A thunderstorm moved over parts of Iron County, Wisconsin during the late afternoon of May 24th and knocked down trees near the intersection of Highway 51 and Moose Lake Road.
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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.
A thunderstorm moved over parts of Iron County, Wisconsin during the late afternoon of May 24th and knocked down trees near the intersection of Highway 51 and Moose Lake Road.
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 May 24, 12:07 PM CST, 3 hours 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Duluth MN 107 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 1256 PM CDT Tue May 24 2016 updated aviation discussion below for 18z taf issuance. && UPDATE Issued at 1050 AM CDT Tue May 24 2016 Main update was to reflect convective trends from this morning and lingering cloud cover. Trended temps slightly cooler through remainder of morning over northern Minnesota and portions of northwest Wisconsin where clouds are limiting heating thus far today. Still think skies will become partly cloudy and temps will recover by afternoon, so only negligible reductions in max temps with this package. Continuing to watch advancing shortwave moving through northwest Minnesota. Storms over Hubbard and Beltrami seem to be along leading edge of vort max and along the northern periphery of 1000-1250 J/kg of MUCAPE. International Falls sounding from this morning supported around 750 J/kg for parcels lifted from above the stable boundary layer. Have no reason to suspect much less farther south. Think storms may re-intensify and expand in coverage along the leading edge of the large scale ascent and on the CAPE gradient by early afternoon over north-central and northeast Minnesota. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 345 AM CDT Tue May 24 2016 The main challenge for today is chances for additional showers and storms through this evening. Forecast confidence is low due to poor model agreement and lack of definitive features for forcing. Used a wide blend for pcpn chances and capped at 30%. The Northland finds itself today in a warm and humid airmass in the wake of a passing shortwave trough exiting to the east, and lifting shortwaves through the Northern Plains in the SW flow aloft. There is very light low level flow, but a 50 to 70 knot jet stream aloft. Early this morning...there will be some lingering showers and storms across the eastern forecast area as a shortwave trough finishes exiting the Northland. Additional showers and storms are possible over the west central forecast area due to the PVA caused by shortwaves lifting through the Northern Plains. Fog is possible across much of the Northland because of the moist boundary layer and lack of wind. Today...there will likely be building instability across the Northland with daytime heating. Passing shortwaves could help spark off isolated/scattered showers and thunderstorms by this afternoon. Complicating the forecast is the wide variety of model guidance, ranging from developing storm complexes swinging through the Northland this afternoon (ARW/NMM/NCEPWRF) to very little pcpn (GFS20). The lack of low level flow makes it difficult to believe the the former solutions because of the lack of flow to feed those supposed storms. Whereas the GFS20 seems too dry considering the warm and relatively humid airmass today and passing shortwaves, which could easily develop scattered convection. Also, it appears surface high pressure may settle over Lake Superior this afternoon. Cooler easterly flow from Lake Superior may work itself inland and cause low level convergence (and a means for storm development) as it butts up against westerly and southern flow. Decided to use a wide blend of the models, leaning a little bit more towards the drier GFS, but providing low precipitation chances for at least most of the forecast area. High temperatures should range from the lower 70s near Lake Superior to the upper 70s and low 80s inland. If any storms develop today, they may tap into an environment of 500 to 1250 J/kg of mixed layer cape, 30 to 40 knots of deep layer (0 to 6 km) wind shear, and freezing levels around 10 kft agl. Despite the lack of low level flow, any storms will be able to tap into decent westerly steering flow, allowing any storms to move and graze on instability, instead of remaining stationary and quickly dissipating. Given the environment, there could be isolated strong storms capable of producing hail and gusty winds. The SPC thunderstorm threat outlook would likely be more than marginal if it were not for the lack of low level wind to feed the storms, as well as the overall lower confidence in today's forecast. Tonight...any showers and storms should dissipate with the waning instability after sunset and as an upper level ridge lifts into the Northland, suppressing convection. Some models are producing light pcpn near Lake Superior overnight, but this would more likely be drizzle because of the likelihood of fog and low stratus developing from the cool and humid easterly flow from the lake. Lows should range from the upper 40s near Lake Superior to the low to middle 50s well inland. Wednesday...the upper level ridge will lift north of the Northland, while a WNW to ESE orientated shortwave trough will likely lift into the Northland. The lifting trough will bring a wave of moisture and increasing chances of showers and storms. The chances of thunder will be better across the western and southern forecast area because of the cool easterly flow from Lake Superior limiting heating near the lake. Any thunder over the lake will likely be the result of elevated convection caused by the PVA from the shortwave. Prefer the GFS20 and SREF instability, which depicts much less instability near Lake Superior, unlike the more robust NAM12. High temperatures will likely range from the upper 50s near Lake Superior to the upper 60s and lower 70s inland. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 345 AM CDT Tue May 24 2016 An unstable southwest flow will lift several waves across the region through the upcoming week...keeping ongoing rain/thunderstorm chances in the forecast through much of the extended period. A closed low will makes its way into the upper plains wednesday night...tracking across the northern minnesota border thursday. The low will lift a large swath of showers and thunderstorms over MInnesota and wisconsin during this time. locations in portions of central may see an earlier end to the convection thursday morning...depending on the placement of the dry slot. Northeast winds will prevail Friday and Saturday as the next wave lifts into the northern plains...keeping conditions cooler near Lake Superior. Models are in good agreement that the next low tracks northward across minnesota during the Holiday weekend...bringing increasing PWATs...along with widespread showers and thunderstorms. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 1256 PM CDT Tue May 24 2016 Main arc of forcing for ascent has now translated into NW Ontario and the MN Arrowhead as of midday, with large scale subsidence occurring across most of the DLH TAF sites. VFR conditions with cumulus clouds are expected this afternoon, with generally light and variable winds that should trend toward southeast by this evening. The one exception to the above is the convergence axis that lies just southeast of KHYR, where additional T-Storms are expected to redevelop this afternoon. However, we believe that they will stay east of the 5 nmi TAF area for KHYR. Increasing east flow in advance of the next system will bring MVFR conditions beginning tonight at KDLH, and spreading across all TAF sites except for KINL by 18z Wed morning. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DLH 74 49 60 50 / 60 20 60 60 INL 79 52 74 53 / 40 20 60 60 BRD 82 56 73 56 / 30 20 60 50 HYR 80 52 73 57 / 50 20 60 60 ASX 74 46 63 51 / 50 20 60 60 && .DLH Watches/Warnings/Advisories... WI...None. MN...None. LS...None. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 400 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-251215- 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- 400 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A FEW ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND BRIEF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THE MAIN THREAT. AREAS OF FOG NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY BELOW ONE- QUARTER MILE OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK AND THROUGH THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY WEEKEND. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE STRONG WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING. LSZ121-140>148-251215- 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- 400 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING OVER WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE FREQUENT CLOUD TO WATER LIGHTNING...HAIL...AND BRIEF WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 35 KNOTS. IN ADDITION TO THE THUNDERSTORMS...THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FOG OVERNIGHT REDUCING VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER MILE AT TIMES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS...AND RESULTANT WAVES WILL CREATE CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS TO SMALL CRAFT ACROSS THE WESTERN TIP OF LAKE SUPERIOR WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK AND THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE STRONG. HUYCK 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
254 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
WIZ002-003-242030-
BAYFIELD-ASHLAND-
254 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL ASHLAND AND EAST
CENTRAL BAYFIELD COUNTIES...
AT 254 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR ASHLAND...OR 35 MILES
WEST OF IRONWOOD...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...PENNY SIZE HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ASHLAND...SANBORN...BARKSDALE...MARANGO...ODANAH...NEW ODANAH AND FRANKS
FIELD.
SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL
THIS STORM PASSES.
LAT...LON 4643 9061 4643 9099 4664 9094 4669 9065
4666 9059
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 271DEG 11KT 4652 9089
STEWARTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 259 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 MNZ011-019-242030- CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-NORTH ST. LOUIS- 259 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL ST. LOUIS COUNTY... AT 258 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER TOWER...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAKE VERMILION...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LAKE VERMILION...TOWER...WAHLSTEN...SOUDAN UNDERGROUND MINE STATE PARK AND SOUDAN. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THIS STORM PASSES. IF YOU ARE ON OR NEAR ONE OF THE MANY AREA LAKES...GET OFF OF THE WATER IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK SHELTER ON SHORE INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 4773 9236 4788 9237 4789 9210 4772 9211 TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 271DEG 11KT 4780 9227 STEWART
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
317 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
MNZ012-242045-
NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN LAKE-
317 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN COOK COUNTY...
AT 317 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER EASTERN BOUNDARY
WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS...OR NEAR GUNFLINT LAKE...MOVING EAST AT
15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH...HALF INCH HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GUNFLINT LAKE...BEARSKIN LAKE...POPLAR LAKE...DANIELS LAKE...WATAB LAKE...
LONG ISLAND LAKE...NORTH LAKE...CHEROKEE LAKE...CLEARWATER LAKE...BRULE
LAKE AND PINE LAKE.
SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL
THIS STORM PASSES.
LAT...LON 4794 9026 4790 9092 4807 9092 4812 9056
4810 9057 4809 9055 4811 9046 4810 9044
4810 9040 4809 9037 4811 9032 4810 9028
4811 9020 4796 9015
TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 263DEG 13KT 4802 9065
LESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 325 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 MNZ011-012-019-242100- CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-NORTH ST. LOUIS-NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN LAKE- 325 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL ST. LOUIS AND WEST CENTRAL LAKE COUNTIES... AT 325 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR ROBINSON...OR 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELY...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...HALF INCH HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ELY...LAKE VERMILION...BABBITT...WINTON...WHITE IRON LAKE...BIRCH LAKE... ROBINSON...FALL LAKE...BURNTSIDE LAKE...BEAR ISLAND LAKE...BEAR HEAD LAKE STATE PARK...SHAGAWA LAKE...BEAR HEAD LAKE AND FARM LAKE. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THIS STORM PASSES. LAT...LON 4770 9219 4788 9221 4794 9174 4767 9172 TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 267DEG 17KT 4780 9210 LE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
329 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
WIZ003-004-242100-
IRON-ASHLAND-
329 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL ASHLAND AND NORTHWESTERN
IRON COUNTIES...
AT 327 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR GURNEY...OR 23 MILES
WEST OF IRONWOOD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...HALF INCH HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MELLEN...MARANGO...SAXON...GURNEY...UPSON...KIMBALL...PENCE...BIRCH HILL...
HIGH BRIDGE...IRON BELT...CEDAR...COPPER FALLS STATE PARK AND FRANKS
FIELD.
SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL
THIS STORM PASSES.
LAT...LON 4623 9034 4638 9086 4656 9076 4654 9040
4653 9039 4654 9037 4653 9031 4652 9031
4652 9027 4651 9027 4650 9024
TIME...MOT...LOC 2027Z 284DEG 18KT 4647 9066
LESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 408 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 MNZ011-012-019-242145- CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-NORTH ST. LOUIS-NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN LAKE- 408 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN ST. LOUIS AND NORTHWESTERN LAKE COUNTIES... AT 407 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR BIRCH LAKE...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF ELY...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...HALF INCH HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ELY...BABBITT...WHITE IRON LAKE...BIRCH LAKE...FARM LAKE...BEAR ISLAND LAKE AND GREENSTONE LAKE. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THIS STORM PASSES. LAT...LON 4771 9201 4789 9201 4793 9161 4766 9161 TIME...MOT...LOC 2107Z 270DEG 12KT 4780 9191 LE
The Duluth radar (KDLH), 172 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:43 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm blew down trees near the intersection of Highway 51 and Moose Lake Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, May 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: 638945.