Hail and Damaging Wind in Minnesota, April 23, 2022

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Minnesota, April 23, 2022
Start: 2022-04-23T06:52
End: 2022-04-23T08:00
Location: Minnesota

April 23, 2022 · NWS MPX · 6 events in 4 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.

A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms that developed across western Iowa during the pre-dawn hours, quickly moved north, and northeast across southern, and central Minnesota during the morning. Steep lapse rates in an elevated unstable atmosphere produced lots of small hail, but a few severe hail stones did occur in the strongest storms. Most of the hail was between one quarter and three quarters of an inch, but a few managed to increase to around 1.25 near Hutchinson. There was one wind damage report south of New Prague where a few large trees were blown down.

What forecasters said that day

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 23, 5:33 AM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 23, 5:33 AM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
633 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

.UPDATED for 12Z Aviation Discussion...
Issued at 627 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

&&

.DISCUSSION...(Today through Friday)
Issued at 246 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

KEY MESSAGES:

- Southerly winds gusting 40 to 50 mph are expected in western and
  southern MN today.

- Scattered thunderstorms remain possible this afternoon and evening
  as a cold front moves through. A few storms could be severe, but a
  significant and widespread severe weather event is not
  anticipated.

- Near record lows expected Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

TODAY...Strong winds, warm temperatures, and potential for a few
strong to severe storms are the three talking points for today.
Southerly winds will increase during the day. The strongest gusts
will be across western and southern Minnesota, so have expanded the
wind advisory to include a few more counties. These southerly winds
will advect warm air across the region. Forecast guidance continues
to show low 70s for highs this afternoon, which would be the first 70
degree day of the season (and unfortunately likely the last for a
while).

As for the severe threat, expect a decaying area of showers and
thunderstorms to approach from the southwest this morning. As of 3AM,
these storms were located in central Nebraska, but the latest
lightning trend is already showing a weakening. This is expected to
continue as the race ahead and outrun the instability. Given the
strong winds just above the surface, could see some gusty winds with
any showers or thunderstorm this morning. The second round of
precipitation will come later this afternoon, and this is the main
reason the Storm Prediction Center continues its slight risk of
severe weather across much of the region. HiRes models, including all
four members of the 03Z HopWrf do show a scattered line of convection
developing across western Minnesota early this afternoon. The 06Z
HRRR is starting to depict this as well, and the statistical severe
model does show increasing probability of severe weather at 18Z this
afternoon. The shear is very strong, but the instability is narrow.
It does however seem to be trending a little higher on the latest
RAP. Overall the main threat continues to be damaging wind given the
strong synoptic winds aloft, and the overall high shear environment.
However, there is potential for rotating storms, and perhaps some low
top supercells across west central Minnesota. These storms could
produce a few tornadoes, which is why SPC has the 5% tornado area.
The hodographs still look rather linear as mentioned in the previous
discussion, but still can't rule out some rotating updrafts.

SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...No significant changes from the previous
forecast. The cold front will push through bringing west/northwest
winds, and cold air advection will persist across the region Sunday
through Tuesday. Temperatures will be well below normal, with near
record lows possible Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Wind finally
become easterly on Wednesday, but this is in response to another
shortwave trough brining small chances for showers Wednesday night
into Thursday. This pattern continues into next weekend, meaning
cooler weather, and small chances for rain. It's possible that some
thunderstorms could develop along I-90, but confidence is low at this
time.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Sunday morning)
Issued at 627 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

Rather complex TAF period. Expect mainly VFR conditions this morning
and early this afternoon with strong southerly winds and some wind
shear/turbulence. There is a chance for a few showers and even some
thunderstorms this morning, but those should weaken over the next few
hours. Later this afternoon we could see a broken line of showers and
thunderstorms push up through the region ahead of a cold front. Winds
will become west/southwest behind this front, with MVFR ceilings to
follow for Sunday.

KMSP...

Continued to hold off on the precip in the TAF this morning. The
showers and thunderstorms to the southwest should weaken throughout
the morning. If they do hold together, showers is much more likely
than thunder. Later this afternoon a broken line of showers and
thunderstorms is expected to develop. These could produce gusty winds
and some hail, so have a TEMPO in the TAF.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
Sun...VFR with MVFR after 18Z. Wind W 10-20G35kt. Crosswinds
possible.
Mon...VFR. Wind NW 10-15G20 kts.
Tue...VFR. Wind NW 10-15 kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Blue Earth-Brown-
     Chippewa-Faribault-Freeborn-Kandiyohi-Lac Qui Parle-Le Sueur-
     Martin-Nicollet-Pope-Redwood-Renville-Sibley-Steele-Stevens-
     Swift-Waseca-Watonwan-Yellow Medicine.

WI...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...JRB
AVIATION...JRB

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 23, 4:08 AM CST, 2 hours 44 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
508 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
241015-
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-
508 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and
southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Widespread southerly wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph this afternoon. A
Wind Advisory is in effect for much of southwestern and southern
Minnesota.

Scattered thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon into the
evening. A few of these could be severe with strong winds as the
primary risk, along with a brief tornado or two. The storms will
be fast-moving with a storm motion to the north near 60 mph
possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation may be needed later today.

jrb

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 5:48 AM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
648 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

MNZ091-231230-
Martin MN-
648 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Martin County
through 730 AM CDT...

At 647 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Estherville, moving north at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
  Ceylon around 655 AM CDT.
  Sherburn around 700 AM CDT.
  Welcome around 705 AM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this storm include Trimont.

This includes Interstate 90 between mile markers 82 and 103.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4351 9485 4385 9485 4385 9437 4350 9447
TIME...MOT...LOC 1147Z 192DEG 52KT 4346 9480

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

JRB

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 6:16 AM CST, 36 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
716 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

MNZ074-075-082-083-231245-
Brown MN-Blue Earth MN-Watonwan MN-Nicollet MN-
716 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Brown,
northwestern Blue Earth, Watonwan and southeastern Nicollet Counties
through 745 AM CDT...

At 715 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Madelia, or 19 miles south of New Ulm, moving northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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 720 AM CDT.
  Hanska around 725 AM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this storm include Courtland.

This includes the following highways...
 U.S. Highway 14 between mile markers 95 and 117, and between mile
markers 121 and 129.
 U.S. Highway 169 between mile markers 40 and 50, and near mile
marker 56.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4385 9486 4411 9486 4439 9454 4420 9401
      4385 9437
TIME...MOT...LOC 1215Z 211DEG 43KT 4402 9449

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TDH

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 6:44 AM CST, 8 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
744 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

MNZ065-067-074-075-231315-
Brown MN-Sibley MN-Renville MN-Nicollet MN-
744 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Sibley,
eastern Brown, southeastern Renville and northwestern Nicollet
Counties through 815 AM CDT...

At 744 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles northwest of Hanska, or 7 miles southwest of New Ulm, moving
north at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
  New Ulm around 750 AM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this storm include Lafayette, Winthrop
and Gibbon.

This includes U.S. Highway 14 between mile markers 90 and 110.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4411 9474 4461 9465 4456 9414 4426 9435
      4426 9437 4423 9437 4411 9445
TIME...MOT...LOC 1244Z 195DEG 46KT 4423 9457

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TDH

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 6:47 AM CST, 5 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
747 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

MNZ058-059-065-066-231315-
McLeod MN-Renville MN-Meeker MN-Wright MN-
747 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central Wright,
central Meeker, northwestern McLeod and northeastern Renville
Counties through 815 AM CDT...

At 747 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles north of Stewart, or 8 miles southwest of Hutchinson, moving
north at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
  Hutchinson around 755 AM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this storm include Litchfield and
Dassel.

This includes the following highways...
 U.S. Highway 12 between mile markers 97 and 116.
 U.S. Highway 212 near mile marker 103.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4472 9446 4474 9465 4522 9459 4515 9417
TIME...MOT...LOC 1247Z 195DEG 46KT 4482 9452

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TDH

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 51 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sibley

When: April 23, 6:52 AM CST
Where: Sibley County, 4.59 mi SSW of Henderson
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.470, -93.940

Hail, McLeod

When: April 23, 6:54 AM CST
Where: McLeod County, 0.69 mi N of Hutchinson
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.890, -94.370

Hail, Sibley

When: April 23, 6:55 AM CST
Where: Sibley County, 0.49 mi W of Henderson
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.530, -93.910

Hail, McLeod

When: April 23, 6:58 AM CST
Where: McLeod County, 5 mi NE of Hutchinson
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 44.931, -94.298

There was a social media picture of 1.25 hail that fell northeast of Hutchinson. The hail stones were likely larger northeast of this area as radar reflectivity increased significantly as the storm moved across McLeod County, and into portions of Wright and Meeker Counties.

Thunderstorm Wind, Le Sueur

When: April 23, 7:28 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where: Le Sueur County, 0.83 mi ESE of Heidelberg to 0.71 mi E of Heidelberg
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.493, -93.586

A couple of miles south of New Prague, a few large trees were blown down which was associated with a collapsing storm that moved from southern Le Sueur, to near the Le Sueur and Scott county border.

Hail, Isanti

When: April 23, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Isanti County, 3.96 mi NNW of Spencer Brook
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.580, -93.490

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, April 2022

Sources

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: 1009937, 1009939, 1009938, 1009941, 1012168, 1009940.