Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, July 3, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, July 3, 2012
Start: 2012-07-03T01:20
End: 2012-07-03T01:45
Location: Minnesota

July 3, 2012 · NWS MPX · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

A large complex of thunderstorms that developed across northern Minnesota, eventually tracked to the south and caused a few severe storms to develop in portions of central and east central Minnesota, along with a few reports of funnel clouds. There were also several reports of non-severe thunderstorm wind gusts across the area.

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: $3,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

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 2, 10:59 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 2, 10:59 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1159 PM CDT MON JUL 2 2012

.UPDATE...

UPDATED TO INCLUDE 06Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

TWO MAIN CONCERNS THIS FORECAST...HEAT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND
STORMS TONIGHT. SHORT WAVE MOVING ACROSS ND. SFC LO WEST OF
ABERDEEN WITH WARM FRONT LOOPING ACROSS CENTRAL MN AND INTO NWRN
WISC. UPPER FLOW WOULD SUGGEST A GENERALLY EASTWARD MOVEMENT FOR A
LITTLE WHILE. HOWEVER...WITH THE UPPER RIDGE JUST TO OUR
EAST...STORMS SHOULD BEGIN SLIDING OR DEVELOPING ESE OR SE. THIS
IS EVIDENT IN MOST OF THE 12Z AND 18Z MODELS. HAVE THUS EAST
CENTRAL MN INTO WISC HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF SEEING STORMS LATER
THIS EVENING THROUGH ABOUT 09Z. HAVE NOT MENTIONED SEVERE IN THE
GRIDS BUT THE RICE LAKE...LADYSMITH... AND CHIPPEWA FALLS AREAS
ARE MOST AT RISK FROM DAMAGING WIND. WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF A
SVR WATCH BECOMES NECESSARY THERE LATER THIS EVENING.

OUTFLOW FROM THE STORMS MAY REACH SOUTHERN MN...WHICH WOULD
PROVIDE AN INTERESTING BOUNDARY FOR TOMORROW THAT WOULD HAVE MORE
OF AN IMPACT ON THE HEAT EFFECTS. LITTLE WIND IS EXPECTED NEAR THE
BOUNDARY AND DEW POINTS SHOULD BE POOLING. IT COULD EASILY FEEL
LIKE A STEAMBATH TOMORROW WITH HIGH TEMPS IN THE MID AND UPPER 90S AND
DEW POINTS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S AND LITTLE WIND. BOUNDARY WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO SCOUR OUT THE HUMIDITY SO EVEN AREAS INTO CENTRAL
MN SHOULD STILL SEE TEMPS IN THE LOWER 90S AND DEW POINTS IN THE
LOWER 70S. THIS WILL RESULT IN A HEAT INDEX OF 95 TO 105 ACROSS
THE CWA FOR DAY TWO OF HOT WEATHER.

UPPER RIDGE BUILDS STRONGLY INTO MN...WITH 591 HEIGHTS INTO SRN MN
ON WEDNESDAY. BUT OCCASIONAL SHORT WAVES WILL RIDE THE RIDGE INTO
ND AND NRN MN...AND THERE IS SOME HINT OF A TROPICAL PLUME
STREAMING NORTHWARD ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE UPPER HIGH. AFTER
STORMS TONIGHT... PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES GRADUALLY REBUILD AND
BY LATE THURSDAY...REACH TWO INCHES IN A COUPLE OF SPOTS IN MN AND
NRN WISC. ONE VERY WEAK SHORT WAVE IS INDICATED FOR WEDNESDAY...
A BETTER ONE ON THURSDAY AND ANOTHER ON FRIDAY. THUS WILL NEED TO
HAVE POPS FOR WED NIGHT INTO THE END OF THE WEEK DESPITE SUCH HOT
WEATHER. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY BE SOMEWHAT
ISOLATED... PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN BUT BE SHORT LIVED.

SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW OF HIGH HEAT CAN BE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT SO
DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE HEAT HIGHLIGHTS THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.
METRO WILL NEED A WARNING. HEAT MAY STILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL MN
INTO WISC AND COULD STILL NEED AN ADVISORY FRIDAY BUT THAT CAN BE
DECIDED IN CASE UPPER PATTERN CHANGES A LITTLE FASTER THAN
CURRENTLY ADVERTISED. WC MN INTO EC MN LOOK TO BE COOLER AND DRIER
ON FRIDAY...IF ONE CAN CALL MAX TEMPS IN THE MID AND UPPER 80S
MUCH COOLER. UPPER FLOW BECOMES SLIGHTLY WNW ON FRIDAY AND SO
THE COOLER TEMPS SHOULD REMAIN INTO MONDAY...WITH LOWER AND MIDDLE
80S MUCH MORE COMMON.

&&

.AVIATION.../06Z TAF ISSUANCE/

WITH A WMFNT NE OF TAF SITES AND CDFNT NW OF TAF SITES...MUCH OF
THE AREA WILL REMAIN WARM...HUMID AND UNSTABLE. HOWEVER...WITH
PRIMARY LIFTNG MECHANISMS JUST N OF THE SITES...AM NOT EXPECTING
THE ONGOING CONVECTION OVER NRN MN AND NW WI NOR ANY POTENTIAL
LATER DEVELOPMENT DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS TO IMPACT THE
TERMINALS SINCE THERE IS LITTLE LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE. HAVE KEPT
THE TAFS DRY WITH MULTIPLE MID- AND HIGH-LAYER CLOUDS. SMALL
POTENTIAL THERE COULD BE SOME FOG/HAZE OVERNIGHT WITH SUCH A MOIST
ATMOS IN PLACE...ESP SHOULD WINDS DROP TO CALM...BUT CHCS ARE NOT
GREAT...ESPECIALLY WITH LEFTOVER OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES KEEPING THINGS
MIXED. MORE STABLE AIR DURG THE DAY TDA WILL KEEP CONVECTION FROM
BREAKING OUT...ALLOWING FOR SLOWLY CLEARING SKIES LATE TDA INTO
TNGT.

MSP...VFR CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THIS TAF SET THOUGH THERE WILL BE
PLENTY OF MID- AND UPPER-LEVEL CLOUDS PASSING BY AS CONVECTION TO
THE N PERSISTS THROUGH AT LEAST THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. NOT
LOOKING FOR THE CONVECTION TO REACH MSP...BUT DEBRIS CLOUDS ARE A
GOOD POSSIBILITY. CLOUDS THEN LINGER THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY BUT
MAY PARTIALLY CLEAR OUT LATE. WINDS WILL SWING AROUND...INCLUDING
GOING TO N NOT LONG AFTER THIS TAF ISSUANCE DUE TO A SWD-MOVING
OUTFLOW BOUNDARY. WINDS WILL THEN RETURN TO THE PREDOMINANTLY SLY
DIRECTION BY DAYBREAK...THEN GRADUALLY SHIFT TO SW AND NW. SPEEDS
WILL GENERALLY REMAIN BELOW 10 KT...WITH SOME SLIGHTLY HIGHER
GUSTS POSSIBLE THIS AFTN.

OUTLOOK...
.WEDNESDAY...VFR. WINDS SE 10-15 KT.
.THURSDAY...VFR. WINDS S 10-20 KT.
.FRIDAY...VFR/MVFR. CHC SHWRS/TSTMS. SHIFTING WINDS...BECOMING NE
5-10 KT.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR ANOKA-BENTON-BLUE
     EARTH-BROWN-CARVER-CHIPPEWA-CHISAGO-DAKOTA-DOUGLAS-
     FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-GOODHUE-ISANTI-KANABEC-KANDIYOHI-LAC QUI
     PARLE-LE SUEUR-MARTIN-MCLEOD-MEEKER-MILLE LACS-MORRISON-
     NICOLLET-POPE-REDWOOD-RENVILLE-RICE-SCOTT-SHERBURNE-SIBLEY-
     STEARNS-STEELE-STEVENS-SWIFT-TODD-WASECA-WASHINGTON-
     WATONWAN-WRIGHT-YELLOW MEDICINE.

     EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 10 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR HENNEPIN-
     RAMSEY.

WI...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR BARRON-CHIPPEWA-DUNN-
     EAU CLAIRE-PEPIN-PIERCE-POLK-RUSK-ST. CROIX.

&&

JPC

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 2, 6:29 PM CST, 6 hours 51 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
729 PM CDT MON JUL 2 2012

MNZ041>045-049>053-061-063-WIZ014>016-023>028-040030-
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEARNS-BENTON-SHERBURNE-
ISANTI-CHISAGO-ANOKA-WASHINGTON-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-
DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
729 PM CDT MON JUL 2 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN TONIGHT. THE STRONGEST STORMS COULD PRODUCE
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. THE SEVERE WEATHER
THREAT MAY EXTEND FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
IF THESE STORMS CAN ORGANIZE INTO A LINE AND MOVE TO THE SOUTHEAST
LATE THIS EVENING...THEN THERE WILL BE A HIGH WIND THREAT WITH THE
STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL BE THE MAIN STORY...WITH THE WORST
CONDITIONS LIKELY BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. HIGHS IN THE 90S
WITH HEAT INDICES AROUND 105 WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY. THERE MIGHT EVEN BE ACTUAL HIGH TEMPERATURES REACHING
TRIPLE DIGITS. RELIEF IS NOT EXPECTED UNTIL SATURDAY.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH THE BEST CHANCE ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA
THROUGH THURSDAY. A FEW SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT FOR FAR NORTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE COVERAGE AREA.

MNZ047-048-054>060-062-064>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-040030-
STEVENS-POPE-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-
HENNEPIN-RAMSEY-YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-
SCOTT-DAKOTA-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
729 PM CDT MON JUL 2 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS
IN EFFECT FOR HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTIES THROUGH THURSDAY.
THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA
TONIGHT...HOWEVER...MOST OF THE ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN
NORTH OF A LINE FROM ALEXANDRIA...TO ST. CLOUD...TO THE TWIN
CITIES METRO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL BE THE MAIN STORY...WITH THE WORST
CONDITIONS LIKELY BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. HIGHS IN THE 90S
WITH HEAT INDICES AROUND 105 WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY. THERE MIGHT EVEN BE ACTUAL HIGH TEMPERATURES REACHING
TRIPLE DIGITS. RELIEF IS NOT EXPECTED UNTIL SATURDAY.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH THE BEST CHANCE ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA
THROUGH THURSDAY. A FEW SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE NEEDED THROUGH
TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 2, 11:12 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1212 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 2012

MNZ042-030600-
TODD-
1212 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 2012

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO TODD COUNTY THROUGH 100 AM CDT...

AT 1209 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES NORTH OF DEER CREEK. THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST
AT 45 MPH.

ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  HEWITT.
  BERTHA.
  EAGLE BEND.
  STAPLES.
  PHILBROOK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 4636 9471 4636 9466 4635 9464 4605 9466
      4617 9515 4631 9517 4636 9516 4637 9515
      4638 9473
TIME...MOT...LOC 0513Z 284DEG 39KT 4643 9527

JPC

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 12:46 AM CST, 34 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
146 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 2012

MNZ057-058-065-073-030730-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-REDWOOD-RENVILLE-
146 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 2012

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER KANDIYOHI...MEEKER...REDWOOD AND
RENVILLE COUNTIES THROUGH 230 AM CDT...

AT 141 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES EAST OF BLOMKEST TO
4 MILES WEST OF LUCAN. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  DANUBE.
  LAKE LILLIAN.
  THORPE.
  WABASSO.
  WANDA.
  CORVUSO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

&&

LAT...LON 4454 9548 4455 9536 4468 9537 4498 9512
      4499 9434 4498 9450 4482 9449 4429 9508
      4433 9560 4439 9561
TIME...MOT...LOC 0646Z 270DEG 32KT 4494 9490 4441 9543

JPC

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 funnel cloud, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sherburne

When: July 3, 1:20 AM CST
Where: Sherburne County, 0.84 mi SE of Orrock
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.440, -93.740

Funnel Cloud, Sherburne

When: July 3, 1:25 AM CST
Where: Sherburne County, 2.13 mi NNE of Big Lake
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.360, -93.760

Thunderstorm Wind, Wright

When: July 3, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Wright County, 0.97 mi E of Monticello
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.300, -93.800

A 22-inch diameter tree blew down near Monticello, Minnesota.

Funnel Cloud, Sherburne

When: July 3, 1:42 AM CST
Where: Sherburne County, 0.69 mi N of Elk River
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.310, -93.580

Thunderstorm Wind, Anoka

When: July 3, 1:45 AM CST
Where: Anoka County, 0.67 mi SE of St Francis
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 45.392, -93.361

A tree was blown down and landed on a power line.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, July 2012

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: 380999, 380998, 381000, 380997, 392652.