Alert archive / Minnesota / Flash Flood Warnings in 2020

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Duluth, MN

August 9, 2020Lake County, Saint Louis County, Minnesota

NWS Duluth, MN issued this flash flood warning at Aug 9, 2020, 2:46 PM CDT for Lake County, Saint Louis County, Minnesota. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 9, 2020, 2:46 PM CDT (19:46 UTC)
Expired
Aug 9, 2020, 5:45 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Duluth, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Lake County, MN, Saint Louis County, MN

The radar

The Duluth radar (KDLH), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:46 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.

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 12:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 152 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, International Fa, MN at 12:00Z on 2020-08-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, International Fa, MN at 12:00Z on 2020-08-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 53 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2237 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
53 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
97 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Duluth, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 9, 12:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 9, 12:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
1253 PM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

.SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday)
Issued at 431 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

The Northland remains under an anomalously warm and humid air mass,
characterized by dew point temperatures in the upper 60s to lower
70s. This very humid air mass has helped to generate some widespread
fog, with some locally dense in spots, early this morning.
Visibilities have improved somewhat, thanks to some increasing upper-
level clouds from a cirrus shield forming off a large complex of non-
severe showers and thunderstorms that are just entering southwestern
Minnesota as of 0830z/330 AM this morning. Due to the improving
trend in the visibilities, decided to hold off on a Dense Fog
Advisory, and issued a Special Weather Statement instead.

Once the fog lifts after sunrise today, attention then turns to the
potential for severe weather today, especially for this afternoon
and evening. Showers and thunderstorms will come in a few waves,
with the first being the aforementioned complex in southwestern
Minnesota. This activity, which has formed in conjunction with a
compact mid-level shortwave trough and 850-700 mb layer warm air
advection, is expected to lift northeastward into our region around
sunrise this morning. Some strong thunderstorms are possible with
this initial round of storms. This cluster of storms is expected to
dissipate as it ascends into a more stable atmosphere to the north.
Quickly on the heels of this first round of storms will be a second,
more robust complex of storms that could become strong to severe
this afternoon, mainly impacting east-central Minnesota and
northwest Wisconsin. The forcing associated with the mid-level
shortwave will linger just enough to combine with increasing
instability and shear to support this severe convection. Mixed-layer
CAPE values are progged to range between 2500 to 3500 J/kg, along
with deep-layer shear in the ballpark of 30 to 35 knots, which
should be sufficient to support convective updrafts. Moreover, there
will be a risk of flash flooding, given PWAT values in excess of 2
inches, which is over 90% of climatology. There is concern that
today's activity will translate over the same areas that were
impacted by heavy showers and thunderstorms just 24 hours ago,
especially along the Wisconsin/Minnesota state border. Eventually,
this second complex is expected to move out of the region late this
afternoon. There will be yet another round of storms possible over
north-central Minnesota early in the evening as a surface cold front
passes through the region. It's a bit more uncertain on the severe
potential of the convection along the cold front as instability
doesn't appear to be quite as high as is expected farther south. In
any case, this could be another area of strong to severe storms, per
the latest CAM output. The Storm Prediction Center has the entire
Northland in a Slight risk of severe weather for today.

Eventually, the aforementioned cold front will pass through the
region tonight, which will bring a much more comfortable and less
humid air mass to the region. There may be some shower activity
forming along the front tonight, but instability will quickly
diminish as the cold front passes through and convective inhibition
increases. Tonight's lows will fall to the lower to middle 50s over
northeast Minnesota, with lower 60s lingering over northwest
Wisconsin. Monday looks dry overall, except for perhaps some
lingering shower activity over northwest Wisconsin early Monday
morning. Much more comfortable dew points are expected, in the 40s
and lower 50s, along with mostly sunny skies as high pressure builds
into the region. High temperatures will be right around seasonal
averages, in the middle to upper 70s.

.LONG TERM...(Monday night through Saturday)
Issued at 431 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

Monday night through much of the day Wednesday will remain dry,
thanks to an area of high pressure and mid-level ridging that will
be in place. Eventually, the ridge will break down, allowing a
longwave trough to build across the Pacific Northwest region and
bring in some mid-level shortwave energy to sweep into the region
for Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Chances of thunderstorms
will increase during the day Thursday as a mid-level shortwave moves
into the region.

Chances of precipitation will continue through next Sunday as the
upper-level longwave trough approaches from the west. There remains
some uncertainty on how the precipitation will evolve for Friday and
Saturday, given the differences in the phasing of the upper-level
trough. There seems to be a decent signal that a cold front will
pass through sometime next weekend, but the timing remains uncertain
due to discrepancies in the global models.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon)
Issued at 1252 PM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

Wave after wave of showers and thunderstorms are expected this
afternoon and tonight. The models are having a difficult time with
the exact timing and location of these storms due to their
chaotic nature. But overall, an MCV currently present near the
Twin Cities will bring another round to NW Wisconsin over the next
few hours, specifically HYR and DLH. Then those will get pushed
out of the area as a cold front moves east from North Dakota and
another wave of showers and thunderstorms move over northern
Minnesota. The storms in NW Wisconsin and ones associated with
the cold front tonight have the greatest potential of being severe
with high winds, large hail, and possibly an isolated tornado.
Heavy rain associated with these storms could lower visibilities
to IFR, and as low as LIFR. Later tonight, BR conditions are
possible mainly at HIB and HYR, and could get down to IFR
conditions.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 431 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

The main area of focus today will be on increasing chances of
thunderstorms for this afternoon and early evening. Some of these
storms could become strong to severe, with large hail and strong
winds being the main hazards, as well as frequent lightning and
heavy rainfall. Otherwise, no other hazardous marine conditions are
expected today, although there may be some areas of fog early this
morning. Winds today will range between 5 to 10 knots, with
generally east to northeast direction.

A cold front will pass through the region tonight, which may bring
some chances of light rain showers tonight. The front will turn
winds more westerly early Monday, eventually turning more
southwesterly in the afternoon. This will result in some stronger
winds between 10 to 15 knots, and gusts up to 20 knots, as well.
Waves along the far northern shore of Lake Superior will range
between 2 to 4 feet, particularly from Grand Marais to Grand Portage.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DLH  79  60  77  54 /  60  30   0   0
INL  84  52  77  50 /  50  40   0   0
BRD  85  56  77  51 /  80  30   0   0
HYR  84  62  78  51 /  60  60  20   0
ASX  84  63  80  53 /  60  40  40   0

&&

.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...None.
LS...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...JTS
LONG TERM...JTS
AVIATION...Kossen
MARINE...JTS
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 9, 3:56 AM CDT, 10 hours 50 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Duluth MN
356 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-100900-
Koochiching-North St. Louis-Northern Cook/Northern Lake-
North Itasca-Central St. Louis-Southern Lake/North Shore-
Southern Cook/North Shore-North Cass-South Itasca-South Cass-
Crow Wing-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin-Carlton/South St. Louis-
Pine-Douglas-Bayfield-Ashland-Iron-Burnett-Washburn-Sawyer-Price-
356 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Areas of locally dense fog will occur early this morning.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible, especially this
afternoon and evening. Large hail, damaging winds, and a tornado
or two are possible. Frequent lightning and heavy rain will occur.
Flash flooding is possible in the vicinity of the slower moving,
stronger storms and will be most likely over east-central
Minnesota into northwest Wisconsin.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

There is a chance of thunderstorms Wednesday through Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Skywarn spotters may be needed after 1 PM in northeast Minnesota,
and after 4 PM in northwest Wisconsin.

LSZ121-140>148-100900-
Bayfield to Oak Point WI-Grand Portage to Grand Marais MN-
Grand Marais to Taconite Harbor MN-
Taconite Harbor to Silver Bay Harbor MN-
Silver Bay Harbor to Two Harbors MN-Two Harbors to Duluth MN-
Duluth MN to Port Wing WI-Port Wing to Sand Island WI-
Sand Island to Bayfield WI-Oak Point to Saxon Harbor WI-
356 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Nearshore
waters of western Lake Superior.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.
Some of the storms may be severe with large hail, strong winds,
frequent lightning, and heavy rain.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

There is a chance of thunderstorms Wednesday through Saturday.

GSF

More information may be obtained at the following web address:
http://www.weather.gov/duluth (all lower case)

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 9, 9:22 AM CDT, 5 hours 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Duluth MN
922 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

MNZ019-091430-
Central St. Louis-
922 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL ST. LOUIS COUNTY...

At 922 AM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was 7 miles north of Chisholm,
or 14 miles north of Hibbing, moving northeast at 55 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and dime size hail can be expected with this
storm.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern
Central St. Louis County, including the following locations... Big
Rice Lake, Shermans Corner, Idington and Angora.

Seek shelter inside a sturdy building and away from windows until
this storm passes. Get off area lakes and seek shelter on shore in a
sturdy shelter or a hard topped vehicle.

LAT...LON 4771 9242 4748 9287 4761 9305 4786 9275
      4786 9264
TIME...MOT...LOC 1422Z 225DEG 49KT 4760 9289

Wolfe
Local storm report, Aug 9, 10:18 AM CDT, 4 hours 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1018 AM CDT SUN AUG 9 2020

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

0650 AM     HAIL             3 ENE HENRIETTE         45.89N 93.07W
08/09/2020  M1.25 INCH       PINE               MN   COCORAHS

            LARGEST 1.25IN, AVERAGE 0.38IN. ONE OF THE
            LARGEST QUARTER SIZE HAILSTONES WAS VERY
            NUBBY MANY HAD A ROUND CENTER AND NUBBY
            PROTRUSIONS.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 9, 10:26 AM CDT, 4 hours 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1026 AM CDT SUN AUG 9 2020

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

0743 AM     HAIL             5 WNW FINLAYSON         46.23N 93.03W
08/09/2020  M0.50 INCH       PINE               MN   COCORAHS

&&
Special weather statement, Aug 9, 1:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Duluth MN
137 PM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

WIZ001-002-091845-
Douglas-Bayfield-
137 PM CDT Sun Aug 9 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN BAYFIELD AND EAST
CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTIES...

At 137 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Barnes, or 27 miles
north of Hayward, moving northeast at 45 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch diameter hail can be expected
with this storm.

This storm will be near...
  Iron River and Brule around 145 PM CDT.

Seek shelter inside a sturdy building and away from windows until
this storm passes. Get off area lakes and seek shelter on shore in a
sturdy shelter or a hard topped vehicle.

LAT...LON 4629 9141 4637 9165 4669 9150 4669 9129
      4658 9114
TIME...MOT...LOC 1837Z 205DEG 40KT 4641 9149

Wolfe
Local storm report, Aug 9, 1:41 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
141 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2020

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

0125 PM     TSTM WND DMG     11 E GORDON             46.27N 91.56W
08/09/2020                   DOUGLAS            WI   PUBLIC

            3-4 TREES AND TREE LIMBS DOWN. OBSERVER
            ESTIMATED 60MPH WIND.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 9, 2:24 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Duluth, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 9, 7:11 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHAitkin, Cass34 min
Aug 9, 7:23 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHPine37 min
Aug 9, 7:51 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHItasca24 min
Aug 9, 8:02 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHCarlton28 min
Aug 9, 8:25 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHCarlton20 min
Aug 9, 8:36 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHItasca9 min
Aug 9, 8:51 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHItasca24 min
Aug 9, 9:22 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHSaint Louis8 min
Aug 9, 9:57 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningDLH48 min
Aug 9, 10:08 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningDLH52 min
Aug 9, 1:39 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningDLH66 min
Aug 9, 1:47 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningDLHAitkin, Carlton, Pine6 hr
Aug 9, 2:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHCook, Lake51 min
Aug 9, 2:42 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningDLH63 min
Aug 9, 3:05 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningDLH55 min
Aug 9, 3:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHKoochiching32 min
Aug 9, 3:41 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningDLH64 min
Aug 9, 3:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHKoochiching47 min
Aug 9, 4:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHCook20 min
Aug 9, 4:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHCook18 min
Aug 9, 4:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHKoochiching40 min
Aug 9, 4:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHItasca33 min
Aug 9, 5:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHKoochiching29 min
Aug 9, 5:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDLHCass, Itasca32 min
Aug 9, 5:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLH28 min
Aug 9, 5:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHCass23 min
Aug 9, 5:53 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLH37 min
Aug 9, 5:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHItasca33 min
Aug 9, 6:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHSaint Louis32 min
Aug 9, 6:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHItasca31 min
Aug 9, 6:56 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHSaint Louis34 min
Aug 9, 8:47 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHDouglas28 min
Aug 9, 1:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHBayfield8 min
Aug 9, 5:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHAshland12 min
Aug 9, 6:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDLHSawyer9 min
Aug 9, 6:28 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningDLHIron3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Minnesota, 2020Every flash flood warning in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.