Event Synopsis | Severe Weather Reports
A cooler than normal spring helped to set the stage for a cool atmosphere and hail potential during the final days of May, 2008. Ample cold air was present in the 10 to 30 kft layer due to northwest winds. In the lowest levels, warming had occurred which helped create moderate instability during the afternoons of May 30th and 31st. Thunderrstorms developed because on this. The upper level map from 500 mb (~18,000 ft) below from the morning of Friday May 30th reveals the colder temperatures moving in from the northwest at that level. The "u-shaped" wave in the heights is what meteorologists refer to as short wave troughs aloft. These can frequently generate clouds and precipitation.
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May 30, 2008 Upper Level Map at 500mb (~18,000 ft): 7 am |
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A similar situation was true on the 31st. Though there were only a handful of severe thunderstorms that afternoon, they produced significant hail swaths. One storm in particular dove southeast through the western half of the Twin Cities metro producing quarter to golf ball size hail across many communities. The hail came down so heavy that it covered the ground in many communities for hours afterwards. Radar pictures of this storm can be seen below.
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May 30, 2008 NWS Doppler Radar 0.5° Reflectivity: 6:01 pm |
May 30, 2008 NWS Doppler Radar 0.5° Reflectivity: 6:28 pm |
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Both days also brought the slight chance for short-lived tornadoes with some of the thunderstorms. Around aforementioned short waves, there tends to be atmospheric spin in the mid levels. There was also some pre-existing low level spin near the surface due to the low pressure system. Another favorable ingredient was that vertical air motion was from the surface, which can help stretch spin out. Finally, there was just enough surface moisture for the possibility of tornadoes. The caveats for widespread or long-lived tornadoes were that wind speeds were fairly light in the atmosphere contributing to little wind shear.
Two brief tornado touchdowns did occur in west central Minnesota and within 10 minutes of each other during the afternoon of May 30th. At 3:30 pm, a tornado touched down for less than a minute three miles northeast of Cyrus in Pope County. Another weak tornado touched down from a separate storm just 8 minutes later three miles northwest of Morris in Stevens County. The below surface weather map from 3 pm reveals the surface low approaching that area along with the narrow tongue of low level moisture (reflected by the image of dew points).
| May 30th, 2008 Surface Weather Map: 3 pm |
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May 30, 2008 Storm Reports |
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May 31, 2008 Storm Reports |
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The map above contains a plot of severe weather reports across the region during May 30th and 31st, 2008. The below listing are of severe weather reports received during or soon after the events by the NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen Forecast Office from local government officials or trained storm spotters.
May 30th Text Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
205 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 PM HAIL SPRINGFIELD 44.24N 94.98W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH BROWN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0320 PM HAIL CYRUS 45.62N 95.74W
05/30/2008 M1.00 INCH POPE MN PUBLIC
0323 PM HAIL 2 W CYRUS 45.62N 95.78W
05/30/2008 M1.00 INCH STEVENS MN PUBLIC
0330 PM HAIL 2 E CLEVELAND 44.32N 93.79W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH LE SUEUR MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0330 PM TORNADO 3 NE CYRUS 45.65N 95.69W
05/30/2008 POPE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
BRIEF TOUCHDOWN IN AN OPEN FIELD.
0335 PM HAIL CYRUS 45.62N 95.74W
05/30/2008 M1.75 INCH POPE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL RANGING FROM NICKEL SIZE TO GOLF BALL SIZE IN CYRUS.
TIME APPROXIMATED.
0337 PM HAIL MONTGOMERY 44.44N 93.58W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH LE SUEUR MN PUBLIC
0338 PM TORNADO 3 NW MORRIS 45.62N 95.95W
05/30/2008 STEVENS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN ABOUT 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MORRIS.
0345 PM HAIL STARBUCK 45.61N 95.53W
05/30/2008 M1.00 INCH POPE MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0353 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 6 WNW STARBUCK 45.65N 95.65W
05/30/2008 POPE MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
FUNNEL CLOUD ALMOST TOUCHED GROUND 2 MILES NORTH AND 6
MILES WEST OF STARBUCK.
0410 PM HAIL 4 S AMBOY 43.83N 94.16W
05/30/2008 M1.75 INCH FARIBAULT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0420 PM HAIL 3 W HUTCHINSON 44.89N 94.44W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH MCLEOD MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0420 PM HAIL 2 W NEW LONDON 45.30N 94.99W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH KANDIYOHI MN EMERGENCY MNGR
REPORTED AT COUNTY ROAD 40.
0420 PM HAIL 4 N EASTON 43.82N 93.90W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH FARIBAULT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0430 PM HAIL HUTCHINSON 44.89N 94.37W
05/30/2008 M0.88 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0432 PM HAIL 5 NE SUNBURG 45.40N 95.17W
05/30/2008 M0.88 INCH KANDIYOHI MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORT AT COUNTY ROAD 36 NEAR NORWAY LAKE.
0447 PM HAIL 2 S BELGRADE 45.42N 95.00W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH STEARNS MN AMATEUR RADIO
REPORT LOCATED AT STEARNS AND KANDIYOHI COUNTY LINE ALONG
HWY. 71 AND COUNTY ROAD 198.
0459 PM HAIL PAYNESVILLE 45.38N 94.72W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH STEARNS MN AMATEUR RADIO
0500 PM HAIL 1 E GLENCOE 44.77N 94.13W
05/30/2008 M1.00 INCH MCLEOD MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORT LOCATED AT HWY. 212 AND FALCON.
0507 PM HAIL GLENCOE 44.77N 94.15W
05/30/2008 M1.00 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0512 PM HAIL 3 SSE PLATO 44.73N 94.02W
05/30/2008 M0.88 INCH MCLEOD MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0515 PM HAIL 1 SE PLATO 44.76N 94.02W
05/30/2008 M1.00 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0522 PM HAIL NORWOOD/YOUNG AMERICA 44.78N 93.92W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH CARVER MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0542 PM HAIL DASSEL 45.08N 94.31W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH MEEKER MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0542 PM HAIL DASSEL 45.08N 94.31W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH MEEKER MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0555 PM HAIL 3 NW BELLE PLAINE 44.65N 93.81W
05/30/2008 M1.00 INCH SIBLEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0647 PM HAIL E SILVER LAKE 44.90N 94.19W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0655 PM HAIL MAYER 44.88N 93.89W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH CARVER MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0700 PM HAIL LESTER PRAIRIE 44.88N 94.04W
05/30/2008 M0.75 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
$$
May 31st Text Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 1133 AM CDT SUN JUN 01 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS..
0250 PM HAIL LE CENTER 44.39N 93.73W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH LE SUEUR MN PUBLIC
0310 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 SE FARIBAULT 44.25N 93.20W 05/31/2008 RICE MN EMERGENCY MNGR LARGE TREE DOWN ACROSS ROAD.
0321 PM HAIL 3 SW MORRISTOWN 44.20N 93.49W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH WASECA MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0324 PM HAIL 7 NE JANESVILLE 44.19N 93.61W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH WASECA MN EMERGENCY MNGR
0324 PM HAIL 5 NW WATERVILLE 44.27N 93.65W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH LE SUEUR MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0358 PM HAIL WASECA 44.08N 93.50W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH WASECA MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0411 PM HAIL 3 E ST STEPHEN 45.70N 94.21W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH STEARNS MN AMATEUR RADIO NEAR COUNTY ROAD 1 AND COUNTY ROAD 5.
0429 PM HAIL 4 W FOLEY 45.66N 93.99W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH BENTON MN AMATEUR RADIO AT COUNTY ROADS 25 AND 4.
0430 PM HAIL 8 ENE HOLLANDALE 43.80N 93.06W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH FREEBORN MN PUBLIC HAILED ABOUT 5 MINUTES.
0439 PM HAIL RICE 45.75N 94.23W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH BENTON MN AMATEUR RADIO
0455 PM HAIL 9 N HILLMAN 46.14N 93.89W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH MORRISON MN PUBLIC HAIL BEGAN AT 0.75 THEN DECREASED TO PEA SIZE. IT LASTED ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
0455 PM HAIL 9 N BECKER 45.50N 93.87W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH SHERBURNE MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0500 PM HAIL 4 SSW VINELAND 46.13N 93.80W 05/31/2008 E0.50 INCH MILLE LACS MN TRAINED SPOTTER HAIL CAME DOWN IN SHEETS AND COVERED THE GROUND. GARDEN LOST. HAIL STILL ON GROUND IN DRIFTS THREE HOURS LATER.
0504 PM HAIL 8 N BECKER 45.49N 93.87W 05/31/2008 M0.88 INCH SHERBURNE MN AMATEUR RADIO
0517 PM HAIL PIERZ 45.98N 94.10W 05/31/2008 E0.88 INCH MORRISON MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0521 PM HAIL 5 N BIG LAKE 45.41N 93.75W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH SHERBURNE MN AMATEUR RADIO
0524 PM HAIL 1 N BIG LAKE 45.35N 93.75W 05/31/2008 E1.75 INCH SHERBURNE MN AMATEUR RADIO
0525 PM HAIL 1 E BIG LAKE 45.34N 93.73W 05/31/2008 M1.50 INCH SHERBURNE MN STORM CHASER
0526 PM FUNNEL CLOUD BIG LAKE 45.34N 93.75W 05/31/2008 SHERBURNE MN STORM CHASER VISIBLE FUNNEL HALFWAY TO GROUND NOTED. HOWEVER THE BLOWING DUST NEAR FUNNEL IS UNIDIRECTIONAL AND SHOWS NO ROTATION AND IS LIKELY RFD WIND.
0529 PM HAIL MONTICELLO 45.30N 93.80W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH WRIGHT MN AMATEUR RADIO
0530 PM HAIL 1 N BIG LAKE 45.35N 93.75W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH SHERBURNE MN AMATEUR RADIO
0530 PM HAIL BUCKMAN 45.90N 94.09W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH MORRISON MN TRAINED SPOTTER FEW DIME TO PENNY SIZE HAILSTONES BUT LARGER JUST SOUTH OF BUCKMAN WITH DAMAGE TO VINYL SIDING ON HOMES.
0540 PM HAIL DAYTON 45.19N 93.47W 05/31/2008 M0.88 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER AT INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROADS 12 AND 13.
0547 PM FUNNEL CLOUD CORCORAN 45.12N 93.59W 05/31/2008 HENNEPIN MN LAW ENFORCEMENT GOING UP AND DOWN BUT HAS NOT TOUCHED DOWN AT THIS TIME. LOCATION IS LIKELY NORTHERN CORCORAN.
0547 PM HAIL ALBERTVILLE 45.24N 93.66W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH WRIGHT MN AMATEUR RADIO
0552 PM HAIL ROGERS 45.19N 93.55W 05/31/2008 E1.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0553 PM HAIL BROOKLYN PARK 45.11N 93.35W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO AT BROOKLYN BLVD AND ZANE.
0557 PM HAIL 2 WNW MAPLE GROVE 45.11N 93.50W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0559 PM HAIL MAPLE GROVE 45.11N 93.46W 05/31/2008 E0.88 INCH HENNEPIN MN STORM CHASER AT INTERSTATE 94 AND HEMLOCK. METEOROLOGIST CHASER ALSO SEES SIGNIFICANT RFD WIND BUT NO FUNNEL.
0559 PM HAIL ROGERS 45.19N 93.55W 05/31/2008 E1.50 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO
0602 PM HAIL MAPLE GROVE 45.11N 93.46W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO INTERSTATE 94 AND COUNTY ROAD 30.
0603 PM HAIL MAPLE GROVE 45.11N 93.46W 05/31/2008 E1.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF MAPLE GROVE PER CITY POLICE.
0607 PM HAIL MAPLE GROVE 45.11N 93.46W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO AT I-94 AND HEMLOCK.
0609 PM HAIL 3 NE PLYMOUTH 45.05N 93.43W 05/31/2008 E1.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0610 PM HAIL BROOKLYN PARK 45.11N 93.35W 05/31/2008 M0.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO AT 169 AND 63RD.
0610 PM HAIL PLYMOUTH 45.02N 93.46W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO 169 AND SCHMIDT LAKE RD.
0612 PM HAIL CRYSTAL 45.04N 93.36W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO
0612 PM HAIL PLYMOUTH 45.02N 93.46W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO 494 AND COUNTY ROAD 9.
0614 PM HAIL NEW HOPE 45.04N 93.39W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO
0615 PM HAIL CRYSTAL 45.04N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO BOONE AVE AND 32ND.
0615 PM HAIL ROBBINSDALE 45.03N 93.33W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO AT NORTH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
0617 PM HAIL MAPLE GROVE 45.11N 93.46W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO INTERSTATE 94 AND COUNTY ROAD 30.
0622 PM HAIL GOLDEN VALLEY 44.99N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO ONE MILE NORTH OF HIGHWAY 55 AND WINNETKA.
0622 PM HAIL 5 WSW MINNEAPOLIS 44.95N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER MINNETONKA BLVD AND LOUISIANA.
0622 PM HAIL ST LOUIS PARK 44.95N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO HIGHWAY 100 AND COUNTY ROAD 40.
0624 PM HAIL ST LOUIS PARK 44.95N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E1.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO LAKE STREET AND MINNETONKA
0624 PM HAIL 5 W CAMBRIDGE 45.56N 93.33W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH ISANTI MN AMATEUR RADIO HIGHWAY 95 AND RUM RIVER AT WALBO.
0628 PM HAIL EDINA 44.89N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER HIGHWAY 100 AND 50TH. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TREES AND VEGETATION.
0628 PM HAIL GOLDEN VALLEY 44.99N 93.36W 05/31/2008 M1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN AMATEUR RADIO NEAR EXCELSIOR AND HAWTHORNE.
0628 PM HAIL ST LOUIS PARK 44.95N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E1.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER HIGHWAY 100 AND MINNETONKA
0632 PM HAIL GOLDEN VALLEY 44.99N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER HIGHWAY 100 AND INTERSTATE 394.
0634 PM HAIL ISANTI 45.49N 93.25W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH ISANTI MN AMATEUR RADIO COUNTY ROAD 5 AND WHISKEY.
0635 PM HAIL MINNEAPOLIS 44.96N 93.27W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER NEAR LORING PARK ON EDGE OF DOWNTOWN.
0635 PM HAIL EDINA 44.89N 93.36W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER HIGHWAY 100 AND INTERSTATE 494.
0635 PM HAIL 2 WSW ISANTI 45.48N 93.29W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH ISANTI MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0635 PM HAIL ISANTI 45.49N 93.25W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH ISANTI MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0642 PM TSTM WND DMG BURNSVILLE 44.76N 93.28W 05/31/2008 DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER ROOF PARTIALLY OFF BUILDING NEAR CLIFF ROAD AND 12TH. REPORTED BY NON-NWS METEOROLOGISTS.
0647 PM HAIL EAST BETHEL 45.34N 93.20W 05/31/2008 E1.75 INCH ANOKA MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0655 PM HAIL EAGAN 44.82N 93.16W 05/31/2008 E1.75 INCH DAKOTA MN AMATEUR RADIO INTERSTATE 35E AND CLIFF ROAD.
0700 PM HAIL APPLE VALLEY 44.75N 93.20W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0710 PM HAIL 3 SW VERMILLION 44.64N 93.01W 05/31/2008 E0.75 INCH DAKOTA MN LAW ENFORCEMENT OCCURED IN EMPIRE.
0712 PM HAIL FOREST LAKE 45.28N 92.99W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH WASHINGTON MN AMATEUR RADIO NEAR HIGHWAYS 61 AND 97.
0712 PM HAIL 1 ESE FOREST LAKE 45.27N 92.97W 05/31/2008 M0.88 INCH WASHINGTON MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0730 PM HAIL CANNON FALLS 44.52N 92.90W 05/31/2008 E1.00 INCH GOODHUE MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0740 PM HAIL 4 NE WASTEDO 44.45N 92.79W 05/31/2008 E1.25 INCH GOODHUE MN PUBLIC LASTED UNTIL 750 PM.
0804 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NNW STILLWATER 45.10N 92.85W 05/31/2008 WASHINGTON MN AMATEUR RADIO FIVE TREES UPROOTED AND ONE SNAPPED NEAR 96TH STREET AND NOREL AVE.
&& $$
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