On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 3rd, a complex of thunderstorms moved across central Minnesota. Local officials determined that lightning started a fire, and also damaged a gas meter.
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.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 3rd, a complex of thunderstorms moved across central Minnesota. Local officials determined that lightning started a fire, and also damaged a gas meter. This occurred in the city of Rice, Minnesota.
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 Jun 3, 12:00 PM CST, 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 100 PM CDT WED JUN 3 2015 .UPDATE...FOR 18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 423 PM CDT WED JUN 3 2015 KEY FEATURE TODAY THAT WILL BE PLAYING THE PRIMARY ROLL IN WHAT HAPPENS WITH PRECIP POTENTIAL IS THE WELL DEFINED MCV THAT WAS OVER THE ERN SODAK/NEB BORDER AT 3 AM. THE MCS THAT GENERATED THIS MCV IS RACING TO THE SE...FOLLOWING THE TREND OF THE LLJ WHICH HAS SPLIT AS IT ENTERED THE MPX AREA...WITH ONE ENHANCED ARE OF MOISTURE TRANSPORT GOING ACROSS NRN MN AND THE SOUTHERN BRANCH NOW NOSING INTO SW IOWA...THIS EXPLAINS WHY MOST OF US ENDED UP DRY OVERNIGHT WITH ONE BATCH OF STORMS REMAINING NORTH AND THE OTHER BATCH GOING SOUTH. TO SAY THE INITIALIZATION OF THE MCV IN THE MODELS WAS POOR WOULD BEEN AN UNDERSTATEMENT...WITH PLENTY OF SPREAD IN THE DETERMINISTIC MODELS AND EVEN THE CAMS FOR REALLY THE WHOLE SHORT TERM PERIOD. LOOKING THROUGH THE WEEDS THOUGH...THERE WERE A COUPLE OF MODELS THAT LOOKED TO HAVE CAUGHT ON TO SOME IDEA OF THE MCV THIS MORNING AT THAT WOULD BE THE RAP/HRRR ALONG WITH THE HIRES ARW. FROM THE DETERMINISTIC MODELS...THE ECMWF LOOKS TO HAVE GOTTEN CLOSEST TO INITIALIZING THIS WAVE...THOUGH THINK IT IS UNDERDONE WITH THE AMOUNT OF QPF IT GENERATES THROUGH TONIGHT. IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH WHAT THE RAP/HRRR ARE SHOWING FOR THE EVOLUTION OF THE MCV...IT IS THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY A BIT SLOW AND POSSIBLY SENDING IT TO FAR NORTH. WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATING IS THAT WE WILL NOT SEE MUCH PRECIP IN THE MPX CWA UNTIL THE MCV ARRIVES...WHICH WILL BE AROUND 12Z IN OUR SW COUNTIES. AS THE MCV MOVES ENE THROUGH THE MORNING...IT SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SHIELD OF RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS. THINK THIS MCV WILL BRING WITH IT A 4-6 HOUR PERIOD WHERE FOLKS SEE A GOOD SOAKING RAIN WITH A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER. BECAUSE OF THAT...OUR SEVERE THREAT WILL BE PRETTY LOW TODAY GIVEN THE EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER/RAIN EXPECTED. IF WE WERE TO SEE ANY SEVERE WEATHER...THINK WHERE THE SPC HAS THEIR MARGINAL RISK IS A PRETTY GOOD ESTIMATE...IS THIS WOULD BE TOWARD THE SOUTH END OF THE MCV WHERE THERE IS A LITTLE BETTER CHANCE OF SOME MORE ENHANCED DESTABILIZATION. GOING INTO TONIGHT...GIVEN THE TIMING OF THE MCV ACROSS MN IN THE MORNING/AFTERNOON...EXPECT GREATEST PRECIP POTENTIAL BETWEEN 8PM AND MIDNIGHT OVER WRN WI BEFORE THIS WAVE CONTINUES ON ITS WAY TOWARD THE WRN U.P. OF MICHIGAN. FOR TEMPERATURES...EXPECTATION OF EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER MEANS WE WILL NOT BE ACHIEVING OUR POTENTIAL GIVEN 925-850 TEMPS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY IN MN...WHERE HIGHS TOPPED OUT IN THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S. INSTEAD FAVORED THE COOLER END OF THE MODEL ENVELOP FOR HIGHS TODAY...GOING WITH MAINLY LOW/MID 70S. TONIGHT...WE DID SLOW DOWN THE ERN PROGRESSION OF THE FRONT...SO WARMED LOWS A FEW DEGREES AS WELL FOR ALL BUT WRN AND CENTRAL MN. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 432 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015 THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONTAL MOVEMENT DISCUSSED IN THE SHORT TERM DISCUSSION WILL BE A SLOW PROCESS AND EVEN BY THURSDAY MORNING...THE FRONT SHOULD BE NEAR THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN EDGE OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE FRONTAL POSITION IS THE REASON FOR THE SMALL CHANCES OF SHOWERS/STORMS THROUGH FRIDAY. AT THIS POINT THE BEST THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE WILL BE JUST TO THE SOUTH ACROSS IOWA...ALTHOUGH AREAS ALONG I-90 IN SOUTHERN MN AND LOCATIONS IN WESTERN WI ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BOUNDARY TO WARRANT SLIGHT CHANCE OR CHANCE OF PRECIP. EVENTUALLY THE BOUNDARY SLIDES FARTHER SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA AS A WEAK SURFACE HIGH BUILDS ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY...SO THERE SHOULD BE A 12-24 HOUR WINDOW HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND WHERE THE WEATHER WILL REMAIN DRY. MN/WI DOES REMAIN ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE 830-300MB THICKNESS RIDGE WITH PIECES OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY ROTATING THROUGH EVERY SO OFTEN AND THUS THE REASON FOR THE MULTIPLE PERIODS OF 20%-40% THROUGH THE EXTENDED. EVENTUALLY A TROUGH THAT ORIGINATES IN THE GULF OF ALASKA TAKES A TRIP ACROSS THE INTERIOR OF CANADA AND INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. THIS WILL COOL TEMPS DOWN EARLY IN THE WORK WEEK WITH MODERATING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED DUE TO THE ARRIVAL OF RETURN FLOW BY WEDNESDAY. HIGHS WILL PUSH /OR SURPASS/ 80 DEGREES LATE NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1 PM CDT WED JUN 3 2015 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PLAGUE THE SITES AT TIMES INTO THE EVENING HOURS. LIFR VSBYS AND IFR CIGS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES...WITH PREVALENT MVFR CIGS. BY SUNSET...THE MAJORITY OF THE ACTIVITY SHOULD BE IN WI...WITH ALL SITES DRY BY 09Z. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AS THE FRONT PASSES. BR AND STRATUS DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED OVERNIGHT...WITH MVFR CIGS/VSBYS. SCATTERING OF THE LOW CLOUDS SHOULD COMMENCE BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z. KMSP... AFTER THE INITIAL SURGE OF THUNDERSTORMS ROLLS THROUGH AT TAF TIME...WILL SEE A BRIEF BREAK UNTIL THE NEXT BATCH OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH BETWEEN 21Z AND 01Z. MVFR CIGS WILL DEVELOP...DROPPING BELOW 1700FT BETWEEN 05Z AND 09Z. SHOULD SEE CIGS IMPROVE TO VFR BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z THU. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ THU NIGHT...VFR. WIND NNE 5 KTS. FRI...VFR. WIND E 10 KTS. SAT...VFR. CHC MVFR -TSRA LATE. WIND SE 10 KTS. SUN...VFR. CHC MVFR -TSRA. WIND SW 7-10 KTS BECOMING NW 7-10 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. && SHORT TERM...MPG LONG TERM...CLF AVIATION...LS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 121 PM CDT WED JUN 3 2015 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 041830- 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- 121 PM CDT WED JUN 3 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA... AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY UNTIL SUNSET. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW...BUT THE STRONGEST STORMS COULD PRODUCE MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL NEAR ONE INCH AND ALSO A FEW STRONG WIND GUSTS THROUGH 8 PM. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL ALSO CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AT TIMES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS EXIST AT TIMES FROM THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL BE GREATEST SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW FOR ANY ACTIVITY THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
913 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
MNZ043-049-031445-
STEARNS-MORRISON-
913 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL STEARNS AND
SOUTHWESTERN MORRISON COUNTIES...
AT 913 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER HOLDINGFORD...OR 15
MILES SOUTH OF LITTLE FALLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ROYALTON...HOLDINGFORD...UPSALA...BOWLUS...SOBIESKI...ELMDALE AND
OPOLE.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 4590 9431 4582 9428 4582 9435 4578 9428
4577 9428 4564 9451 4567 9461 4592 9450
TIME...MOT...LOC 1413Z 216DEG 17KT 4576 9446SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
919 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
MNZ049-057-031545-
STEARNS-KANDIYOHI-
919 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING EXPECTED...
VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL AFFECT
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
STEARNS...KANDIYOHI...
AT 919 AM CDT...VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALIZED
FLOODING WAS OVER BROOTEN.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ALBANY...AVON...BROOTEN...BELGRADE...HOLDINGFORD...FREEPORT...
FARMING...NEW MUNICH...NORWAY LAKE...GREENWALD...ELROSA AND MEIRE
GROVE.
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...AS WELL AS FARM AND COUNTRY ROADS. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES.
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
LAT...LON 4574 9426 4544 9472 4523 9516 4527 9525
4541 9517 4542 9513 4550 9512 4578 9455
4577 9428
TIME...MOT...LOC 1419Z 180DEG 0KT 4535 9400SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
921 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
MNZ054>056-064-031445-
YELLOW MEDICINE-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
921 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING EXPECTED...
VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL AFFECT
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
YELLOW MEDICINE...LAC QUI PARLE...SWIFT...CHIPPEWA...
AT 920 AM CDT...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE
OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MONTEVIDEO...BENSON...CLARKFIELD...HANLEY FALLS...WATSON...BOYD...
HAGEN...DE GRAFF...SPRING CREEK...HAZEL RUN...SPELLMAN LAKE AND
MONTEVIDEO AIRPORT.
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...AS WELL AS FARM AND COUNTRY ROADS. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES.
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
LAT...LON 4509 9586 4529 9571 4542 9547 4541 9545
4541 9533 4528 9539 4507 9553 4463 9564
4463 9602 4464 9603
TIME...MOT...LOC 1420Z 180DEG 0KT 4474 9585SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
924 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
MNZ078-031500-
GOODHUE-
924 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL AND EASTERN GOODHUE
COUNTY...
AT 924 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR ZUMBROTA...OR 16 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF RED WING...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RED WING...ZUMBROTA...GOODHUE...WANAMINGO...FRONTENAC...WACOUTA...
BELLECHESTER...FRONTENAC STATE PARK AND HADER.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
LAT...LON 4433 9286 4460 9261 4460 9256 4457 9255
4456 9234 4454 9231 4448 9230 4445 9235
4445 9243 4439 9243 4436 9247 4436 9255
4431 9255 4422 9267
TIME...MOT...LOC 1424Z 220DEG 21KT 4434 9270SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
938 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
MNZ043-031515-
MORRISON-
938 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN MORRISON COUNTY...
AT 938 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR ROYALTON...OR 10 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF LITTLE FALLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PIERZ...ROYALTON...BUCKMAN AND GENOLA.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 4582 9428 4587 9430 4601 9420 4596 9383
4584 9412
TIME...MOT...LOC 1438Z 220DEG 20KT 4586 9423SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1148 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
MNZ050-031730-
BENTON-
1148 AM CDT WED JUN 3 2015
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL BENTON COUNTY...
AT 1147 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER MAYHEW...OR 7 MILES
NORTHEAST OF ST. CLOUD...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SARTELL...SAUK RAPIDS...GILMAN...LITTLE ROCK AND MAYHEW.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 4582 9386 4558 9406 4558 9417 4560 9419
4582 9421
TIME...MOT...LOC 1647Z 185DEG 17KT 4567 9411The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:48 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Local officials determined that lightning started a fire, and also damaged a gas meter in Rice, Minnesota. The damage was limited mostly to the exterior of the house.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, June 2015
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: 569620.