Scattered metro storms; Major damage in Iowa

Update 11:00PM:

Tornado watch #119 until 5am south:

A tornado watch (#119) is in effect until 5 am for northern Iowa, far southeast Minnesota, and parts of southwest Wisconsin.

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Scattered metro storms overnight:

Expect scattered storms moving through the metro from SW to NE at around 35 mph overnight. Storms are producing lightning, thunder, downpours, gusty winds to 60 mph and hail is possible up to 1" in diameter.

MPX: New London [Kandiyohi Co, MN] trained spotter reports HAIL of marble size (M0.50 INCH) at 10:31 PM CDT --

-Latest Twin Cities radar loop

[image]

A severe thunderstorm watch continues until 3am and includes the metro.

Bigger storms south:

While a severe storm is possible in the metro, the storms are running into cooler, slightly more stable air as they approach the metro.This may weaken storms somewhat in the Twin Cities area.

To the south, conditions remain favorable for big, tornadic supercells, including southwest Minnesota near Tyler,Tracy & Edgerton.

Iowa: Night of the tornado:

Multiple tornadic supercells are visible on doppler radar late Saturday evening in northern Iowa. The threat may spill into southern Minnesota along the I-90 corridor overnight.

-Latest La Crosse radar loop

[image]

Multpile rotating tornadic supercells in northern Iowa!

There are reports of tornadoes in Iowa Saturday evening, and major damage is reported.

DMX continues Tornado Warning for Humboldt, Kossuth [IA] till 11:45 PM CDT ...AT 1112 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ALGONA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

DMX: 1 Ne Pocahontas [Pocahontas Co, IA] trained spotter reports TORNADO at 10:52 PM CDT -- power surges

DMX: Early [Sac Co, IA] trained spotter reports TORNADO at 10:46 PM CDT -- multiple roofs ripped off homes...extensive house damage...and large trees down

DMX: 5 Ene Nemaha [Sac Co, IA] storm chaser reports TSTM WND DMG at 09:30 PM CDT -- power lines down...house damaged. gas leaking. likely tornado damage.

Pocahontas [IA] till 10:30 PM CDT ...AT 1004 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR POCAHONTAS...OR 24 MILES EAST OF STORM LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

DMX: Varina [Pocahontas Co, IA] storm chaser reports TORNADO at 09:55 PM CDT -- location approximate. near varina toward the pocahontas/buena vista county line.

DMX: 5 Nw Pomeroy [Pocahontas Co, IA] trained spotter reports TORNADO at 09:03 PM CDT -- large tornado on the ground. damage unknown.

DMX: 2 N Fonda [Pocahontas Co, IA] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 09:52 PM CDT --

DMX issues Tornado Warning for Palo Alto, Pocahontas [IA] till 10:30 PM CDT ...* AT 951 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALBERT CITY...OR 18 MILES EAST OF STORM LAKE. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

DMX: Nemaha [Sac Co, IA] amateur radio reports TSTM WND DMG at 09:05 PM CDT -- major damage reported in nemaha...possibly from tornado. time approximate.

DMX: Early [Sac Co, IA] fire dept/rescue reports TSTM WND DMG at 08:48 PM CDT -- major damage to buildings in town. commercial and residential. large trees down. time estimated. no injuries reported in early as of yet.

DMX continues Tornado Warning for Pocahontas [IA] till 10:00 PM CDT ...AT 943 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 9 MILES EAST OF NEWELL...OR 19 MILES EAST OF STORM LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

Update 9:00pm:

Storms with hail moving northeast.

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

859 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...

REDWOOD COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 945 PM CDT

* AT 857 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM...CAPABLE OF

PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES

NORTHWEST OF REVERE...OR ABOUT 21 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARSHALL...AND

MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...

REDWOOD FALLS...

LUCAN...

WABASSO...

SEAFORTH...

NORTH REDWOOD...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE

HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM

WINDOWS.

Update 8:30pm:

Line of T-Storms developing and moving NE toward Mankato, New Ulm and the Twin Cities. Storms possible in the Twin Cities anytime between 9:30pm through midnight.

-Latest Twin Cities radar loop.

[image]

Primary threats appear to be large hail up to 1" to 2" diameter, and localized wind damage.

Expect lighting to increase in the southwest sky, and look for heavy downpours, possible hail and booming thunder after about 10pm tonight.

PH

Update 7:45pm:

Severe T-Storm Watch for southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities until 3am.

from SPC Watch text...

WIDESPREAD LARGE HAIL... ISOLATED HAIL TO 2.0 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE... WIDELY SCATTERED DAMAGING WINDS TO 60 MPH

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 118

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

745 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

NORTHEAST IOWA

SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA

WESTERN WISCONSIN

EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING FROM 745 PM

UNTIL 300 AM CDT.

HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 60

MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 155

STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES WEST

NORTHWEST OF MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA TO 20 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF

FAIRMONT MINNESOTA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE

THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE

FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH

AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR

THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS

AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY

DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

Update 7:25pm:

Here's the latest mesoscale discussion from SPC. Severe T-Storm Watch likely to be issued soon for southern Minnesota.

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0389

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

0657 PM CDT SAT APR 09 2011

AREAS AFFECTED...SERN SD...SRN MN

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY

VALID 092357Z - 100100Z

LOW LEVEL WARM ADVECTION IS STRENGTHENING ACROSS SERN SD AND SRN MN

AS LLJ IMPINGES ON WARM FRONT. LATEST RUC GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THIS

PROCESS WILL ONLY INCREASE DURING THE EVENING HOURS FORCING MOISTURE ATOP COOLER BOUNDARY LAYER. WITH STEEP LAPSE RATES IN PLACE SIGNIFICANT ELEVATED INSTABILITY WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THIS REGION

SUCH THAT LARGE HAIL SHOULD BE COMMON WITH ANY SUPERCELL STRUCTURES. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL BE WARRANTED ACROSS THIS REGION SOON.

Update 6:45pm:

Tornado watch issued for much of northwest Iowa until 1am.

Update 3:50pm:

Check out the varbiage in the latest Twin Cities NWS forecast discussion regarding the increasing tornado threat for southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities tonight, and especially Sunday early to mid afternoon.

"OVERNIGHT...THE INSTABILITY SPREADS NORTH ACROSS THE CWA. SHOWERS

AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY IN MOST AREAS AND SEVERE STORMS

WITH LARGE HAIL CAN NOT BE RULED OUT.

SUNDAY POSES SEVERAL PROBLEMS AS SURFACE LOW PRESSURE MOVES

NORTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA. FIRST...THE WARM SECTOR SHOULD

EASILY COVER THE TWIN CITIES AS WELL AS AREAS TO THE EAST AND

SOUTH. WITH H85 TEMPERATURES PROGGED NEAR 16 DEG C IN THESE AREAS...

HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM 80-85 DEGREES CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. MUCH WILL DEPEND ON THE DEBRIS FROM THE OVERNIGHT CONVECTION. RIGHT NOW...HAVE HIGHS IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 70S OVER THE EAST AND SOUTH.

THE NEXT PROBLEM WILL BE SEVERE STORMS REDEVELOPING. BELIEVE THINGS MAY DEVELOP SOONER THAN LATER ON SUNDAY. MOST IMPRESSIVE FEATURE SEEN TODAY WAS THE NOSE OF A 90-100 KNOT JET STREAK AT H5 REACHING SOUTHERN MN AT 18Z AND POKING INTO CENTRAL WI BY 11/00Z. 850-500MB CROSSOVER WINDS ALSO IMPRESSIVE AT MID DAY FROM THE TWIN CITIES THROUGH WEST CENTRAL WI. SO ONCE AGAIN...THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD RISE QUICKLY AND PERSIST THROUGH THE EVENING. VARIOUS SOLUTIONS ARE ALSO POINTING TO SFC-3KM CAPE REACHING OR EXCEEDING 100 J/KG BY 21Z ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES AND WEST CENTRAL WI. THIS WILL BE OUR FOCUS AREA FOR TORNADOES IN THE AFTERNOON."

PH

Update 3:20 pm

Storms dropping some hail as expected moving through western Wisconsin.

MPX: 2 E Ellsworth [Pierce Co, WI] trained spotter reports HAIL of penny size (M0.75 INCH) at 02:58 PM CDT -- pea to penny size hail fell for several minutes...minor hail accumulation was also observed.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

255 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

WIZ024-025-092030-

DUNN-PIERCE-

255 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO/DEVELOPING OVER DUNN AND PIERCE COUNTIES

THROUGH 330 PM CDT...

AT 253 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG

THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ELLSWORTH...OR 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF

BELDENVILLE. THIS STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...

ELLSWORTH.

SPRING VALLEY.

ELMWOOD.

MENOMONIE.

No new deveopment so far behind first storm cluster as it moves away rapidly NE through Wisconsin.

There are a few storms starting to pop near warm front from Sioux Falls to near Sioux City Iowa. We may get a break in activity until a possible MCS forms later tonight and moves northeast into southern Minnesota. The best chance for any severe storms still appears to be between 10pm and 6am Sunday morning.

Stay tuned...

PH

***Original post 2:00 pm***

SPC has upgraded severe risk to "moderate" today & tonight from the metro south. Keep an eye out for possible watches & warnings, especially tonight.

A few pop up storms in SE metro & western Wisconsin producing small hail and some gusty winds. Nothing severe so far...

[image]

Doppler detects hail to .50" in SE metro & western Wisconsin as storms zip rapidly NE. (Click to enlarge)

MPX: Northfield [Rice Co, MN] fire dept/rescue reports HAIL of marble size (M0.50 INCH) at 01:58 PM CDT -- northfield ambulance reported pea to dime size hail was beginning to cover the ground.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

145 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

MNZ063-070-077-078-WIZ023-024-091930-

DAKOTA-GOODHUE-PIERCE-RICE-ST. CROIX-WASHINGTON-

145 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO/DEVELOPING OVER DAKOTA...GOODHUE...

PIERCE...RICE...ST. CROIX AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM

CDT...

AT 144 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG

THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES WEST OF DUNDAS. THIS STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST

AT 50 MPH.

HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS

STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...

BRIDGEWATER.

NORTHFIELD.

CASTLE ROCK.

STANTON.

CANNON FALLS.

NEW TRIER.

-SPC here

-Twin Cities NWS here

-Twin Cities radar loop here