Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 29, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 15, 1988Anoka County, Ramsey County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 15, 1988, 7:02 PM CDT for Anoka County, Ramsey County, Minnesota. It was in force for 43 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 15, 1988, 7:02 PM CDT (00:02 UTC)
Expired
Jul 15, 1988, 7:45 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Whole counties

Counties Anoka County, MN, Ramsey County, MN

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 00:00Z, 0.0 hours before the alert went out and 47 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 1988-07-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1990 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 1988-07-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -38 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1990 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-81 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1359 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
23 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMSP 160003
SVRMSP
MNC003-123-160100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS MN
702 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 1988
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MINNEAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  800 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA
          ...SOUTHERN ANOKA...RAMSEY
 
AT 659 PM HAIL THE SIZE OF WALNUTS WAS REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC IN THE
CITY OF COON RAPIDS ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS. TWIN
CITIES WEATHER RADAR INDICATE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR TOWARDS MOUNDSVIEW AND FRIDLEY.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
PAULSON

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 15, 5:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL
520 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 1988

...A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTOMS EXTENDS ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

IN MINNESOTA...SOME OF THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ACROSS
BENTON...SOUTHERN MILLE LACS...AND INTO KANABEC COUNTIES. THIS IS ABOUT
60 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF THE TWIN CITIES.  SOME OF THE CITIES NEAR
THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE FOLEY...MILACA...AND MORA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING HAIL...AND PERIODS
OF VERY HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE EAST SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MILES AN
HOUR.

OTHER VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR DANBURY WISCONSIN IN
NORTHERN BURNETT COUNTY EAST ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF THREATENING WEATHER AND TAKE
SHELTER IF IT APPROACHES YOU.

BY 600 PM CDT STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE PUSHING ACROSS SHERBURNE
AND ISANTI COUNTIES OF E&AST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
PAULSON
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 5:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
525 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 1988

SHORTLY ATER 5:15 PM CDT THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS FORMED
IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL COVER PORTIONS OF
BENTON...SOUTHERN MILLE LACS...AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN SHERBURNE
COUNTIES OF EAST CENTAL MINNESOTA.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE WILL
PRODUNCE BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTING STRIKES.

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED AT THIS TIME.  BRIEF SMALL HAIL
WAS REPORTED IN THE CITY OF FOLEY MINNESOTA IN BENTON COUNTY AS THE
THUNDERSTORMS PASSED THROUGH THAT AREA.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
MOVING TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES PER HOUR.

TRIPLET0T
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 5:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
525 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 1988

SHORTLY ATER 5:15 PM CDT THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS FORMED
IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL COVER PORTIONS OF
BENTON...SOUTHERN MILLE LACS...AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN SHERBURNE
COUNTIES OF EAST CENTAL MINNESOTA.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE
BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTING STRIKES.

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN4 REPORTED AT THIS TIME.  BRIEF SMALL HAIL
WAS REPORTED IN THE CITY OF FOLEY MINNESOTA IN BENTON COUNTY AS THE
THUNDERSTORMS PASSED THROUGH THAT AREA.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
MOVING TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES PER HOUR.

TRIPLETT
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 5:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL
550 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 1988

...A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTOMS EXTENDS ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

IN MINNESOTA...SOME OF THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS ARE ACROSS EXTREMES
SOUTHEAST BENTON AND SOUTHERN MILLE LACS COUNTIES. THIS IS ABOUT 50BOUT
MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS...OR 15 MILES EAST OF
ST. CLOUD. SOME OF THE CITIES NEAR THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE
PRINCETON...GLENDORADO...AND SANTIAGO.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE SLIDING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR
AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING HAIL...STRONG WIND...AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN.

BY 615 PM CDT VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS
ISANTI...SOUTHERN KANABEC...SHERBURN...AND NORTHENR WRIGHT OF OF EAST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA. SOME OF THE CITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
ARE ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...AND BRAHAM.

IN WISCONSIN..B.VERY STORNG THUNDERSTORMS ALSO CONTINUE ACROSS
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
PAULSON
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 5:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL
550 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 1988

...A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTOMS EXTENDS ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

IN MINNESOTA...SOME OF THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS ARE ACROSS EXTREME
SOUTHEAST BENTON AND SOUTHERN MILLE LACS COUNTIES. THIS IS ABOUT 50
MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS...OR 15 MILES EAST OF
ST. CLOUD. SOME OF THE CITIES NEAR THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE
PRINCETON...GLENDORADO...AND SANTIAGO.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE SLIDING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR
AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING HAIL...STRONG WIND...AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN.

BY 615 PM CDT VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS
ISANTI...SOUTHERN KANABEC...SHERBURN...AND NORTHERN WRIGHT OF EAST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA. SOME OF THE CITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
ARE ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...AND BRAHAM.

IN WISCONKSIN...VERY STORNG THUNDERSTORMS ALSO CONTINUE ACROSS
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
PAULSON
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 6:54 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL
650 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 1988

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE NORTHWEST TWIN CITIES
   METRO AREA...AND CONTINUE STRONG ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ACROSS HENNEPIN...EXTENDING
NORTHEAST ACROSS ANOKA AND CHISAGO COUNTIES OF EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA AT 630 PM.  THIS IS 20 MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN
MINNEAPOLIS.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20
MILES AN HOUR.  SOME CITIES NEAR THESE STORMS AT 645 PM ARE
TAYLORS FALLS...ANOKA...AND PLYMOUTH.

BY 730 PM...THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD SPREAD ACROSS MUCH OF EASTERN
HENNEPIN...ANOKA...AND NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES OF THE TWIN CITIES
METRO AREA.  NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED SINCE ABOUT 600 PM
...HOWEVER THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN INTENSIFYING RECENTLY.  THEY
DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG WINDS HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL.
REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE TWIN
CITIES METRO AREA UNTIL 1000 PM.

OTHER VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...FROM NEAR BALSAM LAKE EASTWARD TO NEAR
PARK FALLS.

PERSONS IN NORTHERN RUSK COUNTY OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN SHOULD
BE ESPECIALLY AWARE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THEIR
AREA AFTER 700 PM.

PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHING...AND BE READY TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER
IF NEEDED.
PAULSON

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 1988Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1988

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.