Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 5, NWS Grand Forks, ND

May 3, 2012Otter Tail County, Wadena County, Wilkin County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2012, 12:37 AM CDT for Otter Tail County, Wadena County, Wilkin County, Minnesota. It was in force for 53 min. 4 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 3, 2012, 12:37 AM CDT (05:37 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2012, 1:30 AM CDT
In force: 53 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 70.0 mph

Counties Otter Tail County, MN, Wadena County, MN, Wilkin County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 179 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:39 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 3, 12:40 AM CDT	TSTM WND GST 50	Fergus Falls, MN	OBSERVATION FROM WEATHERBUG AT PRAIRIRE WETLAND LEARNING CENTER.
May 3, 12:50 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	9 Ne Fergus Falls, MN	FERGUS FALLS DAILY JOURNAL REPORTS WEETOWN AREA NEAR FISH LAKE HAD BOATS BLOWN ONTO ROADS, TIPPED FISH HOUSES AND TRAILERS, AND TREES BLOWN DOWN. WINDS ESTIMATED AT 50 TO 70 MPH.
May 3, 12:55 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	8 Ne Fergus Falls, MN	FERGUS FALLS DAILY JOURNAL REPORTS WEETOWN AREA NEAR FISH LAKE HAD BOATS BLOWN ONTO ROADS, TIPPED FISH HOUSES AND TRAILERS, AND TREES BLOWN DOWN. WINDS ESTIMATED AT 50 TO 70 MPH.
May 3, 1:00 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Wnw Phelps, MN	DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS TRACKED FROM THE FISH LAKE AREA INTO THE WEST LONG LAKE AREA TO NEAR PHELPS MILL. SEVERAL POPLAR TREES WERE SNAPPED... SOME SHINGLES AND HOUSE TRIM WAS TORN LOOSE... AND ONE LOOSELY ANCHORED SHED WAS THROWN ACROSS THE ROAD AND DESTR

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 00:00Z, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 234 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 84 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -59 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1937 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 134 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

993 
WUUS53 KFGF 030537
SVRFGF
MNC111-159-167-030630-
/O.NEW.KFGF.SV.W.0005.120503T0537Z-120503T0630Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1237 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  OTTER TAIL COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  SOUTHWESTERN WADENA COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  EAST CENTRAL WILKIN COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 130 AM CDT

* AT 1234 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THE STORM WAS LOCATED 2 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF FOXHOME...OR 9 MILES WEST OF FERGUS FALLS...MOVING TO
  THE EAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  FERGUS FALLS...ERHARD AND ELIZABETH AROUND 1245 AM CDT.
  PELICAN RAPIDS AROUND 1250 AM CDT.
  MAPLEWOOD STATE PARK...LAKE LIDA AND EDWARDS AROUND 1255 AM CDT.
  UNDERWOOD AROUND 100 AM CDT.

THEREAFTER SOME OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
INCLUDE DALTON...STAR LAKE...BATTLE LAKE...RICHVILLE...PERHAM AND
HENNING.

FOR MOTORISTS ON INTERSTATE 94...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE
BETWEEN...MILE MARKER 50 AROUND 1240 AM CDT...AND MILE MARKER 56
AROUND 1245 AM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.

&&

LAT...LON 4652 9638 4672 9519 4636 9509 4636 9515
      4611 9514 4611 9629
TIME...MOT...LOC 0537Z 262DEG 40KT 4630 9622
WIND...HAIL 70MPH 1.00IN

$$

ROGERS

3 follow-up statements

222 
WWUS53 KFGF 030601
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
101 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

MNC167-030610-
/O.CAN.KFGF.SV.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120503T0630Z/
WILKIN MN-
101 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL WILKIN COUNTY IN
WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 4657 9604 4672 9519 4636 9509 4636 9515
      4611 9514 4611 9593
TIME...MOT...LOC 0600Z 262DEG 40KT 4635 9585

$$

MNC111-159-030630-
/O.CON.KFGF.SV.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120503T0630Z/
WADENA MN-OTTER TAIL MN-
101 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN
WADENA COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND OTTER TAIL COUNTY IN WEST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA UNTIL 130 AM CDT...

AT 1257 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.  THE STORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES
NORTH OF UNDERWOOD...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF FERGUS FALLS...MOVING TO
THE EAST AT 45 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  BATTLE LAKE...STAR LAKE AND AMOR AROUND 105 AM CDT.
  OTTERTAIL LAKE...DENT AND CLITHERALL AROUND 110 AM CDT.
  RICHVILLE AROUND 115 AM CDT.
  PERHAM...VINING AND URBANK AROUND 120 AM CDT.

THEREAFTER SOME OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
INCLUDE BIG MCDONALD LAKE...OTTERTAIL...HENNING...WADENA...NEW YORK
MILLS AND PARKERS PRAIRIE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.

&&

LAT...LON 4657 9604 4672 9519 4636 9509 4636 9515
      4611 9514 4611 9593
TIME...MOT...LOC 0600Z 262DEG 40KT 4635 9585

$$

ROGERS

514 
WWUS53 KFGF 030617
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
117 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

MNC111-159-030630-
/O.CON.KFGF.SV.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120503T0630Z/
WADENA MN-OTTER TAIL MN-
117 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN
WADENA COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND EASTERN OTTER TAIL COUNTY IN
WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA UNTIL 130 AM CDT...

AT 115 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THE STORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF OTTERTAIL LAKE...OR 23 MILES EAST OF FERGUS FALLS...
MOVING TO THE EAST AT 45 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  PARKERS PRAIRIE...HENNING AND ALMORA AROUND 125 AM CDT.
  WADENA...NEW YORK MILLS AND WRIGHTSTOWN AROUND 130 AM CDT.

THEREAFTER SOME OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
INCLUDE HILLVIEW...DEER CREEK...BUTLER AND BLUFFTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.

&&

LAT...LON 4611 9573 4662 9577 4672 9519 4636 9509
      4636 9515 4611 9514
TIME...MOT...LOC 0617Z 262DEG 40KT 4638 9558

$$

ROGERS

106 
WWUS53 KFGF 030627
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
127 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

MNC111-159-030637-
/O.EXP.KFGF.SV.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120503T0630Z/
WADENA MN-OTTER TAIL MN-
127 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN WADENA COUNTY IN
CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND EASTERN OTTER TAIL COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA WILL EXPIRE AT 130 AM CDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.
HOWEVER GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 4611 9573 4662 9577 4672 9519 4636 9509
      4636 9515 4611 9514
TIME...MOT...LOC 0627Z 262DEG 40KT 4639 9542

$$

ROGERS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 6:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Otter Tail	25 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2012 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

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.