Hail in Minnesota, May 8, 2023

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
656 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

.UPDATE...
Issued at 645 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

Updated to include 00z aviation discussion below.

&&

.DISCUSSION...(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 228 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

Key Messages:

- Scattered showers and storms this afternoon and evening, mainly in
southern Minnesota. A few severe storms are possible, with the
primary threat being hail and a chance for a tornado or two favoring
southeastern Minnesota.

- Unsettled pattern with diurnal convection through Wednesday, with
a more organized system looking to arrive later in the week and into
the weekend.

Discussion...
Early afternoon satellite imagery shows a steadily growing cumulus
field over southwestern Minnesota with a few showers forming in
southeastern South Dakota, which will eventually evolve to become our
chance for showers and storms over the next several hours. There are
also a few bubbling cumulus clouds near New Richmond WI which a few
CAMs are highlighting as potential for a few more storms within the
next few hours. The 12z HREF Ensemble mean CAPE at 20z is around
1000-1250 J/KG in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin which
is near what we currently are based on SPC Mesoanalysis data, and the
question becomes do we have the forcing to produce convection over
the next few hours. For now, this forecaster remains more concerned
with the threat coming out of South Dakota, with healthy 8-8.5 C/KM
lapse rates for much of southwestern to central Minnesota where we
have seen clearing throughout the day ahead of the growing cumulus
field. Forcing arrives via a weak shortwave ahead of a positively
tilted large-scale trough, which would further support the idea of
elevated primarily-hail producing convection. Severe hail remains a
possibility given the steep lapse rates, and can be considered the
primary threat from any storms that do end up developing, with the
tornado threat focused more towards the southeastern portion of the
state and into NWS La Crosse's coverage area. LCL heights within
this zone of potential convection are 1500m or higher, further
reinforcing the elevated hail threat as the primary concern.

A few CAMs continue to produce spotty showers and storms overnight
but as we lose our heating, it is likely our instability decreases
to the point where it will take stronger forcing than looks probable
to force anything severe. Tuesday and Wednesday look to be rough
repeats of today with weak surface flow, southwesterly flow aloft,
and enough clearing to build some instability to force diurnal
convection. Coverage will continue to be spotty and not widespread
due to the nature of the flow and limited forcing that is available.
As we head closer to late Thursday and towards the weekend, our next
synoptic scale system forming over eastern Colorado will begin
moving towards the northern plains. Depending on your pick of
deterministic synoptic scale model, the track of this low is still
varying and could result in dramatically differing forecast
scenarios for us. We could end up in the vicinity of the warm front,
with persistent showers and storms along the front that stretches
for a good period this weekend, or we could end up in the area south
of the front if the system tracks further west/north and end up
seeing stronger but more sporadic convection within the warming area
south of the front. Given there are still several possible
scenarios, we can avoid speculating further until we have some
better details to share.

Temperature wise, our trend of near to above normal temperatures
looks to continue throughout the period with more 70s than otherwise
for highs, and lows generally in the 50s with a lack of significant
clearing any given night. We will also have a chance to see a repeat
of the fog from last night over portions of central Minnesota again
tonight and tomorrow night with weak winds and lingering moisture.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening)
Issued at 645 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

Isolated convection is occurring in W WI near KRNH and S MN between
KRWF and KMKT. MKT should see convection move through early in the
period before drying out. MVFR to IFR cigs should develop across W WI
and S MN sites. A return to VFR skies is expected in the late morning.
Winds will be shifting due to a cool front moving through, with
northwesterly winds in western Minnesota becoming southeasterly ahead
of the front in western WI.

KMSP...Kept fog out of TAF, but would expect MVFR cig development
prior to sunrise Tuesday AM. There is an PROB30 for potential
thunderstorms Tuesday PM (21Z-00z or 4-7pm).

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
WED...VFR. Wind S to SE 5-10kts.
THU...VFR, chc MVFR/-RA. Wind SE 10-15kts.
FRI...VFR/MVFR, RA likely after noon. Wind S to SE 10-15kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...None.
WI...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...TDH
AVIATION...BPH

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
239 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
091945-
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-
239 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms can be expected this
afternoon through tonight. A few severe storms are possible in
southern Minnesota.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms can be expected Tuesday
through Saturday. The threat for severe weather is low at this
time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation is possible but not currently expected,
mainly this afternoon and evening in southern Minnesota.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
637 PM CDT MON MAY 8 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0633 PM     HAIL             1 E MADELIA             44.05N 94.39W
05/08/2023  M0.88 INCH       WATONWAN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

BPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
701 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

MNZ083-084-092-090030-
Waseca MN-Blue Earth MN-Faribault MN-
701 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central
Faribault, southeastern Blue Earth and southwestern Waseca Counties
through 730 PM CDT...

At 701 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Good Thunder, or 16 miles south of Mankato, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 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...
  Mapleton around 710 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this storm include Minnesota Lake and
Waldorf.

This includes U.S. Highway 169 between mile markers 28 and 36.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4391 9423 4406 9413 4399 9364 4370 9385
TIME...MOT...LOC 0001Z 289DEG 32KT 4394 9408

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

BPH

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
703 PM CDT MON MAY 8 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0654 PM     HAIL             4 N MAIDEN ROCK         44.62N 92.30W
05/08/2023  M1.00 INCH       PIERCE             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOTS OF HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS,
            LASTED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES.

&&

NDC

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
708 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

MNZ091-090030-
Martin MN-
708 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

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

At 707 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles north of Estherville, moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 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...
  Ceylon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9485 4365 9485 4351 9437 4350 9437
TIME...MOT...LOC 0007Z 296DEG 20KT 4353 9482

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

BPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
708 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

WIZ023-090045-
St. Croix WI-
708 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central St. Croix
County through 745 PM CDT...

At 708 PM CDT, trained weather spotters reported a strong
thunderstorm over New Richmond, or 15 miles north of River Falls,
moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Penny size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central St. Croix
County, including the following locations... Boardman and Houlton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4502 9261 4509 9263 4515 9237 4503 9234
TIME...MOT...LOC 0008Z 263DEG 13KT 4508 9252

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

PEM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
723 PM CDT MON MAY 8 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0640 PM     HAIL             6 WNW PLUM CITY         44.68N 92.30W
05/08/2023  M1.25 INCH       PIERCE             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

PEM