Updraft: July 14, 2009 Archive

Forecast: Million dollar rain

Posted at 8:24 AM on July 14, 2009 by Paul Huttner (0 Comments)

Storm Prediction Center paints a severe weather risk over Minnesota today.

A weather system passing through Minnesota today is bringing some much needed rainfall.

The rain is coming at a critical time, but will likely not be enough to put a major dent in drought conditions in central Minnesota this week. Brown lawns, low lakes and rivers and dry topsoil are tangible signs of drought in much of central Minnesota. Drought conditions are also expanding northward to include Duluth and portions of the North Shore.

For some Minnesota farmers, rain this week may be a million dollar rain. Today's crop report shows that 40% of topsoil moisture in the state is now listed as short or very short. Late July is a critical time for crop development, and rain in the next two weeks can play a major role in promoting a decent corn crop.

The first wave of showers this morning is bringing rain without severe weather. The risk of severe storms will increase this afternoon and evening over central and southern Minnesota. SPC has posted a slight risk for severe storms today. The strong upper wave and cold front combo moving though the region today has the potential to develop a squall line that may drive a line of severe thunderstorms eastward through the area late today into this evening.

Hopefully most of us will see beneficial rain without severe weather today. Keep an eye to the sky and listen for weather updates later today just in case the Twin Cities NWS has to issue the first severe weather warnings of the year for the metro area.

PH

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Tornado reported in Spicer; flash flood in Brainerd; funnels in St. Cloud

Posted at 6:39 PM on July 14, 2009 by Paul Huttner (0 Comments)

Twin Cities NWS plot shows severe thunderstorm watch for much of central and southern Minnesota until 9pm tonight.

You can feel it in the air today.

Warm and humid air ahead of a cool front is sparking showers and thunderstorms that will move quickly eastward through this evening. The storms today have the potential to generate the first severe weather warnings of the year for the Twin Cities metro.

Severe thunderstorm watch number 583 is posted until 9pm tonight for much of southern Minnesota. The eastern edge of the watch runs right up to the west metro.

Stay tuned to KNOW 91.1FM today for weather updates as you plan you evening activities. You can check on radar here. Get severe weather warnings here. I'll post storm reports as they come in today.

Keep you weather eye on the sky!

PH

Storm reports:

DLH: 4 Sw Danbury [Burnett Co, WI] trained spotter reports TSTM WND DMG at 09:48 PM CDT -- several large trees blown down.

DLH: 5 N Pillager [Cass Co, MN] trained spotter reports HEAVY RAIN of M6.30 INCH at 09:03 PM CDT --

DLH: Aitkin [Aitkin Co, MN] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 08:15 PM CDT -- rail road track washed out by the ripple river in aitkin.

DLH issues Flash Flood Warning for Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing [MN] till 11:45 PM CDT

DLH: 5 Ne Deerwood [Crow Wing Co, MN] trained spotter reports HEAVY RAIN of M6.00 INCH at 07:15 PM CDT -- 6 inches of rain in 3 hours.

DLH: Aitkin [Aitkin Co, MN] trained spotter reports FLASH FLOOD at 07:15 PM CDT -- streets inundated with standing water. low lying areas filling and one city block affected by water in... or approaching buildings.

All tornado warnings have expired as of 7pm for now. PH

1" to 2" of rain in St. Cloud causing street flooding...PH
MPX: St Cloud [Stearns Co, MN] law enforcement reports FLOOD at 06:30 PM CDT -- co sheriff reported localized flooding problems mainly urban areas in streets

FSD: 3 W Okabena [Jackson Co, MN] trained spotter reports TSTM WND GST of E60 MPH at 06:42 PM CDT -- nickel size hail and 60 mph thunderstorm wind gusts. wind flattened corn.

Supercell NE of St. Cloud still producing funnel clouds...doppler confirms rotation. PH
MPX continues Tornado Warning for Benton, Sherburne [MN] till 7:00 PM CDT ...AT 635 PM CDT...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED NORTHWEST OF DUELM.

DLH issues STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HEADED INTO THE TWIN PORTS REGION for Northern Cook/Northern Lake, Central St. Louis, Southern Lake/North Shore, Carlton/South St. Louis [MN] and Douglas [WI] till 8:00 PM CDT

DLH: 1 N Motley [Morrison Co, MN] trained spotter reports HEAVY RAIN of M3.25 INCH at 05:43 PM CDT -- 3.25 inches of rain in 2.5 hours

DLH: Nisswa [Crow Wing Co, MN] trained spotter reports HEAVY RAIN of M4.00 INCH at 05:45 PM CDT -- 4 inches of rain in 2 hours.

FSD: 10 Nw Worthington [Nobles Co, MN] trained spotter reports HAIL of quarter size (E1.00 INCH) at 06:25 PM CDT --

MPX continues Tornado Warning for Benton, Sherburne [MN] till 7:00 PM CDT ...AT 625 PM CDT...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED 2 MILES NORTH OF ST CLOUD.

MPX: 2 N St Cloud [Stearns Co, MN] trained spotter reports FUNNEL CLOUD at 06:25 PM CDT -- have received multiple reports of funnel clouds in the st cloud area.

FSD: 2 E Wilmont [Nobles Co, MN] amateur radio reports TSTM WND GST of E65 MPH at 06:13 PM CDT --

Stearns County storm still dangerous...PH
MPX: 2 E Richmond [Stearns Co, MN] trained spotter reports FUNNEL CLOUD at 05:52 PM CDT --

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH MN HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
CENTRAL AITKIN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
CROW WING COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BRAINERD...
SOUTHERN CASS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 745 PM CDT

* AT 541 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED FLASH FLOODING
ALONG AN AREA FROM NEAR MOTLEY...THROUGH BRAINERD. THE STORMS
CONTINUED TO BUILD ALONG THIS AREA AND WERE GRADUALLY MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH.

AT 645 PM...RAINFALL OF 4 INCHES WAS REPORTED IN NISSWA AND MUCH OF
THE AREA HAS LIKELY SEEN IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL
OF 2 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM THE MOTLEY AND PILLAGER
AREAS...NORTHEAST INTO BRAINERD...IRONTON AND AITKIN. AREAS
SURROUNDING THIS LINE WILL ALSO SEE FLASH FLOODING.

MPX: Staples [Todd Co, MN] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 05:45 PM CDT -- evacuations for homes on 5th st. power shut off to staples high rise apts on 4th st.

Stearns County storm still showing rotation....PH
MPX issues Tornado Warning for Stearns [MN] till 6:00 PM CDT ...* AT 531 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A ROTATING WALL CLOUD NEAR ST NICHOLAS...OR ABOUT OVER ST NICHOLAS. RADAR SHOWED THE SEVERE STORM MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

FSD: Pipestone [Pipestone Co, MN] trained spotter reports HAIL of nickel size (E0.88 INCH) at 05:15 PM CDT --

DLH: BRAINERD,MN (BRD) ASOS reports gust of 52.0 knots (60 mph) from W @ 2156Z KBRD 142211Z AUTO 23011KT 1/2SM +TSRA FG BKN006 BKN017 OVC033 19/17 A2969 RMK AO2 PK WND 26052/2156 WSHFT 2143 LTG DSNT ALQDS P0154

MPX: 3 Ne Spicer [Kandiyohi Co, MN] public reports TORNADO at 04:50 PM CDT -- tornado tracked across green lake

MPX: Spicer [Kandiyohi Co, MN] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 04:40 PM CDT -- law enforcement reported a tornado on the ground in spicer with debris seen at a local shopping mall.

MPX issues Tornado Warning for Kandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns [MN] till 5:30 PM CDT ...* AT 444 PM CDT...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO IN SPICER. RADAR SHOWED THE TORNADIC STORM MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

MPX: 6 Nne Swift Falls [Pope Co, MN] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 04:36 PM CDT -- tornado reported near scandinavian lake

MPX continues Tornado Warning for Pope [MN] till 5:00 PM CDT ...AT 426 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED ONE MILE WEST OF SWIFT FALLS.

MPX continues Tornado Warning for Pope, Swift [MN] till 5:00 PM CDT ...AT 425 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BETWEEN GILCHRIST AND SWIFT FALLS.

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