Special Weather Statement, NWS Twin Cities, MN

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
400 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

.DISCUSSION...

TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...A QUASI-STATIONARY SFC FRONT CONTINUES TO
WOBBLE SOUTH OF THE WFO MPX CWFA WHILE FLOW ALOFT IS TRANSITIONING
FROM ZONAL TO A SW-NE ORIENTATION. DEEP MOISTURE ADVECTION INTO
THE AREA HAS KEPT NOT ONLY TEMPERATURES DOWN BUT DEWPOINTS UP...
AND DEWPOINT DEPRESSIONS UP THRU H7 HAVE BEEN 5 DEGREES OR LESS.
FORECAST SOUNDINGS ACRS THE AREA INDICATE THE SAME MOIST
ATMOSPHERE WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA OVERNIGHT INTO TMRW MRNG.
COMPOUNDING THE CONCERNS FOR HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT IS THAT THE
CONVECTION SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA SAW TODAY CAME IN MUCH
EARLIER THAN MODELS INDICATED...ALLOWING THE ATMOSPHERE TO
RELOAD...IN A MATTER OF SPEAKING. OVER THE DAKOTAS...AN OCCLUDED
FRONT WITH PLENTY OF DEEP MOISTURE WILL TRANSITION EAST... THUS
MAKING FOR MOISTURE ADVECTION FROM BOTH THE EAST AND SOUTH. STRONG
OMEGA LIFT AT MULTIPLE LEVELS IN CONJUNCTION WITH H85 AND H7
SHORTWAVE TROUGHS WILL ALL COME TOGETHER TO PRODUCE PLENTY OF
RAINFALL LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TMRW. HAVE RAMPED UP POPS TO
CATEGORICAL LEVELS AND AFTER COLLAB WITH SURROUNDING OFFICES HAVE
ISSUES A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF
THE AREA THROUGH TMRW AFTN. HPC PUTS A MODERATE RISK OF EXCESSIVE
RAINFALL OVER SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA. QPF AMOUNTS WILL
BE IN THE 1-2 INCH RANGE...POSSIBLY UP TO 3 INCHES. AND...THESE
RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD EASILY TRANSLATE EAST INTO WESTERN WI SO
THERE IS A CHANCE THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH COULD BE EXTENDED EASTWARD
ON SUNDAY. THE RAINFALL WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH FROM WEST TO EAST
LATE TOMORROW MORNING THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON WITH ONLY CHANCE RANGE
POPS BY LATE AFTERNOON. MUCH LIKE TODAY...TEMPERATURES WILL BE
SUPPRESSED DUE TO PLENTY OF CLOUDS AND RAINFALL COMPLICATIONS FOR
TONIGHT THRU TMRW. AFTER HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 50S AND 60S
TDA...LOWS WILL ONLY DROP GENERALLY TO THE 50-60 DEGREE RANGE.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HIGHS RANGING FROM 60-70 SUNDAY.

SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...THE COLD/OCCLUDED FRONT WILL SHIFT
SOUTH AND EAST OF THE WFO MPX CWFA TMRW EVENING...RESULTING IN A
DRIER W-NE SFC FLOW TMRW NIGHT. HOWEVER...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW
NUDGING THE SYSTEM ALONG WILL BECOME DEEPER AND CUT OFF OVER FAR
NRN ND SUN NIGHT. THE LOW WILL THEN STALL OUT NEAR/NORTH OF
INTERNATIONAL FALLS ON MONDAY...ROTATING ADDITIONAL MOISTURE SOUTH
INTO CENTRAL MN AND THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES. ANY RAINFALL SHOULD
BE CONFINED TO THE NORTHERN HALF OF MN MONDAY...THOUGH SOME
SPRINKLES ARE POSSIBLE INTO ALONG-NORTH OF I-94. HAVE KEPT POPS AS
AN UNMENTIONABLE 10 PERCENT. THE UPPER LOW WILL THEN DROP SE INTO
NE MN AND NRN WI...WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT INCRG ON THE WRN AND SRN
FRINGES OF THE UPPER LOW. THIS WILL PRODUCE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
SHWRS/TSTMS FOR THE DAY ON TUE BUT HEAVY RAIN IS NOT EXPECTED.
TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON THE COOL SIDE AS MODIFIED CANADIAN AIR
DROPS INTO THE REGION. HIGHS WILL ONLY REACH THE 50S AND 60S WITH
LOWS IN THE 40S.

WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...A MORE TRANQUIL PERIOD OF WX IS
EXPECTED MID-TO-LATE WEEK AS PRONOUNCED NW UPPER FLOW TRANSITIONS
TO AN UPPER RIDGE MOVING ACRS THE REGION. AT THE SFC...HIGH
PRESSURE BEHIND THE DEPARTING UPPER LOW WILL DROP IN...ALLOWING
FOR DRIER CONDITIONS. WITH THE RIDGE APPROACHING...TEMPERATURES
WILL GO ON A BIT OF A WARMING TREND...BRINGING HIGHS BACK TO THE
LOWER 70S. THERE ARE SMALL POPS INCLUDED FOR FRIDAY AS A WEAK
CDFNT MAY DROP THROUGH THE REGION...FOLLOWED BY COOLER
TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY.

&&

.AVIATION.../18Z TAF ISSUANCE/

THE CURRENT LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS PERSISTED FOR THE LAST
SEVERAL HOURS NOW AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF DIMINISHING ANYTIME SOON.
ALTHOUGH THE LARGE HAIL THREAT HAS SOMEWHAT DIMINISHED THERE IS
STILL A LOT OF LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN WITH THIS LINE. THE
THUNDERSTORM THREAT WILL BE CONFINED TO AIRPORTS ALONG AND SOUTH
OF A LINE FROM KRWF...TO KMSP...TO JUST SOUTH OF KRNH...TO KEAU.
KSTC AND KAXN WILL JUST SEE LIGHT RAIN UNTIL THUNDERSTORM CHANCES
INCREASE TONIGHT. BESIDES THE ACTIVITY THIS AFTERNOON...ANOTHER
ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH IFR/MVFR
CONDITIONS LINGERING BEHIND THE INITIAL BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY
RAINFALL.

KMSP...COUPLE HOUR WINDOW OF THUNDER IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON
WITH THE CURRENT LINE MOVING EAST. MOST OF THE CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING WILL BE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT ALONG WITH THE HEAVIEST
DOWNPOURS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. PLENTY OF IN-CLOUD LIGHTNING
AROUND THE AIRPORT BETWEEN 1945-2100Z. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACT
TO MIX THE ATMOSPHERE...SO THE CEILINGS SHOULD ACTUALLY IMPROVE
BEHIND THE RAIN. A SECOND ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.

OUTLOOK...
SUNDAY...MVFR WITH SHRA/TSRA POSSIBLE EARLY IN THE DAY...DRIZZLE
MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS LINGERING BEHIND THE RAIN.
MONDAY...VFR WITH NORTHWEST WINDS 15-20KTS.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR BLUE EARTH-BROWN-
     CARVER-CHIPPEWA-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-KANDIYOHI-LAC QUI PARLE-
     LE SUEUR-MARTIN-MCLEOD-MEEKER-NICOLLET-POPE-REDWOOD-
     RENVILLE-RICE-SCOTT-SIBLEY-STEARNS-STEELE-STEVENS-SWIFT-
     WASECA-WATONWAN-WRIGHT-YELLOW MEDICINE.

WI...NONE.
&&

JPC/CLF

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
459 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

MNZ047>049-054>059-064>069-073>077-082>085-091>093-061200-
STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-
MEEKER-WRIGHT-YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-
STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
459 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO RE-DEVELOP OVER THE
AREA LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. PERIODS OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED...MAINLY DURING THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS...LEADING TO ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. IN
ADDITION...THERE IS A SMALL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS... MAINLY
FOR FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. PRIMARY HAZARDS INCLUDE DAMAGING WINDS
AND LARGE HAIL WITH A SECONDARY HAZARD OF ISOLATED TORNADOES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST FOR SUNDAY AND TUESDAY. THERE
IS A SMALL CHANCE A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE ON SUNDAY IN FAR
SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FOR PARTS OF WESTERN AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA LATE TONIGHT INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. IN
ADDITION TO SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS...HEAVY RAINFALL REPORTS ARE
REQUESTED.

MNZ041>045-050>053-060>063-070-078-WIZ014>016-023>028-061200-
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-
CHISAGO-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-DAKOTA-GOODHUE-POLK-
BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
459 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...WEST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA...NORTHWEST WISCONSIN AND WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO RE-DEVELOP OVER THE
AREA LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. PERIODS OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY FROM THE TWIN
CITIES THROUGH EAU CLAIRE...MAINLY DURING THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS. NUISANCE FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITH A SMALL CHANCE OF
ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING. THERE IS A LOW CHANCE OF STORMS BECOME
SEVERE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST FOR SUNDAY AND TUESDAY. NONE OF
THIS ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN
MINNESOTA THROUGH WESTERN WISCONSIN. HOWEVER...HEAVY RAINFALL
REPORTS ARE REQUESTED.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
223 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

MNZ084-085-092-093-052015-
FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-STEELE-WASECA-
223 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO/DEVELOPING OVER FARIBAULT...FREEBORN...
STEELE AND WASECA COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM CDT...

AT 222 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RUSKIN
TO GENEVA TO 10 MILES SOUTH OF KIESTER. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST
AT 35 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  CONGER.
  ALBERT LEA.
  BIXBY.
  HAYWARD.
  GLENVILLE.
  MYRTLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

&&

LAT...LON 4388 9355 4419 9340 4419 9304 4349 9305
      4350 9401
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 282DEG 29KT 4419 9307 4382 9329
          4340 9376

SPD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
237 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

MNZ063-070-078-WIZ024>026-052030-
DAKOTA-DUNN-GOODHUE-PEPIN-PIERCE-WASHINGTON-
237 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO/DEVELOPING OVER DAKOTA...DUNN...
GOODHUE...PEPIN...PIERCE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM
CDT...

AT 232 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES WEST OF RIVER FALLS
TO HADER TO BLOOMING PRAIRIE. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40
MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  WELCH.
  DIAMOND BLUFF.
  HAGER CITY.
  ESDAILE.
  MARTEL.
  FRONTENAC.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

&&

LAT...LON 4447 9304 4447 9313 4487 9299 4486 9215
      4489 9213 4489 9188 4459 9192 4458 9202
      4440 9209 4445 9225 4445 9241 4437 9242
      4435 9254 4419 9256 4419 9304
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 268DEG 39KT 4487 9264 4438 9271
          4387 9299

SPD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
331 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

WIZ023>028-052130-
CHIPPEWA-DUNN-EAU CLAIRE-PEPIN-PIERCE-ST. CROIX-
331 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CHIPPEWA...DUNN...EAU
CLAIRE...PEPIN...PIERCE AND ST. CROIX COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM CDT...

AT 327 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EMERALD TO EAU GALLE TO 4
MILES NORTHEAST OF ELLA TO 7 MILES WEST OF BUFFALO. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  EAU CLAIRE.
  KNAPP.
  MENOMONIE.
  TAINTER LAKE.
  ROCK FALLS.
  ELK MOUND.

LAT...LON 4459 9092 4459 9114 4459 9201 4441 9207
      4440 9211 4442 9215 4454 9217 4498 9236
      4511 9092 4460 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 270DEG 36KT 4506 9221 4469 9200
          4457 9194 4418 9196

SPD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
403 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

MNZ052-053-060>063-069-070-077-078-085-WIZ014>016-023>028-060000-
ISANTI-CHISAGO-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-SCOTT-DAKOTA-RICE-
GOODHUE-STEELE-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-
CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CAMBRIDGE...CENTER CITY...MINNEAPOLIS...
BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...
FARIBAULT...RED WING...OWATONNA...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...
RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
403 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...STRONG WINDS BETWEEN 4 PM CDT AND 7 PM CDT...

STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED BEHIND THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT HAVE MOVED
ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. THE THUNDER WILL HAVE ENDED AND
ONLY LIGHT RAIN WILL REMAIN...BUT SUSTAINED WINDS BETWEEN 30 AND
40 MPH WITH WINDS GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED. THE STRONG
WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE EAST AND COULD LAST 30 TO 60 MINUTES.

WINDS THIS STRONG COULD CAUSE SMALL BRANCHES TO COME DOWN OR COULD
MAKE FOR DIFFICULT DRIVING ON ROADS THAT RUN NORTH TO SOUTH.

FRANKS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
635 PM CDT SAT MAY 05 2012

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

0633 PM     HAIL             ST AUGUSTA              45.44N 94.19W
05/05/2012  M0.75 INCH       STEARNS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

SPD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
643 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

MNZ049-051>053-057>061-060045-
ANOKA-CHISAGO-HENNEPIN-ISANTI-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-SHERBURNE-STEARNS-
WRIGHT-
643 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS
ANOKA...CHISAGO...HENNEPIN...ISANTI...KANDIYOHI...MEEKER...SHERBURNE.
..STEARNS AND WRIGHT COUNTIES THROUGH 745 PM CDT...

AT 630 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THUNDERSTORMS WERE CONTINUING
TO DEVELOP AND TRAIN ACROSS PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS.
THESE STORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY EASTWARD AT 45 MPH...AND WILL
LIKELY CONTINUE IN THE SAME AREAS THROUGH 8 PM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

&&

LAT...LON 4556 9305 4517 9309 4519 9499 4552 9499
TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 264DEG 53KT 4537 9430

JLT