Thunderstorms brought strong winds to parts of northeast Minnesota on June 25th, first in the morning, and then again in the afternoon.
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 DLH wrote it up.
Thunderstorms brought strong winds to parts of northeast Minnesota on June 25th, first in the morning, and then again in the afternoon.
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 Duluth, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 25, 2:01 AM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Duluth MN 301 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Sunday) Issued at 300 AM CDT Sat Jun 25 2016 Main concern for short term is severe weather today and this evening. Current surface analysis indicates an area of showers and thunderstorms moving along the international border. This area will continue to move along the border early this morning. Another area of strong to severe thunderstorms extends from Warroad to Fosston. This area of storms should clip the western portion of Koochiching county in the next hour. The main focus for the short term is another round of severe weather this afternoon and this evening across the forecast area. SPC basically has the entire forecast area in an enhanced area for severe thunderstorms. The situation today is somewhat similar to last Sunday's situation. Forecast CAPE values are a little lower (3K <today> vs. 4K <Sunday>) and the best shear region is behind the front while it was with the front last Sunday. As indicated by the day shift...unlike last Sunday...there will not be as strong as a cap so thunderstorms will develop earlier. But...like last Sunday...a cold front will move through NE MN this afternoon and NW WI this evening. Out ahead of of it...dewpoints will be in the middle 60s to lower 70s. There will be a possibility of supercells at the beginning of the evening with a line developing in the late afternoon and evening. Large hail and damaging winds along with possible tornadoes will be the main threats with the storms After the front passes...an area of high pressure will build into the region late saturday night brining in cooler and drier air for Sunday. A weak shortwave will move through Northern MN Sunday afternoon brining a chance for showers. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Friday) Issued at 300 AM CDT Sat Jun 25 2016 A cut off upper lever low will translate across Ontario through sunday night. The resulting cyclonic flow, along with much cooler air, to dive over the western lake superior region Monday. The cold air aloft will bring tight pressure gradient into the region, producing gusty northwest winds sunday night through Monday. Latest guidance suggests temps at 850hPa are on the order of just a degree or two above zero C with the core of the coldest air that tracks over the MN arrowhead zones Monday. High Temperatures on Monday will be well below normal across the region with readings topping out generally in the 60s. The steep lapse rates and instability will also result in scattered rain showers during this time. Surface high pressure and mid level ridging will build into the Northland through Mid week, bringing a return to seasonable temperatures and winds of generally less than 10 kts. Rain chances return to the forecast late Wednesday through Thursday as a vort max, with transition to cold air advection, drops out of canada and tracks over the forecast area. Latest GFS/ECM are in good agreement that an upper level low deepens over hudson bay through the end of the week, keeping the western great lakes region in a cool unstable cyclonic flow as we go into the Holiday weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday night) Issued at 107 AM CDT Sat Jun 25 2016 Main concern overnight is the possibility of thunderstorms at KINL/KHIB/KDLH. Most confident on thunderstorm activity at KINL and tried to time thunderstorms moving through by the last several HRRR runs. Less certain on storms at KDLH/KHIB as unsure if activity will develop that far southeast as the strongest forcing is farther north. Due to the uncertainty left in as VCSH from 09 to 13Z. Think that these showers/storms will bring ceilings down to the MVFR range as the column moistens at KDLH/KHIB/KINL. Think there is a possibility of MVFR at KHYR/KBRD around 13Z as well, but held off as showers should remain out of these locations overnight and early tomorrow morning. Will see a return to VFR ceilings as the mixed layer develops. Due to the incoming system and the increasing pressure gradient, will see gusty winds develop at all terminals. During the afternoon will see another round of showers and thunderstorms develop. Tried to show a downward trend of thunderstorm activity to all terminals except KHYR around 01Z as the cold front will have moved through these locations. KHYR is likely to see storms around until after 06Z. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DLH 82 57 78 53 / 80 60 20 10 INL 81 58 69 51 / 80 30 50 30 BRD 86 59 79 55 / 80 20 10 10 HYR 86 59 80 55 / 80 80 10 10 ASX 86 60 80 55 / 80 80 10 20 && .DLH Watches/Warnings/Advisories... WI...None. MN...None. LS...None. && SHORT TERM...Stewart LONG TERM...Stewart AVIATION...WL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 329 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016 MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-261130- KOOCHICHING-NORTH ST. LOUIS-NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN LAKE- NORTH ITASCA-CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-SOUTHERN LAKE/NORTH SHORE- SOUTHERN COOK/NORTH SHORE-NORTH CASS-SOUTH ITASCA-SOUTH CASS- CROW WING-NORTHERN AITKIN-SOUTH AITKIN-CARLTON/SOUTH ST. LOUIS- PINE-DOUGLAS-BAYFIELD-ASHLAND-IRON-BURNETT-WASHBURN-SAWYER-PRICE- 329 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THERE WILL ALSO BE A RISK FOR A TORNADO. THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. CLOSELY MONITOR THE FORECAST. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WAY TO MONITOR THE WEATHER SUCH AS NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND HAVE A SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY PLAN TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD STORMS THREATEN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY STRONG WESTERLY WINDS OF 20 MPH...WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHLAND. THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS RETURNS TO THE FORECAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 100 PM THIS AFTERNOON LSZ121-140>148-261130- BAYFIELD TO OAK POINT WI-GRAND PORTAGE TO GRAND MARAIS MN- GRAND MARAIS TO TACONITE HARBOR MN- TACONITE HARBOR TO SILVER BAY HARBOR MN- SILVER BAY HARBOR TO TWO HARBORS MN-TWO HARBORS TO DULUTH MN- DULUTH MN TO PORT WING WI-PORT WING TO SAND ISLAND WI- SAND ISLAND TO BAYFIELD WI-OAK POINT TO SAXON HARBOR WI- 329 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 40 KNOTS AND LOCALLY HIGHER WAVES...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO WATER LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. IF VENTURING OUT ON THE WATER TODAY...PLAN AHEAD TO LOCATE THE NEAREST SAFE HARBOR AND ENSURE YOU CAN RECEIVE WATCH AND WARNING INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY STRONG WEST WINDS OF 25 KNOTS OR MORE ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP SUNDAY...PERSISTING INTO MONDAY. THESE WINDS WILL RESULT IN BUILDING WAVES AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT. STEWART MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DULUTH (ALL LOWER CASE)
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
252 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016
MNZ010>012-019-021-250815-
CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-NORTH ST. LOUIS-KOOCHICHING-NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN
LAKE-SOUTHERN COOK/NORTH SHORE-
252 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016
...DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER...
AT 252 AM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING FROM BAUDETTE
SOUTHEAST TO THE BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH...PEA SIZE HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
INTERNATIONAL FALLS...ELY...LAKE VERMILION...VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK...
SAGANAGA LAKE...GUNFLINT LAKE...BIRCHDALE...LITTLEFORK...COOK...TOWER...
NETT LAKE...ORR...WINTON...ASH LAKE...KABETOGAMA...CRANE LAKE...GHEEN...
RAINY LAKE...FALL LAKE AND BURNTSIDE LAKE.
SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL
THESE STORMS PASS.
IF YOU ARE ON OR NEAR ONE OF THE MANY AREA LAKES...GET OFF OF THE
WATER IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK SHELTER.
LAT...LON 4863 9384 4851 9375 4864 9325 4862 9295
4854 9264 4846 9271 4841 9245 4822 9237
4836 9226 4836 9206 4804 9157 4825 9089
4809 9075 4811 9013 4805 8999 4804 8999
4775 9078 4779 9276 4861 9443 4870 9443
TIME...MOT...LOC 0746Z 226DEG 40KT 4851 9267
WLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
309 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016
MNZ010-250900-
KOOCHICHING-
309 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016
...A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN
KOOCHICHING COUNTY...
AT 305 AM CDT...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM NEAR WILLIAMS TO 19 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BAUDETTE TO
LOWER RED LAKE... AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IF THIS STORM HOLDS
TOGETHER.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BIRCHDALE AND FRANZ JEVNE STATE PARK.
SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL
THESE STORMS PASS.
LAT...LON 4870 9435 4871 9430 4870 9426 4865 9425
4865 9419 4864 9404 4831 9421 4821 9442
4842 9443 4870 9443 4871 9442 4871 9438
TIME...MOT...LOC 0805Z 231DEG 39KT 4874 9493 4847 9480 4798 9506
WLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
354 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016
MNZ011-250930-
NORTH ST. LOUIS-
354 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN ST. LOUIS COUNTY...
AT 353 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR ASH LAKE...OR 18 MILES
SOUTH OF VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH...PEA SIZE HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK...ASH LAKE...CUSSON...KABETOGAMA LAKE...SAND
POINT LAKE AND BLACK DUCK LAKE.
SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THIS STORM PASSES.
LAT...LON 4852 9263 4850 9263 4850 9269 4846 9271
4844 9269 4844 9266 4845 9251 4841 9245
4837 9248 4831 9244 4808 9281 4819 9302
4855 9265 4854 9264
TIME...MOT...LOC 0853Z 220DEG 32KT 4820 9284
WLThe Duluth radar (KDLH), 215 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:14 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
There were trees down across town. Crews were dispatched to clear trees after 6 am.
Two campers were injured when thunderstorm winds brought down a tree onto their tent in Voyageurs National Park.
Several large trees were blown down.
Many large trees were blown down. Some of trees were 2 to 3 feet in diameter.
A few 10 diameter trees were blown down.
A 10 diameter tree was broken. Several other dead trees were toppled.
There were several trees, 6 to 12 in diameter, broken, and numerous branches, 3 to 5 diameter, littering the road. The road was partially blocked.
Three maple trees, about 12 in diameter, were snapped approximately 16 up from the base.
There were at least 20 trees snapped off or blown down across the Black Bear Golf Course. Some of the trees were large.
Two 8 to 10 diameter birch trees snapped off at their base.
The mesonet station 3 miles southwest of Orr, MN (ORBM5) measured 50 knots.
There were photographs of a few trees blown down.
Several Aspen trees, 6 to 12 in diameter, and one balsam tree, 12 in diameter, were uprooted.
Several trees were broken 8' below the tops of the trees. There were numerous branches broken across the area.
Several large trees were down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, June 2016
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: 634307, 633045, 634290, 634311, 634291, 634313, 634312, 634309, 634306, 634300, 634275, 645032, 634294, 634295, 634305, 634308, 634310.