Flash Flood and Hail in Wisconsin, July 23, 2005

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Wisconsin, July 23, 2005
Start: 2005-07-23T10:00
End: 2005-07-23T11:30
Location: Wisconsin

July 23, 2005 · NWS MPX · 16 events in 8 counties and zones

13 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flash flood, 1 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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: 3
Property damage: $717,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

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 Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 23, 3:30 AM CST, 6 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 23, 3:30 AM CST, 6 hours 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
430 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

.DISCUSSION...
THE CONVECTIVE COMPLEX APPROACHING FROM THE DAKOTAS IS ASSOCIATED
WITH A 500 MB VORTICITY...MAXIMUM SEEN ON THE RUC MODEL...AND IS
JUST AHEAD OF A STRONG SURGE OF WARM ADVECTION AT 700 MB.
EXTRAPOLATION OF THE LIGHTNING AND IR SATELLITE ENHANCEMENT SHOWS
THIS MOVING AT 36 KNOTS TO THE ST CLOUD AREA AT 9 AM AND THE
WISCONSIN BORDER AROUND 1130 AM. SATELLITE IMAGERY ALSO SHOWS A
TROPICAL PLUME...RING OF FIRE PATTERN...MOVING OVER THE ROCKIES AND
INTO THE NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. THIS DEEP MOISTURE...AS
FORECAST IN THE MODELS BY THE 400 MB RELATIVE HUMIDITY...IS EXPECTED
TO REMAIN OVER THE REGION AT LEAST THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. THIS
PATTERN USUALLY BRINGS SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION. THE SCREAMING
MESSAGE TODAY IS THE STRONG MID TO UPPER LEVEL WARM ADVECTION. THIS
MORNINGS CONVECTION IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH IN TIME FOR
SOUTHERLY WINDS TO SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA. THE SURFACE TRAJECTORY
POINTS TO AFTERNOON HIGHS WELL INTO THE 9OS OVER MOST OF OUR COUNTY
WARNING AREA. THIS SOUTHERLY FLOW SHOULD ALSO BRING UP HIGHER
SURFACE DEWPOINT READINGS RESULTING IN HEAT INDICES AROUND 105 FROM
SOUTH CENTRAL THROUGH MUCH OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA. STRONG VERTICAL
WIND PROFILES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR ALSO SUGGEST A POTENTIAL FOR
SEVERE STORMS THIS EVENING. A WARM FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE FROM
SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS OUR COUNTY WARNING AREA TODAY AND SHOULD BE
THE FOCUS FOR DEVELOPING CONVECTION. THE LOCATION OF THIS WARM FRONT
IS STILL IN QUESTION WITH THE VARIOUS MODELS INDICATING CONTRASTING
SOLUTIONS.

LONGER TERM...
PERIOD IS GENERALLY DOMINATED BY MORE OF A WNW FLOW ALOFT WHICH
SHOULD KEEP THE HEAT AT BAY AND TREND TEMPERATURES MORE TOWARD THE
SEASONAL NORMS.  MAY STILL SEE SOME PRECIP INTO TUESDAY...MAINLY S
AREAS....THEN MAINLY DRY AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES.  GFS
HAVING SOME PROBLEMS RESOLVING SURFACE PATTERN FOR THURSDAY INTO
SATURDAY WITH LITTLE RUN TO RUN CONTINUITY.  FOR NOW WILL CONTINUE
WITH THE DRY FORECAST...BUT NOT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN PRECIPITATION
FORECAST LATE IN THE WEEK ATTM.

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.MN...HEAT ADVISORY FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM TODAY FOR ALL BUT N TIER OF
COUNTIES.
.WI...NONE.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 23, 6:54 AM CST, 3 hours 6 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
754 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

MNZ041-047>051-054>063-065>070-075>078-241002-
ANOKA-BENTON-CARVER-CHIPPEWA-DAKOTA-DOUGLAS-GOODHUE-HENNEPIN-
KANDIYOHI-LAC QUI PARLE-LE SUEUR-MCLEOD-MEEKER-NICOLLET-POPE-RAMSEY-
RENVILLE-RICE-SCOTT-SHERBURNE-SIBLEY-STEARNS-STEVENS-SWIFT-
WASHINGTON-WRIGHT-
754 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

...HEAT ADVISORY FROM 10 AM UNTIL 7 PM TODAY WITH SEVERE STORMS
ALSO POSSIBLE...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND
CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT INTO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TODAY.  THIS WILL
ALLOW VERY WARM, HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR TO SPREAD INTO THE AREA.
TEMPERATURES SHOULD CLIMB INTO THE 90S WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES
AROUND 105 DEGREES AS THE NOON HOUR APPROACHES. IN ADDITION...THERE
IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE ADVANCING
WARM FRONT. ANOTHER THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS AHEAD
OF A LOW PRESSURE TROUGH MOVING OUT OF THE DAKOTAS INTO MINNESOTA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LINGER INTO SUNDAY MAINLY
SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES TO THE IOWA BORDER AS THE LOW PRESSURE
TROUGH MOVES ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT.

MNZ042>045-052-053-WIZ014>016-023>028-241002-
BARRON-CHIPPEWA-CHISAGO-DUNN-EAU CLAIRE-ISANTI-KANABEC-MILLE LACS-
MORRISON-PEPIN-PIERCE-POLK-RUSK-ST CROIX-TODD-
754 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE THIS
MORNING INTO TONIGHT AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OUT OF
IOWA. ANOTHER THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS FOR THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AS A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES OUT OF THE
DAKOTAS ACROSS MINNESOTA INTO WESTERN WISCONSIN. IN ADDITION...HOT
TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY ARE ON TAP TODAY WITH AFTERNOON
READINGS FROM THE UPPER 80S TO MID 90S. HEAT INDEX VALUES SHOULD
REACH 95 TO 100 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LINGER INTO SUNDAY FOR
WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN AS THE LOW PRESSURE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH
THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

MNZ064-073-074-082>085-091>093-241002-
BLUE EARTH-BROWN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-MARTIN-REDWOOD-STEELE-WASECA-
WATONWAN-YELLOW MEDICINE-
754 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

...HEAT ADVISORY FROM 10 AM UNTIL 7 PM TODAY WITH SEVERE STORMS
ALSO POSSIBLE...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT INTO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TODAY.  THIS WILL
ALLOW VERY WARM, HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR TO SPREAD INTO THE AREA.
TEMPERATURES SHOULD CLIMB INTO THE 90S WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES
AROUND 105 DEGREES AS THE NOON HOUR APPROACHES. IN ADDITION...THERE
IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE ADVANCING
WARM FRONT. ANOTHER THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS AHEAD
OF A LOW PRESSURE TROUGH MOVING OUT OF THE DAKOTAS INTO MINNESOTA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LINGER INTO SUNDAY
AS THE LOW PRESSURE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT.

BAP

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 23, 9:53 AM CST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1053 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

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

1032 AM     HAIL             ANOKA                   45.21N 93.39W
07/23/2005  0.75 INCH        ANOKA              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

GJERDINGEN/WEIBELER

Local storm report, Jul 23, 9:54 AM CST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1054 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

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

1032 AM     TSTM WND DMG     ANOKA                   45.21N 93.39W
07/23/2005                   ANOKA              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN ACROSS WESTERN ANOKA COUNTY.

&&

GJERDINGEN/WEIBELER

Local storm report, Jul 23, 9:56 AM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1056 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

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

1047 AM     TSTM WND DMG     ST PAUL                 44.95N 93.10W
07/23/2005                   RAMSEY             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

&&

GJERDINGEN/WEIBELER

Local storm report, Jul 23, 9:57 AM CST, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1057 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

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

1047 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LITTLE CANADA           45.02N 93.08W
07/23/2005                   RAMSEY             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

&&

GJERDINGEN/WEIBELER

Local storm report, Jul 23, 9:58 AM CST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1058 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

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

1037 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CRYSTAL                 45.04N 93.36W
07/23/2005                   HENNEPIN           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN.

&&

GJERDINGEN/WEIBELER

Local storm report, Jul 23, 10:00 AM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1100 AM CDT SAT JUL 23 2005

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

0810 AM     TSTM WND DMG     7 W DONNELLY            45.69N 96.16W
07/23/2005                   STEVENS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            4 TO 5 INCH LIMBS DOWN.

&&

GJERDINGEN/WEIBELER

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 23, 10:00 AM CST to 10:20 AM CST
Where: Polk County, Countywide
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 45.467, -92.517

Power lines were downed onto Main Street in St. Croix Falls. Trees and power lines were downed onto 51st Avenue, County Road M one mile south of County Road K, just north of 5th Avenue on 170th Street, and on Highway 65 near 40th Avenue in Alden Township. In Lincoln Township a tree was downed onto a power line on 60th Avenue. In Balsam Lake Township a tree was downed onto 165th Avenue one mile west of 130th Street and on 120th Avenue just west of 150th Street.

Lightning, St. Croix

When: July 23, 10:15 AM CST
Where: St. Croix County, Somerset
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 45.034, -92.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three men were injured by lightning when the bolt struck a car they were about to get into at a campground. One man, age 25, was touching the handle of the car when the bolt struck and was critically injured. When rescuers arrived a few minutes later he did not have a pulse. They were able to revive the victim with an AED. Another man, age 25, was standing right next to the person who was critically injured and was knocked unconscious and suffered burns on his arms. He was transported to the hospital in stable condition. A third man in his 20s standing a few feet away was struck in the foot by the bolt but refused medical treatment.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Croix

When: July 23, 10:15 AM CST
Where: St. Croix County, Roberts
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 44.983, -92.567

Power lines were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pierce

When: July 23, 10:20 AM CST
Where: Pierce County, River Falls
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 44.850, -92.633

Trees and branches were downed across town, including one which fell across the intersection of Fourth Street and Pine Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pierce

When: July 23, 10:23 AM CST
Where: Pierce County, Spring Valley
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 44.850, -92.250

A large tree was downed.

Flash Flood, Polk

When: July 23, 10:30 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Polk County, St Croix Falls
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 45.400, -92.650

A washout was occurred at the intersection of Kentucky Street and Adams Street just east of Highway 87.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Croix

When: July 23, 10:35 AM CST
Where: St. Croix County, Glenwood City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 45.067, -92.167

Two trees were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dunn

When: July 23, 10:46 AM CST
Where: Dunn County, Menomonie
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 44.883, -91.917

Trees and power lines were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dunn

When: July 23, 10:50 AM CST
Where: Dunn County, 4 mi N of Menomonie
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.933, -91.917

Several trees, including one Oak up to 16 inches in diameter, were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Barron

When: July 23, 10:55 AM CST
Where: Barron County, 2 mi W of Dallas
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 45.250, -91.850

Trees were downed onto 3 1/2 Avenue east of Highway 25.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pepin

When: July 23, 10:55 AM CST
Where: Pepin County, Durand
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 44.633, -91.967

Trees and power lines were downed including a 100 year old Maple on Prospect Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Barron

When: July 23, 10:56 AM CST
Where: Barron County, Dallas
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 45.250, -91.817

Downed trees blocked roads. The roof of a home, the roof of a barn, and the roof of a silo were blown off in rural Dallas. Numerous power lines were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dunn

When: July 23, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Dunn County, Meridean
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 44.733, -91.783

Power lines were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chippewa

When: July 23, 11:00 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Chippewa County, Countywide
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $125,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 45.083, -91.267

Extensive tree and power line damage was reported countywide. At Chippewa Valley Regional Airport a large hangar door was ripped off and planes suffered minor damage. A car window was broken and the side of a hangar was dented by flying debris and/or hail. In Halle 10 orchard trees were damaged. In Cornell the center of three silos was blown down onto a 100 foot barn. A nearby milk house and calf barn were also demolished by the high wind. In Eagleton a corn field was flattened and an Oak tree was uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Eau Claire

When: July 23, 11:00 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Eau Claire County, Countywide
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $592,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 44.717, -91.267

Half of a chimney was blown off a house and several trees and power lines were downed in Eau Claire. Trees that were uprooted on Jefferson Street, Farwell Street, Mars Avenue, State Street, West Lexington Street, Skeels Avenue, Agres Street, Powell Drive, Taft Avenue, and Keys Street were between 1 and 2 feet in diameter. Two downed trees damaged cars. One home at the intersection of Powell Drive and Hawkins Avenue had a large branch puncture the roof in several locations. The branch also damaged the living room ceiling. Four miles northeast of Eau Claire on County Road Q trees in excess of 10 inches in diameter were damaged, power lines and street signs were damaged, and a pole shed suffered structural damage. Scattered trees and power lines were also downed elsewhere across the county, including in Augusta. Some downed trees damaged houses and vehicles. In Washington an ice fishing shack was blown into the back of a Sheriff's Department squad car, shattering the car's rear window and denting the truck lid. In rural Fall Creek a Quonset-style barn was thrown into the air and smashed into a silo. On the same property a barn was demolished, two sides of a pole barn were downed, and the roof of a farmhouse was damaged. Total property damage at the rural Fall Creek site was estimated at $22,000.

Hail, Eau Claire

When: July 23, 11:05 AM CST to 11:10 AM CST
Where: Eau Claire County, Eau Claire
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 44.817, -91.483

Half dollar sized hail fell on London Road. Quarter sized hail was reported elsewhere in town.

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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 Wisconsin in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, July 2005

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: 5463351, 5463353, 5463357, 5463354, 5463355, 5463352, 5463356, 5463358, 5463359, 5463360, 5463361, 5463362, 5463363, 5463452, 5463454, 5463453.