6 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
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, 3:41 PM CST, 19 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 438 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004 .DISCUSSION... SURFACE BOUNDARY AT 4 PM EXTENDED FROM MORA TO ST CLOUD TO APPLETON. MAIN THREAT FOR TORNADOES INITIALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF THIS AREA. THE RUC MODEL SHOWS THIS BOUNDARY MOVING SOUTH TO THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS OF THE TWIN CITIES BY 7 PM THEN HANGING UP ACROSS WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THROUGH MIDNIGHT. BUFKIT SHOWS SUBSIDENCE WORKING INTO THE NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF OUR FORECAST AREA BY EARLY MONDAY MORNING THEN THE REST OF THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON. FAIR SKIES ANTICIPATED LATE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING AS A SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE DRIFTS OVERHEAD. THE GFS MODEL SHOWS THAT A MID UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL PASS OVER THE AREA TUESDAY RESULTING IN INCREASING MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING. THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS IS EXPECTED TO FOLLOW A CLOSED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AS IT MOVES FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS OUR COUNTY WARNING AREA TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM THIS EVENING... MNZ069-070-075>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ024. &&
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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
409 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM HAIL SARTELL 45.62N 94.21W
04/18/2004 1.75 INCH STEARNS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BRANDTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
427 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0426 PM HAIL PRINCETON 45.57N 93.59W
04/18/2004 1.00 INCH MILLE LACS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BRANDTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
447 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0436 PM HAIL 8 W CAMBRIDGE 45.56N 93.39W
04/18/2004 0.75 INCH ISANTI MN TRAINED SPOTTER
SMALL TREES DOWN ALSO
&&
BRANDTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
450 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0442 PM HAIL CAMBRIDGE 45.56N 93.23W
04/18/2004 1.00 INCH ISANTI MN TRAINED SPOTTER
DOWNTOWN
&&
BRANDTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
452 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM HAIL 2 W BROWERVILLE 46.09N 94.91W
04/18/2004 1.75 INCH TODD MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
BRANDTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
456 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0405 PM HAIL 8 W GRASSTON 45.79N 93.32W
04/18/2004 1.75 INCH KANABEC MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
CORRECTION OF 2 W BROWERVILLE AT 1630
&&
BRANDTThe Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:58 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Over 20 miles of roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines in the northwest portion of the county. Siding, roof, and window damage was reported in the Sterling Township area. The roof of an old school building was blown off in Centuria. The time was estimated.
Winds estimated around 65 MPH destroyed a barn and caused substantial damage to a home. Trees and power lines were also downed in the vicinity.
A few trees were downed.
A tree was downed onto Stout Street.
Several trees were downed onto power lines.
Power lines and trees were downed. The time was estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, April 2004
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: 5392362, 5392361, 5392363, 5392364, 5392365, 5392366.