A strong upper level trough of low pressure was the catalyst for scattered severe thunderstorms across West Central Wisconsin on this date.
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 episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.
A strong upper level trough of low pressure was the catalyst for scattered severe thunderstorms across West Central Wisconsin on this date.
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 19, 2:35 PM CST, 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 335 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008 .DISCUSSION... DISCUSSION WILL BE RATHER BRIEF WITH SEVERE WX IN PROGRESS. SURFACE BOUNDARY PULLED A BIT FARTHER NORTH THAN EARLIER EXPECTED AND NOW LIES FROM N OF TWIN CITIES TO ARND RWF. HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TORNADIC STORMS IN EC MN JUST N OF SURFACE BOUNDARY AS WEAK CIRCULATION APPARENT ON VISIBLE SATL IMAGERY MOVED INTO AREA. OTHER STRONG STORMS NOW FIRING INTO SC MN NEAR SURFACE BOUNDARY AND APPREAR TO BE GETTING SOME HELP FROM TAIL END OF SHORTWAVE PASSING INTO W MN. AFTER STORMS WIND DOWN WILL BE SOME POTENTIAL OF FOG IN CNTRL MN LT TNGHT AS WEAK RIDGING MOVES IN. THAT AREA WAS UNDER CLDS AND RAIN THRU MUCH OF DAY. SURFACE FRONT WILL DROP INTO IOWA OVERNIGHT. MAY SEE A FEW SHWRS OR TSTMS AGAIN SUNDAY AFTN/NITE AS UPPER TROF DROPS OUT OF MB/OT. SHUD THEN SEE A FEW DRY DAYS MONDAY THRU WEDNESDAY AS RIDGE AS FLOW BECOME MORE AMPLIFIED AND RIDGING DEVELOPS IN N PLAINS. && .AVIATION.../18Z TAF ISSUANCE/ SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO RE-DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MN AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH VORT MAX OVER CENTRAL MN WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY SHIFT NORTH OF THE TAF SITES THIS AFTERNOON...BUT ANOTHER SHORTWAVE OVER EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND A WARM FRONT ALONG THE MN/IA BORDER WILL PROVIDE THE FOCI FOR ADDITIONAL TS DEVELOPMENT. EXPECT THE TS ACTIVITY /DEVELOPING AT 18Z/ TO BLOSSOM AND EXPAND ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MN THIS AFTERNOON...AFFECTING KRWF TO KEAU...WHERE RESTRICTIONS SHOULD GENERALLY BE OF THE MVFR CATEGORY. ACTIVITY SHOULD BE MORE SCATTERED IN NATURE AT KAXN/KSTC/KMSP/KRNH...ALTHOUGH BRIEF DEGRADATIONS INTO THE MVFR CATEGORY WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD TAPER OFF BY MIDNIGHT FOR THE MOST PART...WITH THE NEXT CONCERN ON FOG DEVELOPMENT OVERNIGHT. CLEARING SKIES...LIGHT WINDS...AND RESIDUAL GROUND MOISTURE MAY LEAD TO FOG FORMATION...ESPECIALLY AT KAXN AND KRWF. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. && BAP/LS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 1123 AM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 201200- 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- 1123 AM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA. A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...MAINLY SOUTH OF A MONTEVIDEO...TO LAKEVILLE...TO EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN LINE...BETWEEN 2 PM AND 8 PM. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS THAT DEVELOP WOULD BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...AND AGAIN NEXT THURSDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...MAINLY SOUTH OF A MONTEVIDEO TO LAKEVILLE TO EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN LINE. LS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
251 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0240 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 S ST FRANCIS 45.41N 93.31W
07/19/2008 ANOKA MN AMATEUR RADIO
SPOTTED NEAR NOWTHEN AND TROUT BROOK ROAD IN BURNS
TOWNSHIP.
&&
MKMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 305 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008 MNZ051-059>063-066-068>070-WIZ014-023-024-192045- ANOKA-CARVER-DAKOTA-HENNEPIN-MCLEOD-PIERCE-POLK-RAMSEY-SCOTT- SHERBURNE-ST. CROIX-WASHINGTON-WRIGHT- 305 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR ANOKA...CARVER...DAKOTA... HENNEPIN...MCLEOD...PIERCE...POLK...RAMSEY...SCOTT...SHERBURNE...ST. CROIX...WASHINGTON AND WRIGHT COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT... AT 303 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MONTICELLO TO HUTCHINSON JUST WEST OF THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE AND WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. THE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME STRONGER AS THEY MOVE EAST. PEOPLE IN THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA...WRIGHT COUNTY...AND MCLEOD COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. IF ON OR NEAR LAKE MINNETONKA OR OTHER AREA LAKES...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER NOW. DONT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. MARGRAF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 315 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008 MNZ082-091-192100- MARTIN-WATONWAN- 315 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MARTIN AND WATONWAN COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM CDT... AT 312 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTH OF LAKEFIELD IN JACKSON COUNTY. THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... TRIMONT. FOXLAKE. NORTHROP. ORMSBY. WELCOME. SHERBURN. TRUMAN. THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE HAIL UP TO SIZE OF DIMES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH. THE STORM COULD STRENGTHEN AS IT MOVES EAST. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. MARGRAF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
330 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0255 PM HAIL ST FRANCIS 45.40N 93.39W
07/19/2008 M1.00 INCH ANOKA MN AMATEUR RADIO
NEAR HWY 28 AND BARNIUM.
&&
MKMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
334 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0322 PM TSTM WND DMG FOREST LAKE 45.28N 92.99W
07/19/2008 WASHINGTON MN AMATEUR RADIO
2 TO 3 INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES DOWNED ON LAKE DRIVE.
&&
MKMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
337 PM CDT SAT JUL 19 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 WSW BETHEL 45.38N 93.32W
07/19/2008 ANOKA MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
3 TO 4 FT DIAMETER TREE DOWN BLOCKING NIGHTINGALE ST IN
EAST BETHEL.
&&
MKMThe Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:50 UTC.
6 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Two large trees downed one mile West of Horse Creek on County Rd. X.
One large tree toppled.
Hail occurred 0.5 miles West of intersection of County Road N and T.
Officer estimated many hundreds of trees felled at Highland Campground on North side of Eau Galled Reservoir. Trained spotter reported trees were downed from Northwest to Southeast.
Officer estimated many hundreds of trees felled at Highland Campground on North side of Eau Galled Reservoir. Trained spotter reported trees were downed from Northwest to Southeast.
Tree felled and blocked road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, July 2008
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: 129397, 129398, 129391, 129392, 129393, 129394, 129399, 139350, 129395, 129396, 129400.