Hail in Minnesota, July 22, 2009

Name: Hail in Minnesota, July 22, 2009
Start: 2009-07-22T13:20
End: 2009-07-22T15:56
Location: Minnesota

July 22, 2009 · NWS MPX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

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: 2

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 typical convective summer day occurred across the area, with enough instability to general healthy updrafts and pulse type severe thunderstorms. Freezing levels around 10,000' and wet-bulb temperatures around 9500' allowed for any thunderstorms that developed to generate large hail stones. Most of the thunderstorms developed as a weak disturbance moved southeast across the Dakotas and into Minnesota and Wisconsin. Once the disturbance generated thunderstorms, outflow boundaries from the storms allowed for the continuation of re-generation of convection through the evening.

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 22, 1:08 PM CST, 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 22, 1:08 PM CST, 12 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
208 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

.DISCUSSION...
EXPECT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP AGAIN THIS
AFTERNOON...AS INSTABILITY INCREASES AND A SHORTWAVE MOVES ACROSS
CENTRAL MN. THE LOW FREEZING LEVEL HEIGHT OF ABOUT 8500-9000 FEET
WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO A HAIL THREAT WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT
DEVELOP. FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTS ALSO MAKE SENSE GIVEN THE AXIS OF
SURFACE VORTICITY THAT LIES ALONG THE WEAK TROUGH EXTENDING FROM
NEAR MORA...TO THE TWIN CITIES...TO MANKATO. HOWEVER...THE STORMS
THUS FAR HAVE QUICKLY BECOME OUTFLOW DOMINATED...WHICH MINIMIZES
THE TOUCHDOWN THREAT.

CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL WANE AFTER SUNSET...WITH THE NEXT CHANCE
OF SHRA/TS ARRIVING LATE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AS A MID LEVEL LOW
DIVES SOUTHEAST FROM MANITOBA ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA...AND
PUSHES A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. ALTHOUGH THE FRONT
WILL BE PAST THE FORECAST AREA BY SATURDAY...THE AFOREMENTIONED
LOW WILL SPIN OVER THE GREAT LAKES REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND
BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY ACROSS WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN ON SATURDAY
AFTERNOON. OTHER THAN A ROGUE SHOWER OR TWO IN WEST CENTRAL
WI...EXPECT SUNDAY TO BE A DRY DAY.

BY NEXT WEEK...THE GREAT LAKES LOW WILL BECOME PART OF THE LARGER LOW
DOMINATING CANADA. THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE LOW WILL PIVOT
SOUTH ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL CONUS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE
UPCOMING WEEK. THIS WILL TRANSLATE TO SPORADIC PRECIPITATION
OPPORTUNITIES AS EMBEDDED IMPULSES MOVE ACROSS THE REGION...ALONG
WITH BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES. HIGHS WILL LIKELY NOT ESCAPE THE
70S ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH
MONDAY. HAVE ALSO RETAINED 20-30 POPS FROM MONDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY.

&&

.AVIATION.../18Z TAF ISSUANCE/

DISTURBED UPPER LEVEL PATTERN REMAINS OVER THE AREA THROUGH EARLY
EVE. COUPLED WITH A WEAK SFC BOUNDARY OFFERING LOW LEVEL
CONVERGENCE AND POOLING OF INSTABILITY...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
ARE ALREADY DEVELOPING IN NRN MN AND WI. THESE SHOULD EVOLVE
SOUTH INTO ERN MN AND WRN WI THROUGH MID AFTN. WITH THE TIMING OF
THESE IN THE FIRST SIX TO NINE HOURS...HAVE FOCUSED THE WINDOW ON
MENTIONING RAIN AT ERN MN AND WRN WI TAF SITES. HAVE HIGHLIGHTED
THUNDER IN THE WI TAF SITES BUT IS VERY POSSIBLE AT ERN MN SITES
DUE TO THE LOW FREEZING LEVELS OFFERING SUFFICIENT CHARGE
DISTRIBUTION FOR LIGHTNING. THERE COULD ALSO BE AT LEAST SOME
SMALL HAIL WITH ANY STORMS THIS AFTN. ALL IN ALL...COVERAGE SHOULD
BE NEAR 20-30 PERCENT IN ERN MN TO 30-50 PERCENT IN WRN WI. STORMS
WILL FADE WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING INTO THE EVENING. WINDS WILL BE
SOMEWHAT VARIABLE AT TIMES THIS AFTN AND BE GUSTY NEAR ANY STORMS.
THESE WILL BECOME VERY LIGHT ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT AND WITH RESIDUAL
MOISTURE IN THE WAKE OF THE SCT SHOWERS THIS AFTN AND EVE...SOME
FOG IS AGAIN POSSIBLE IN ERN MN AND WRN WI. NOT AS IDEAL OF A
SETUP...BUT SOME DENSE FOG NEAR WI TAF SITES IS POSSIBLE. SW WINDS
INCREASING TOMORROW AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM DROPPING SOUTHEAST FROM
THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...NONE.
WI...NONE.
&&

LS/MTF

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 22, 11:14 AM CST, 2 hours 6 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1214 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
231200-
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-
BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHEXT SEVERAL DAYS...ALONG
WITH AGAIN EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE HIGHEST CHANCE OF ORGANIZED AND
WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND INTO
FRIDAY. AT THIS TIME...THE THREAT FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER
IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ALTHOUGH THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT IS MARGINAL
THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING...SPOTTERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT
FOR STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS AND BE READY TO REPORT HAIL.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 22, 12:24 PM CST, 56 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
124 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

MNZ068-221915-
CARVER-
124 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

AT 123 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WACONIA. THIS STORM WAS MOVING
EAST SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  NORWOOD/YOUNG AMERICA.
  WACONIA.
  COLOGNE.
  CARVER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

IF NEAR LAKES...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A
VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE OUT TO 15 MILES FROM THE
PARENT THUNDERSTORM. 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

&&

LAT...LON 4468 9377 4467 9387 4481 9395 4487 9387
      4483 9365 4478 9359 4474 9363 4471 9362
      4470 9364 4470 9368 4464 9377
TIME...MOT...LOC 1824Z 286DEG 9KT 4482 9385

Local storm report, Jul 22, 12:26 PM CST, 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
126 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

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

0125 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     WINSTED                 44.97N 94.05W
07/22/2009                   MCLEOD             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL HALF WAY TO GROUND.

&&

AJZ

Local storm report, Jul 22, 12:31 PM CST, 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
131 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

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

0130 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     WINSTED                 44.97N 94.05W
07/22/2009                   MCLEOD             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL CLOUD ROPING OUT, STILL HALF WAY TO THE GROUND.

&&

AJZ

Special weather statement, Jul 22, 12:37 PM CST, 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
137 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

MNZ051-059-060-066>070-075>077-221930-
CARVER-DAKOTA-HENNEPIN-LE
SUEUR-MCLEOD-NICOLLET-RICE-SCOTT-SHERBURNE-SIBLEY-WRIGHT-
137 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL AND FUNNEL CLOUDS DEVELOPING OVER
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH 230 PM CDT...

AT 134 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS FROM CLEARWATER TO WACONIA SOUTH TO NICOLETT. THESE
STORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE
AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. ALSO...FUNNEL
CLOUDS REPORTS HAVE BEEN FREQUENT WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THE
ATMOSPHERE IS NOT FAVORABLE FOR A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN AT THIS TIME.
HOWEVER...IF YOU DO SEE A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  LORETTO.
  WAYZATA.
  WOODLAND.
  ST HENRY.
  VESELI.
  WEBSTER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

&&

LAT...LON 4439 9452 4486 9432 4551 9387 4545 9377
      4493 9320 4491 9320 4480 9302 4477 9300
      4477 9296 4467 9277 4442 9324 4422 9407
TIME...MOT...LOC 1834Z 293DEG 62KT 4521 9351 4478 9385
          4426 9427

Local storm report, Jul 22, 12:38 PM CST, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
138 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

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

0127 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 E STOCKHOLM           45.04N 94.18W
07/22/2009                   WRIGHT             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 30 AND 3. POSSIBLY SAME
            FUNNEL SEEN NEAR WINSTED AND SILVER LAKE.

&&

SPD

Local storm report, Jul 22, 12:41 PM CST, 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
141 PM CDT WED JUL 22 2009

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

0130 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 S MONTROSE            45.02N 93.91W
07/22/2009                   WRIGHT             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

SPD

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 38 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:21 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Scott

When: July 22, 1:20 PM CST
Where: Scott County, 3.45 mi S of Blakeley
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.570, -93.850

The public reported nickel size hail three miles south of Blakeley.

Hail, Hennepin

When: July 22, 3:56 PM CST
Where: Hennepin County, 2.86 mi NNE of Bloomington
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.859, -93.302

Reported near the intersection of Interstates 494 and 35W.

What these are

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 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, July 2009

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: 173872, 173873.