New Record Low Pressure for Minnesota

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

Overview   |    Pressure Records   |   Wind Speeds   |   Snowfall Amounts   |   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

Low Pressure Path Loop

3-hour Pressure Change Loop

Low Pressure Track

 

Pressure Falls Loop

Click on any 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

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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