Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Duluth, MN

July 2, 1989Crow Wing County, Minnesota

NWS Duluth, MN issued this tornado warning at Jul 2, 1989, 9:38 PM CDT for Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It was in force for 52 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 2, 1989, 9:38 PM CDT (02:38 UTC)
Expired
Jul 2, 1989, 10:30 PM CDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Duluth, MN
Area
Whole counties

County Crow Wing 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, 2.6 hours before the alert went out and 185 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 1989-07-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1386 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 1989-07-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 27 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
1386 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-28 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1650 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
122 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
4.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDLH 030240
TORDLH
MNC035-030330-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
938 PM CDT SUN JUL 2 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1030 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA
          ...CROW WING
 
AT 930 A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY STATE PATROL 5 MILES SOUTH OF
PINE RIVER. THE TORNADO WAS MOVING EAST.
 
CITIES IN THE PATH OF THE TORNADO INCLUDE PEQUOT LAKES AND BREEZY
POINT...AS WELL AS NUMEROUS AREA LAKES.
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO.  CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS.  IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF
A TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING.  IF NO
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT.
 
 
CHRISTENSON

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 2, 5:29 PM CDT, 4 hours 9 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
525 PM CDT SUN JUL 2 1989

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN.
AT 515 PM THIS AFTERNOON FARGO RADAR REPORTED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OCCURING IN THE AREA BETWEEN RED LAKE, MN AND BAUDETTE, MN.

THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF WIND OR HAIL AT THIS TIME. WARROAD AND
BAUDETTE, MN HAVE HAD ONLY HEAVY RAIN IN THE PAST HOUR.

ALTHOUGH NONE HAS BEEN REPORTED AS OF THIS TIME, THESE THUNDERSTORMS
MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.
YOU SHOULD BE ALERT TO THESE APPROACHING STORMS AND BE PREPARED TO
SEEK SHELTER IF SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES. STAY TUNED TO YOUR
FAVORITE RADIO OR KTV STATION IN THE EVENT FURTHER BULLETINS
ARE REQUIRED.

HOUSE
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 6:32 PM CDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND PRECIPITATION SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
625 PM CDT SAT JUL 1 1989

AT 620 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL WERE
IN EASTERN BELTRAMI COUNTY OF NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE HEAVIEST
RAIN WAS OCCURRING WEST OF A LINE FROM BLACKDUCK TO KELIHER..65 TO
80 MILES SOUTHWEST OF INTERNATIONAL FALLS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR..WHICH WOULD BRING THEM
INTO NORTHWEST ITASCA COUNTY..JUST NORTH OF LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
BETWEEN 645 AND 730 THIS EVENING.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN KOOCHICHING COUNTY..15 TO 45
MILES SOUTHWEST OF INTERNATIONAL FALLS..FROM SOUTH OF BIG FALLS TO
LITTLEFORK.

PERSONS TO THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME SMALL HAIL..HEAVY RAIN..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..
AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THESE STORMS WILL BE MOVING
INTO THE ALVWOOD..WIRT..AND EFFIE AREAS..INCLUDING AREA LAKES BETWEEN
7 OCLOCK AND 830 THIS EVENING.
..CHRISTENSON..
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 6:34 PM CDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND PRECIPITATION SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
625 PM CDT SUN JUL 2 1989

AT 620 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL WERE
IN EASTERN BELTRAMI COUNTY OF NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE HEAVIEST
RAIN WAS OCCURRING WEST OF A LINE FROM BLACKDUCK TO KELIHER..65 TO
80 MILES SOUTHWEST OF INTERNATIONAL FALLS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR..WHICH WOULD BRING THEM
INTO NORTHWEST ITASCA COUNTY..JUST NORTH OF LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
BETWEEN 645 AND 730 THIS EVENING.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN KOOCHICHING COUNTY..15 TO 45
MILES SOUTHWEST OF INTERNATIONAL FALLS..FROM SOUTH OF BIG FALLS TO
LITTLEFORK.

PERSONS TO THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME SMALL HAIL..HEAVY RAIN..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..
AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THESE STORMS WILL BE MOVING
INTO THE ALVWOOD..WIRT..AND EFFIE AREAS..INCLUDING AREA LAKES BETWEEN
7 OCLOCK AND 830 THIS EVENING.
..CHRISTENSON..
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 6:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
640 PM CDT SUN JUL 2 1989

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN.
AT 630 PM THIS EVENING FARGO RADAR REPORTED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OCCURING IN THE PINEWOOD AREA, APROXIMATELY 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF
BEMIDJI, MN. MARBLE SIZE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM
BUT NO STRONG WINDS.

ON ESHOULD REMEMBER THAT THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL..
..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. YOU SHOULD BE ALERT TO
THESE APPROACHING STORMS AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF SEVERE
WEATHER APPROACHES. STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE RADIO OR TV STATION
IN THE EVENT FURTHER BULLETINS ARE REQUIRED.

HOUSE
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 7:08 PM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
700 PM CDT SUN JUL 2 1989

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN.

AT 6:30 THIS EVENING PERSONS IN THE RED LAKE, MN AREA HAVE REPORTED
LOCALLY STRONG WINDS AND MARBLE SIZE HAIL. SEVERAL TREES WERE
REPORTED BLOWN DOWN 4 MILES WEST OF THE TOWN OF RED LAKE.

THIS STORM IS MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.  PERSONS IN EAST CENTRAL
BELTRAMI COUNTY SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS STORM.

ONE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL..
..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. YOU SHOULD BE ALERT TO
THESE APPROACHING STORMS AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF SEVERE
WEATHER APPROACHES. STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE RADIO OR TV STATION
IN THE EVENT FURTHER BULLETINS ARE REQUIRED.

HOUSE
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 8:24 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN
810 PM CDT SUN JUL 2 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 573 IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL
   MINNESOTA UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT

AT 8 PM CDT THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH NORTH CENTAL MINNESOTA.
LAW INFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AT BEMIDJI..85 MILES NORTHEAST OF FARGO
NORTH DAKOTA REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAIN ..PEA HAIL..AND SOME GUSTY
WINDS TO 40 MPH WITHIN A 25 MILE RADIUS OF BEMIDJI. THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME REPORTS OF POWER OUTAGES IN OUTLYING AREAS. PERSONS IN BELTRAMI
AND SOUTHERN KOOCHICHING COUNTIES OF NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA SHOULD
BE ALERT TO THESE APPROACHING STORMS AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER
IF SEVERE WEATHER AbPPROACHES. STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE RADIO OR
TV STATION IN THE EVENT FURTHER BULLETINS ARE REQUIRED.

FAIRHURST

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 2, 7:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHCass64 min
Jul 2, 9:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHCass, Crow Wing69 min
Jul 2, 9:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHAitkin, Itasca48 min
Jul 2, 9:31 PM CDTTornado WarningDLHCass44 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 1989Every tornado warning in 1989Tornadoes in 1989

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.