Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 7, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 7, 1988Ramsey County, Washington County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 7, 1988, 6:40 PM CDT for Ramsey County, Washington County, Minnesota. It was in force for 50 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
May 7, 1988, 6:40 PM CDT (23:40 UTC)
Expired
May 7, 1988, 7:30 PM CDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Whole counties

Counties Ramsey County, MN, Washington 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
May 7, 6:50 PM CDTHail 2.5Ramsey, 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 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 52 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 1988-05-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1988-05-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 348 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2080 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
348 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
360 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMSP 072341
SVRMSP
MNC123-163-080030-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS MN
640 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 1988
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MINNEAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  730 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA
          ...RAMSEY...SOUTHERN WASHINGTON
 
 
AT 635 PM ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH GOLFBALL SIZE WAS LOCATED IN
EXTREME NORTHERN DAKOTA COUNTY...ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN ST
PAUL.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTH AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.  CITIES INCLUDED
IN THIS WARNING ARE ST PAUL...COTTAGE GROVE...STILLWATER...WHITE BEAR
LAKE...AND SHOREVIEW.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH
LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING...SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.
 
 
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING.  DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
STAY INSIDE AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
WILLIS

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, May 7, 12:41 PM CDT, 5 hours 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
1230 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 1988

...TORNADO WATCH FOR WESTERN MINNESOTA IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT...

AT 1226 PM...NO SEVERE WEATHER WAS REPORTED OR DETECTED IN MINNESOTA.
HOWEVER...CONDITIONS DO APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES OVER PARTS OF WESTERN MINNESOTA.
A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF WESTERN MINNESOTA UNTIL
700 PM CDT THIS EVENING.  PERSONS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS SHOULD LISTEN
FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AS CONDITIONS DEVELOPE.

LIGHT RAINSHOWERS WERE FALLING OVER SCATTERED SECTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.  THEY WERE IN A 25 0MILE WIDE BAND FROM SPOONER TO BLACK
RIVER FALLS.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTH AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
KRAFT
Special weather statement, May 7, 4:39 PM CDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
430 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 1988

...TORNADO WATCH FOR WESTERN MINNESOTA IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT...

AT 430 PM...THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAIN...WERE DEVELOPING
RAPIDLY OVER WIDELY SCATTERED SECTIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST HALF OF
MINNESOTA.  THEY WERE MAINLY LOCATED TO THE SOUTH OF A LINE FROM
FARGO TO DETROIT LAKES TO MINNEAPOLIS TO LA CROSSE.  THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...IN
THE FARGO...ALEXANDRIA VICINITY.  SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE
LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL.

MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WAS TO THE NORTH AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
PERSONS IN WESTERN MINNESOTA SHOULD CONTINUE TO LISTEN FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS...AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
KRAFT
Special weather statement, May 7, 4:50 PM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
445 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 1988

...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 7PM IN WESTERN MINNESOTA...
...THUNDERSTORMS FORMING IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

AT 445 PM CDT THUNDERSTORMS WERE FORMING IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA ALONG A
LINE FROM LITTLE FALLS TO ST. CLOUD AND SOUTH TOWARDS LITCHFIELD. NO
SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH ANY THESE STORMS...HOWEVER THEY
WERE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND MAY YET PRODUCE
HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG...POSSIBLY DAMAGING WINDS.

MAKE PLANS NOW...AND BE READY TO MOVE QUICKLY TO A PLACE WHERE YOU
WILL BE SAFE IF THESE STORMS SHOULD BECOME SEVERE.

WDV
Special weather statement, May 7, 5:42 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
542 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 1988

...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 11PM IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR STEARNS...BENTON AND SHERBURNE
COUNITES OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

AT 540 PM CDT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA
JUST EAST OF ST. CLOUD...NEAR THE CITY OF FOLEY. BREIF HEAVY
RAIN...HAIL...AND STRONG WINDS WERE ACCOMPANYING THIS STORM AS IT
MOVED NORTH SAT 30 MPH.

BETWEEN 515 AND 530 PM 1/2 INCH HAIL FELL AT ST. JOSEPH...5 MILES
WEST OF ST. CLOUD...AND AT THE ST. CLOUD WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

WDV
Special weather statement, May 7, 5:49 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
545 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 1988

...TORNADO WATCH FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN MINNESOTA IN
   EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM...

AT 430 PM...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN HAD DEVELOPED RAPIDLY
OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTHWEST HALF OF MINNESOTA.  THEY WERE MAINLY LOCATED
TO THE SOUTH OF A LINE FROM FARGO TO PARK RAPIDS TO MILLE LACS LAKE
TO MINNEAPOLIS TO LA CROSSE.  THE STRONGEST OF THESE WERE NEAR ST CLOUD
AND ALBERT LEA.  THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.

MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WAS TO THE NORTH AT 40 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.
PERSONS ENGAGED IN OU]TDOOR ACTIVITIES ESPECIALLY SHOULD CONTINUE TO
LISTEN FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS.  BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
KRAFT
Special weather statement, May 7, 5:50 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
545 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 1988

...TORNADO WATCH FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN MINNESOTA IN
   EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM...

AT 530 PM...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN HAD DEVELOPED RAPIDLY
OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTHWEST HALF OF MINNESOTA.  THEY WERE MAINLY LOCATED
TO THE SOUTH OF A LINE FROM FARGO TO PARK RAPIDS TO MILLE LACS LAKE
TO MINNEAPOLIS TO LA CROSSE.  THE STRONGEST OF THESE WERE NEAR ST CLOUD
AND ALBERT LEA.  THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.

MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WAS TO THE NORTH AT 40 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.
PERSONS ENGAGED I^N OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ESPECIALLY SHOULD CONTINUE TO
LISTEN FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS.  BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
KRAFT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 7, 5:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Sherburne58 min
May 7, 5:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXStearns33 min
May 7, 5:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXFreeborn38 min
May 7, 6:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRice47 min
May 7, 6:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Scott57 min
May 7, 6:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDodge, Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha46 min
May 7, 6:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXAnoka, Chisago, Washington32 min

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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.