During the morning of Wednesday, April 17th, a large area of showers developed across southern Minnesota. Several embedded thunderstorms developed after sunrise and moved across south central, and into southeast and east central Minnesota.
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.
During the morning of Wednesday, April 17th, a large area of showers developed across southern Minnesota. Several embedded thunderstorms developed after sunrise and moved across south central, and into southeast and east central Minnesota. A very anomalous moist atmosphere was in place, and rainfall was very efficient. Several of the storms moved across the same areas from Mankato to St. Peter, and New Prague, while another moved from Faribault to Cannon Falls, and Red Wing Minnesota. Rainfall rates were high, and some observers and weather sensors reported up to 1 and 2 inches per hour. By the afternoon as the precipitation slowly ended, a band of 3 to 5 inches of rain fell from near Faribault, to Northfield, and Hastings in Minnesota. Another heavy band of rainfall with amounts of 2 to 4 inches fell from St. Peter, to La Sueur, and New Prague.
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 Apr 17, 5:03 AM CST, 5 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 603 AM CDT Wed Apr 17 2019 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Thursday) Issued at 406 AM CDT Wed Apr 17 2019 Early this morning, satellite imagery showed the main upper shortwave lifting into Nebraska with fairly widespread thunderstorm acitivity in portions of central Nebraska extending into southern South Dakota. The warm front extending from the surface low eastward through Iowa was lifting north as well, with a decent low level jet extending north toward the MN/IA border. A few thunderstorms have already broken out along this low level convergence zone which also coincides with the MUCAPE gradient lifting north of the front. Instability lifting into southern MN will be elevated and the threat for severe weather is very limited. The convective outlook for today changed little from SPC, but the marginal was pulled back slightly farther southeast, which makes sense. The main threat, which overnight has become a bigger threat than earlier thought, is the flooding/heavy rain potential from now through the afternoon. A combination of the hi-res CAMs have been trending wetter locally, with the common theme being a narrow (about a county or two wide) band of 2"+ QPF possible. There is some uncertainty as to whether or not amounts that high will be realized, but the potential is there given the strongest low/mid level f-gen aligns well with MUCAPES around 500 J/kg and precipitable water values of about 1.2". 850mb moisture transport peaks locally across southern MN mid morning while the winds remain around 30 knots at 850mb. The RAP indicates a more modest 1-2" in the narrow heavy band which is likely more realistic given the low level jet isn't really all that impressive. The surface low itself will lift northeast through the day, moving across southeast MN late afternoon through early evening. In addition to the showers and thunderstorms today, temepratures will remain on the cool side and winds will eventually turn northwesterly tonight behind the low. Increased pops a quite a bit for tomorrow as the main upper trough axis lags behind the surface low in departing the local area. Do not expect much in terms of QPF tomorrow, more of the scattered showery type of activity given the trough overhead and steep lapse rates associated with it. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Tuesday) Issued at 406 AM CDT Wed Apr 17 2019 A fairly quiet long term is expected, though it will include a gem of a weather day on Saturday. Model agreement is fairly good through the weekend, but breaks down next week as we transition to zonal flow. Friday through the weekend, the southern stream wave currently coming out of the 4-corners region will have become an expansive, slow moving stacked low over the eastern CONUS. We'll find ourselves to the northwest of this low in its subsidence region, so we'll see plenty of sunshine. Over the weekend, a shortwave going across Canada will send a cold front across the upper MS Valley. Right now, models are in very good agreement that the timing of this front will bring its pre-frontal warm sector over the MPX area during peak heating Saturday afternoon. 925mb temps are progged to be between 16c and 22c, which would translate to widespread highs in the 70s, with upper 70s possible in southwest/south central MN. Did bump highs above guidance some, though we could certainly see things end up 2-5 degrees warmer than we currently have on Saturday. Saturday evening, the cold front will pass through, but it will be dry as best upper forcing will be off to the north, while deeper moisture will be way down in KS/MO. All this front will do is switch our winds over to the northwest for Sunday and knock about 10 degrees off our highs. Next week, our upper flow goes zonal. There's poor agreement on strength/timing of any weak waves that will ripple across the area, which results in fairly high model spread, so did not deviate from blended guidance, which resulted in temperatures near climate normals. There are a couple of chances for precip Monday night/Tuesday that's being driven solely by the GFS, while small precip chances Tuesday night are more from the Canadian/ECMWF. At either rate, there are no significant weather makers indicated next week in any of the guidance, so at the moment it looks like we should have fairly uneventful weather next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning) Issued at 556 AM CDT Wed Apr 17 2019 Showers and thunderstorms will spread across the area today ahead of an approaching low pressure system. As the low draws near later today, MVFR and IFR cigs will spread across the area with the low moving through far southern MN. Winds will start out easterly and eventually turn northwesterly as the low passes through. KMSP...Thunderstorms are most likely to impact the airport from mid morning through mid afternoon. Rain amounts have increased. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ Thu...MVFR/IFR. Rain likely early. Wind N 15G25 kt. Fri...VFR. Wind light/variable. Sat...VFR. Wind S 10G20-30kt. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. && SHORT TERM...SPD LONG TERM...MPG AVIATION...SPD
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1136 AM CDT Wed Apr 17 2019 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 181645- 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- 1136 AM CDT Wed Apr 17 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and southern Minnesota...and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Occasional thunderstorms will occur along and south of the Minnesota River Valley through the afternoon, and taper off this evening. Heavy rainfall, localized flooding and small hail will be possible. There remains a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms south of the Minnesota River Valley, this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Flooding continues across many area rivers. A combination of recent snowmelt and anticipated rainfall will keep rivers running high, with additional rises in river levels expected across portions of the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Due to the isolated nature of the severe weather, skywarn spotter activation will not be needed. jlt
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
857 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019
MNZ067-075-076-171445-
Le Sueur-Sibley-Nicollet-
857 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN LE SUEUR...SOUTHEASTERN
SIBLEY AND NORTHEASTERN NICOLLET COUNTIES...
At 856 AM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Kasota, or near
Mankato, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
St. Peter, Le Sueur, Henderson, Kasota, Cleveland, Oshawa, Ottawa, St
Thomas, Rush River, St Henry and Norseland.
This includes the following highways...
U.S. Highway 14 between mile markers 121 and 122.
U.S. Highway 169 between mile markers 58 and 84.
LAT...LON 4423 9416 4455 9408 4455 9389 4454 9363
4423 9390 4424 9401 4422 9402
TIME...MOT...LOC 1356Z 212DEG 25KT 4426 9400
JRBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
901 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 AM HAIL 2 NNW SPRINGFIELD 44.26N 94.99W
04/17/2019 M0.25 INCH BROWN MN COCORAHS
&&
TDHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
906 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0755 AM HAIL 2 WNW ST. JAMES 44.00N 94.66W
04/17/2019 M1.00 INCH WATONWAN MN PUBLIC
REPORTED VIA TWITTER.
&&
TDHSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1024 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019 MNZ067>070-075>078-083-171615- Le Sueur-Dakota-Blue Earth-Rice-Goodhue-Carver-Sibley-Scott-Nicollet- 1024 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019 ...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT DAKOTA...LE SUEUR... EASTERN SIBLEY...SCOTT...SOUTHWESTERN GOODHUE...NORTHEASTERN BLUE EARTH...RICE...CARVER AND NICOLLET COUNTIES... At 1022 AM CDT, am area of strong thunderstorms were clustered from near Henderson to Northfield, or 26 miles north of Mankato, moving northeast at 35 mph. Dime size hail and torrential rain are possible with this area of storms. Locations impacted include... Mankato, Faribault, Northfield, Burnsville, Lakeville, Apple Valley, Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, Hastings, Rosemount and Farmington. This includes the following highways... Interstate 35 between mile markers 50 and 80. U.S. Highway 14 between mile markers 123 and 125. U.S. Highway 169 between mile markers 57 and 84. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized urban flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 4420 9414 4475 9401 4474 9285 4420 9265 TIME...MOT...LOC 1522Z 202DEG 29KT 4454 9384 DWE
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1052 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019
MNZ066-067-074-075-083-171645-
Brown-Blue Earth-McLeod-Sibley-Nicollet-
1052 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SIBLEY...SOUTHERN
MCLEOD...BROWN...NORTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH AND NICOLLET COUNTIES...
At 1051 AM CDT, an area of strong thunderstorms were clustered near
Gaylord, to New Ulm and Springfield. They were moving northeast at
35 mph.
Dime size hail and torrential rain are possible with this area
of storms.
Locations impacted include...
New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Gaylord, Arlington, Springfield, Winthrop,
Nicollet, Gibbon, Courtland, Lafayette, Hanska and Judson.
This includes U.S. Highway 14 between mile markers 73 and 121.
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 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4428 9499 4428 9486 4444 9487 4449 9483
4446 9480 4446 9463 4469 9463 4475 9401
4413 9417 4412 9510
TIME...MOT...LOC 1551Z 214DEG 31KT 4452 9425
DWESpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1126 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019
MNZ063-070-077-078-WIZ023-024-171715-
Washington-Dakota-Rice-Goodhue-Pierce-St. Croix-
1126 AM CDT WED APR 17 2019
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN DAKOTA...
NORTHWESTERN GOODHUE...NORTHEASTERN RICE...SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON...
PIERCE AND SOUTHWESTERN ST. CROIX COUNTIES...
At 1125 AM CDT, strong thunderstorms were clustered over New Trier,
or 14 miles northeast of Northfield, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Dime size hail is possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Northfield, Red Wing, River Falls, Cottage Grove, Hastings,
Rosemount, Farmington, Hudson, Prescott, Cannon Falls, Ellsworth and
Afton.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 35 between mile markers 72 and 74.
Interstate 94 in Wisconsin between mile markers 5 and 8.
U.S. Highway 61 between mile markers 89 and 104.
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 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4435 9305 4453 9333 4455 9331 4454 9328
4456 9328 4499 9264 4467 9218
TIME...MOT...LOC 1625Z 228DEG 33KT 4460 9296
ETAThe Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:57 UTC.
3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rainfall triggered multiple rock and mudslides on Highway 169, between St. Peter and Mankato. The Minnesota Department of Transportation had to close parts of Highway 169 due to debris on the southbound lanes.
Heavy rainfall with amounts of 2 to 4 inches fell in a short period of time, and caused roads to be covered by water. The Minnesota Department of Transportation indicated that water was running over State Highway 112 at 311 Avenue, east of Ottawa. The road was closed temporarily during this event.
Several reports of rainfall rates as high as 1-2 inches per hour occurred near Faribault, northeast to Northfield. A few reports of rainfall of 3 to over 4 inches occurred in a three hour period. The city of Northfield was hit the hardest with several roads having running water up to 2 feet deep.
The local emergency manager reported the following;
The City of Northfield had the most problems relating to flooding. It was mainly the northern portion of the city. City streets were flooded in and along Greenvale Ave west of Highway 3. The Cannon Valley Drive had a huge intersection flooded, and the Cannon River in Northfield rose 3 feet in a very short amount of time.
In Rice County, along County Road 46 & County Road 9, which parallels I-35, there were reports of a measured 6 of water flowing over the road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, April 2019
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: 809039, 809030, 809033.