Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 51, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 11, 1987Redwood County, Renville County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 11, 1987, 10:31 PM CDT for Redwood County, Renville County, Minnesota. It was in force for 44 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 11, 1987, 10:31 PM CDT (03:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 1987, 11:15 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Whole counties

Counties Redwood County, MN, Renville County, MN

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 11, 10:35 PM CDTHail 1Redwood, MN

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 00:00Z, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 123 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1987-07-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2069 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1987-07-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 4 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2069 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-19 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1014 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KMSP 120331
SVRMSP
MNC129-127-120415-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS MN
1031 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1115 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES OF

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...
 SOUTHERN RENVILLE AND NORTHERN REDWOOD


AT 1020 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES
WEST OF REDWOOD FALLS AND WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

SOME CITIES IN THE PATH OF THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ARE REDWOOD
FALLS AND FAIRFAX.

REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60
MPH..DESTRUCTIVE HAIL..DEADLY LIGHTNING /AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. ALSO
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE A TORNADO WITH
LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING..SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND BE PREPARED
TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF ONE IS SPOTTED.

TOGSTAD

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 11, 7:18 PM CDT, 3 hours 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
710 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 364 NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR PART
   OF MINNESOTA...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS REMOVED THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 364....THE TWIN CITIES METRO
COUNTIES OF ANOKA..HENNEPIN..RAMSEY..WASHINGTON..CARVER..
                    SCOTT..DAKOTA
AND IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...SIBLEY.   HOWEVER SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS SATURDAY EVENING FOR
THE FOLLOWING MINNESOTA COUNTIES....
SOUTHWEST..........BROWN..COTTONWOOD..WATONWAN..JACKSON..MARTIN

SOUTHCENTRAL.......NICOLLET..LE SUEUR..RICE..BLUE EARTH..WASECA..
                    STEELE..FARIBAULT..FREEBORN

SOUTHEAST..........GOODHUE..WABASHA..DODGE..OLMSTEAD..WINONA..MOWER..
                    FILLMORE..HOUSTON
<
EVEN THOUGH THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED IN CENTRAL
MINNESOTA AND THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...
SOME WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING.
SO...IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE AND YOU SEE LIGHTNING APPROACH...GET INSIDE
A HOME...LARGE BUILDING...OR AN ALLa-METAL AUTOMOBILE. IF YOU ARE
CAUGHT OUTSIDE...DO NOT STAND UNDERNEATH A TALL ISOLATED TREE OR A
TELEPHONE POLE. GET OFF OR AWAY FROM OPEN WATER...OR SMALL METAL
VEHICLES SUCH AS MOTORCYCLES...BICYCLES...GOLF CARTS AND SO FORTH.
NAISTAT
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 8:04 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
800 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN
MINNESOTA AND PARTS WESTERN WISCONSIN...UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

AT 735 PM CDT...AN AREA OF POWERFUL THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED OVER
SOUTHERN TREMPLEAU COUNTY OF WEST WISCONSIN JUST EAST OF DODGE OR ABOUT
25 MILES NORTH OF LA CROSSE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WITH INTENSE RAINFALL WERE OBSERVED FROM WABASHA
COUNTY MINNESOTA THRU.. SOUTHERN BUFFALO AND SOUTHERN TREMPLEALEAU OF
WEST WISCONSIN OR 15 MILES EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM ROCHESTER MINNESOTA
TO BLACK RIVER FALLS WISCONSIN.

A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WAS DETECTED ACROSS THE
SOUTHEAST CORNER OF MINNESOTA.. AND WESTERN WISCONSIN.. SOUTH OF A LINE
FROM THE MINNESOTA/IOWA BORDER NEAR FAIRMONT TO THE MINNESOTA RIVER NEAR
NEW ULM UP TO THE MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN BORDER JUST SOUTH OF ST. CROIX
FALLS.
<
MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR.
 CARLYON
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 8:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
850 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN
MINNESOTA AND PARTS WESTERN WISCONSIN...UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

AT 835 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE CONTINUED OVER
WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN INTO EXTREME SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA FROM NORTH OF
BLACK RIVER FALLS NEAR MERRILLAN SOUTHWEST TO NEAR WINONA MINNESOTA TO
THE IOWA BORDER NORTH OF DECORAH IOWA AND WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30
MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE...MOSTLY LIGHT SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSHOWERS WERE OVER
THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF MINNESOTA SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM ST CROIX
FALLS WISCONSIN TO THE TWIN CITIES TO JACKSON OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND
WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

ALSO...THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA NORTH OF SIOUX FALLS
SOUTH DAKOTA WILL BE MOVNG INTO SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA BETWEEN 930 AND 10PM
<
DAP
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 9:36 PM CDT, 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAOLIS/ST PAUL MN
935 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...INTENSE THUNDERSORMS ENTERING SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

AT 930 PM CDT A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
WAS ENTERING SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. REPORTS FROM POLICE AT CANBY IN
WEST YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY INDICATED TORRENTIAL RAINFALL STOPPING
TRAFFIC BETWEEN 9 AND 930 PM CDT THIS SATURDAY EVENING. CANBY IS
ABOUT 33 MILES NORTHWEST OF MARSHALL MINNESOTA.

AS THESE STORMS MOVE EASTWARD...SIMILAR BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINFALL
AS WELL AS WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH CAN BE ANTICIPATED FOR THE AREA
SOUTH OF A LINE FROM GRANITE FALLS THROUGH NEW ULM AND EAST OF A LINE
FROM NEW ULM THROUGH FAIRMONT THROUGH ABOUT 11 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

TOGSTAD
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 10:05 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAOLIS/ST PAUL MN
955 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT TYLER MINNESOTA IN LINCOLN COUNTY
 OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOT...

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR MONTEVIDEO MINNESOTA
SOUTHWEST TO NEAR SIOUX FALLS SOUTH DAKOTA HAS GENERATED TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL ALONG AS IT HAS PASSED EASTWARD FROM SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA.
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT 951 PM CDT AT TYLER MINNESOTA IN
SOUTHEAST LINCOLN COUNTY. TYLER IS LOCATED ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH/
NORTHEAST OF SIOUX FALLS MINNESOTA.

THE LINE OF STORMS IS MOVING EASTWARD AT 30 MPH SO IS LIKELY TO
EFFECT LYON COUNTY MINNESTOA BETWEEN 10 PM AND 1030 PM CDT THIS
SATURDAY EVENING.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR REDWOOD COUNTY
MINNESOTA BY 1030 PM CDT THIS EVENING IF THE STORM ACTIVITY WEST OF
THE AREA INTENSIFIES FURTHER.

NOW WOULD BE THE TIME FOR PERSONS EAST OF THESE STORMS TO MOVE
THAT CAR UNDER PROTECTIVE COVER OR FOR THAT MATTER PROTECT ANY
PROPERTY THAT COULD BE DESTROYED BY HAIL.
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 10:11 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR GEOGRAPHY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAOLIS/ST PAUL MN
955 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT TYLER MINNESOTA IN LINCOLN COUNTY
 OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOT...

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR MONTEVIDEO MINNESOTA
SOUTHWEST TO NEAR SIOUX FALLS SOUTH DAKOTA HAS GENERATED TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL ALONG AS IT HAS PASSED EASTWARD FROM SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA.
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT 951 PM CDT AT TYLER MINNESOTA IN
SOUTHEAST LINCOLN COUNTY. TYLER IS LOCATED ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH/
NORTHEAST OF SIOUX FALLS SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE LINE OF STORMS IS MOVING EASTWARD AT 30 MPH SO IS LIKELY TO
EFFECT LYON COUNTY MINNESTOA BETWEEN 10 PM AND 1030 PM CDT THIS
SATURDAY EVENING.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR REDWOOD COUNTY
MINNESOTA BY 1030 PM CDT THIS EVENING IF THE STORM ACTIVITY WEST OF
THE AREA INTENSIFIES FURTHER.

NOW WOULD BE THE TIME FOR PERSONS EAST OF THESE STORMS TO MOVE
THAT CAR UNDER PROTECTIVE COVER OR FOR THAT MATTER PROTECT ANY
PROPERTY THAT COULD BE DESTROYED BY HAIL.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 11, 7:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXOlmsted, Winona53 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 1987Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1987

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.