Special Weather Statement, NWS Twin Cities, MN

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
524 PM CDT SUN JUL 10 2011

.DISCUSSION...

SUMMARY...COULD BE AN ACTIVE NIGHT ACROSS SOUTH/CENTRAL MN AND
PORTIONS OF WESTERN WISCONSIN WITH POSSIBLE MCS OR CLUSTERS OF
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST FROM THE DAKOTAS. THE
SPC HAS JUST UPDATED THE DAY 1 OUTLOOK AND HAVE UPGRADED TO A
MODERATE RISK IN THE EASTERN DAKOTAS AND FAR WEST CENTRAL MN.
OTHERWISE...PASSING COLD FRONT WILL PUSH MOISTURE RICH AND THE
WARMTH SOUTH OF THE AREA TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. OUTSIDE OF POPS
IN FAR SOUTHERN MN ON TUESDAY...MOST AREAS WILL REMAIN DRY UNTIL A
DECENT SHORTWAVE ROLL THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY.
EXTENDED STILL LOOKS QUITE WARM WITH SMALL POPS UNDER LONG WAVE
RIDGE.

DEEP CONVECTION GETTING GOING VERY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON IN EASTERN
ND. THIS SAME AREA MAY BE WHAT EVENTUALLY GROWS UPSCALE AND
AFFECTS WESTERN MN THIS EVENING...AND SLIDES ACROSS THE REST OF MN
AND WESTERN WI BETWEEN 04Z-10Z TONIGHT. NO SHORTAGE OF INSTABILITY
TO FEED THE CURRENT STORMS WITH 3000-4500 J/KG OF MLCAPE IN THE
EASTERN DAKOTAS AND WESTERN MN THIS AFTERNOON AND DCAPE VALUES
BETWEEN 1400-1600 J/KG. DEEP LAYER SHEAR IS ALSO SUFFICIENT FOR
SUPERCELL STRUCTURE...ALTHOUGH STORM MODE IN THIS CASE WILL LIKELY
BE DICTATED BY COOL POOL EVOLUTION. IN HOUSE WRF-ARW ALONG WITH
THE MORNING RUN OF THE NSSL WRF-ARW BOTH SUGGEST MORE OF A LINEAR
STRUCTURE OR AT LEAST A COUPLE BOWING SEGMENTS WITH A WIND AND
HAIL THREAT. PWATS ARE ALSO A CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO THE
POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN THIS EVENING...WILL HAVE TO MONITOR THE
ORIENTATION AND SPEED OF CONVECTION AS IT ENTERS THE FORECAST AREA.

THE ENTRANCE REGION OF 80-90+KT MID/UPPER LEVEL JET OVER THE
DAKOTAS IS HELPING THE UPWARD VERTICAL MOTION...AND THIS SHOULD
SLIDE EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING. CORFIDI VECTORS
WOULD ROLL THE COMPLEX ACROSS SOUTH/CENTRAL MN BETWEEN 02-06Z. A
COUPLE OF THE HRRR RUNS TODAY HAVE PAINTED A SLIGHTLY SEVERE
PICTURE. ALTHOUGH STILL INDICATING THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN
ORIGINATING OUT OF THE CURRENT ARE OF CONVECTION...IT DOES HAVE A
BIT MORE DEVELOPMENT SOUTHEAST OF THIS AREA NEAR THE NE/SD BORDER.
AT ANY RATE...WITH NO REINFORCING 850MB JET TONIGHT...THE FEELING
IS THAT THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE IN WESTERN MN. THERE SHOULD
BE A GRADUALLY WEAKENING WITH TIME.

NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN IS IN FAR SOUTHERN MN ON TUESDAY...WITH
FAIRLY STRONG FRONTOGENESIS AND WHAT WILL LIKELY BE A SHARP CUTOFF
IN RAINFALL. SURFACE HIGH EXPECTED TO KEEP MOST LOCATIONS IN THE
FORECAST AREA COOLER AND DRY. WARM AIR ADVECTION AND SHORTWAVE
TROUGH PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY. INCREASED POPS DURING THIS TIME FRAME GIVEN GOOD MODEL
AGREEMENT WITH 20-50DM HEIGHT FALLS A LOFT AND 850-700MB MOISTURE
TRANSPORT. ALTHOUGH MINOR TIMING ISSUES EXIST...12Z GFS AND ECMWF
QPF FIELDS ARE NOT TOO DISSIMILAR IN OVERALL PLACEMENT AND
INTENSITY. ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES ALMOST A CERTAINTY IN THE
EXTENDED WITH 590-594DM HEIGHTS MOVING OVERHEAD FOR THE WEEKEND.

&&

.AVIATION.../00Z TAF ISSUANCE/

THE PRIMARY CONCERNS WITH THIS SET OF AVIATION FORECASTS ARE THE
GUSTY THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE THUNDERSTORMS EVOLVING SOUTHEAST
ALONG THE ND/SD BORDER AT 520 PM ARE JUST NORTH OF A SURFACE LOW
PRESSURE AREA. AS THIS LOW EVOLVES EAST SO SHOULD THE STORMS INTO
THE EVENING...FEEDING ON INSTABILITY AND CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN
THEIR CURRENT STRENGTH OR EVEN INTENSIFY FURTHER. THE STORMS
SHOULD ALSO START DROPPING SOMEWHAT SOUTH OF EAST AS WELL. THIS
EVOLUTION AND PATH WOULD IMPACT MANY OF THE LOCAL AREA TAF
SITES...PARTICULARLY AXN AND RWF WHERE CONFIDENCE IS HIGHEST IN
HAVING THE STORMS BE NEAR THEIR PEAK INTENSITY AT THOSE POINTS IN
TIME. THE ATMOSPHERE IS FAVORABLE FOR THE STORMS TO CONTINUE TO
EVOLVE IN CLUSTERS AND LINES THUS PROMOTING GUSTY WINDS WITH THE
STORMS. HAVE ADAPTED THAT INTO TEMPO GROUPS FOR THE TWO HOUR
PERIODS IN WHICH THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOST FAVORED AT EACH
AIRPORT USING HIGH RESOLUTION MODEL GUIDANCE AND ACCOUNTING FOR
THE SLIGHTLY SLOW BIAS THEY OFTEN HAVE /AND ARE ALREADY HAVING
WITH CURRENT CONVECTION/. IN ADDITION...AFTER THE PASSAGE OF WELL-
ORGANIZED STORMS THE POTENTIAL FOR WINDS TO BRIEFLY SWING EAST-
SOUTHEAST AND BECOME GUSTY MAY VERY WELL OCCUR IN THIS SITUATION.
HAVE AT LEAST PROPOSED THAT WIND SHIFT INTO THE TAFS BEHIND THE
STORMS. THIS SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT TEMPORARY BEFORE WINDS SWING MORE
SOUTHWEST AND THEN WEST NORTHEAST SOON AFTER DAYBREAK. IN OTHER
WORDS...THE WIND FIELD MAY BE SOMEWHAT CHAOTIC IN THE WAKE OF THE
STORMS...BUT HAVE DONE THE BEST TO ADAPT WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IN
SUCH A SCENARIO. THIS WILL NEED TO BE EVEN FURTHER REFINED WITH
FUTURE TAF UPDATES. THANKFULLY MUCH OF THIS LOOKS TO COME DURING
THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. TEMPORARY MVFR IS LIKELY WITH IFR POSSIBLE.

AXN AND RWF...BOTH AIRPORTS ARE HIGHLY LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE
THUNDERSTORMS...AND THOSE COULD BE SEVERE WITH STRONG WINDS ON THE
LEADING EDGE AND POSSIBLY LARGE HAIL IN THE HEART OF THE STORMS.
AXN IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HAVING STORMS AS EARLY AS 00Z. RWF MAY SEE
STORMS LAG LONGER THAN THE CURRENT THREE AND A HALF HOUR WINDOW IN
THE TAF. BUT THE STRONGEST STORMS SHOULD ARRIVE NEAR THE BEGINNING
OF THAT TEMPORAL WINDOW.

MSP...CONFIDENCE IN THUNDERSTORM TIMING IS INCREASING...BUT THERE
STILL REMAINS UNCERTAINTY. IF THE CURRENT THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
BECOMES EVEN MORE WELL-ORGANIZED SOON IT WILL INCREASE IN SPEED
EARLIER THAN THOUGH. THAT WOULD BRING IT IN TO MSP POSSIBLY AS
EARLY AS 0330Z. THE EAST WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE STORMS ARE NOT
NECESSARILY WITH THE HIGHEST CONFIDENCE AS VERY FEW MODELS ARE
SHOWING THAT. BUT IT OFTEN HAPPENS WITH SUCH A STORM EVOLUTION.
THE SOUTHWEST TO WEST WIND DIRECTION DURING THE MORNING RUSH IS
WITH LOW CONFIDENCE...AND COULD BE MORE WEST NORTHWEST. THE SPEEDS
THOUGH SHOULD BE UNDER 10 KNOTS BY 11Z.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...NONE.
WI...NONE.

&&

CLF/MTF

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1051 AM CDT SUN JUL 10 2011

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
111600-
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-
BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
1051 AM CDT SUN JUL 10 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA... AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THROUGH
TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS ARE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND
LARGE HAIL. THE BEST CHANCE OF WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WILL
BEGIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING IN WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN
SPREAD ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA IN THE OVERNIGHT. IN
ADDITION...SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH MAY
CAUSE ISOLATED FLOODING. RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ACROSS THE AREA
ARE URGED TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
THE LATEST INFORMATION... FORECASTS...AND WARNINGS. MAKE SURE YOUR
NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALERT SETTING IS TURNED ON TO ENSURE RECEIVING
ANY WATCHES OR WARNINGS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY LINGER INTO MONDAY MORNING AS A COLD
FRONT CROSSES THE REGION FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST. THERE IS A
SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA...MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM SPRINGFIELD TO
WATERVILLE. THE MAIN HAZARDS ARE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND
LARGE HAIL...AND THE BEST TIMING WOULD BE BEFORE NOON.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY AS A WARM FRONT SLOWLY APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST DURING
THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND MOVES THROUGH THE AREA BY THE END OF THE
WEEK. AT THIS POINT...IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE SEVERE WEATHER
POTENTIAL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING AND IN THE
OVERNIGHT.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
634 PM CDT SUN JUL 10 2011

MNZ041-042-047>049-055-057-110100-
DOUGLAS-KANDIYOHI-POPE-STEARNS-STEVENS-SWIFT-TODD-
634 PM CDT SUN JUL 10 2011

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO/DEVELOPING OVER DOUGLAS...KANDIYOHI...
POPE...STEARNS...STEVENS...SWIFT AND TODD COUNTIES THROUGH 800 PM
CDT...

AT 630 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTH OF BATTLE
LAKE TO 11 MILES WEST OF BIG STONE CITY. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THESE STORMS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WINDS NEAR OR ABOVE 60
MPH. IN ADDITION TO THE WIND...LARGE HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS. THE STORMS ARE BEING MONITORED AND WARNINGS MAY BE
NEEDED THIS EVENING.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  MELBY.
  EVANSVILLE.
  MILLERVILLE.
  LEAF VALLEY.
  MORRIS.
  MILTONA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES...TREE
LIMBS...AND POWERLINES. SEEK SAFE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

&&

LAT...LON 4635 9465 4578 9465 4577 9449 4533 9458
      4532 9477 4511 9476 4534 9612 4540 9613
      4542 9625 4576 9627 4577 9577 4610 9578
      4611 9516 4631 9517 4637 9515 4638 9473
TIME...MOT...LOC 2331Z 300DEG 40KT 4618 9566 4528 9668