Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 91, NWS Twin Cities, MN

August 31, 1989Chisago County, Washington County, Minnesota; Polk County, Wisconsin

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 31, 1989, 4:08 PM CDT for Chisago County, Washington County, Minnesota; Polk County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 67 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 31, 1989, 4:08 PM CDT (21:08 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 1989, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
67 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Whole counties

Counties Chisago County, MN, Washington County, MN, Polk 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, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 86 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 1989-08-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 856 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1989-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 248 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
856 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-162 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
599 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
248 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
247 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMSP 312111
SVRMSP
MNC025-163-WIC095-312215-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS MN
408 PM CDT THU AUG 31 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MINNEAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  515 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA
          ...SOUTHERN CHISAGO...NORTHERN WASHINGTON
IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN
          ...WESTERN POLK
 
AT 405 PM RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM NORTHCENTRAL HENNIPEN COUNTY NOERHEAST TO NEAR ANOKA IN ANOKA
COUNTY. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED NORTHEAST TO WYOMING IN
CHISAGO COUNTYU AND AMERY IN POLK COUNTY WISCONSIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE CITIES OF
AMERY..TAYLORS FALLS AND WYOMING ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS.
 
WINDS OF 50 MILES AN HOUR WERE REPORTED IN THE CITY OF MAPLE GROVE
ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN MINNESPOLIS AT 406 PM.
 
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING..MOVE INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING
DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES OR ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY. REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOS WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
 
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.
JHM

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, Aug 31, 11:00 AM CDT, 5 hours 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
1050 AM CDT THU AUG 31 1989

..SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA
  UNTIL 1115 AM CDT..

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN STEARNS..
SOUTHWEST MORRISON AND SOUTHEAST TODD COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 AM IN AREAS
JUST NORTHWEST OF ST CLOUD.

AT 1035 AM CDT..WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CENTERED
JUST NORTHWEST OF ALBANY IN EXTREME NORTHERN STEARNS COUNTY. EARLIER
THIS STORM PRODUCED GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL IN NORTHERN STEARNS AND SOUTHERN
TODD COUNTIES.

THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE..SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS REMAINED IN A BAND ACROSS SOUTHEAST
MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN FROM NEAR HAYWARD..
TO EAU CLAIRE..TO SOUTH OF MINNEAPOLIS NEAR NEW PRAGUE AND NORTHFIELD.

AN OVERALL WEAKENING TREND HAD OCCURRED ON THIS ACTIVITY BUT SOME GUSTY
WINDS ARE STILL LIKELY AS THIS BAND MOVES TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT
40 MILES AN HOUR.

FURTHER SOUTH ANOTHER BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING
THROUGH FAR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN FROM ALONG
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ALMA WISCONSIN TO BETWEEN ROCHESTER AND
LA CROSSE.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN
HOUR.
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 11:45 AM CDT, 4 hours 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
1143 AM CDT THU AUG 31 1989

...THUNDERSTORMS INCREASING IN INTENSITY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA WILL
MOVE INTO POPE COUNTY...

AT 1135AM CDT THUNDERSTORMS WERE INCREASING IN INTENSITY FROM JUST
SOUTH OF ALEXANDRIA TO JUST NORTH OF MORRIS...30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
ALEXANDRIA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND WIL
ENTER POPE COUNTY NEAR CYRUS BY 12 NOON. HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND
STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

WDV
Local storm report, Aug 31, 2:03 PM CDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST CLOUD MN
200 PM CDT THU AUG 31 1989

...ATTN SELS...

PRELIMINARY STORM DATA REPORT FOR CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR AUG 31:

1015 AM CDT    GOLF BALL HAIL     SOUTHERN TODD COUNTY...6 MILES
                                  NORTH OF SAUK CENTRE...40 MILES
                                  NORTHWEST OF ST CLOUD.

1034 AM CDT    ONE INCH HAIL      STEARNS COUNTY...ST ROSA...
                                  25 MILES NORTHWEST OF ST CLOUD.

1213 PM CDT    3/4 INCH HAIL      POPE COUNTY...LOWRY...12 MILES
                                  SOUTH OF ALEXANDRIA.

NISTLER
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 3:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
250 PM CDT THU AUG 31 1989

STRONG AND IN SOME CASES SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE REGENERATED FROM
NEAR ST CLOUD TO JUST NORTH OF ANNANDALE ACROSS EASTERN STEARNS AND
FAR NORTHERN WRIGHT COUNTY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF STEARNS..
SHERBURNE AND BENTON COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM.

AT 245 PM..THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR LITCHFIELD AND ANNANDALE TO
ST CLOUD AND ON FURTHER EAST TOWARD CAMBRIDGE.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR BUT THE MOST RECENT
DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ALONG THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE AREA ACROSS
WRIGHT AND MEEKER COUNTIES OR IN ARE[AS NORTHWEST OF MINNEAPOLIS.

PERSONS IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF THIS DEVELOPING
WEATHER SITUATION AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 31, 10:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMorrison, Todd39 min
Aug 31, 10:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXStearns54 min
Aug 31, 11:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXPope37 min
Aug 31, 2:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Stearns21 min
Aug 31, 2:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXSherburne51 min
Aug 31, 3:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXWright42 min
Aug 31, 3:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXAnoka, Hennepin55 min
Aug 31, 3:55 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXHennepin35 min
Aug 31, 4:27 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXHennepin33 min
Aug 31, 4:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXHennepin31 min
Aug 31, 4:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRamsey36 min
Aug 31, 5:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXSaint Croix56 min
Aug 31, 5:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDunn, Pepin32 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 1989Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Wisconsin, 1989Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.