Alert archive / Wisconsin / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 57, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 20, 1987Dunn County, Eau Claire County, Pepin County, Wisconsin

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 20, 1987, 1:50 PM CDT for Dunn County, Eau Claire County, Pepin County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 40 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 20, 1987, 1:50 PM CDT (18:50 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 1987, 2:30 PM CDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Whole counties

Counties Dunn County, WI, Eau Claire County, WI, Pepin County, WI

The radar

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

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 12:00Z, 6.8 hours before the alert went out and 145 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 12:00Z on 1987-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 4599 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 12:00Z on 1987-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 134 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
4599 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
604 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
134 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
192 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
15.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMSP 201850
SVRMSP
WIC033-091-035-201930-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS MN
150 PM CDT MON JUL 20 1987

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 230 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES OF

WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...
 DUNN...PEPIN AND WESTERN EAU CLAIRE

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 20, 11:00 AM CDT, 2 hours 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
1025 AM CDT MON JUL 20 1987

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR TODD COUNTY HAS NOW EXPIRED

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA TILL
1100 AM CDT..

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH WERE LOACTED IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
TODD COUNTY HAVE DECREASED IN INTENSITY.

THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND YOUR
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THESE THUNDERSTORMS
FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.  PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO...TELEVISION AND YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATION FOR FUTURE UPDATES OR
WARNINGS.

RUBIN
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 11:35 AM CDT, 2 hours 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
1135 AM CDT MON JUL 20 1987

..LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA..

AT 1130AM CDT...RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING
FROM NORTHWEST ISANTI COUNTY NORTHWEST OF CAMBRIDGE TO THE HINCKLEY AREA.

 THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WINDS OVER 50 MPH AND
HAIL.
PERSONS IN ISANTI...KANNEBEC...PINE...CHISAGO COUNTIES AS WELL AS BURNETT
AND POLK COUNTIES OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE
POSSIBILTY OF SEVERE WEATHER UNTIL 1 PM FROM THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS.

PAULSON
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 12:03 PM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
1200 PM CDT MON JUL 20 1987

...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
 MINNESOTA INTO NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...

AT 1155 AM CDT... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS WERE LOCATED
FROM ISANTI COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA NORTHEAST  THROUGH CHISAGO
AND PINE COUNTIES OF MINNESOTA INTO BURNETT AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES OF
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM NEAR CAMBRIDGE THROUGH RUSH CITY
TO EAST OF PINE CITY TO NEAR MARKVILLE.

VERY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE
EXPECTED WITH THE STORMS AS THEY MOVE SOUTHEEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.
PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO
A PLACE OF SFTEY IF THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPS.
STANDFIELD
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 12:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
1245 PM CDT MON JUL 20 1987

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN UNTIL 4 PM CDT...

AT 1235 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS CONTINUED OVER
EXTREME EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA FROM PINE CITY TO ST CROIX FALLS AND
EXTENDED INTO NORTHWEST WISCONSIN TO NEAR SPOONER.

VERY HEAVY RAINS..STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE
EXPECTED WITH THE STORMS AS THEY MOVE SOUTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STORMS SHOULD BE LOCATED ALONG A LINE FROM NEAR HAYWARD TO SHELL
LAKE TO BLOOMER IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN BY 130o PM CDT.

THESE STORMS WERE PART OF AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT
EXTENDED FROM EAST OF ALEXANDRIA TO GRAND RAPIDS TO DULUTH TO NORTHEAST
OF STILLWATER.   STANDFIELD
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 1:02 PM CDT, 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
 100 PM CDT MON JUL 20 1987

 ...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPING OVER WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

AT 1255 PM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED WEST FROM BARRON
IN BARRON COUNTY TO TO NEAR BALDWIN IN ST CROIX COUNTY... WHICH IS 35 TO
40 MILES NORTHWEST OF EAU CLAIR.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
SOME CITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE...WHEELER AND MENOMINEE
IN DUNN COUNTY..CHETAC IN BARRON COUNTY AND ELMWOOD IN PIERCE COUNTY.

HAIL AND WINDS IN THE 50 MPH RANGE ARE POSSIBLE FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

IF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAINTAIN THEIR PRESENT STRENGTH AND MOVEMENT THEY
WILL BE APPROACHING THE EAU CLAIRE AREA AROUND 2PM.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.
PAULSON
Local storm report, Jul 20, 1:23 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
115 PM CDT MON JUL 20 198
      ...ATTN SELS A MSP...

       ...NOTE ALL REPORTS ARE FOR WISCONSIN COUNTIES.

1015 AM CDT  LARGE TREES DOWN BETWEEN RICE LAKE AND CAMERON IN BARRON
             COUNTY.   FROM BARRON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.

1027 AM    LARGE TREE DAMGE NR CHRISTIE MOUNTAIN...ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILES
           NORTHWEST OF LADYSMITH IN RUSK COUNTY.  REPORT OF CONFIRMED
           TORNADO.   FROM RUSK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.

1105 AM    LARGE TREES DOWN 5 MILES EAST OF AUBURN IN NORTHWEST
           CHIPPEWA COUNTY. FROM CHIPPEWA COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.

953 AM     LARGE TREES DOWN AND DAMAGE TO A BARN AND SHED ABOUT 3 MILES
           EAST OF RICE LAKE.  FROM BARRON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.

1002 AM    LARGE TREES DOWN IN BARRON IN BARRON COUNTY FROM BARRON
      COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.

1050 AM  (APPROXIMATED TIME)   LARGE TREES DOWN IN CHETEK IN BARRON
       COUNTY FROM BARRON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.

BETWEEN 11 AM AND 1130 AM....4 INCH DIAMETER TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES
        DOWN NEAR HOLCOMBE IN NORTHEAST CHIPPEWA COUNTY.  FROM NORTHERN
        STATES POWER COMPANY.

PAULSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 20, 8:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXPolk43 min
Jul 20, 9:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBarron35 min
Jul 20, 10:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBarron, Chippewa, Rusk57 min
Jul 20, 11:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Rusk41 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.