Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 28, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
708 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

Key Messages:

- Strong to severe storms are expected this evening, with the
greatest risk being damaging winds in excess of 75mph. The most
favorable location for the strongest winds will be from west-central
to south-central MN.

- Hot and humid conditions this afternoon will continue until storms
move through this evening and overnight. Cooler temperatures are
expected for the rest of this week.

- Our pattern finally shifts towards quieter weather this week,
after a final chance for isolated showers and storms on Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 211 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

The convection that we were keeping an eye on over North Dakota has
decayed into little more than showers as of 1830z, with our focus
redirected towards agitated cumulus showing up on satellite imagery
over south-central South Dakota. This cluster of developing clouds
is the onset of the convective development expected to eventually
become a line of strong thunderstorms moving into our coverage area
later this evening, as it collides with an outflow boundary moving
southeast from decaying storms in Montana that should result in
convective initiation to a larger degree. The most recent CAM
guidance shows this interaction bubbling over eastern South Dakota
between 21-23z, moving eastwards into Minnesota by 00z as it enters
the better convective environment with better instability and
slightly better shear. The surface warm front currently located
across southwestern MN is expected to stall and remain in place
until the surface low pushes through later this evening, and will
serve as the main gradient along which storms are expected to
propagate as storms tend to try and follow gradients of instability.
Multiple CAMs continue to show convection taking on a linear shape
and bowing out, with the potential to produce wind gusts in excess
of 70-75mph, with the location of the strongest gusts still the main
question. Right now, the guidance continues to favor a trajectory
that follows the Minnesota River Valley where the instability
gradient is sharpest, however there are still a lower percentage of
CAMs that continue to produce a line of storms over the Twin Cities
by 8-10pm. Forecast soundings show a healthy 2500-3500 J/KG SB and
MLCAPE alongside effective shear of 55+kts, alongside DCAPE of 1000-
1500 J/KG which is significantly higher than every other event we
have seen this summer so far. Low level lapse rates remain poor due
to lower-mid level capping from 850-700mb, especially from the 18z
ABR special balloon sounding which showed MUCIN of over -350,
showing an extremely strong cap in place. The Derecho Composite,
which relies on variables such as MUCAPE, MUCIN, 0-6km Shear, and
the 0-6km mean wind shows a relatively high value of 2-4 across
South Dakota and Minnesota. Put all of this together, and we still
have an environment that is highly conducive for thunderstorm
development which would favor a linear mode with damaging wind gusts
being the main concern, with convective initiation being the main
question although that will more than likely be solved as the
outflow boundary continues pushing through SoDak.

There is still not a single consensus model solution, nor will there
likely be one given the environment. The most likely outcome still
appears to be a line of storms moving into west-central Minnesota
around 00-01z, progressing quickly towards the east-southeast and
reaching a line from Mankato to the Twin Cities between 02-03z
before moving out of the area by 03-04z. The word Derecho has been
used in the lead-up to this event, and it still seems applicable
given the potential of the strongest wind gusts, however the entire
line is not expected to see Derecho level winds. In a linear setup,
it is almost always the bowing segment which produces the strongest
winds while the northern side of the line becomes cold-pool dominant
with weaker (but still possibly severe level 60mph+) winds. The
position of the bow is not going to be known until it actually
begins to appear given our lack of active thunderstorms upstream, so
we are still in a holding pattern to track where the strongest gusts
will be. Just given the position of the warm front, it would be
expected that the strongest portion of the line would follow the
Minnesota River into south-central MN and northern IA, however there
is still a less likely but still possible outcome that it trends
closer to the Twin Cities. The entire event will occur within a 2-3
hour window for our local office given the expected progression of
the line as it quickly moves out of the area, with the surface low
and cold front expected shortly afterwards. One thing that has yet
to be mentioned but is relevant given the widespread rainfall on
Sunday is the potential for torrential rainfall as the line moves
through, with rates in excess of 2+ inches per hour possible.
Thankfully the line looks to move fast enough such that the main
risk for flash flooding will be in areas of western Minnesota that
saw the most significant rainfall yesterday as opposed to a more
widespread threat.

This discussion is long enough already, so lets wrap up the next 6
days in short order. Another chance for isolated showers and weak
storms will be present on Tuesday as we transition towards a ridge
building into the northern plains by Wednesday. The risk for severe
storms is pretty low but non-zero over southern MN, generally under
a 5% risk for winds/hail. As the ridge builds over the area
Wednesday and persists through Friday, we expect some of the best
weather days we have seen this summer with abundant sunshine and
temperatures in the 70s with the only cloud cover being fair weather
afternoon cumulus. This stretch will continue into the weekend
before the ridge and surface high pressure slide eastwards, with
small chances for showers returning by Sunday. &&

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 705 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

Main concern late this evening into the overnight is for a line
of strong to severe thunderstorms to impact the MN TAF sites,
with a little lower confidence on the storms reaching east of
the Twin Cities Metro into WI. The strongest segments of the
line will likely produce 45-50+ kt winds with the highest
confidence for these impacts to the southwest of the Twin
Cities. There is still some uncertainty on the exact timing of
the main line of storms, but only made minor adjustments to the
TEMPOs. Scattered showers and isolated storms remain possible
after the initial round of organized storms moves through and
have mentioned thunder for the late night period in PROB30s due
to lower confidence. Once the rain ends, a period of MVFR
ceilings is possible through late Tuesday morning with clearing
for the afternoon. Winds will stay below 10 kts outside of the
storms and will generally be out of the north on Tuesday.

KMSP...Convective initiation has occurred over the Dakotas this
afternoon, and continue to grow upscale as they progress
eastward. We are expecting the storms to turn S/SE across
southwest and south- central MN, riding along the axis of
instability. The most likely timing for the line to move through
is between 3-5z, based on the current speed and evolution. The
best environment remains south of MSP for the strongest winds
associated with the line of convection, closer to Mankato and
south. That said, we could still be looking at wind gusts up to
65 mph should an organized storm track over KMSP. After the line
moves through, the threat for severe winds will quickly
decrease, however showers and isolated storms could continue for
a few hours into the early morning.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
WED...VFR. Wind NE 5-10 kts.
THU...VFR. Wind E 5-10kts.
FRI...VFR. Wind SE 5-10 kts.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...TDH
AVIATION...BED/WFO Quad Cities

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
307 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
292015-
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-
307 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Strong to severe storms are expected this evening into the
overnight hours, with the greatest risk being damaging winds in
excess of 75mph. The most favorable location for the strongest
winds will be from west- central to south-central MN.
Flooding is also a concern given recent heavy rainfall with more
expected overnight.

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

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation will likely be needed.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
929 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

MNZ059>063-068>070-290300-
Hennepin MN-Wright MN-Ramsey MN-Dakota MN-Anoka MN-Washington MN-
Carver MN-Scott MN-
929 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT HENNEPIN...RAMSEY...
EASTERN CARVER...NORTHWESTERN DAKOTA...WASHINGTON...SOUTHEASTERN
ANOKA...NORTHEASTERN SCOTT AND SOUTH CENTRAL WRIGHT COUNTIES UNTIL
10 PM CDT...

At 929 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from over Lino Lakes to over Maple Plain, or
extending from 18 miles north of St. Paul to 15 miles southeast of
Buffalo, moving southeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea 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...
  Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth,
  Eagan, Woodbury, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie,
  Burnsville, Blaine, Minnetonka, Apple Valley, Edina, St. Louis
  Park, Maplewood, Shakopee, Richfield and Cottage Grove.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4510 9383 4516 9348 4533 9302 4530 9302
      4530 9299 4500 9277 4497 9277 4496 9276
      4478 9314 4470 9368
TIME...MOT...LOC 0229Z 336DEG 34KT 4520 9306 4507 9343 4503 9366

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH

NDC

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
930 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

MNC003-037-053-123-163-290430-
Hennepin-Dakota-Anoka-Washington-Ramsey-
930 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

...URBAN FLOODING EXPECTED...

Thunderstorms with heavy rain will cause minor flooding in the
following counties...

Hennepin...Dakota...Anoka...Washington...Ramsey...

* Until 1130 PM CDT.

* At 930 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to
  thunderstorms. This will cause urban flooding in the area.

* Some locations that will experience minor flooding include...
  Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Eagan,
  Woodbury, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie, Burnsville, and
  Blaine.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as
well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.

&&

LAT...LON 4480 9292 4479 9338 4481 9343 4481 9352
      4489 9352 4490 9355 4506 9354 4507 9353
      4517 9352 4517 9292

CTG

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
931 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

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

0929 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 WSW Plato             44.76N 94.08W
07/28/2025  M59 MPH          McLeod             MN   AWOS

            Glencoe Airport.

&&

tdk

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
939 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

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

0918 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Winsted                 44.96N 94.05W
07/28/2025                   McLeod             MN   Trained Spotter

            Tree down on house. Time estimated based on
            radar.

&&

tdk

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
945 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

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

0940 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 W Dellwood            45.10N 93.00W
07/28/2025                   Ramsey             MN   Amateur Radio

            Two trees down on the north side of White
            Bear Lake.

&&

tdk

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
948 PM CDT Mon Jul 28 2025

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

0929 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Mayer                   44.89N 93.88W
07/28/2025                   Carver             MN   Trained Spotter

            12 inch diameter tree snapped at the base.

&&

SPD