Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, May 30, 2002

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, May 30, 2002
Start: 2002-05-30T15:20
End: 2002-05-30T15:47
Location: Minnesota

May 30, 2002 · NWS FGF · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

3 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 30, 2:25 PM CST, 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 30, 2:25 PM CST, 55 minutes before

FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
325 PM CDT THU MAY 30 2002

WILL ADD ALL BUT ROSEAU...LAKE OF THE WOODS AND NORTHERN BELTRAMI
COUNTIES TO RED FLAG WARNING THROUGH THIS EVENING

RED FLAG WARNING CRITERIA IS BEING REACHED ACROSS MOST OF REGION
THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE...WILL EXPAND RED FLAG WARNING FOR ALL BUT
EXTREME NORTHEAST REGION UNTIL 02Z.

DK

----------------------------------------------------------------
FORECAST CHALLENGE WILL BE TEMPS THEN PRECIP CHANCES SUNDAY

.OVERVIEW...
WINDY CONDITIONS CONTINUE OVER REGION...AS TEMPS WARM INTO THE
MID/UPPER 80S. SFC BOUNDARY JUST NORTH OF BORDER HAS CAUSES SOME
THUNDER IN CANADA. AVN/ETA DID WELL WITH INITIALIZATION...SO WILL
UTILIZE MODEL BLEND THIS PACKAGE.

.SHORT TERM...
EXPECT WIND ADVISORY CONDITIONS TO PERSIST UNTIL 02Z FROM VALLEY
WEST...ALONG WITH RED FLAG WARNING CRITERIA IN SAME REGION. WINDS
WILL SUBSIDE THEREAFTER...ALONG WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. THERE MAY
BE A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS IN NORTHEAST ZONE SET THIS EVENING...SO
WILL MENTION HERE. TEMPS TO DROP IN THE LOW/MID 50S ONCE DECOUPLING
OCCURS WITH DRY AIR IN PLACE.

.LONG TERM...
850MB TEMPS COOL A FEW DEGREES FRIDAY...BUT WESTERLY FLOW NEAR SFC
INDICATES TEMPS ONCE AGAIN INTO THE 80S TO NEAR 80 NORTH. A FAST
MOVING UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM MAY BRING A FEW SHOWERS TO THE NORTHEAST
FA ON FRIDAY NIGHT...BUT LIMITED MOISTURE IS IN PLACE BELOW 850MB.
WILL INTRODUCE A SCATTERED THREAT FOR SHOWERS HERE THOUGH...AS
PRECIPITABLE WATERS APPROACH 0.80 INCHES...AND SHOWALTERS NEAR ZERO.
A COOL FRONT WILL DROP TEMPS INTO THE MID 70S FOR SATURDAY...BEFORE
MOISTURE RETURNS AND SHOWERS MOVE INTO THE REGION FOR SUNDAY. TEMPS
WILL BE MUCH COOLER SUNDAY...WITH PLENTY OF CLOUDS AND THE THREAT
FOR RAIN.

.EXTENDED...
MODELS OVERALL IN PRETTY CLOSE AGREEMENT THROUGH BRUNT OF PERIOD
CONSIDERING UPPER PATTERN. SPLIT FLOW PATTERN TO DEVELOP EARLY AND
CONTINUE OVER WESTERN NORTH AMERICA THROUGH BRUNT OF EXTENDED
PERIOD. MID LEVEL TROUGHING OVER WEST COAST TO TRACK SLOWLY EAST.
ASSOCIATED ENERGY EJECTING FROM ABOVE FEATURE TO AFFECT FORECAST
AREA HOWEVER TIMING OF FEATURES WILL BE DIFFICULT. BEST CHANCES LOOK
TO BE EARLY (SUN). WX LOOKS UNSETTLED INTO MIDWEEK WITH EJECTING
WAVES HOWEVER WITH CONFLUENT FLOW DO NOT WANT TO GO OVERBOARD WITH
RAIN CHANCES. FROM 850MB TEMPS AND THICKNESS AT OR A LITTLE BLO
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES EXPECTED THROUGH PERIOD.

.FGF...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 02Z FOR ALL BUT EXTREME NORTHEAST
FA...WIND ADVISORY FOR REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG AND
WEST OF RED RIVER VALLEY IN ND AND MN.

KELLENBENZ/VOELKER

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 30, 9:22 AM CST, 5 hours 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS, ND
1022 AM CDT THU MAY 30 2002

...DELAYED AND FINAL REPORTS...

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0237 PM    1 S LANCASTER             MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   KITTSON                        TORNADO OBSERVED ALONG
                                          LEADING EDGE OF
                                          THUNDERSTORMS. TORNADO
                                          CONTINUED TO TRAVEL
                                          NORTHEAST OVER OPEN COUNTRY
                                          FOR 15 MINUTES IN A
                                          NON-CONTINUOUS PATH. NO
                                          DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.

0340 PM    5 S BADGER                MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TORNADO REPORTED BY HAM
                                          SPOTTERS

0345 PM    1 SE WHITE LAKE           MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   BECKER

0354 PM    4 S ROSEAU                MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TORNADO REPORTED 3 MILES
                                          WEST OF HIGHWAY 89

0415 PM    14 N GRYGLA               MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   MARSHALL

0450 PM    3 SE WARROAD              MN   WIND DAMAGE
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TREE DOWN ON SHED

0455 PM    13 NW FOURTOWN            MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   BELTRAMI

0500 PM    NORRIS CAMP               MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   LAKE OF THE WOODS

0510 PM    5 E ARVILLA               ND   WIND DAMAGE
05/29/02   GRAND FORKS                    SEVERAL LARGE BRANCHES
                                          DOWN

Local storm report, May 30, 9:40 AM CST, 5 hours 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS, ND
1040 AM CDT THU MAY 30 2002

...DELAYED AND FINAL REPORTS...

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0237 PM    1 S LANCASTER             MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   KITTSON                        TORNADO OBSERVED ALONG
                                          LEADING EDGE OF
                                          THUNDERSTORMS. TORNADO
                                          CONTINUED TO TRAVEL
                                          NORTHEAST OVER OPEN COUNTRY
                                          FOR 15 MINUTES IN A
                                          NON-CONTINUOUS PATH. NO
                                          DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.

0330 PM    1 W BADGER                MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TORNADO REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTER

0340 PM    5 S BADGER                MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TORNADO REPORTED BY HAM
                                          SPOTTERS

0345 PM    1 SE WHITE LAKE           MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   BECKER

0354 PM    4 S ROSEAU                MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TORNADO REPORTED 3 MILES
                                          WEST OF HIGHWAY 89

0415 PM    14 N GRYGLA               MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   MARSHALL

0450 PM    3 SE WARROAD              MN   WIND DAMAGE
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TREE DOWN ON SHED

0455 PM    13 NW FOURTOWN            MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   BELTRAMI

0500 PM    NORRIS CAMP               MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   LAKE OF THE WOODS

0510 PM    5 E ARVILLA               ND   WIND DAMAGE
05/29/02   GRAND FORKS                    SEVERAL LARGE BRANCHES
                                          DOWN

Local storm report, May 30, 9:50 AM CST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS, ND
1050 AM CDT THU MAY 30 2002

...DELAYED AND FINAL REPORTS...

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0237 PM    1 S LANCASTER             MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   KITTSON                        TORNADO OBSERVED ALONG
                                          LEADING EDGE OF
                                          THUNDERSTORMS. TORNADO
                                          CONTINUED TO TRAVEL
                                          NORTHEAST OVER OPEN COUNTRY
                                          FOR 15 MINUTES IN A
                                          NON-CONTINUOUS PATH. NO
                                          DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.

0330 PM    1 W BADGER                MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TORNADO REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTER

0340 PM    5 S BADGER                MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TORNADO REPORTED BY HAM
                                          SPOTTERS

0345 PM    1 SE WHITE LAKE           MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   BECKER

0354 PM    4 S ROSEAU                MN   TORNADO
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TORNADO REPORTED 3 MILES
                                          WEST OF HIGHWAY 89

0415 PM    14 N GRYGLA               MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   MARSHALL

0450 PM    3 SE WARROAD              MN   WIND DAMAGE
05/29/02   ROSEAU                         TREE DOWN ON SHED

0455 PM    13 NW FOURTOWN            MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   BELTRAMI

0500 PM    NORRIS CAMP               MN   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/02   LAKE OF THE WOODS              FELL UNTIL 515 PM

0510 PM    5 E ARVILLA               ND   WIND DAMAGE
05/29/02   GRAND FORKS                    SEVERAL LARGE BRANCHES
                                          DOWN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kittson

When: May 30, 3:20 PM CST
Where: Kittson County, Donaldson
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.583, -96.900

A 73 mph wind gust was measured by a MN DOT RWIS site.

Hail, Roseau

When: May 30, 3:35 PM CST
Where: Roseau County, 4 mi W of Greenbush
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.700, -96.267

Hail, Roseau

When: May 30, 3:40 PM CST
Where: Roseau County, 4 mi S of Greenbush
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.650, -96.183

Hail, Roseau

When: May 30, 3:47 PM CST
Where: Roseau County, 6 mi S of Greenbush
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.617, -96.183

Thunderstorm Wind, Roseau

When: May 30, 3:47 PM CST
Where: Roseau County, 6 mi S of Greenbush
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.617, -96.183

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, May 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5294081, 5294082, 5294083, 5294084, 5294085.