Tornado and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 18, 2015

Name: Tornado and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 18, 2015
Start: 2015-07-18T00:30
End: 2015-07-18T01:25
Location: Wisconsin

July 18, 2015 · NWS MPX · 6 events in 4 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: $110,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 significant bow echo moved across Minnesota and then into west central Wisconsin during the early morning hours of Saturday, July 18th. These storms moved rapidly eastward, with numerous reports of downed trees and power lines. A few intense bow echo segments produced damage to sheds and outbuildings. One of the stronger storms produced an EF-1 tornado near Eau Galle.

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 17, 6:13 PM CST, 6 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 6:13 PM CST, 6 hours 17 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
713 PM CDT FRI JUL 17 2015

.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY)
ISSUED AT 228 PM CDT FRI JUL 17 2015

SFC ANALYSIS DEPICTS A NE-SW ORIENTED CDFNT OVER THE ERN DAKOTAS
INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WITH A LOW PRES CENTER DEVELOPING ALONG IT
OVER S-CENTRAL SD. ALOFT...A DEPARTING RIDGE AXIS INTO THE GRT LKS
REGION WILL BE SUPPLANTED BY WSW-ENE FLOW ALOFT...OWING TO A SHARP
PIVOTING LONGWAVE TROF AXIS EXTENDING SWD FROM CENTRAL CANADA.
THIS TROF LOOKS TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE N-CENTRAL CONUS...WITH A
CUTOFF LOW DEVELOPING WITHIN IT WHICH WILL SHIFT E ALONG THE
INTERNATIONAL BORDER. THESE FEATURES ALOFT WILL HELP DRAG THE
AFOREMENTIONED CDFNT EWD INTO NRN MN THIS EVENING AND ACRS MN
OVERNIGHT INTO TMRW MRNG THEN ACRS WI DURG THE DAY SATURDAY.
DAYTIME HEATING MAKING FOR SBCAPES ARND 3000 J/KG PLUS LLVL
JETTING IN THE 40-50 KT RANGE WITHIN AN ENVIRON OF 1.5 INCH PWAT
AND THE UPR LVL LOW ENHANCING DEEP LIFT WILL MAKE FOR A SUFFICIENT
COMBINATION TO ALLOW SCTD TSTMS TO BREAK OUT OVER THE ERN DAKOTAS
AND WRN MN LATER THIS AFTN. AS THE CDFNT AND ASSOCIATED UPR TROF
SHIFT EWD...THE THINKING IS THAT THE TSTMS WILL BECOME MORE
ORGANIZED...PARTICULARLY WITH THE UPR TROF BECOMING MORE
NEGATIVELY TILTED THRU THE EVE. THE TSTMS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO
MERGE INTO AN MCS FEATURE THAT WILL SHIFT ESE THRU MUCH OF THE WFO
MPX CWFA THIS EVE THRU THE EARLY MRNG HRS. THE STORM MODE WILL
ADJUST FROM ONE OF TORNADIC/HAIL AT THE ONSET TO A STRAIGHT LINE
DMGG WIND MODE AS THE EVENING PROGRESSES AND THE MCS MOVES ALONG.
THE STORMS WILL REACH FAR ERN PORTIONS OF THE CWFA BY DAYBREAK BUT
LIKELY IN A WEAKENED STATE WHILE SCATTERED SHOWERS REMAIN AROUND
THE MAIN CLUSTER FOR MUCH OF THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. WITH ADDITIONAL
HEATING EXPECTED TMRW AGAIN TO NEAR 90 DEGREES WITH SIMILAR
DEWPOINTS IN ADVANCE OF THE CDFNT DURG THE DAY TMRW...ADDITIONAL
TSTM DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKELY IN SERN MN INTO WRN WI DURG THE DAY
TMRW. LOW- TO MID-LVL LAPSE RATES WILL STEEPEN DURG THE DAY TMRW
AS THE COLD POOL CUTOFF LOW MOVES OVER NRN WI...MAKING LARGE HAIL
AND DMGG WINDS AGAIN A HAZARD FOR FAR ERN PORTIONS OF THE CWFA
TMRW WHILE MUCH OF THE MN PORTION OF THE CWFA REMAINS DRY ALBEIT
WARM/HUMID.

WITH RESPECT TO TEMPERATURES...LOWS TNGT WILL NOT FALL ALL THAT
MUCH DUE TO THE WARM SECTOR OF THE APCHG CDFNT MOVING INTO THE
REGION AND DEWPOINTS REMAINING QUITE HIGH. LOWS WILL GENERALLY
RANGE 65-70. HIGHS TOMORROW WILL GENERALLY HIT THE MID- UPR 80S
WITH A FEW 90 DEGREE READINGS NOT UNREASONABLE...ESP IN CENTRAL-
SRN PORTIONS OF MN. FAR WRN MN LOOKS TO BE COOLER WITH THE COLD
FROPA...ONLY IN THE LWR 80S.

.LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY)
ISSUED AT 228 PM CDT FRI JUL 17 2015

THE EXTENDED PERIOD LOOKS FAIRLY QUIET OVERALL... WITH A COUPLE
CHANCES FOR SHRA/TSRA. THE GUIDANCE IS IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT
THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK... BUT DIVERGES QUITE A BIT TOWARD THE END
OF THE WEEK... WITH THE GEFS SHOWING SOME SPREAD AS WELL...
SUGGESTING LESS CONFIDENCE IN THINGS ONCE WE GET BEYOND
TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY. AS OFTEN OCCURS IN SUCH SCENARIOS... WE/LL NEED
TO INCLUDE POPS OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME TOWARD THE END OF THE
FORECAST THAN WILL LIKELY OCCUR. THE MAIN DIFFERENCES ARE WITH
RESPECT TO HOW PROGRESSIVE THE PATTERN IS DURING MID/LAKE WEEK...
WITH THE GFS SHOWING A SLOWER EVOLUTION THAN THE ECMWF. WE COULD
HAVE SOME LINGERING PCPN EARLY TOMORROW EVENING... BUT OTHERWISE
THINGS LOOK TO DRY OUT AS THE HIGH BUILDS IN BEHIND THE COLD
FROPA. DRY WEATHER WILL PERSIST INTO MONDAY. AT THIS POINT KEPT
MONDAY DRY EVEN THOUGH WE/LL HAVE A COLD FRONT MOVE THROUGH THE
AREA. THE UPPER FORCING DOESN/T LOOK TO BE TOO STRONG... AND THERE
ISN/T MUCH MOISTURE RETURN/INSTABILITY AHEAD OF IT. DID INCLUDE
SOME POPS ACROSS THE EAST MONDAY NIGHT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME
SHRA/TSRA TO DEVELOP AS THE FRONT GETS FARTHER SOUTH/EAST. IT/S
CERTAINLY POSSIBLE LOW POPS WILL NEED TO BE ADDED EARLIER ON
MONDAY... BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF A SIGNAL IN THE GUIDANCE.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY NIGHT... WITH FAIR AND DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED. BY
WEDNESDAY WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCES IN THE GUIDANCE... WITH THE ECMWF BRINGING PCPN INTO
THE AREA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WHILE THE GFS MAINTAINS A
SURFACE RIDGE OVER THE AREA. SOME CHANCE POPS ARE THEN CONTINUED
THROUGH THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK DUE TO THE TIMING DIFFERENCES IN
SOLUTIONS.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY EVENING)
ISSUED AT 647 PM CDT FRI JUL 17 2015

THE FORECAST CONCERN IS TIMING THE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE TAF
SITES LATE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. WE THINK THE STORMS WILL LOSE
SOME OF THEIR INTENSITY ONCE THEY GET INTO MN /THEY HAVE BEEN
PRODUCING BASEBALL HAIL THIS EVENING/...BUT THERE IS STILL A GOOD
CHANCE MOST OR ALL THE MINNESOTA TAF SITES WILL SEE THUNDER
BETWEEN 8PM AND 1AM...EVENTUALLY A CLUSTER/LINE OF STORMS WILL
MOVE INTO WI.

KMSP...

WE ACTUALLY THINK THERE COULD BE 2 ROUNDS OF THUNDER. THE FIRST
COMING THROUGH AROUND MIDNIGHT...THE SECOND CLOSER TO SUNRISE. WE
HAVE HIGHER CONFIDENCE IN THE FIRST. WE'LL GET SOME MORE SPECIFIC
TIMING ONCE THESE STORMS GET INTO MN.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
SUN...VFR. WINDS NW 5-10 KT.
MON...VFR. WINDS SW 10 KT.
TUE...VFR. WINDS NW 5-10 KT.

&&

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

SHORT TERM...JPC
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...CLF

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 11:09 AM CST, 13 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1209 PM CDT FRI JUL 17 2015

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
181200-
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-
1209 PM CDT FRI JUL 17 2015

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT GENERALLY
WEST OF A LINE FROM LITTLE FALLS TO THE TWIN CITIES TO LAKE CITY.
A MARGINAL RISK ENCOMPASSES THE REST OF EASTERN MINNESOTA INTO
WESTERN WISCONSIN. SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP OVER FAR WESTERN MINNESOTA LATE THIS AFTERNOON...THEN
MERGE INTO A COMPLEX OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WHICH WILL PUSH
ACROSS MINNESOTA THIS EVENING INTO THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS...BRINGING THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

HEAT INDICES MAY RISE TO AROUND 95 THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHERN
AND WESTERN MINNESOTA. HEAT ILLNESSES MAY OCCUR...PRIMARILY FOR
THOSE WHO ARE ACTIVE OUTDOORS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA INTO WESTERN WISCONSIN SATURDAY. LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE.

HEAT INDICES WILL RISE TO AROUND 95 ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
AND WESTERN WISCONSIN SATURDAY. HEAT ILLNESSES MAY OCCUR...
PRIMARILY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ACTIVE OUTDOORS.

A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS RETURNS WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING INTO THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS...PARTICULARLY FOR MINNESOTA PORTIONS OF THE
COVERAGE AREA.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 18, 12:11 AM CST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
111 AM CDT SAT JUL 18 2015

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

0105 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WATERTOWN               44.96N 93.85W
07/18/2015                   CARVER             MN   PUBLIC

            POWER OUT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR.

&&

AJZ

Local storm report, Jul 18, 12:13 AM CST, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
113 AM CDT SAT JUL 18 2015

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

0926 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHOKIO                  45.57N 96.17W
07/17/2015                   STEVENS            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            BRANCHES DOWN IN TOWN.

0931 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MADISON                 45.01N 96.19W
07/17/2015                   LAC QUI PARLE      MN   STORM CHASER

            POWER OUTAGE IN TOWN.

0934 PM     TSTM WND GST     APPLETON                45.20N 96.02W
07/17/2015  M54.00 MPH       SWIFT              MN   AWOS

0954 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NW BOYD               44.86N 95.92W
07/17/2015  M62.00 MPH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1014 PM     TSTM WND GST     BENSON                  45.32N 95.61W
07/17/2015  M61.00 MPH       SWIFT              MN   AWOS

1014 PM     TSTM WND GST     MONTEVIDEO              44.95N 95.72W
07/17/2015  M63.00 MPH       CHIPPEWA           MN   AWOS

1038 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WILLMAR                 45.12N 95.05W
07/17/2015                   KANDIYOHI          MN   PUBLIC

            MEDIUM SIZE TREE TOPPLED.

1052 PM     TSTM WND GST     GRANITE FALLS           44.81N 95.54W
07/17/2015  M58.00 MPH       CHIPPEWA           MN   AWOS

1055 PM     TSTM WND GST     WILLMAR                 45.12N 95.05W
07/17/2015  M51.00 MPH       KANDIYOHI          MN   AWOS

1131 PM     TSTM WND GST     HUTCHINSON              44.89N 94.37W
07/17/2015  M48.00 MPH       MCLEOD             MN   AWOS

1132 PM     HAIL             3 WNW HUTCHINSON        44.91N 94.44W
07/17/2015  E0.75 INCH       MCLEOD             MN   EMERGENCY MNGR

1135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BROWNTON                44.73N 94.35W
07/17/2015                   MCLEOD             MN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE.

1145 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 N HUTCHINSON          44.90N 94.37W
07/17/2015  M54.00 MPH       MCLEOD             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED WITH ANEMOMETER.

1148 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 WSW LAKE MARION REGIO 44.76N 94.48W
07/17/2015                   MCLEOD             MN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LARGE TREE DOWN AT YACHT AVE AND 100TH ST NORTHEAST OF
            STEWART.

1155 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NNW NORWOOD/YOUNG AME 44.83N 93.95W
07/17/2015                   CARVER             MN   911 CALL CENTER

            ROOF OFF OF A HOUSE ON VEGA AVE.

1159 PM     TORNADO          4 WSW WATERTOWN         44.95N 93.92W
07/17/2015                   CARVER             MN   911 CALL CENTER

            CARS FLIPPED AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED. DUAL POL
            RADAR OBSERVED TORNADO FOR 2 TO 3 MINUTES BEFORE
            WEAKENING. TORNADO HEADED EAST NORTHEAST. EXTENT OF
            DAMAGE UNKNOWN.

1200 AM     TSTM WND GST     HAMBURG                 44.73N 93.96W
07/18/2015  M68.00 MPH       CARVER             MN   MESONET

            VIA WUNDERGROUND/THE WEATHER CHANNEL.

1202 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WATERTOWN               44.96N 93.85W
07/18/2015                   CARVER             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINES AND MANY TREES TOPPLED IN THE CITY.

1210 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MONTROSE                45.07N 93.91W
07/18/2015                   WRIGHT             MN   PUBLIC

            TREE DAMAGE.

1213 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MONTROSE                45.07N 93.91W
07/18/2015                   WRIGHT             MN   PUBLIC

            LARGE CHUNKS OF TREE DEBRIS FALLING. REPORTED VIA
            TWITTER.

1222 AM     TSTM WND GST     SHAKOPEE                44.80N 93.53W
07/18/2015  M56.00 MPH       SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED WITH ANEMOMETER.

1223 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WACONIA                 44.85N 93.79W
07/18/2015                   CARVER             MN   PUBLIC

            HUGE TREE LIMBS SMASHED VEHICLES IN TOWN. REPORT VIA
            TWITTER.

1227 AM     TSTM WND GST     LONG LAKE               44.99N 93.57W
07/18/2015  M58.00 MPH       HENNEPIN           MN   MESONET

1233 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WACONIA                 44.85N 93.79W
07/18/2015                   CARVER             MN   PUBLIC

            UPROOTED TREES IN TOWN. REPORTED VIA TWITTER.

1235 AM     TSTM WND GST     BIG LAKE                45.34N 93.75W
07/18/2015  M48.00 MPH       SHERBURNE          MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            MEASURED WITH ANEMOMETER. OCCURRED NEAR HIGHWAY 10 AND
            COUNTY ROAD 81.

1236 AM     TSTM WND GST     GOLDEN VALLEY           44.99N 93.36W
07/18/2015  M61.00 MPH       HENNEPIN           MN   MESONET

            VIA WEATHER UNDERGROUND/THE WEATHER CHANNEL.

1238 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MANKATO                 44.17N 93.99W
07/18/2015                   BLUE EARTH         MN   PUBLIC

            POWER OUTAGE.

1240 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 WNW RICHFIELD         44.89N 93.32W
07/18/2015  M67.00 MPH       HENNEPIN           MN   COCORAHS

1240 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MAPLE GROVE             45.09N 93.43W
07/18/2015                   HENNEPIN           MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            FOUR TO FIVE INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS SEVERED. OCCURRED
            ON DALLAS LANE NORTH. DIME SIZE HAIL ALSO REPORTED.

1241 AM     TSTM WND GST     LAKEVILLE               44.65N 93.25W
07/18/2015  M70.00 MPH       DAKOTA             MN   MESONET

            VIA WEATHER UNDERGROUND/THE WEATHER CHANNEL.

1245 AM     TSTM WND GST     LAKEVILLE               44.65N 93.25W
07/18/2015  E55.00 MPH       DAKOTA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1253 AM     TSTM WND GST     ST PAUL AIRPORT         44.93N 93.06W
07/18/2015  M62.00 MPH       RAMSEY             MN   ASOS

1256 AM     TSTM WND GST     NEW BRIGHTON            45.06N 93.22W
07/18/2015  E70.00 MPH       RAMSEY             MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            SIXTY FIVE TO 70 MPH WINDS REPORTED BY WEATHER EYE RADIO.

0104 AM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW BRIGHTON            45.06N 93.22W
07/18/2015                   RAMSEY             MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            NUMEROUS MEDIUM SIZE TREE LIMBS SEVERED. ONE AS LARGE AS
            5 TO 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER. REPORTED BY WEATHER EYE RADIO.

0105 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WATERTOWN               44.96N 93.85W
07/18/2015                   CARVER             MN   PUBLIC

            POWER OUT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR.

&&

AJZ

Local storm report, Jul 18, 12:19 AM CST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
119 AM CDT SAT JUL 18 2015

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

1240 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 WNW RICHFIELD         44.89N 93.32W
07/18/2015  E67 MPH          HENNEPIN           MN   COCORAHS

&&

AJZ

Local storm report, Jul 18, 12:22 AM CST, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
122 AM CDT SAT JUL 18 2015

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

0112 AM     TSTM WND GST     EXCELSIOR               44.90N 93.57W
07/18/2015  M55 MPH          HENNEPIN           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            OCCURRED AT FIRE DEPT IN TOWN.

&&

AJZ

Local storm report, Jul 18, 12:25 AM CST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
125 AM CDT SAT JUL 18 2015

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

0114 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E EXCELSIOR           44.90N 93.55W
07/18/2015                   HENNEPIN           MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            LARGE TREE BRANCH DAMAGED ROOF NEAR CHRISTMAS LAKE. POWER
            ALSO LOST ON SITE.

&&

AJZ

Local storm report, Jul 18, 12:30 AM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
130 AM CDT SAT JUL 18 2015

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

0100 AM     TSTM WND DMG     ROSEMOUNT               44.75N 93.07W
07/18/2015                   DAKOTA             MN   PUBLIC

            LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN...MAINLY 2 INCHES OR SLIGHTLY
            GREATER IN DIAMETER.

&&

AJZ

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pierce

When: July 18, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Pierce County, 1.2 mi SE of Spring Valley
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.840, -92.230

A large tree was blown down near Spring Valley.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pierce

When: July 18, 12:35 AM CST
Where: Pierce County, 5.04 mi SSW of Elmwood
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.714, -92.194

A garage was blown down and several trees were toppled.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dunn

When: July 18, 12:46 AM CST
Where: Dunn County, 4.86 mi N of Weston
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 44.890, -92.080

A large tree was blown down north of Weston.

Tornado, Dunn

When: July 18, 12:52 AM CST to 12:59 AM CST
Where: Dunn County, 0.54 mi N of Eau Galle to 4.78 mi S of Downsville
Rating: EF1
Path length: 5.25 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 44.708, -92.021

A storm survey indicated an EF-1 occurred near Eau Galle, Wisconsin. The EF-1 tornado formed one mile northwest of Eau Galle, and continued generally east to four miles east of Eau Galle. Most of the damage was down trees and power lines. The greatest damage occurred just north of Eau Galle, where trees were snapped and uprooted, and a home weather station reported a maximum wind gust of 88 mph. The maximum width was 50 yards and was on the ground for approximately 5.3 miles.

Thunderstorm Wind, Eau Claire

When: July 18, 1:20 AM CST
Where: Eau Claire County, 0.49 mi W of Eau Claire to 0.9 mi NE of Eau Claire
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 44.820, -91.490

Several large trees were blown down in Eau Claire, causing roof damage to a few homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chippewa

When: July 18, 1:25 AM CST
Where: Chippewa County, 0.11 mi E of Bateman
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 44.930, -91.268

Several trees were snapped and uprooted east of Chippewa Falls on County Road K.

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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Wisconsin, 2015 Warnings in Wisconsin, July 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: 580631, 591078, 580630, 581577, 580632, 581600.