October 26-27th, 2010 Record Low Pressure, Strong Winds, and Early Season Snowfall

Overview   |    Pressure Records   |   Wind Speeds   |   Snowfall Amounts   |    Precipitation   |   Other Reports 

Extensive Review From NWS Duluth

Overview

   One of the deepest extratropical low pressure systems on record for the lower 48 states evolved from Iowa into Minnesota on October 26th and slowly moved northeast on the 27th.  Such a low developed in response to powerful 175 kt jet stream winds from the west and a major contrast in temperatures, with warm and moist air to the south and colder air building to the north.  A low pressure area in advance of this system had already tightened the temperature gradient, or as meteorologists say, increased the baroclinicity.  This set the stage for even lower pressures as the strong jet stream moved atop the area.  As the low evolved, moderate to heavy rain was seen over Minnesota into western Wisconsin on Monday night.  Powerful winds developed by daybreak Tuesday, with much of Minnesota seeing sustained winds of 30 to 45 mph with gusts of 50 to 65 mph.  Very strong winds driven by the pressure difference around the low were seen across all of the Upper Midwest.  Across the lower Great Lakes and into the Ohio River Valley, a widespread severe weather event occurred, with damaging winds and tornadoes.  This was one of the largest outbreaks on record for October. Across northern Minnesota, this rain changed to snow during Tuesday and Tuesday night.  Snow was seen all the way to the southern border of the state on Wednesday.  Accumulations of five to nine inches were seen near Duluth and in the higher country of the north shore, making it the fourth highest snowfall amount seen in Duluth. Satellite View of the Cyclone

Other NWS Articles on This Event

Extensive Review From NWS Duluth

NWS Aberdeen, SD

NWS La Crosse, WI

NWS Green Bay, WI

NWS Milwaukee, WI

Pressure Records

Low Pressure Path

3-hour Pressure Change Loop

Low Pressure Track

Pressure Falls Loop

Click onany of the Above Images to Enlarge

Minnesota Record Low Pressure

A new low pressure record was set for the state of Minnesota.  At 5:13 pm on October 26th, a pressure of 955.2 mb* (28.21 inches of mercury) was observed at Big Fork, Minnesota, located in the north central part of the state.  The previous record was 962.7 millibars (28.43"), set on November 10, 1998 at both Albert Lea, MN and Austin, MN.

For information on the Minnesota low pressure record that was set during that event, visit here. (Courtesy of the Minnesota State Climatology Office) 

* = This was recalculated slightly from the lowest altimeter reading of 28.20" that was initially reported for this storm. Both altimeter readings and sea level pressure are derived from the station pressure. Although the altimeter reading is a sea level reduction as well, it uses a US standard atmosphere assumption. The sea level pressure factors in observed temperatures. Therefore, the altimeter and sea level pressure readings are often very slightly different. 

 

Minneapolis Second Lowest Pressure

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
815 PM CDT WED OCT 27 2010
...SECOND LOWEST BAROMETRIC PRESSURE ON RECORD SET FOR THE TWIN
CITIES ON OCTOBER 26TH...
THE SECOND LOWEST BAROMETRIC PRESSURE EVER RECORDED IN THE TWIN
CITIES...AFTER ONLY NOVEMBER 10TH 1998...WAS OBSERVED AT 755 AM ON
THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 26TH 2010. THE PRESSURE OBSERVED WAS 28.60
INCHES OF MERCURY...OR 968.50 MILLIBARS. THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO
WHAT IS COMMONLY OBSERVED IN CATEGORY 2 HURRICANES.
THE FIVE LOWEST BAROMETRIC READINGS...IN INCHES OF
MERCURY...OBSERVED AT THE TWIN CITIES ARE:
RANK   PRESSURE   DATE
-----------------------------
1.     28.55      NOV 10 1998
2.     28.60      OCT 26 2010
3.     28.62      JAN 10 1975
4.     28.77      APR 13 1964
4T.    28.77      FEB 26 1971
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE IS THE FORCE EXERTED BY THE ATMOSPHERE AND IS
KEY IN ANALYZING WEATHER PATTERNS AND MAGNITUDES OF STORM
SYSTEMS...OR LOW PRESSURE AREAS. THE VERY LOW PRESSURE DURING THE
OCTOBER 25TH-27TH 2010 INDICATED RAPID CHANGE AND TRANSITION
OCCURRING IN THE ATMOSPHERE...WHICH CREATED VERY STRONG WINDS
ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST...EARLY SEASON ACCUMULATING SNOW IN
NORTHERN MINNESOTA...AND WIDESPREAD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
OHIO RIVER VALLEY.
$$

Wind Speeds

Maximum Winds Across the Region 

For pdf form, click here.

Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Northeast and Central Wisconsin

Northeast and Central Wisconsin
   

Central and Southern Minnesota

Southern Wisconsin

Southern Wisconsin

 Click to Enlarge

 

Central and Southern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin Listing of Maximum Gusts

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 839 AM CDT SAT OCT 30 2010  ...MAXIMUM WIND GUSTS FROM OCTOBER 26TH AND 27TH IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN...  MINNESOTA...  --AUTOMATED ASOS AND AWOS SITES--  LOCATION               PEAK GUST           TIME OF PEAK GUST ------------------------------------------------------------ APPLETON                63 MPH                   5:14 PM TUE REDWOOD FALLS           63 MPH                  12:48 AM WED ALEXANDRIA              62 MPH                   6:16 PM TUE GLENWOOD                62 MPH                   6:33 PM TUE MINNEAPOLIS             62 MPH                   1:21 AM WED MORRIS                  62 MPH                   5:12 PM TUE GRANITE FALLS           61 MPH                  12:32 AM WED OLIVIA                  61 MPH                  12:53 AM WED PAYNESVILLE             61 MPH                   3:53 PM TUE WILLMAR                 61 MPH                   6:56 PM TUE CANBY                   60 MPH                   6:34 PM TUE ST. PAUL                60 MPH                   7:20 PM TUE BENSON                  59 MPH                   2:33 PM TUE MADISON                 59 MPH                  12:34 AM WED ST. JAMES               59 MPH                   2:55 PM TUE ST. CLOUD               58 MPH                   9:35 PM TUE MANKATO                 56 MPH                   1:15 AM WED NEW ULM                 56 MPH                   2:55 PM TUE CRYSTAL                 55 MPH                   6:53 PM TUE LONG PRAIRIE            55 MPH                   6:16 PM TUE OWATONNA                55 MPH                   5:14 PM TUE EDEN PRAIRIE            54 MPH                   4:53 PM TUE HUTCHINSON              54 MPH                   4:31 PM TUE RED WING                54 MPH                   4:56 AM WED MONTEVIDEO              53 MPH                  12:34 PM TUE FAIRMONT                52 MPH                   9:15 PM TUE LITTLE FALLS            52 MPH                   8:53 PM TUE MAPLE LAKE              52 MPH                   6:55 PM TUE MORA                    51 MPH                   7:55 PM TUE PRINCETON               51 MPH                   7:53 PM TUE LAKEVILLE               49 MPH                   9:14 PM TUE STANTON                 49 MPH                   1:14 AM WED BLAINE                  48 MPH                   7:55 PM TUE CAMBRIDGE               47 MPH                   8:55 PM TUE GLENCOE                 47 MPH                   6:53 PM TUE RUSH CITY               47 MPH                   9:34 PM TUE   --AUTOMATED MESONET DATA--  GEORGEVILLE             66 MPH                  12:30 AM WED MEHURIN                 66 MPH                   8:20 PM TUE CANNON FALLS            63 MPH                   9:54 PM TUE HANLEY FALLS            63 MPH                   2:10 PM TUE SAUK CENTER             62 MPH                   4:03 PM TUE LANGHEI                 61 MPH                   2:16 PM TUE CLARA CITY              60 MPH                   6:30 PM TUE CLEARWATER              60 MPH                   6:39 PM TUE LASTRUP                 60 MPH                   7:42 PM TUE LESTER PRAIRIE          60 MPH                   3:54 PM TUE WELCH                   60 MPH                   5:19 PM TUE BELLE PLAINE            56 MPH                  12:16 AM TUE MILACA                  55 MPH                   8:17 PM TUE RICE                    55 MPH                   6:59 PM TUE LITTLE CHICAGO          53 MPH                   8:35 PM TUE   WISCONSIN...  --AUTOMATED ASOS AND AWOS SITES--  OSCEOLA                 55 MPH                   7:15 PM TUE EAU CLAIRE              54 MPH                   4:37 PM TUE NEW RICHMOND            48 MPH                   8:35 PM TUE RICE LAKE               46 MPH                  12:18 AM WED MENOMONIE               41 MPH                   2:36 PM TUE  $$
Sustained Wind Speed Loop Analyzed by a Diagnostic Computer Model
Wind Speed Loop
Click to Enlarge
Note the model has a bias to slightly underestimate the actual wind speeds.


Maximum Sustained Wind Speeds

Site

Speed (mph)

Appleton

48

Morris

48

Benson

48

Canby

46

Granite Falls

46

Georgeville

45

Paynesville

45

Willmar

45

Glenwood

44

Mehurin

44

Olivia

44

Redwood Falls

44

Snowfall Amounts

October 27th Morning Snow Depth

Snow Depth on October 27th

The low pressure system also brought several inches of snow to portions of central Minnesota.


...SNOWFALL TOTALS ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA FROM OCTOBER 26TH
AND 27TH STORM...
A RECORD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM BROUGHT THE FIRST ACCUMULATING
SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON TO CENTRAL MINNESOTA. HERE ARE THE
LATEST SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM TRAINED SPOTTERS AND WEATHER
OBSERVERS ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
LOCATION               COUNTY                 SNOWFALL TOTAL
------------------------------------------------------------

MILLERSVILLE           DOUGLAS                4.0 INCHES
HEWITT                 TODD                   4.0 INCHES
VINELAND               MILLE LACS             3.0 INCHES
BROWERVILLE            TODD                   1.0 INCHES
MORRIS                 STEVENS                1.0 INCHES
LONG PRAIRIE           TODD                   0.9 INCHES
BELGRADE 8 ESE         KANDIYOHI              0.8 INCHES
WOODLAND               KANABEC                0.7 INCHES
WILLMAR                KANDIYOHI              0.3 INCHES

 

 

Precipitation

72-hour Precipitation Mosaic During the Event - Compiled From Multiple Sources

Precipitation

 

 

Other Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 946 PM CDT WED OCT 27 2010  ..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON... ..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....             ..REMARKS..  0215 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST HANLEY FALLS            44.69N 95.62W 10/26/2010  M63.00 MPH       YELLOW MEDICINE    MN   MESONET  0230 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST BENSON                  45.32N 95.61W 10/26/2010  M59.00 MPH       SWIFT              MN   AWOS  0255 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ST JAMES                43.98N 94.63W 10/26/2010  M59.00 MPH       WATONWAN           MN   AWOS  0300 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 6 NW RICE LAKE          45.56N 91.83W 10/26/2010                   BARRON             WI   CO-OP OBSERVER              8 INCH TREE BLOW DOWN...SEVERAL 4-6 INCH LIMBS DOWN  0417 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG LITCHFIELD              45.12N 94.53W 10/26/2010                   MEEKER             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER              14 INCH TREE SNAPPED AND FELL ON A HOUSE  0420 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST LESTER PRAIRIE          44.88N 94.04W 10/26/2010  M60.00 MPH       MCLEOD             MN   MESONET              MNDOT MESONET  0430 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG SACRED HEART            44.78N 95.35W 10/26/2010                   RENVILLE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER              LARGE TREE DOWN...NUMEROUS BRANCHES ALSO DOWN.  0445 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SE ALEXANDRIA         45.84N 95.33W 10/26/2010  M62.00 MPH       DOUGLAS            MN   MESONET              MNDOT MESONET  0510 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST MORRIS                  45.59N 95.91W 10/26/2010  M62.00 MPH       STEVENS            MN   AWOS  0510 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST APPLETON                45.20N 96.02W 10/26/2010  M63.00 MPH       SWIFT              MN   AWOS  0600 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST CLARA CITY              44.96N 95.37W 10/26/2010  M60.00 MPH       CHIPPEWA           MN   MESONET              MNDOT MESONET  0600 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 WNW PRINCETON         45.59N 93.65W 10/26/2010                   MILLE LACS         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER              4-5 FT DIAMETER 70 FOOT TALL TREE BLOWN OVER ON PERSONS             VEHICLE. NO INJURIES REPORTED.  0630 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST CANBY                   44.71N 96.27W 10/26/2010  M60.00 MPH       YELLOW MEDICINE    MN   AWOS  0630 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST GLENWOOD                45.65N 95.38W 10/26/2010  M62.00 MPH       POPE               MN   AWOS  0650 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST WILLMAR                 45.12N 95.05W 10/26/2010  M61.00 MPH       KANDIYOHI          MN   AWOS  0655 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST GEORGEVILLE             45.44N 94.94W 10/26/2010  M66.00 MPH       STEARNS            MN   MESONET              MNDOT MESONET  0700 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST SAUK CENTRE             45.74N 94.96W 10/26/2010  M63.00 MPH       STEARNS            MN   MESONET              MNDOT MESONET  0715 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG CLAYTON                 45.32N 92.17W 10/26/2010                   POLK               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER              MULTIPLE LARGE TREE BRANCHES DOWN...POWER OUT SOUTH SIDE             OF TOWN NEAR LAKE MAGNOR.  0800 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG WEST ST PAUL            44.90N 93.09W 10/26/2010                   DAKOTA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT              TRESS AND POWER LINE DOWN  0800 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG SOUTH ST PAUL           44.89N 93.04W 10/26/2010                   DAKOTA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT              TREES DOWN ON HOME  0815 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG CORNELL                 45.16N 91.15W 10/26/2010                   CHIPPEWA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER              A TWO FOOT DIAMETER TREE BLEW DOWN AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO A             HOUSE IN CORNELL.  0815 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 W CORNELL             45.16N 91.17W 10/26/2010                   CHIPPEWA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER              TWO TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN WEST OF CORNELL, NEAR THE             INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD CC AND Z.  0820 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S MARIETTA            44.95N 96.42W 10/26/2010  M66.00 MPH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   MESONET              MNDOT MESONET  0910 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST PAYNESVILLE             45.38N 94.72W 10/26/2010  M61.00 MPH       STEARNS            MN   AWOS  1030 PM     SNOW             BROWERVILLE             46.09N 94.87W 10/26/2010  E1.0 INCH        TODD               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT              ESTIMATED 1 INCH OF SNOW ACCUMULATION ON MAINLY GRASSY             AREAS BETWEEN BROWERVILLE AND STAPLES  1128 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 S HOLCOMBE            45.21N 91.12W 10/26/2010                   CHIPPEWA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER              2 TREES DOWN ABOUT A FOOT IN DIAMETER DOWN.  1132 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG HOLCOMBE                45.22N 91.12W 10/26/2010                   CHIPPEWA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER              4 TO 5 FOOT DIAMETER PINE TREE SNAPPED OFF...AND DOWN.  1215 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG ST PAUL                 44.95N 93.10W 10/27/2010                   RAMSEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER              6-8 DIAMETER TREE FELL ONTO A SMALL BUSINESS ON THE SW             CORNER OF RANDOLPH AVE AND SNELLING AVE IN ST PAUL.             NUMEROUS BRANCHES DOWN ALSO.  1230 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST MADISON                 45.01N 96.19W 10/27/2010  M59.00 MPH       LAC QUI PARLE      MN   AWOS  1230 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST GRANITE FALLS           44.81N 95.54W 10/27/2010  M61.00 MPH       CHIPPEWA           MN   AWOS  1250 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST OLIVIA                  44.78N 95.00W 10/27/2010  M61.00 MPH       RENVILLE           MN   AWOS  1255 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 N ELLENDALE           43.93N 93.30W 10/27/2010  M63.00 MPH       STEELE             MN   MESONET              MNDOT MESONET  0150 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST REDWOOD FALLS           44.54N 95.11W 10/27/2010  M63.00 MPH       REDWOOD            MN   ASOS  0300 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG EDEN PRAIRIE            44.85N 93.46W 10/27/2010                   HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER              MEDIUM SIZED TREE BRANCH FELL ONTO AND DENTED VEHICLE.  0530 AM     SNOW             VINELAND                46.18N 93.77W 10/27/2010  E3.0 INCH        MILLE LACS         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER  0620 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG SW MILLERVILLE          46.07N 95.56W 10/27/2010                   DOUGLAS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER              6 INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES DOWN IN YARD.  0620 AM     SNOW             SW MILLERVILLE          46.07N 95.56W 10/27/2010  M4.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER  0803 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 SW MENOMONIE          44.88N 91.93W 10/27/2010                   DUNN               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER              1 FOOT DIAMETER PINE TREE UPROOTED ON UW STOUT CAMPUS.  0803 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 SSW MENOMONIE         44.87N 91.92W 10/27/2010                   DUNN               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER              1 FOOT DIAMETER BRANCH DOWN.  0831 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG STILLWATER              45.06N 92.82W 10/27/2010                   WASHINGTON         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER              SPORATIC TREES...UP TO ONE FOOT DIAMETER...BLOWN DOWN             AROUND TOWN.   &&  $$

 

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