Special Weather Statement, NWS Twin Cities, MN

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
333 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

.DISCUSSION...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND RAINFALL AMOUNTS THIS MORNING...AND
AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WERE THE PRIMARY CONCERN IN THE
FORECAST...WITH DEGREE OF DRYING AND WIND SPEEDS ON WEDNESDAY THE
NEXT CHALLENGING PART OF THE FORECAST.

MESOSCALE THROUGH THIS MORNING...AN IMPRESSIVE BOWLING BALL-TYPE
UPPER LEVEL LOW/POTENTIAL VORTICITY ANOMALY WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS
THE AREA THIS MORNING. WITHIN THE WARM AIR AND INITIAL LEAD VORT
ADVECTION HAS DEVELOPED A COMPLEX ACROSS NORTHERN IA/FAR SOUTHERN
MN...WITH INITIALLY ELEVATED CELLS FORMING ON THE NORTH SIDE. HIGH
MUCAPE VALUES FOR EARLY MORNING...AT 2500 TO 5000 J/KG EXIST
ACROSS THE AREA AND CONTINUE TO ADVECT IN. STORMS HAVE QUICKLY
REACHED LOCAL RESEARCHED HAIL THRESHOLDS...MAXING OUT NEAR HALF
DOLLAR SIZE. ASSOCIATED DOWNDRAFT CAPE IS ALSO HIGH...IN EXCESS
OF 1200 J/KG. SO BOTH HAIL AND WINDS ARE THREATS ACROSS SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA THROUGH 8 AM. IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF THE UPPER LOW IS AN
MCS THAT HAS BEEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN IT LOOKS DUE TO A PROLONGED
COLD POOL FROM BACK IN CENTRAL ND AND LIKELY MIXING OF SOME OF THE
STRONGER MID-LEVEL WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW. THIS SHOULD WANT
TO CONTINUE TO PROPAGATE DOWN THE INTERSTATE 94 CORRIDOR AND SOUTH
OF IT...ESPECIALLY WITH THE DYNAMIC FORCING USHERING IT IN.
EXPLICIT CONVECTIVE MODELS...WHILE OFF ON PLACEMENT...DO SHOW THIS
AREA HOLDING TOGETHER THROUGH THE 8 AM AREA...WHICH WOULD BRING
GUSTY STORMS INTO THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA. THE OUTFLOW MAY GET
OUT AHEAD OF THE STORMS...SO THEY MAY BE FAVORED TO DROP BELOW
SEVERE LIMITS BY THAT POINT...BUT WILL LIKELY BE AT LEAST CLOSE.
DURING THE MID TO LATE MORNING...REGENERATING STORMS ACROSS
WESTERN WISCONSIN/SOUTHEAST MN ARE FAVORED TO OCCUR...NORTHEAST
OF THE WARM FRONT AND AHEAD OF THE UPPER LOW. SEVERE POTENTIAL
WOULD CONTINUE WITH THAT.

THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...IN THE WAKE OF THE MORNING WAVE THERE
SHOULD CERTAINLY BE MID-LEVEL SUPPRESSION...SUPPORTED BY MODEL
FORECASTS OF MINOR SHORT WAVE RIDGING. A SURFACE PRE-FRONTAL
TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO CLEAR THE WESTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA
THIS AFTERNOON...LIKELY REACHING THE TWIN CITIES NEAR 6 PM. THIS
WILL TURN WINDS WESTERLY AND ADVECT IN SOMEWHAT DRIER AIR. THIS
FAVORABLE WIND DIRECTION...SOME DRYING TO NEAR 60F DEW
POINTS...AND DOWNSLOPE FLOW WILL SUPPORT HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE
MID 90S ACROSS MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL MN AND DOWN THE MN RIVER
VALLEY TOWARDS MANKATO. NAM HYSPLIT TRAJECTORIES INDICATE 2M
PARCELS AT 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON OVER MARSHALL COMING FROM SOUTHEAST
MT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON...WITH NEARLY 9000 FT OF DESCENT.
TEMPERATURES YESTERDAY IN THAT AREA WERE IN THE UPPER 90S...AND
HAVE SOME ISOLATED TEMPERATURES THAT HIGH IN THE FORECAST FOR
WESTERN MN. AS FOR THUNDERSTORMS...REDEVELOPMENT WILL BE HINDERED
BY THE AFOREMENTIONED SUPPRESSION...CAPPING TEMPERATURES INVOF AND
AHEAD OF THE SURFACE TROUGH...AND MORNING CLOUD COVER. WESTERN WI
WOULD BE THE MOST FAVORED AREA TO SEE EITHER REDEVELOPMENT OR
LINGERING SCATTERED SHOWERS/STORMS. STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES
WOULD SUPPORT SOME STRONGER STORMS IF THEY OCCUR. THIS EVENING
SHOULD SEE PRIMARILY CLEAR SKIES ACROSS THE WESTERN FORECAST
AREA...AND POSSIBLY ALL OF THE AREA...WITH THE PRIMARY COLD FRONT
DROPPING SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE REGION OVERNIGHT.

WINDY WEDNESDAY...SIMULATED WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATES DEEP
DRYING ACROSS THE AREA BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. NAM FORECAST 23.00
SOUNDINGS INDICATE UNIDIRECTIONAL VERTICAL FLOW AND STEEP LOW-
LEVEL RATES WITHIN THE SUNNY AND COOL AIR ADVECTION PATTERN. HAVE
INCREASED WINDS...GOING MORE TOWARDS THE NMMWRF...WHICH TENDS TO
DO WELL IN THE GUSTIER NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERNS. MIX DOWN POTENTIAL
ON THE NAM WOULD FAVOR THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SCATTERED 40 MPH
GUSTS DURING THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. DESPITE THE COOL AIR
ADVECTION AND DEEP NORTHWEST FLOW...HIGHS WILL STILL BE AROUND
NORMAL ON WEDNESDAY. MIXING OF DEW POINTS ON NAM SOUNDINGS
INDICATES WIDESPREAD MID 40S AND HAVE TAKEN THE FORECAST DEW
POINTS IN THAT DIRECTION.

LATE WEEK SYSTEM...A PACIFIC SYSTEM WILL BRING A COOL FRONT
SOUTHEAST ON FRIDAY. MOISTURE RETURN AHEAD OF THIS IS STILL
INDICATED TO BE WEAK...WITH A POSSIBLE LEAD SHORT WAVE LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING STARVED FOR MOISTURE.
CONVERGENCE ALONG THE FRONT DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING
MAY BE MORE SUPPORTIVE FOR SOME SCATTERED STORM DEVELOPMENT.
SEVERE PARAMETERS ARE SOMEWHAT MORE LIMITED THAN IN EARLIER MODEL
RUNS AND PRESSURES ARE A LITTLE HIGH /1011MB PLUS ON THE 23.00 EC/.
MID 80S LOOK FAVORED AHEAD OF THE FRONT...WITH UPPER 80S POSSIBLE
IF SUNNY.

&&

.AVIATION.../06Z TAF ISSUANCE/

APPROACHING LOW LEVEL PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH COMBINED WITH LARGE
ROTATING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE PUSHING THROUGH THE DAKOTAS
WITHIN A WARM AND HUMID AIRMASS WILL CREATE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS INTO LATE TUESDAY
MORNING. DIFFICULT TO TIME THE PRECIP INTO THE TERMINALS EVEN WITH
00Z MODELS AS MOST MODEL INITIALIZATIONS ARE RATHER POOR...SO HAVE
TRIED TO TREND RECENT RADAR IMAGERY WHILE NOT MAKING TOO MANY
CHANGES FROM INHERITED 00Z TAF SET. WILL LOOK FOR CONVECTION TO
IMPACT WESTERN TERMINALS MAINLY IN THE 07Z-11Z TIMEFRAME...THEN
ENTERING THE EASTERN TERMINALS IN THE 10Z-14Z TIMEFRAME. AM
HESITANT TO BRING CONDITIONS DOWN TO IFR LEVELS FOR THE DURATION
OF THE CONVECTIVE TEMPO GROUPS...BUT TO HAVE SOME PERIODS OF IFR
IN HEAVY RAIN/TSTMS MAY BE INEVITABLE. WILL OBVIOUSLY MONITOR AND
AMEND AS NEEDED. PRECIP SHOULD BE CLEAR OF THE TERMINALS BY
APPROXIMATELY 14Z- 16Z...THEN WILL LOOK FOR CEILINGS TO GRADUALLY
LIFT AND SCATTER OUT AS DRIER AND MORE STABLE AIR ENTERS WITH A
COLD FRONT FOR LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. WINDS WILL REMAIN
MAINLY FROM THE S THROUGH TONIGHT THEN VEER TO SW DURING THE DAY
TMRW. IF TSTMS DIRECTLY IMPACT THE TERMINALS...DIRECTIONS AND
SPEEDS WILL BE CONVECTIVELY DRIVEN AND COULD BE FROM THE W OR NW
BEFORE RESTORING TO THE MORE PREDOMINANT SW.

MSP...CUMULUS CLOUDS WILL GRADUALLY MOVE IN AND DEVELOP FURTHER
DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BUT AM NOT EXPECTING CONVECTION TO
IMPACT THE TERMINAL UNTIL AFTER 08Z-09Z AND LAST THROUGH ABOUT
DAYBREAK. HAVE HELD CONDITIONS AT THE LOWER RANGE OF MVFR...WITH
THE POSSIBILITY OF IFR CONDITIONS WITHHELD FOR NOW BUT NOT TO BE
RULED OUT. WILL AMEND IF/AS NEEDED. CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL WILL WANE
BY LATE MORNING AND WILL LOOK FOR ANY AND ALL PRECIP TO EXIT THE
KMSP AREA BY AROUND 16Z. CIGS WILL LIFT AND SCATTER OUT THROUGH
THE AFTN HOURS. WINDS WILL REMAIN MAINLY FROM THE S...BUT WILL
SHIFT TO THE SW BY LATE IN THE DAY. SPEEDS COULD EXCEED 12 KT AND
BECOME GUSTY IN THE AFTN...AND WINDS MAY BE MORE VRBL IN AND NEAR
TSTMS.

&&

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

&&

MTF/JPC

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
402 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
241100-
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-
402 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF WHICH WILL BE SEVERE...WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY MORNING ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND TEMPORARY VERY HEAVY RAINFALL
RATES. THE GREATEST WIND THREAT WILL EXIST WITHIN A CORRIDOR ST.
CLOUD TO GRANITE FALLS...SOUTHEAST TOWARDS HUTCHINSON...
MANKATO...AND THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN TWIN CITIES METRO AREA.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL LINGER THROUGH THE MID TO LATE
MORNING ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA AND
WESTERN WISCONSIN. THERE ALSO IS POTENTIAL FOR SOME OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS TO REDEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON ACROSS THIS AREA.
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR THESE STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE...WITH
LARGE HAIL AND SCATTERED STRONG WINDS BEING THE PRIMARY THREATS.

THE COMBINATION OF WARM TEMPERATURES AND MOISTURE WILL CREATE
HEAT INDEX VALUES NEAR 100 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHWEST
AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

BEHIND A COLD FRONT...NORTHWEST WINDS DURING THE LATE MORNING AND
AFTERNOON ON WEDNESDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUSTAINED NEAR
30 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT
WITH ANOTHER COLD FRONT. AT THIS TIME...WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER
IS NOT FAVORED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED WITHIN THE WATCH AREA
THROUGH 8 AM...AND MAY BE NEEDED AFTERWARD IN EASTERN AREAS.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
329 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0324 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PRIOR LAKE              44.73N 93.43W
08/23/2011                   SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POWER OUTAGE REPORTED BY PRIOR LAKE POLICE. UNKNOWN
            CAUSE.

&&

CARLYON

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
340 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

MNZ060-062-063-069-070-230930-
DAKOTA-HENNEPIN-RAMSEY-SCOTT-WASHINGTON-
340 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO/DEVELOPING OVER DAKOTA...HENNEPIN...
RAMSEY...SCOTT AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES THROUGH 430 AM CDT...

AT 335 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BLOOMINGTON TO CASTLE
ROCK. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  LAKEVILLE.
  RANDOLPH.
  MENDOTA.
  SUNFISH.
  WEST ST PAUL.
  ST PAUL PARK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

&&

LAT...LON 4481 9343 4498 9297 4463 9278 4463 9280
      4456 9280 4454 9332
TIME...MOT...LOC 0840Z 245DEG 28KT 4487 9328 4461 9318

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
428 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

MNZ044-050>052-059>061-065>068-073>075-231015-
ANOKA-BENTON-BROWN-CARVER-HENNEPIN-ISANTI-MCLEOD-MILLE
LACS-NICOLLET-REDWOOD-RENVILLE-SHERBURNE-SIBLEY-WRIGHT-
428 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

AT 421 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR ST. CLOUD TO
LITCHFIELD TO NEAR REDWOOD FALLS. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT
30 TO 40 MPH.

HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE AND WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  DANUBE.
  VESTA.
  SAUK RAPIDS.
  MAYHEW.
  GILMAN.
  FOLEY.
  HUTCHINSON.
  ST. CLOUD.
  BUFFALO.
  REDWOOD FALLS.
  GLENCOE.
  MILACA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

&&

LAT...LON 4573 9348 4573 9316 4479 9386 4436 9473
      4454 9557 4454 9537 4472 9539 4490 9501
      4489 9450 4498 9449 4498 9426 4530 9426
      4530 9416 4543 9405 4562 9421 4567 9419
      4578 9427 4582 9424
TIME...MOT...LOC 0926Z 270DEG 25KT 4569 9419 4501 9463
          4462 9545

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
445 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

MNZ060>063-068>070-231100-
ANOKA-CARVER-DAKOTA-HENNEPIN-RAMSEY-SCOTT-WASHINGTON-
445 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO ROLL ACROSS THE METRO...

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS AND SOME HAIL WILL
PUSH RAPIDLY ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES METRO EARLY THIS MORNING.  THE
LEADING EDGE OF THESE STORMS WILL REACH THE WESTERN METRO
COMMUNITIES OF BELLE PLAIN...WATERTOWN...ROCKFORD...AND ELK RIVER
BETWEEN 5 AM AND 520 AM.  THEY WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MINNEAPOLIS AND
ST. PAUL AREAS AS WELL AS AREAS NEAR LINO LAKES AND PRIOR LAKE
BETWEEN 520 AM AND 600 AM BEFORE SWEEPING ACROSS THE REST OF THE
METRO.  SOME STREET FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. IF THESE STORMS
INTENSITY IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WARNINGS COULD BE ISSUED.

MNZ045-052-053-231100-
CHISAGO-ISANTI-KANABEC-
445 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS AND SOME HAIL WILL
PUSH RAPIDLY ACROSS EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA EARLY THIS MORNING.  THE
LEADING EDGE OF THESE STORMS WILL REACH MORA AND CAMBRIDGE BETWEEN
515 AND 530 AM BEFORE CONTINUING ON TOWARD RUSH CITY AND LINDSTROM.
SOME STREET FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. IF THESE STORMS INTENSITY IT
IS POSSIBLE THAT WARNINGS COULD BE ISSUED.

MNZ067-075-076-083-231100-
BLUE EARTH-LE SUEUR-NICOLLET-SIBLEY-
445 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS AND SOME HAIL WILL
PUSH RAPIDLY ACROSS THE NEW ULM...MANKATO...ST. PETER...GAYLORD AND
NICOLLET AREAS BETWEEN 500 AND 530 AM.   SOME STREET FLOODING IS ALSO
POSSIBLE. IF THESE STORMS INTENSITY IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WARNINGS
COULD BE ISSUED.

BAP

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
536 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0459 AM     TSTM WND GST     BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
08/23/2011  M63 MPH          WRIGHT             MN   MESONET

            BUFFALO AIRPORT AWOS 0959Z.

&&

CARLYON

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
552 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

MNZ063-WIZ023-231130-
ST. CROIX-WASHINGTON-
552 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OVER WASHINGTON AND ST. CROIX COUNTIES
THROUGH 630 AM CDT...

AT 549 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES EAST OF HAM LAKE TO
EAGAN. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH BUT SLOWLY WEAKENING.

WINDS UP TO 50 MPH FOR UP TO 20 MINUTES ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS IN WASHINGTON AND ST. CROIX COUNTIES. A WARNING MAY STILL BE
NEEDED IF THE STORMS RE-INTENSIFY.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  FOREST LAKE.
  LANDFALL.
  WOODBURY.
  SCANDIA.
  OTISVILLE.
  NORTH HUDSON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

&&

LAT...LON 4521 9275 4521 9250 4486 9251 4487 9277
      4479 9279 4479 9302 4481 9300 4488 9301
      4489 9298 4512 9298 4513 9302 4529 9302
      4529 9276
TIME...MOT...LOC 1051Z 271DEG 28KT 4526 9310 4483 9312