Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 34, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 21, 2011McLeod County, Meeker County, Wright County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 21, 2011, 4:39 PM CDT for McLeod County, Meeker County, Wright County, Minnesota. It was in force for 66 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 21, 2011, 4:39 PM CDT (21:39 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2011, 5:45 PM CDT
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties McLeod County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Wright County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 55 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:41 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 21, 4:44 PM CDTHAIL 1.55 Sse Cokato, MN
May 21, 5:47 PM CDTHAIL 0.251 Nw Buffalo, MNDIME SIZE

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 53 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 2011-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 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 2011-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 206 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-114 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
474 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
206 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
240 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.

131 
WUUS53 KMPX 212139
SVRMPX
MNC085-093-171-212245-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0034.110521T2139Z-110521T2245Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
439 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN MCLEOD COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  EAST CENTRAL MEEKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  WRIGHT COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 545 PM CDT

* AT 436 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM...CAPABLE OF
  PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.
  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR COKATO...OR ABOUT 16 MILES NORTHEAST OF
  HUTCHINSON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  BUFFALO...
  HOWARD LAKE...
  WAVERLY...
  ANNANDALE...
  MAPLE LAKE...
  HASTY...
  ENFIELD...
  MONTICELLO...
  ALBERTVILLE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM.
WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

&&

LAT...LON 4541 9404 4525 9363 4494 9413 4506 9432
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 222DEG 19KT 4506 9414
WIND...HAIL 60MPH 1.00IN

$$

JLT
4 follow-up statements
498 
WWUS53 KMPX 212150
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
450 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

MNC085-093-171-212245-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-110521T2245Z/
WRIGHT MN-MEEKER MN-MCLEOD MN-
450 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN
MCLEOD...EAST CENTRAL MEEKER AND WRIGHT COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CDT...

AT 445 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 1.5 INCH SIZE HAIL SOUTHEAST OF STOCKHOLM.  
SEVERAL SEVERE STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM COKATO TO RASSAT AND HOWARD 
LAKE AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BUFFALO...HOWARD LAKE...WAVERLY...ANNANDALE...MAPLE LAKE...
  MONTICELLO...ENFIELD...HASTY...ALBERTVILLE...SMITH LAKE...RASSAT
  AND SILVER CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO
AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN THE TWIN CITIES.

&&

LAT...LON 4541 9404 4525 9363 4494 9413 4506 9432
TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 217DEG 15KT 4507 9411
WIND...HAIL <50MPH 1.25IN

$$

JLT
737 
WWUS53 KMPX 212204
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
504 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

MNC085-093-171-212245-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-110521T2245Z/
WRIGHT MN-MEEKER MN-MCLEOD MN-
504 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN
MCLEOD...EAST CENTRAL MEEKER AND WRIGHT COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CDT...

AT 459 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED
NEAR HOWARD LAKE...OR 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BUFFALO...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. IN ADDITION...SPOTTERS HAVE BEEN OBSERVING 
ROTATION WITH THIS STORM NEAR HOWARD LAKE. IF CONDITIONS WARRANT...A 
TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ISSUED FOR A PART OF THIS STORM. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BUFFALO...WAVERLY...ANNANDALE...MAPLE LAKE...MONTICELLO...
  ALBERTVILLE...ENFIELD...HASTY...RASSAT AND SILVER CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW 
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN THE TWIN CITIES.

&&

LAT...LON 4541 9404 4525 9363 4494 9413 4506 9432
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 237DEG 13KT 4508 9406
WIND...HAIL <50MPH 1.00IN

$$

JLT
767 
WWUS53 KMPX 212216
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
516 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

MNC093-212230-
/O.CAN.KMPX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-110521T2245Z/
MEEKER MN-
516 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL MEEKER COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN THE TWIN CITIES.

LAT...LON 4525 9363 4503 9399 4512 9416 4535 9389
TIME...MOT...LOC 2215Z 222DEG 19KT 4512 9401

$$

MNC171-212245-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-110521T2245Z/
WRIGHT MN-
516 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WRIGHT COUNTY
UNTIL 545 PM CDT...

AT 513 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR WAVERLY...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BUFFALO...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BUFFALO...MAPLE LAKE...MONTICELLO...ALBERTVILLE...RASSAT AND SILVER
  CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW 
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN THE TWIN CITIES.

&&

LAT...LON 4525 9363 4503 9399 4512 9416 4535 9389
TIME...MOT...LOC 2215Z 222DEG 19KT 4512 9401
WIND...HAIL <50MPH 1.00IN

$$

JLT
446 
WWUS53 KMPX 212232
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
532 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

MNC171-212245-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-110521T2245Z/
WRIGHT MN-
532 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WRIGHT COUNTY
UNTIL 545 PM CDT...

AT 527 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 
NEAR BUFFALO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. IN ADDITION...SEVERAL 
STORM SPOTTERS ARE OBSERVING A WALL CLOUD NEAR MONTROSE. THIS WALL 
CLOUD WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. IF CONDITIONS 
WARRANT...A TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ISSUED.  

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BUFFALO...MONTICELLO...ALBERTVILLE AND SILVER CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW 
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN THE TWIN CITIES.

&&

LAT...LON 4525 9363 4503 9399 4512 9416 4535 9389
TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 227DEG 18KT 4517 9392
WIND...HAIL <50MPH 1.00IN

$$

JLT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 3:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRenville40 min
May 21, 3:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMcLeod, Meeker, Wright63 min
May 21, 4:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMcLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Wright49 min
May 21, 5:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXChippewa, Swift49 min
May 21, 5:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Pope, Swift50 min
May 21, 5:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXCarver, McLeod, Wright55 min
May 21, 6:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXHennepin, Wright62 min
May 21, 6:37 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXHennepin, Isanti23 min
May 21, 6:54 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXAnoka, Sherburne51 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2011Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.