May 30 & 31, 2008:  Widespread Hail Across Central and Southern Minnesota

Event Synopsis | Severe Weather Reports 

 Event Synopsis
 
   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.
 

May 30, 2008 Upper Level Map at 500mb (~18,000 ft):  7 am

May 30, 2008 Upper Level Map
 
  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.
 

May 30, 2008 NWS Doppler Radar 0.5° Reflectivity:  6:01 pm

May 30, 2008 NWS Doppler Radar 0.5° Reflectivity:  6:28 pm

Reflectivity: 6:01 pm

 Reflecitivity: 6:28 pm
  
   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

Surface Weather Map: 3 pm
 
 Back to Top
  Storm Reports
 

May 30, 2008 Storm Reports

Storm Reports From May 30th

Severe Weather Reports From Across the Country on May 30th
 
 
 

May 31, 2008 Storm Reports

Storm Reports From May 31st

Severe Weather Reports From Across the Country on May 31st
 

    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.
&&
$$
Back to Top
USA.gov is the U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state and local government web resources and services.