Alert archive / Minnesota / Special Weather Statements in 2023

Special Weather Statement, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 8, 2023Freeborn County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this special weather statement at May 8, 2023, 8:02 PM CDT for Freeborn County, Minnesota. It was in force for 28 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 8, 2023, 8:02 PM CDT (01:02 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 2023, 8:30 PM CDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
30

County Freeborn County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 139 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:05 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

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 139 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2023-05-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 221 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2023-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -4 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
221 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-70 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1918 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
51 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
-0.0
Supercell composite
-0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 8, 6:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 8, 6:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
656 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

.UPDATE...
Issued at 645 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

Updated to include 00z aviation discussion below.

&&

.DISCUSSION...(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 228 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

Key Messages:

- Scattered showers and storms this afternoon and evening, mainly in
southern Minnesota. A few severe storms are possible, with the
primary threat being hail and a chance for a tornado or two favoring
southeastern Minnesota.

- Unsettled pattern with diurnal convection through Wednesday, with
a more organized system looking to arrive later in the week and into
the weekend.

Discussion...
Early afternoon satellite imagery shows a steadily growing cumulus
field over southwestern Minnesota with a few showers forming in
southeastern South Dakota, which will eventually evolve to become our
chance for showers and storms over the next several hours. There are
also a few bubbling cumulus clouds near New Richmond WI which a few
CAMs are highlighting as potential for a few more storms within the
next few hours. The 12z HREF Ensemble mean CAPE at 20z is around
1000-1250 J/KG in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin which
is near what we currently are based on SPC Mesoanalysis data, and the
question becomes do we have the forcing to produce convection over
the next few hours. For now, this forecaster remains more concerned
with the threat coming out of South Dakota, with healthy 8-8.5 C/KM
lapse rates for much of southwestern to central Minnesota where we
have seen clearing throughout the day ahead of the growing cumulus
field. Forcing arrives via a weak shortwave ahead of a positively
tilted large-scale trough, which would further support the idea of
elevated primarily-hail producing convection. Severe hail remains a
possibility given the steep lapse rates, and can be considered the
primary threat from any storms that do end up developing, with the
tornado threat focused more towards the southeastern portion of the
state and into NWS La Crosse's coverage area. LCL heights within
this zone of potential convection are 1500m or higher, further
reinforcing the elevated hail threat as the primary concern.

A few CAMs continue to produce spotty showers and storms overnight
but as we lose our heating, it is likely our instability decreases
to the point where it will take stronger forcing than looks probable
to force anything severe. Tuesday and Wednesday look to be rough
repeats of today with weak surface flow, southwesterly flow aloft,
and enough clearing to build some instability to force diurnal
convection. Coverage will continue to be spotty and not widespread
due to the nature of the flow and limited forcing that is available.
As we head closer to late Thursday and towards the weekend, our next
synoptic scale system forming over eastern Colorado will begin
moving towards the northern plains. Depending on your pick of
deterministic synoptic scale model, the track of this low is still
varying and could result in dramatically differing forecast
scenarios for us. We could end up in the vicinity of the warm front,
with persistent showers and storms along the front that stretches
for a good period this weekend, or we could end up in the area south
of the front if the system tracks further west/north and end up
seeing stronger but more sporadic convection within the warming area
south of the front. Given there are still several possible
scenarios, we can avoid speculating further until we have some
better details to share.

Temperature wise, our trend of near to above normal temperatures
looks to continue throughout the period with more 70s than otherwise
for highs, and lows generally in the 50s with a lack of significant
clearing any given night. We will also have a chance to see a repeat
of the fog from last night over portions of central Minnesota again
tonight and tomorrow night with weak winds and lingering moisture.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening)
Issued at 645 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

Isolated convection is occurring in W WI near KRNH and S MN between
KRWF and KMKT. MKT should see convection move through early in the
period before drying out. MVFR to IFR cigs should develop across W WI
and S MN sites. A return to VFR skies is expected in the late morning.
Winds will be shifting due to a cool front moving through, with
northwesterly winds in western Minnesota becoming southeasterly ahead
of the front in western WI.

KMSP...Kept fog out of TAF, but would expect MVFR cig development
prior to sunrise Tuesday AM. There is an PROB30 for potential
thunderstorms Tuesday PM (21Z-00z or 4-7pm).

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
WED...VFR. Wind S to SE 5-10kts.
THU...VFR, chc MVFR/-RA. Wind SE 10-15kts.
FRI...VFR/MVFR, RA likely after noon. Wind S to SE 10-15kts.

&&

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

DISCUSSION...TDH
AVIATION...BPH
Hazardous weather outlook, May 8, 2:39 PM CDT, 5 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
239 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
091945-
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-
239 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms can be expected this
afternoon through tonight. A few severe storms are possible in
southern Minnesota.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms can be expected Tuesday
through Saturday. The threat for severe weather is low at this
time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation is possible but not currently expected,
mainly this afternoon and evening in southern Minnesota.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 8, 7:23 PM CDT, 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
723 PM CDT MON MAY 8 2023

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

0640 PM     HAIL             6 WNW PLUM CITY         44.68N 92.30W
05/08/2023  M1.25 INCH       PIERCE             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

PEM
Special weather statement, May 8, 7:30 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 8, 7:31 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 8, 7:32 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 8, 7:59 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 8, 8:02 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 7:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBlue Earth29 min
May 8, 7:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMartin22 min
May 8, 7:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRice30 min
May 8, 7:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXWaseca44 min
May 8, 7:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXFaribault43 min
May 8, 7:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRice31 min
May 8, 8:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXGoodhue37 min
May 9, 1:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRedwood34 min
May 9, 2:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXYellow Medicine47 min
May 9, 2:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Lac qui Parle30 min
May 9, 3:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXPope53 min
May 8, 7:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXPepin, Pierce41 min
May 8, 7:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXSaint Croix37 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Minnesota, 2023Every special weather statement in 2023

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.