W
Foley 6WSW 45 MPH 0210 PM 03/07 45.62N/94.02W
Skyline 45 MPH 0500 PM 03/06 44.15N/94.03W
Willmar 2ENE 44 MPH 0435 PM 03/07 45.15N/95.01W
Foreston 1WNW 44 MPH 0328 AM 03/08 45.75N/93.74W
Litchfield AP 44 MPH 0333 PM 03/07 45.10N/94.51W
Albert Lea AP 43 MPH 0252 AM 03/08 43.68N/93.37W
Avon 4ESE 43 MPH 0603 AM 03/08 45.58N/94.39W
Sauk Rapids 4E 43 MPH 0818 PM 03/07 45.61N/94.07W
Easton 3SSE 43 MPH 0158 PM 03/07 43.72N/93.89W
Burnsville 2NNW 43 MPH 1145 PM 03/07 44.80N/93.29W
Searles 5SE 42 MPH 0101 PM 03/06 44.17N/94.38W
Hastings 2N 41 MPH 0310 PM 03/07 44.76N/92.85W
French Lake 41 MPH 0228 PM 03/07 45.20N/94.20W
Springfield 1NW 41 MPH 1256 PM 03/06 44.26N/94.99W
Tilden 7NE 41 MPH 0508 PM 03/07 45.08N/91.33W
Prior Lake 1W 41 MPH 1130 PM 03/07 44.73N/93.46W
Gordonsville (Shell Crk) 41 MPH 0400 AM 03/08 43.51N/93.27W
Augusta 1NW 40 MPH 0305 AM 03/08 44.70N/91.13W
Northfield 2WNW 40 MPH 0139 PM 03/07 44.47N/93.21W
Roseville 2ESE 40 MPH 0147 PM 03/07 45.00N/93.12W
Lakeville 1N 40 MPH 0822 AM 03/08 44.87N/93.34W
Jordan 6E 40 MPH 0747 AM 03/08 44.66N/93.52W
Big Lake 2SSE 40 MPH 0439 PM 03/07 45.30N/93.73W
St. Louis Park 1E 40 MPH 0555 AM 03/08 44.95N/93.33W
Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Duluth MN
512 AM CST Wed Mar 8 2017
...STRONG WINDS ACROSS THE NORTHLAND...
...Peak Winds Early This Morning...
This following are the strongest wind gusts recorded between 2:00am
and 5:00am Wednesday morning across the Northland.
Location Speed Time/Date
2 SE Bayfield 54 MPH 0412 AM 03/08
Ashland Airport 52 MPH 0250 AM 03/08
2 SW Proctor 50 MPH 0240 AM 03/08
Sky Harbor Airport 49 MPH 0255 AM 03/08
Two Harbors 49 MPH 0413 AM 03/08
Phillips 47 MPH 0335 AM 03/08
Silver Bay Marine 46 MPH 0240 AM 03/08
The Bay Of Grand Marais 45 MPH 0241 AM 03/08
3 W Clam Lake 44 MPH 0335 AM 03/08
Northome 44 MPH 0458 AM 03/08
Siren 44 MPH 0210 AM 03/08
Walker Airport 44 MPH 0435 AM 03/08
1 E Duluth 43 MPH 0218 AM 03/08
5 E Hibbing 42 MPH 0407 AM 03/08
1 SSW Jacobson 42 MPH 0406 AM 03/08
2 W Schley 42 MPH 0345 AM 03/08
Aitkin Airport 41 MPH 0312 AM 03/08
2 W Woodrow 41 MPH 0306 AM 03/08
Eveleth-Virginia Airport 41 MPH 0454 AM 03/08
Superior Airport 41 MPH 0255 AM 03/08
Glidden Raws 40 MPH 0300 AM 03/08
...Peak Winds Since Tuesday...
The following reports represent the strongest wind gusts across the
Northland over the past 24 hours.
Location Speed Time/Date
The Bay Of Grand Marais 66 MPH 0330 PM 03/07
Devils Island 63 MPH 1100 PM 03/07
Silver Bay Marine 62 MPH 0240 PM 03/07
Duluth Airport 60 MPH 0523 PM 03/07
Ashland Airport 59 MPH 0220 PM 03/07
11 SSE Brule 57 MPH 0506 PM 03/07
1 WSW Virginia 57 MPH 0320 PM 03/07
1 E Duluth 56 MPH 1136 PM 03/07
International Falls 56 MPH 0432 PM 03/07
Brainerd Airport 55 MPH 0940 PM 03/07
Hayward RAWS 55 MPH 0203 AM 03/08
2 SW Proctor 55 MPH 0420 PM 03/07
2 SE Bayfield 54 MPH 0412 AM 03/08
7 WNW Minong 54 MPH 0303 PM 03/07
5 E Hibbing 53 MPH 0507 PM 03/07
3 W Clam Lake 52 MPH 0249 PM 03/07
Sky Harbor Airport 52 MPH 0155 PM 03/07
Hayward Airport 52 MPH 0129 AM 03/08
Duluth RWIS 51 MPH 0150 PM 03/07
Walker Airport 51 MPH 0815 PM 03/07
1 N Port Wing 50 MPH 0140 PM 03/07
2 W Woodrow 49 MPH 0806 PM 03/07
Cloquet 49 MPH 0415 PM 03/07
Northome 49 MPH 0655 PM 03/07
Siren 49 MPH 0350 PM 03/07
Superior Airport 49 MPH 0235 PM 03/07
Two Harbors 49 MPH 0413 AM 03/08
Washburn RAWS 49 MPH 0502 PM 03/07
Phillips 48 MPH 0635 AM 03/07
Makinen 47 MPH 0445 PM 03/07
2 NNE Bigfork 47 MPH 0807 PM 03/07
7 E Effie 47 MPH 0730 PM 03/07
2 S Chisholm 47 MPH 0745 PM 03/07
1 SW Saginaw 47 MPH 0708 PM 03/07
Ely 46 MPH 1053 AM 03/07
Eveleth-Virginia Airport 46 MPH 0514 PM 03/07
Chisholm-Hibbing Airport 46 MPH 0256 PM 03/07
Aitkin Airport 45 MPH 0933 PM 03/07
Cook 45 MPH 0816 PM 03/07
Bayfield 45 MPH 0412 PM 03/07
Bigfork 45 MPH 0212 PM 03/07
3 ENE Margie 45 MPH 0130 PM 03/07
1 W Bayfield 44 MPH 0422 PM 03/07
Silver Bay 44 MPH 0634 PM 03/07
5 S Ely 44 MPH 1104 AM 03/07
5 NW Ash Lake 44 MPH 1105 AM 03/07
6 ESE Cloverdale 44 MPH 0315 PM 03/07
5 E Seagull Lake 44 MPH 0604 PM 03/07
Grand Rapids Airport 43 MPH 0921 PM 03/07
2 NNW Cotton 43 MPH 1010 PM 03/07
3 WNW Twig 43 MPH 1136 PM 03/07
Moose Lake Airport 43 MPH 1119 PM 03/07
12 ENE Fifield 43 MPH 0647 PM 03/07
4 S Emily 42 MPH 0206 PM 03/07
1 SSW Jacobson 42 MPH 0406 AM 03/08
2 W Schley 42 MPH 0345 AM 03/08
Crane Lake 41 MPH 0314 PM 03/07
5 WSW Spirit 41 MPH 1005 PM 03/07
Robinson 41 MPH 0620 PM 03/07
1 E Birchdale 41 MPH 1200 PM 03/07
Dads Corner 41 MPH 0345 PM 03/07
Rice Lake N.W.R. 41 MPH 0352 PM 03/07
Cass Lake DNR 40 MPH 0201 PM 03/07
Walker 40 MPH 0734 PM 03/07
Glidden Raws 40 MPH 0300 AM 03/08
1 S Hill City 40 MPH 0407 PM 03/07
McGregor Airport 40 MPH 0355 PM 03/07
Littlefork RAWS 40 MPH 0408 PM 03/07
3 NE Randall 40 MPH 0406 PM 03/07
2 SW Moose Lake 40 MPH 1108 PM 03/07
Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
836 AM CST Wed Mar 8 2017
...Highest Wind Reports for March 7-8, 2017...
Location Speed Time/Date
Gwinner ND (APT) 66 MPH 0415 PM 03/07
Devils Lake ND (APT) 64 MPH 1129 AM 03/07
Fargo ND (APT) 62 MPH 0537 PM 03/07
Rothsay MN (DOT) 62 MPH 0540 PM 03/07
Cooperstown ND (APT) 62 MPH 0235 PM 03/07
Wahpeton ND (APT) 61 MPH 0615 PM 03/07
Grafton ND (APT) 61 MPH 0855 PM 03/07
Grand Forks ND (APT) 61 MPH 0511 PM 03/07
Park Rapids MN (APT) 61 MPH 1236 AM 03/08
Mahnomen MN (APT) 60 MPH 0715 PM 03/07
E Grand Forks MN (DOT) 59 MPH 0505 PM 03/07
Grand Forks ND (AFB) 59 MPH 0420 PM 03/07
Dilworth MN (DOT) 58 MPH 0340 AM 03/08
Tenney MN (DOT) 58 MPH 0650 PM 03/07
Staples MN (APT) 58 MPH 1153 PM 03/07
Mcleod ND 3 N 58 MPH 1049 PM 03/07
Lake Park MN (DOT) 57 MPH 1120 PM 03/07
Brooks MN (DOT) 57 MPH 0635 PM 03/07
Mahnomen MN (DOT) 56 MPH 1035 PM 03/07
Hendrum MN (DOT) 56 MPH 0926 AM 03/07
Thief R Falls MN (APT) 56 MPH 0426 PM 03/07
Elbow Lake MN (APT) 56 MPH 0319 PM 03/07
Crookston MN (APT) 55 MPH 1214 AM 03/08
Ottertail MN (DOT) 55 MPH 0435 AM 03/08
Walhalla ND (APT) 54 MPH 0915 PM 03/07
Fergus Falls MN (APT) 54 MPH 0634 PM 03/07
Detroit Lakes MN (DNR) 53 MPH 0320 AM 03/08
Moorhead MN (APT) 53 MPH 1034 PM 03/07
Donaldson MN (DOT) 53 MPH 0710 PM 03/07
Verndale MN (DOT) 53 MPH 1135 PM 03/07
Fosston MN (APT) 52 MPH 0933 PM 03/07
Gatzke MN 2 ENE 52 MPH 0450 PM 03/07
Detroit Lakes MN (APT) 51 MPH 1133 PM 03/07
Badger MN (DOT) 50 MPH 0131 PM 03/07
Wadena MN (APT) 49 MPH 1135 PM 03/07
Flag Island MN 49 MPH 0413 PM 03/07
Hallock MN (APT) 49 MPH 0854 PM 03/07
Karlstad MN (DNR) 49 MPH 0506 PM 03/07
Gatzke MN 9 SW (DNR) 48 MPH 0920 PM 03/07
Baudette MN (APT) 48 MPH 0227 PM 03/07
St Vincent MN (DOT) 48 MPH 0915 AM 03/07
Roseau MN (DNR) 48 MPH 0208 PM 03/07
Waskish MN (APT) 48 MPH 0352 PM 03/07
Bemidji MN (APT) 47 MPH 1253 AM 03/08
Chamberlain MN (DOT) 47 MPH 0735 PM 03/07
Warroad MN (APT) 46 MPH 0134 PM 03/07
Ponsford MN 10 N 45 MPH 1203 AM 03/08
Badoura MN (DNR) 45 MPH 0306 AM 03/08
Kelliher MN (DNR) 45 MPH 0607 PM 03/07
Roseau MN (APT) 45 MPH 0534 PM 03/07
Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.
Last modified: March 9, 2017
For more information contact: [email protected]