Thunderstorms that developed earlier across southwest Minnesota, decayed and moved eastward across south-central Minnesota. Some of the showers from the leftover storms produced gusty winds and eventually caused wind damage from Waseca, eastward to Owatonna and Ellendale.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Thunderstorms that developed earlier across southwest Minnesota, decayed and moved eastward across south-central Minnesota. Some of the showers from the leftover storms produced gusty winds and eventually caused wind damage from Waseca, eastward to Owatonna and Ellendale. There were a couple of reports of measured wind gusts of 56 knots from trained spotters and wind sensors from the Department of Transportation. Some of the damage included a large grain bin blown over and a large tree that was blown down.
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 5, 11:30 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1230 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021 .UPDATE... Issued at 1224 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021 Updated to include 06z aviation discussion below. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 339 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 It's been a record setting day, with all 3 of our climate sites setting new record highs for April 5th as warm air has been pumped north ahead of a cold front that at 3pm was setup from Warroad, down to Fergus Falls and eventually a surface low to the northwest of Yankton, SD. For convective trends along said front, they've definitely been on the downward trend for this evening with CAMs and deterministic models alike. There are two issues for getting storms going along the front. First, forecast soundings are quite dry and any updrafts that form are going to struggle with entrainment of dry environmental air. In addition, a capping inversion near 800 mb looks to make life difficult for convective initiation as well. End result, is we are expecting scattered thunderstorms at best to develop along the boundary around 7pm or 8pm, with a few storms continuing with the front to the east through the evening. A slight risk is probably overdoing the extent of the severe threat we have, but a couple of stronger updrafts capable of producing large hail and strong wind gusts are certainly possible. This front looks to stall out just southeast of the MPX tonight, then drift back northwest as a warm front Tuesday as a surface low deepens over western KS/Neb in response to the h5 low currently over ID moving out into the high Plans of CO/WY. There's quite a bit of spread, especially in the CAMs, with when and where showers and thunderstorms initiate along the boundary. For PoPs, followed the idea of the large scale forcing we're seeing with fgen in the h7-h6 layer that looks to be the primary forcing mechanism for precipitation. This has the highest PoPs lined up from southwest MN toward central WI by the end of the day on Tuesday that slowly drifts northwest Tuesday night. There's enough instability for thunderstorms this period, but not expecting severe weather. There is a threat of seeing some training of storms, with each CAM showing potential for a streak of 2-2.5" of rain Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, though there's poor agreement on where that will be. Our soils are very dry, especially for early April standards, so we have lots of wiggle room for handling some heavier precip when it comes to the excessive rainfall perspective. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 339 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 No significant changes from the previous forecast discussion. A low pressure system will impact the Midwest through the end of the work week. A widespread rain totals of 1 to 2 inches are possible across the entire MPX forecast area. A combination of recent dry conditions and the long duration of the precipitation should limit any hydro/flooding concerns. Wednesday and Thursday - a potent shortwave trough will move from western Kansas and Nebraska to Iowa/Missouri border. This trough will begin to slow as it encounters resistance due to the downstream blocking and ridging across eastern NOAM. A large plume of moisture will advect northward ahead of this system, and widespread rain will develop Tuesday night and Wednesday morning along the stationary boundary spread across southern Minnesota. An area of elevated instability (MUCAPE) will rotate through on Wednesday. The likely outcome is a few rumbles of thunder during the afternoon hours, but any severe weather threat should stay to the south and east of the region. One notable change would be the surface low tracking further northwest, moving the heaviest axis of precipitation from south- central MN over to central MN. Most locations should expect between 1 to 1.5 inches with some pockets of 2.0" or more possible where the heaviest precipitation axis sets up. Friday through Monday - The system will undergo cyclolysis as it meanders over the Upper Mississippi Valley. Friday will be seasonable with lingering rain showers ending Friday night. A second shortwave will drop south into the central Plains by 12z Saturday. This trough will force the original system back into the steering flow, moving into Ontario on Saturday. Some guidance continues patchy precipitation into Saturday as the interaction between the two systems is uncertain. Sunday and Monday feature widespread 20 and 30 PoPs due to the uncertainty with the second system but I expect both days to remain mostly dry. Temperatures will remain mild, highs near 60 and lows near 40 throughout the extended period. A gloomy spring week is on tap with welcomed rain. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1224 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021 Evening convection continues to press eastward, only left to push through KEAU after 06/06z. Otherwise, all terminals will go VFR through the overnight hours and much of Tuesday. Winds will be difficult to pin down with the frontal passage but will eventually go N to NE by daybreak and remain as such through the duration of this TAF set. Speeds will diminish with the frontal passage briefly within the overnight hours then pick up at roughly 15G25kt Tuesday afternoon and evening. Steadier rainfall is expected Tuesday evening and will continue through Tuesday night and beyond. Conditions will dip into MVFR, for both ceiling and visibility. KMSP...No additional precipitation is expected through the overnight hours. Winds may have some jumpy directions as the front pushes through, swinging from E to N overnight then going to NE after daybreak. -RA is expected to move in late Tuesday afternoon and persist through Tuesday night into Wednesday with MVFR conditions likely. Ceilings may drop to sub-1700ft for the Wednesday morning push but will let later TAF issuances address that concern. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ WED...MVFR/IFR with -SHRA. Chc TS. Wind SE 10-15kts. THU...MVFR. Chc IFR. -SHRA likely. Wind E 5kts. FRI...MVFR. Chc -SHRA. Wind W 5-10kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && UPDATE...JPC SHORT TERM...MPG LONG TERM...BPH AVIATION...JPC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1257 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 062000- 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- 1257 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated thunderstorms are possible overnight. Severe weather is not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening. Severe weather is not expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1129 PM CDT MON APR 5 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1125 PM HAIL CORCORAN 45.09N 93.55W
04/05/2021 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO
&&
JRBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1132 PM CDT MON APR 5 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 PM HAIL MONTICELLO 45.30N 93.80W
04/05/2021 E1.00 INCH WRIGHT MN PUBLIC
1 HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.
&&
JRBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1135 PM CDT MON APR 5 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1119 PM HAIL 3 WSW HANOVER 45.14N 93.72W
04/05/2021 M1.00 INCH WRIGHT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
JRBSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1136 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 MNZ051-052-059-061-060515- Anoka-Isanti-Sherburne-Wright- 1136 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL WRIGHT... NORTHWESTERN ANOKA...SOUTHWESTERN ISANTI AND SOUTHEASTERN SHERBURNE COUNTIES... At 1136 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Big Lake, or 11 miles northeast of Buffalo, moving east at 40 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and dime size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Cambridge, Elk River, Otsego, Monticello, East Bethel, Big Lake, St. Francis, Isanti, Oak Grove, Nowthen, Athens and Bethel. 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 4525 9376 4533 9380 4552 9328 4536 9314 TIME...MOT...LOC 0436Z 255DEG 33KT 4531 9371 TDH
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1145 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 MNZ053-060-061-063-060530- Anoka-Washington-Hennepin-Chisago- 1145 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN HENNEPIN...SOUTH CENTRAL CHISAGO...CENTRAL ANOKA AND NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES... At 1145 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Champlin, or 15 miles north of Minneapolis, moving east at 35 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and dime size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Blaine, Andover, Ramsey, Champlin, Lino Lakes, Forest Lake, Anoka, Ham Lake, Hugo and East Bethel. LAT...LON 4512 9337 4520 9348 4538 9296 4514 9286 TIME...MOT...LOC 0445Z 256DEG 30KT 4518 9337 TDH
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1149 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 MNZ062-063-070-078-WIZ014-015-023>026-060530- Washington-Dakota-Goodhue-Ramsey-Polk-Barron-Pierce-St. Croix-Dunn-Pepin- 1149 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 ...A LINE OF STORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN DAKOTA...NORTHWESTERN GOODHUE...WASHINGTON...EASTERN RAMSEY...NORTH CENTRAL PEPIN... PIERCE...WESTERN DUNN...ST. CROIX...SOUTHWESTERN BARRON AND SOUTHEASTERN POLK COUNTIES... At 1149 PM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 5 miles north of Stillwater to 5 miles northeast of Cannon Falls. Movement was east at 55 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... St. Paul, Red Wing, River Falls, Woodbury, Maplewood, Cottage Grove, Inver Grove Heights, Oakdale, White Bear Lake, Hastings, Rosemount and South St. Paul. 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 4461 9198 4449 9309 4509 9307 4545 9195 TIME...MOT...LOC 0449Z 253DEG 48KT 4513 9279 4458 9283 TDH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A shed's roof was blown off and an empty grain bin was blown over. The damage occurred 2 miles southwest of Waseca.
A trampoline was blown across the yard, a large tree was blown down, and a steel patio pergola was completely collapsed northwest of Steele Center. A large tree was blown down near Hope, and a large Ham antenna was blown down, along with a large playset lifted out of the ground between Lemond, and Hope.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, April 2021
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: 944433, 944435.