The local sheriff in Dunn County reported two individuals that were working at a construction site in Menomonie, Wisconsin, Tuesday morning, August 24th, were struck by lightning. A 60-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
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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 MPX wrote it up.
The local sheriff in Dunn County reported two individuals that were working at a construction site in Menomonie, Wisconsin, Tuesday morning, August 24th, were struck by lightning.
A 60-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. A 20-year-old man was taken to Mayo in Eau Claire with serious injuries.
Dunn County authorities said the crew was working on a pole shed under a partial roof on ladders when the lightning struck.
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 Aug 24, 1:37 AM CST, 8 hours 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 237 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 236 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021 The main concern in the short term is the next ten hours starting with the convection across the eastern Dakotas. These storms should remain strong to severe as they track across Minnesota into Wisconsin this morning. Damaging wind looks like the primary threat, but large hail is possible. There could be some redevelopment later this afternoon, but that will depend on how the storms this morning play out. This Morning - Confidence is increasing the threat for severe weather early this morning with the storms that as of 1AM were located in the eastern Dakotas, and will move eastward across the region over the next several hours. A large reservoir of 2000 to 3000 J/k MUCAPE lies ahead of these storms, along with 40 to 50 kts of effective shear. The CAPE gradient will lift northward with a surface warm front as steep mid level lapse rates spread across the region. The storms are already in the process of developing an cold pool, and this upscale growth into a line of storms should continue. HiRes models show some disagreement with how these storms will evolve, but given the overall set up of CAPE and Shear, it will be hard to believe these storms will weaken any time soon. Most models aren't performing well are simply too slow with the convection, but the last few runs of the HRRR show a bowing complex of storms moving through central Minnesota into northern Wisconsin. This seems like the most likely scenario, so would expect the severe thunderstorm watch to expand eastward into Minnesota and possibly Wisconsin later this morning. This Afternoon through This Evening - The conditionally unstable airmass with very steep mid level lapse rates will remain in place across the region today. The question remains whether or not the low level boundary layer will be able to recover from this morning's convection. Did continue with small chance of pops during the afternoon and evening, but overall it appears that most of the thunderstorms will be to the north later today, and this morning's event should be the main show. Can't rule out additional storms, and if they do develop there certainly could be a severe weather risk, with even a tornado threat along any lingering outflow boundaries. Tonight and Wednesday - A cold front will move through the region overnight and bring an end to the rain chances. Northwest winds will follow for Wednesday as surface high pressure builds in. However, this dry spell will be short-lived as the aforementioned cold front swings back north Wednesday night. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 236 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021 Wednesday night is forecast with lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s and clouds increasing from west to east. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop/move into southwest MN Thursday morning as a southerly LLJ overruns a warm front placed through SD, central MN, and into WI. This convective activity is expected to spread north and east during Thursday as the LLJ expands and strengthens (due to an approaching shortwave). A few stronger storms do appear possible (more likely during the afternoon) in an environment generally characterized by +2000 J/kg MUCAPE and 45-55 knots of shear. However, uncertainty regarding the severe threat is high as earlier storms could limit surface heating and work over the environment. The bigger concern is the potential for heavy rain Thursday evening into Friday evening as CWA-wide precipitation appears likely for the entire duration. With the prolonged, convective nature of storms and a very moist environment, guidance strongly suggests multi-inch accumulations. In addition, the ejecting shortwave will create strong surface cyclogenesis supplying the region with substantial lift. Thunderstorm and rainfall intensity will thus increase and very high rainfall rates are possible where sources of synoptic scale lift overlap. Models hint that this has a greater chance of occurring over the eastern half of the CWA (where NBM PoPs maximize). A number of deterministic models and ensemble members have bands of QPF over 3" (with a few models exceeding 5"). Obviously, where convective banding and training sets up will be crucial but this will need to be watched closely. The Weather Prediction Center has placed our CWA in a Slight risk of heavy rainfall for Friday. A break in the rain is possible earlier Saturday as the shortwave and surface low depart. However, the remainder of the western CONUS upper-level trough is forecast to shift through the Northern Plains Saturday night into Sunday. A strong cold front will slide through MN and WI, sparking off another round of showers and thunderstorms before they depart to the east. Accumulating rains from this activity are possible along with a chance of severe weather. High and low temperatures will remain at or slightly above normal through the weekend. After the frontal passage, models dry us out for a couple days and cool us to seasonably mild temperatures. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1052 PM CDT Mon Aug 23 2021 VFR to start for all terminals but the main question for the overnight through daybreak hours is when and where convection will occur. Some models bring in convection across southern MN into western WI between 08z-12z while others delay it until the 12z-18z timeframe from western MN to western WI. Seems to be more agreement in that later window so have gone that route, which is a little later than the previous set of TAFs. Still lots of uncertainty but also at the point where TEMPOs are required for some locations. Still more adjustments may be made going forward but the highest confidence timing is what is currently in the TAFs. Winds will come off light/variable to pick up from the E by daybreak then continue to veer to S by late afternoon with speeds increasing to around 10 kts. KMSP...Have narrowed the timing to around 14z-15z Tuesday morning but still could see convection earlier or later than the 13z-17z timeframe currently advertised. Have nudged the timing a bit later into Tuesday morning than the previous TAF based on latest short-term model trends. MVFR conditions possible with the convection, possibly with IFR visibility should heavy downpours move across the field. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ Wed...VFR. Wind N 5-10 kts. Thu...SHRA/TSRA likely, especially in the afternoon-evening. MVFR likely, IFR-or-lower possible. Wind E 5-10 kts. Fri...SHRA/TSRA likely, especially in the morning. MVFR likely, IFR- or-lower possible. Wind SE 10-15 kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && SHORT TERM...JRB LONG TERM...CTG AVIATION...JPC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 444 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 250945- 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- 444 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected this morning and severe weather is possible. The main risk is large hail and damaging wind. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. We expect an active weather pattern with multiple rounds of thunderstorms across the region this week. Severe weather is possible with these storms, and large hail is the primary threat. A few locations could see several inches of rain, so localized flooding may become a concern later in the week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN spotter activation will be needed this morning.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1023 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021
MNZ082-083-091-092-241600-
Blue Earth MN-Watonwan MN-Martin MN-Faribault MN-
1023 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Faribault,
Martin, southwestern Blue Earth and southern Watonwan Counties
through 1100 AM CDT...
At 1023 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Trimont, or 14 miles northeast of Jackson In Jackson County, moving
east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Truman, Lewisville, Winnebago and Amboy.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 90 between mile markers 82 and 119.
U.S. Highway 169 between mile markers 13 and 39.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4351 9485 4394 9485 4406 9407 4350 9412
TIME...MOT...LOC 1523Z 263DEG 45KT 4378 9481
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TDHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1035 AM CDT TUE AUG 24 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1025 AM HEAVY RAIN BLOOMINGTON 44.83N 93.30W
08/24/2021 M1.52 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
PEMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1035 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021
MNZ082-083-241600-
Blue Earth MN-Watonwan MN-
1035 AM CDT Tue Aug 24 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Blue
Earth and northeastern Watonwan Counties through 1100 AM CDT...
At 1035 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Madelia, or 18 miles south of New Ulm, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Madelia around 1040 AM CDT.
Lake Crystal around 1055 AM CDT.
This includes U.S. Highway 169 between mile markers 39 and 48.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4407 9460 4411 9448 4411 9437 4414 9437
4420 9419 4420 9414 4418 9411 4404 9405
4397 9458
TIME...MOT...LOC 1535Z 260DEG 35KT 4404 9449
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TDHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1050 AM CDT TUE AUG 24 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0450 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 NNE SACRED HEART 44.83N 95.31W
08/24/2021 RENVILLE MN PUBLIC
SHEET METAL ROOFING BLOWN OFF LARGE SHED.
&&
PEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1106 AM CDT TUE AUG 24 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 AM TSTM WND DMG 7 WNW ELROSA 45.60N 95.08W
08/24/2021 STEARNS MN PUBLIC
DAMAGE TO ROOFING AND TREES AT LOCAL
BUSINESS.
&&
PEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1108 AM CDT TUE AUG 24 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1057 AM HEAVY RAIN SHAKOPEE 44.80N 93.53W
08/24/2021 M1.63 INCH SCOTT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
PEMThe Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 129 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:12 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck two construction workers. One died and the other was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning, Dunn | 2021-08-24 | 60 | Male | Heavy Equipment/Construction | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, August 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: 971731.