Damaging Winds in Minnesota, August 9, 2015

Name: Damaging Winds in Minnesota, August 9, 2015
Start: 2015-08-09T18:33
End: 2015-08-09T18:40
Location: Minnesota

August 9, 2015 · NWS FSD · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Thunderstorms produced damaging winds, which were reported at two locations in Pipestone County of southwest Minnesota during the early evening of August 9th.

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

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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 FSD wrote it up.

Thunderstorms produced damaging winds, which were reported at two locations in Pipestone County of southwest Minnesota during the early evening of August 9th.

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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 9, 5:17 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 9, 5:17 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
617 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY)
ISSUED AT 214 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXPAND IN COVERAGE THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. TWO AREAS
TO WATCH. THE FIRST WILL BE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE THE
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST CWA NEAR A LOW LEVEL WARM/STATIONARY FRONT.
CAPE VALUES ABOUT 2500 J/KG AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR OF 40 KNOTS
SUPPORTS STRONG UPDRAFTS AND WITH RELATIVELY LOW LFC HEIGHTS A BRIEF
TORNADO WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE ONLY THING NOT SUPPORTING LANDSPOUT
TYPE TORNADOES ARE STRONG NEAR SURFACE LAPSE RATES. SO UPDRAFT
ACCELERATIONS WILL BE TAKING PLACE FAIRLY LOW IN THE ATMOSPHERE BUT
THESE MAY NOT EXTEND TO THE SURFACE. REGARDLESS HAIL TO AT LEAST
GOLF BALLS AS WELL AS WINDS OF 75 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE
STRONGEST STORMS.

THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL PRESS FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST
THIS EVENING WITH THE THREAT FOR SEVERE DIMINISHING AFTER SUNSET.
THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL LINGER IN NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL LATE
TONIGHT. NORTH WINDS WILL FILTER INTO THE AREA ON MONDAY WITH MAINLY
DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED AND PLEASANT TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 70S
TO LOWER 80S.

.LONG TERM...(MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY)
ISSUED AT 214 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

SPLIT FLOW JET REGIME TO BEGIN THE PERIOD...HOWEVER THE SOUTHERN
BRANCH OF THE JET QUICKLY WEAKENS.  THIS LEAVES THE NORTHERN BRANCH
ACROSS CENTRAL CANADA THE MAIN JET THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK ALLOWING
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE TO BUILD INTO THE CENTRAL US.  WITH LARGE SCALE
SUBSIDENCE...HAVE REMOVED POP CHANCES THROUGH THE WEEK WITH GRADUAL
WARMING TREND EXPECTED.  COULD SEE STORM CHANCES RETURN NEXT WEEKEND
AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WEAKENS AND A SERIES OF SHORT WAVES PASS
THROUGH THE AREA.  HAVE MADE VERY FEW CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED WITH
ONGOING WEATHER.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY EVENING)
ISSUED AT 615 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS CONTINUE OVER THE REGION EARLY THIS
EVENING. KHON IS IN THE CLEAR FOR CONVECTION...HOWEVER THIS
CONVECTION MAY END UP IMPACTING FSD/SUX THROUGH 03Z.

AFTER CONVECTION PASSES...MID-LVL CLOUDS WILL LINGER THROUGH THE
NIGHT...WITH QUIET WEATHER EXPECTED ON MONDAY.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...NONE.
MN...NONE.
IA...NONE.
NE...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...08
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...DUX

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 9, 4:08 PM CST, 2 hours 25 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
508 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

IAZ001-002-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038-039-
050-052>055-057>071-102215-
LYON IA-OSCEOLA-SIOUX-O'BRIEN-CLAY IA-PLYMOUTH-CHEROKEE-
BUENA VISTA-WOODBURY-IDA-ROCK-DIXON-DAKOTA-BEADLE-KINGSBURY-
GREGORY-JERAULD-SANBORN-MINER-LAKE-BRULE-AURORA-DAVISON-HANSON-
MCCOOK-MINNEHAHA-CHARLES MIX-DOUGLAS-HUTCHINSON-TURNER-LINCOLN SD-
BON HOMME-YANKTON-CLAY SD-UNION-
508 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
IOWA...SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST NEBRASKA...EAST CENTRAL
SOUTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH
DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING
HOURS.  THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL TO GOLF
BALL SIZE AND WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH. AN ISOLATED TORNADO COULD ALSO
OCCUR...MAINLY INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. WHILE STORMS MAY
LINGER INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS... THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER
SHOULD DIMINISH TOWARD MIDNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH 10 PM.

IAZ003-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-SDZ040-056-102215-
DICKINSON-LINCOLN MN-LYON MN-MURRAY-COTTONWOOD-NOBLES-JACKSON-
PIPESTONE-BROOKINGS-MOODY-
508 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
IOWA...SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING
HOURS. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE...WITH
THE PRIMARY RISK OF DAMAGING WINDS. LARGE HAIL MAY ALSO BE
POSSIBLE. STORM RISKS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH LATE THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH 10 PM.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 9, 5:46 PM CST, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
646 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

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

0640 PM     HAIL             MENNO                   43.24N 97.58W
08/09/2015  E0.75 INCH       HUTCHINSON         SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

Local storm report, Aug 9, 5:47 PM CST, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
647 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

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

0640 PM     TSTM WND GST     MENNO                   43.24N 97.58W
08/09/2015  E60 MPH          HUTCHINSON         SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

Local storm report, Aug 9, 5:52 PM CST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
652 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

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

0610 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 N BRIDGEWATER         43.61N 97.49W
08/09/2015  E55 MPH          MCCOOK             SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

Local storm report, Aug 9, 6:18 PM CST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
718 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

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

0700 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 N MAYFIELD            43.18N 97.34W
08/09/2015  E60 MPH          TURNER             SD   PUBLIC

            DAMAGE IN THE CROPS

&&

Local storm report, Aug 9, 6:23 PM CST, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
723 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

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

0700 PM     HAIL             9 NW MAYFIELD           43.18N 97.42W
08/09/2015  E1.00 INCH       HUTCHINSON         SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

AF

Local storm report, Aug 9, 6:29 PM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
729 PM CDT SUN AUG 9 2015

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

0728 PM     TSTM WND GST     IRENE                   43.08N 97.16W
08/09/2015  E70 MPH          CLAY               SD   PUBLIC

            NUMEROUS BRANCHES DOWN...SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

&&

AF

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pipestone

When: August 9, 6:33 PM CST
Where: Pipestone County, 5.06 mi SSW of Ihlen
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.850, -96.400

Thunderstorm winds blew down several large branches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pipestone

When: August 9, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Pipestone County, 0.85 mi NE of Trosky
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.890, -96.260

Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including large branches blown down.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, August 2015

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: 597766, 597767.