Updraft: May 21, 2011 Archive

Sunshine spawns instability and thunderstorms

Posted at 4:20 PM on May 21, 2011 by Craig Edwards
Filed under: Storms

After about an inch of rain fell this morning in parts of Minnesota, the clouds parted and afternoon sunshine has triggered thunderstorms from the west Metro to Hutchinson to New Ulm. Some of the thunderstorms have produced hail up to three quarter inch in diameter.

We're keeping an eye on further development. You can follow the thunderstorm potential here on the National Weather Service Chanhassen Office storm page.
CE

Risk of isolated severe storms continues

Posted at 5:05 PM on May 21, 2011 by Craig Edwards (1 Comments)
Filed under: Storms

From the Storm Prediction Center...
MARGINAL SVR WEATHER THREAT WILL LIKELY EXIST THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF THE AFTERNOON OVER PORTIONS OF SRN/CNTRL MN AND FAR WRN
WI...PRIMARY THREATS BEING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.
HOWEVER...SVR COVERAGE IS EXPECTED TO BE TOO LIMITED ATTM TO SUPPORT WW ISSUANCE.

Hail to one inch in diameter was reported near Cokato in Wright County about 417PM CDT.
CE

Hail and heavy rain

Posted at 6:06 PM on May 21, 2011 by Craig Edwards
Filed under: Storms

Screen capture of Doppler rainfall estimates at 6PM CDT of storm total rainfall in Minnesota today. Notice the small areas of red from about Hutchinson to Lester Prairie and into Wright County to the west of the Metro. Hail of up to an inch and a half was observed in Wright County and likely in the vicinity of Lester Prairie.

Today's rainfall was more than an inch at the Twin Cities International Airport. Rainfall between 4pm and 6pm likely totaled over two inches in northern McLeod County and southern Wright County.

At 608PM CDT hail to one inch in diameter was reported in Minnetrista in western Hennepin County.
CE

Hail reports and heavy rain

Posted at 8:30 PM on May 21, 2011 by Craig Edwards (2 Comments)
Filed under: Storms

I spoke with a lead forecaster at the Chanhassen National Weather Service Office at 815PM CDT. He stated that they did not have a report of damage from the tornado observed in Medina.

Click here for their accumulated storm reports from this afternoon and evening.

More storms were firing up in west central Minnesota and extreme south central Minnesota. Sleep with one eye open and your NOAA Weather Radio in alert mode.
CE