Hail in Wisconsin, July 24, 2009

Name: Hail in Wisconsin, July 24, 2009
Start: 2009-07-24T07:08
End: 2009-07-24T08:14
Location: Wisconsin

July 24, 2009 · NWS MPX · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved through the region Friday morning and generated a line of strong to severe thunderstorms that affected areas from far east central Minnesota, into west central Wisconsin.

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: 4

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 strong cold front moved through the region Friday morning and generated a line of strong to severe thunderstorms that affected areas from far east central Minnesota, into west central Wisconsin.

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 24, 5:25 AM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 24, 5:25 AM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
625 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

.AVIATION... /12Z TAF ISSUANCE/

COLD FRONT EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL MN AND ABOUT TO
MOVE THROUGH KAXN. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE WELL
AHEAD OF THE FRONT ATTM AND IN THE ZONE OF BEST LOW LEVEL WAA.
INDICATED SHOWERS FOR THE MORNING FOR SITES AHEAD OF THE FRONT
WITH 2 HOURS OF TEMPO THUNDER FOR KMSP AND KRNH. VCTS MENTIONED AT
KEAU EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WHERE A DECENT CHANCE EXISTS FOR A LINE
OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE FRONT. KEPT
PREDOMINATE CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES VFR THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH
MVFR VISIBILITY IN THE TEMPO GROUPS. SURFACE WINDS INCREASING OUT
OF THE NW TODAY AFTER FROPA. MIXING THIS AFTERNOON INDICATES GUSTS
WELL INTO THE 20 KNOT RANGE FOR KAXN...WITH AROUND 20 FOR KSTC AND
KRWF. EASTERN SITES WILL SEE WINDS BY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON IN THE
14 TO 16 KNOT RANGE THAT WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE EVENING BEFORE
DROPPING.

&&

.DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 323 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009/

TIGHT WARM ADVECTION ZONE OVER CENTRAL MN AHEAD OF SURFACE LOW
WITH CONVECTION RIDING JUST NORTH OF THE MORE STABLE AIR OVER
SOUTHERN MN. SOME ELEMENTS DEVELOPING BASK TO THE SW OVER WEST
CENTRAL MN CLOSER TO MORE UNSTABLE REGIME OVER SD. RUC13 TAKES
MOST OF LAYER 850-700 WARM ADVECTION ACROSS THE NORTHERN CWA THIS
MORNING BUT THERE ARE HINTS OF AN ADDITIONAL ADVECTION ZONE
DEVELOPING OVER SW MN AS THE FRONT SAG INTO THAT AREA.
DIFFERENTIAL DIV QUIETS STRONG OVER CENTRAL MN AS WELL..BUT THIS
WEAKENS WITH TIME THIS MORNING INTO SOUTHERN MN. WILL PLACE SOME
HIGH POPS FOR A FEW HOURS MAINLY OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL AND
SE MN INTO WEST CENTRAL WI. SOMEWHAT NORTH-SOUTH THICKNESS
ORIENTATION NOT THE BEST FOR SEVERE WEATHER THIS MORNING OVER THE
AREA...BUT BECOMES A LITTLE BETTER OVER SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH A WNW ORIENTATION. RUC AND NAM A LITTLE FASTER THAN
THE GFS WITH THIS...AND CURRENT TRENDS SUGGEST THAT THIS MAY BE
CORRECT. THUS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT MAY BE JUST SOUTHEAST OF OUR
AREA BY AFTERNOON.

SHOULD BE DECENT CLEARING BEHIND THE SYSTEM NW CWA DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND THE REST OF THE AREA THIS EVENING. MODELS CONTINUE
TREND OF SOMEWHAT UNSTABLE CYCLONIC FLOW INTO THE WEEKEND WITH THE
BEST CHANCE OF SCATTERED SHOWERS EASTERN CWA SATURDAY AFTERNOON
AND THEN PART OF SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. GEFS 500 MB HEIGHT ANOMALY
TRENDS SHOW BELOW NORMAL HEIGHTS THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH. THE
00Z ECMWF ACTUALLY SHOWING A LITTLE MORE BROAD TROUGH EXTENDING
BACK TO THE NW CONUS BY THE END OF THE RUN. BASICALLY THIS
SUGGESTS THE CONTINUING CHANCE OF PRECIP INTO NEXT WEEK. WAVES
WILL BE HARD TO TIME..THUS ARGUES FOR POPS SOMEWHAT ABOVE THE
CLIMATOLOGY. TEMPS STILL AVERAGING BELOW NORMAL.

&&

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

RAH/JPR

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 24, 3:25 AM CST, 3 hours 43 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
425 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
250930-
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-
425 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO TRACK ACROSS MUCH OF
EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THIS
MORNING. SOME OF THE STORMS OVER CENTRAL OR SOUTH CENTRAL
MINNESOTA COULD PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN. A COLD
FRONT WILL BE MOVING INTO FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...AND PARTS OF
WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THIS AFTERNOON. INSTABILITY WILL BE
INCREASING AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE IN AN AREA FROM AROUND ALBERT
LEA TO EAU CLAIRE. LARGER HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WOULD BE THE
MAIN THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...AS WEAK DISTURBANCES MOVE SOUTHEAST OUT OF CANADA. THE
WEATHER PATTERN WILL REMAIN UNSETTLED INTO MUCH OF NEXT WEEK...WITH
A CONTINUING CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE WEATHER IS
NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON OVER FAR
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 24, 6:08 AM CST, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
708 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

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

0705 AM     HAIL             WNW ST FRANCIS          45.40N 93.40W
07/24/2009  M0.88 INCH       ANOKA              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MKM

Special weather statement, Jul 24, 6:20 AM CST, 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
720 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

MNZ061-241245-
ANOKA-
720 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

AT 719 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR CEDAR. THIS STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE...WINDS UP TO 30 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  CEDAR.
  EAST BETHEL.
  HAM LAKE.
  BLAINE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

&&

LAT...LON 4530 9301 4513 9319 4527 9351 4541 9337
TIME...MOT...LOC 1220Z 299DEG 30KT 4529 9331

Local storm report, Jul 24, 6:22 AM CST, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
722 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

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

0720 AM     HAIL             2 NNW ANDOVER           45.29N 93.35W
07/24/2009  M0.88 INCH       ANOKA              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MKM

Local storm report, Jul 24, 6:34 AM CST, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
734 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

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

0723 AM     HAIL             3 W CEDAR               45.31N 93.37W
07/24/2009  M1.75 INCH       ANOKA              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED IN OAK GROVE

&&

MKM

Special weather statement, Jul 24, 6:38 AM CST, 30 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
738 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

MNZ061>063-241315-
ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
738 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

AT 738 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR LINO LAKES. THIS STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40
MPH.

HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE...WINDS UP TO 30 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  CENTERVILLE.
  HUGO.
  MAHTOMEDI.
  MARINE ON ST CROIX.
  STILLWATER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

&&

LAT...LON 4522 9276 4500 9282 4520 9334 4536 9322
TIME...MOT...LOC 1238Z 300DEG 34KT 4518 9307

Local storm report, Jul 24, 7:02 AM CST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
802 AM CDT FRI JUL 24 2009

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

0750 AM     HAIL             1 N CIRCLE PINES        45.15N 93.15W
07/24/2009  M0.88 INCH       ANOKA              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MKM

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Polk

When: July 24, 7:08 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 1.19 mi SE of Osceola Muni Arpt
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.310, -92.680

Hail, St. Croix

When: July 24, 7:50 AM CST to 7:53 AM CST
Where: St. Croix County, 5.77 mi WNW of River Falls
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 44.880, -92.740

Leaves stripped.

Hail, St. Croix

When: July 24, 8:00 AM CST
Where: St. Croix County, 5.77 mi WNW of River Falls
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 44.880, -92.740

A second round of hail fell west-northwest of River Falls.

Hail, Pierce

When: July 24, 8:14 AM CST
Where: Pierce County, 1.47 mi E of Prescott
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.750, -92.790

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 Wisconsin in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, 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: 175812, 175814, 175815, 175817.