High Wind in Wisconsin, April 18, 2004

Name: High Wind in Wisconsin, April 18, 2004
Start: 2004-04-18T13:00
End: 2004-04-18T17:00
Location: Wisconsin

April 18, 2004 · NWS MPX · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

A vigorous low pressure system over South Dakota moved into western Minnesota late on the 18th. This system brought windy conditions to west central Wisconsin during the afternoon.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: 9

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 happened

The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.

A vigorous low pressure system over South Dakota moved into western Minnesota late on the 18th. This system brought windy conditions to west central Wisconsin during the afternoon. Several jurisdictions reported downed trees and power lines. A handful of structures were also damaged, including hangars at New Richmond Regional Airport. In Eau Claire County, a 73-year-old man struck a tree with his car after it was blown onto the highway by high winds. Wind gusts as strong as 68 MPH were recorded less than an hour before a line of severe thunderstorms moved through the region.

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 Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 18, 10:24 AM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 18, 10:24 AM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1123  AM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

.DISCUSSION...
IT APPEARS OUR COUNTY WARNING AREA WILL REMAIN RELATIVE QUIET
THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON. THE LATEST RUC MODEL SUGGESTS A GOOD
CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA
BETWEEN 4 PM AND 7 PM...PROBABLY A SQUALL LINE THAT WILL MOVE
RAPIDLY EAST. AN INITIAL LOOK AT THE FORECAST SURFACE PARAMETERS
SHOWED A LACK OF A CLOSED CIRCULATION WITH THE ANTICIPATED SOUTH
DAKOTA SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER AND RELATIVELY WEAK SURFACE
PRESSURE FALL PATTERN HINTING AT A GREATER POTENTIAL FOR HAIL AND
WINDS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE RUC MODEL SUGGESTS THAT
TORNADOES SHOULD NOT BE RULED OUT HOWEVER. LOW LEVEL...925 MB
CONVERGENCE AND CORRELATED UPPER LEVEL...300 TO 200 MB DIVERGENCE
ARE FORECAST TO MAX OUT BY 7 PM FROM ST CLOUD TO REDWOOD FALLS. IN
THIS SAME AREA AND TIME FRAME...TORNADO FORECAST SIGNATURES ALSO ARE
FORECAST BY THE RUC MODEL TO REACH A HIGH RISK. THE 0-6 KM BULK
SHEAR IS ABOUT 60 KNOTS....THE CIN IS AROUND MINUS 20 JOULES PER
KG...THE LCLS ARE FORECAST TO LOWER BELOW 3000 FEET AGL...AND THE
VGP IS FORECAST TO APPROACH 40. THESE INGREDIENTS MAY COME TOGETHER
ALL AT ONCE ALONG THE NORTHWEST EDGE OF THE CAP IN THE WESTERN
PORTIONS OF OUR COUNTY WARNING AREA AFTER 4 PM.

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...RED FLAG WARNING...THIS AFTERNOON FOR
MNZ064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-
MN...WIND ADVISORY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAINLY SOUTH OF A
LINE FROM BENSON...LITCHFIELD...TWIN CITIES AND OWATONNA.
WI...NONE.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 18, 11:00 AM CST, 2 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1200 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

MNZ051>053-057>063-066-068>070-076>078-084-085-WIZ014>016-023>028-
191100-
ANOKA-BARRON-CARVER-CHIPPEWA-CHISAGO-DAKOTA-DUNN-EAU CLAIRE-GOODHUE-
HENNEPIN-ISANTI-KANDIYOHI-LE SUEUR-MCLEOD-MEEKER-PEPIN-PIERCE-POLK-
RAMSEY-RICE-RUSK-SCOTT-SHERBURNE-ST CROIX-STEELE-WASECA-WASHINGTON-
WRIGHT-
1200 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED A MODERATE RISK OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT FOR
PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND MUCH OF WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN.  A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER
NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA LATE THIS MORNING...WILL MOVE TO JUST WEST
OF THE TWIN CITIES BY END OF THE AFTERNOON. ALONG AND IN ADVANCE
OF THIS LOW...THE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE TO DESTABILIZE SETTING THE
STAGE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS
LIKELY TO INCLUDE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF STRONG TORNADOES.

WIND ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  SOUTH WINDS WILL INCREASE
TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUST REACHING NEAR 45 MPH AT TIMES.  WINDS
WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT TO NORTHWEST AND SUBSIDE UNDER 20 MPH TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT.

MNZ047-191100-
STEVENS-
1200 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTION OF WEST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED A SLIGHT RISK OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT FOR
PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.  A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED
OVER NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA LATE THIS MORNING...WILL MOVE TO JUST
WEST OF THE TWIN CITIES BY END OF THE AFTERNOON. ALONG AND IN ADVANCE
OF THIS LOW...THE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE TO DESTABILIZE SETTING THE
STAGE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS
LIKELY TO INCLUDE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIDTHS WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF STRONG TORNADOES.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAYBE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

MNZ041>045-048>050-191100-
BENTON-DOUGLAS-KANABEC-MILLE LACS-MORRISON-POPE-STEARNS-TODD-
1200 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTION OF CENTRAL AND WEST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED A MODERATE RISK OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT FOR
PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND MUCH OF WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN.  A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER
NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA LATE THIS MORNING...WILL MOVE TO JUST WEST
OF THE TWIN CITIES BY END OF THE AFTERNOON. ALONG AND IN ADVANCE
OF THIS LOW...THE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE TO DESTABILIZE SETTING THE
STAGE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS
LIKELY TO INCLUDE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIDTHS WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF STRONG TORNADOES.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAYBE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

MNZ054>056-064-065-067-073>075-082-083-091-092-191100-
BLUE EARTH-BROWN-CHIPPEWA-FARIBAULT-LAC QUI PARLE-MARTIN-NICOLLET-
REDWOOD-RENVILLE-SIBLEY-SWIFT-WATONWAN-YELLOW MEDICINE-
1200 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH
CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FORECAST TO MOVE INTO
WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS EVENING...WILL HELP TRIGGER SOME STRONG
TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING.  A
FEW OF THE STRONGEST STORMS COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO.

IN ADDITION...A RED FLAG WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS...VERY WARM TEMPERATURES AND LOW HUMIDITY.  THESE
CONDITION WILL CAUSE EXPLOSIVE WILDFIRE CONDITIONS BY LATE
AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING.

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS DEVELOPING AROUND 45 MPH.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAYBE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

MNZ093-191100-
FREEBORN-
1200 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR A PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL
MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS INDICATED A SLIGHT RISK OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT FOR
PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND MUCH OF WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN.  A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER
NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA LATE THIS MORNING...WILL MOVE TO JUST WEST
OF THE TWIN CITIES BY END OF THE AFTERNOON. ALONG AND IN ADVANCE
OF THIS LOW...THE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE TO DESTABILIZE SETTING THE
STAGE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS
LIKELY TO INCLUDE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIDTHS WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF STRONG TORNADOES.

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS DEVELOPING AROUND 45 MPH.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAYBE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 18, 7:32 AM CST, 5 hours 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
832 AM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

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

1227 AM     HAIL             NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        RICE               MN   PUBLIC

0205 AM     HAIL             RICE LAKE               45.50N 91.74W
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        BARRON             WI   PUBLIC

&&

AZ

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Polk

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.461, -92.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Barron

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Barron forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.424, -91.848 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Rusk

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Rusk forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.475, -91.133 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, St. Croix

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: St. Croix forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.034, -92.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Dunn

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Dunn forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.947, -91.896 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Chippewa

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Chippewa forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.069, -91.280 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eau Claire

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Eau Claire forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.727, -91.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Pepin

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Pepin forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.483, -92.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Pierce

When: April 18, 1:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Pierce forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.720, -92.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, April 2004

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: 5392352, 5392353, 5392354, 5392355, 5392356, 5392357, 5392358, 5392359, 5392360.