Special Weather Statement, NWS Twin Cities, MN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1239 AM CDT Tue May 16 2017

.UPDATE...For 06z Aviation discussion below

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday)
Issued at 315 PM CDT Mon May 15 2017

Surface analysis this afternoon shows a surface low nearly atop
the intersection of I-90 and I-35 in southern MN with a quasi-
stationary front wobbling over and south of the MN/IA border and
extending west through Nebraska and southeast into IL/IN. Aloft, a
deep ridge axis is aligned nearly due N-S from eastern WI through
the middle and lower Mississippi River Valley region. This puts
the WFO MPX coverage area within southwesterly flow and able to
receive plenty of moisture from the deep south. Plenty of
convection slid east over nearly the entire coverage area late
morning through this afternoon due in large part to convergence
along/north of the front which was further north within the MPX
area earlier in the day and due to a few small shortwave buckles
within the larger H7-H5 flow. Though the area was able to avoid
severe weather, a few smaller hail reports came out of the
thunderstorms. In the wake of the storms, a sizable cold pool
developed over eastern SD and NE which has since shifted ENE over
much of the MPX area, helping to produce much cooler temperatures
across the area for the rest of this afternoon. With much more
stable air in place, only scattered showers over southern and
eastern portions of the coverage area will persist going into this
evening. The front to the south is expected to make a better
surge to the north during the early morning hours, aided by the
exiting ridge and additional shortwave disturbances from the
southwest. As the front lifts north, another round of
showers/thunderstorms is expected to develop by around midnight in
southern MN then continue to drift north through the early
morning hours. There is still some potential for these storms to
be strong-to-severe with hail and strong winds in the vicinity of
the low level jet with continued steep lapse rates in place. These
storms are then expected to lift north of the area by late
Tuesday morning, making the area once again worked over,
producing a lull in the action until late afternoon/evening
Tuesday. Even if not severe, storms will still be capable of small
hail, gusty winds and brief heavy downpours (owing to PWATs still
around 1.5 inches). As for temperatures, with the convection
expected to exit by late morning followed by partial afternoon
clearing, the northward movement of the warm front along with the
timing of the convection should allow for better warming. Will
continue to look for highs to hit the upper 70s to lower 80s
tomorrow (just a matter of the hourly path to get to those values
which will be better resolved as the convection trend evolves).

.LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday)
Issued at 315 PM CDT Mon May 15 2017

By tomorrow evening, the cap will be eroding as the 700-800mb
level cools, which will lead to the development of additional
thunderstorms along the frontal zone and in the warm sector from
southwest MN to northeast MN. There is potential for isolated to
scattered severe storms, we do not anticipate widespread severe
potential with this. That is much more likely across parts of
TX/OK/KS tomorrow/tomorrow night, which could limit our
instability. In addition, jet level winds will be stronger in
those areas, where we will be limited by comparatively weaker deep
layer shear. Still, clusters of strong storms with isolated to
scattered severe hail and possibly damaging winds but confidence
is rather low because the activity across the plains could hamper
our instability. So, heavy rainfall then becomes the concern with
the frontal boundary draped across our area and a moist boundary
layer with dew points in the 60s at the surface. Individual storm
cells should be moving but redevelopment along the frontal
convergence zone means that the speed of the front is the more
relevant in terms of flood potential. But, PWATs will be a modest
1.25" or so, and the nose of the low level jet will be primarily
to our south/east hence moisture transport will max out in those
areas.

More widespread rains will come Wednesday/Wednesday night as the
actual low finally ejects and moves northeast through the upper
Mississippi Valley. The concern for severe weather is low with
this period with the rainfall amounts being more of a concern.
Widespread 1-2" or rain after the previous couple days of rain
still look to lead to totals in the 2-4" range between today and
Thursday morning. Instability starts shifting off to our east
Wednesday afternoon through the night. We may still have some
showers lingering in cyclonic flow on Thursday morning but should
be dry by the afternoon as dry northerly flow pushes in behind the
departing system.

Another low pressure system across the four corners region by
Thursday will start lifting out towards us and bring chances for
rain for Friday through Sunday. Meanwhile, low level Thursday-
Friday will bring cooler air into the region that will linger
through the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night)
Issued at 1240 AM CDT Tue May 16 2017

Showers and thunderstorms will continue to fire farther north into
central Minnesota overnight as the low level jet strengthens atop
a low level boundary. The main window for activity looks to be
between 06z and 12z, when MVFR/IFR conditions will be possible
with the storms. Outside of the thunderstorm activity, VFR
conditions are expected to prevail. Could see some stratus develop
over north central MN (KAXN/KSTC) around daybreak, but attendant
MVFR conditions would be short-lived. Light east/southeast winds
become south/southwesterly on Tuesday morning with gusts to
between 25 and 30 knots developing.

KMSP...
Anticipated window for organized thunderstorm activity looks to be
between 06-10Z. Tuesday will be mostly dry and breezy, but additional
storms will develop Tuesday evening.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
Wed...Mainly VFR. SHRA/TSRA expected. Occasional MVFR/IFR In
SHRA/TSRA. Wind SE 5-10 kts.
Thu...Mainly VFR. Chc MVFR/-SHRA in the morning. Winds N 10-15
kts.
Fri...Mainly VFR. Chance SHRA/TSRA with MVFR. Winds NE 5-10 kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...JPC
LONG TERM...SPD
AVIATION...LS

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
234 PM CDT Mon May 15 2017

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
161800-
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-
234 PM CDT Mon May 15 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and
southern Minnesota...and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Thunderstorms will continue to push east over eastern Minnesota
into western Wisconsin through the rest of the afternoon hours.
Another round of thunderstorms is expected during the early
morning hours, lasting through daybreak Tuesday. Severe
thunderstorms will be possible across central and southern
Minnesota into western Wisconsin overnight. Large hail and
damaging winds are the primary hazards.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Several rounds of thunderstorms are expected Tuesday through
Wednesday. Some thunderstorms may be severe Tuesday through
Wednesday. Heavy rainfall is also possible along with flash
flooding.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation may be needed overnight.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1110 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017

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

1109 PM     HAIL             JANESVILLE              44.12N 93.71W
05/15/2017  M0.75 INCH       WASECA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1111 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017

MNZ084-160445-
Waseca-
1111 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN WASECA COUNTY...

At 1111 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Janesville, or
15 miles east of Mankato, moving east at 25 mph.

Dime size hail is possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Waseca, Janesville and Smiths Mill.

This includes U.S. Highway 14 between mile markers 144 and 154.

LAT...LON 4410 9376 4414 9377 4420 9357 4420 9341
      4419 9340 4409 9341
TIME...MOT...LOC 0411Z 252DEG 20KT 4412 9369

BORGHOFF

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1125 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017

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

1010 PM     HAIL             1 N OWATONNA            44.09N 93.23W
05/15/2017  M1.75 INCH       STEELE             MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1127 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017

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

1010 PM     HAIL             1 NE OWATONNA           44.09N 93.21W
05/15/2017  M1.25 INCH       STEELE             MN   PUBLIC

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1139 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017

MNZ076-077-160515-
Le Sueur-Rice-
1139 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN LE SUEUR AND
SOUTHWESTERN RICE COUNTIES...

At 1138 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Waterville, or
12 miles west of Faribault, moving northeast at 25 mph.

Dime size hail is possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Faribault, Waterville, Morristown, Warsaw and Faribault Airport.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 52 and 62.

LAT...LON 4423 9362 4439 9330 4423 9324 4419 9346
      4420 9360
TIME...MOT...LOC 0438Z 243DEG 22KT 4422 9353

BORGHOFF

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
118 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

MNZ077-084-085-160700-
Steele-Waseca-Rice-
118 AM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN STEELE...
NORTHEASTERN WASECA AND SOUTHERN RICE COUNTIES...

At 118 AM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Morristown, or
9 miles southwest of Faribault, moving northeast at 25 mph.

Dime size hail is possible with this storm.

This storm will be near...
  Warsaw around 125 AM CDT.
  Medford around 130 AM CDT.
  Faribault around 135 AM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this storm include Deerfield, Ruskin and
Faribault Airport.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 35 between mile markers 47 and 66, and near mile marker
68.
 U.S. Highway 14 between mile markers 150 and 151.

LAT...LON 4411 9367 4420 9358 4420 9352 4425 9352
      4446 9331 4431 9304 4427 9304 4407 9339
TIME...MOT...LOC 0618Z 224DEG 24KT 4419 9341

BORGHOFF