A severe line of thunderstorms moved swiftly into Minnesota from South Dakota during the morning hours of July 31, 2008. The heaviest storms moved to the south east and roughly followed the Minnesota River. The main damage from these storms was due to the strong winds. One of the stronger wind gusts reported in Minnesotas was 86 mph at the Madison Airport in Lac Qui Parle County. there were many reports of tree damage. A semi truck was blown over in Appleton in Swift County. A large building that was under construction in Swift County was destroyed. Farther to the east, the winds blew down some of the Minnesota Vikings training camp tents in Mankato. By lunchtime the storms had moved out of Minnesota and into Wisconsin and Illinois. By 3pm the derecho had reached Chicago.
Below are local storm reports courtesy the National Weather Service.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
148 PM CDT THU JUL 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 AM HAIL 8 NE MONTEVIDEO 45.03N 95.60W
07/31/2008 M1.75 INCH CHIPPEWA MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0550 AM TSTM WND GST 4 NW MADISON 45.04N 96.25W
07/31/2008 E70.00 MPH LAC QUI PARLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DAMAGE. 60 TO 70 MPH WIND GUSTS.
0555 AM HAIL 5 NW MADISON 45.06N 96.26W
07/31/2008 M0.75 INCH LAC QUI PARLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0600 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 NW MADISON 45.06N 96.26W
07/31/2008 LAC QUI PARLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
TOPS BROKEN OFF TREES
0602 AM HAIL DAWSON 44.93N 96.05W
07/31/2008 E0.75 INCH LAC QUI PARLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0610 AM HAIL S BOYD 44.85N 95.90W
07/31/2008 M0.75 INCH LAC QUI PARLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
ESTIMATED 50 TO 60 MPH WIND GUST.
0610 AM TSTM WND DMG APPLETON 45.20N 96.02W
07/31/2008 SWIFT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED AT 80 MPH. MANY LARGE TREES DOWN AND
A SEMI TRUCK BLOWN OVER.
0610 AM HAIL 4 W MONTEVIDEO 44.95N 95.80W
07/31/2008 M1.75 INCH LAC QUI PARLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0610 AM TSTM WND DMG DAWSON 44.93N 96.05W
07/31/2008 LAC QUI PARLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
MANY LARGE TREES TOPPLED ACROSS TOWN, ALONG WITH LARGE
BRANCHES. SEVERAL LARGE TREES ALSO REPORTED DOWNED OVER
LOCAL ROADS.
0613 AM TSTM WND GST 2 SSE MADISON 44.99N 96.18W
07/31/2008 M86.00 MPH LAC QUI PARLE MN AWOS
0615 AM TSTM WND DMG MADISON 45.01N 96.19W
07/31/2008 LAC QUI PARLE MN BROADCAST MEDIA
WOOD FENCE SNAPPED AND TIN ROOF DAMAGED AT RADIO STATION.
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AROUND TOWN...MANY ROADS BLOCKED.
FLAG POLE DOWN. POWER LINES DOWN. ROAD SIGNS DOWN.
0615 AM TSTM WND DMG APPLETON 45.20N 96.02W
07/31/2008 SWIFT MN BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES DOWN IN TOWN.
0615 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 WSW BIG BEND CITY 45.14N 95.86W
07/31/2008 CHIPPEWA MN NWS EMPLOYEE
TOP OF 18 INCH DIAMETER TREE SNAPPED OFF. CORN FIELD
FLATTENED.
0615 AM HAIL 5 N DANUBE 44.86N 95.10W
07/31/2008 M1.00 INCH RENVILLE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0615 AM TSTM WND GST ESE APPLETON 45.20N 96.02W
07/31/2008 E70.00 MPH SWIFT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
WINDOWS BREAKING.
0616 AM TSTM WND DMG MADISON 45.01N 96.19W
07/31/2008 LAC QUI PARLE MN AMATEUR RADIO
10 INCH TREE DOWN
0620 AM HAIL 1 N DANUBE 44.81N 95.10W
07/31/2008 M1.00 INCH RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0637 AM TSTM WND DMG MADISON 45.01N 96.19W
07/31/2008 LAC QUI PARLE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
UPROOTED TREES. LIGHT TOWER BEND OVER AT BASEBALL FIELD.
0650 AM TSTM WND DMG 4 W MONTEVIDEO 44.95N 95.80W
07/31/2008 LAC QUI PARLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
WIND SPEED ESTIMATED AT 60-70 MPH WITH TREES DOWN AND
QUARTER SIZE HAIL
0650 AM TSTM WND DMG OLIVIA 44.78N 95.00W
07/31/2008 RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TREES DOWN BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN.
0654 AM TSTM WND GST WABASSO 44.40N 95.25W
07/31/2008 M51.00 MPH REDWOOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0700 AM TSTM WND DMG 12 NW MURDOCK 45.35N 95.57W
07/31/2008 SWIFT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
130 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BUILDING//UNDER CONSTRUCTION//
DESTROYED.
0703 AM TSTM WND DMG RAYMOND 45.02N 95.24W
07/31/2008 KANDIYOHI MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0710 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 N MORGAN 44.46N 94.92W
07/31/2008 REDWOOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
TURKEY BARN ROOF BLOWN OFF.
0711 AM TSTM WND DMG PRINSBURG 44.94N 95.19W
07/31/2008 KANDIYOHI MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0713 AM TSTM WND DMG 4 E PRINSBURG 44.94N 95.10W
07/31/2008 KANDIYOHI MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0716 AM TSTM WND DMG BLOMKEST 44.94N 95.02W
07/31/2008 KANDIYOHI MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0716 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 SSE CLARA CITY 44.89N 95.31W
07/31/2008 CHIPPEWA MN TRAINED SPOTTER
MANY TREES DOWN OR BROAKEN OFF
0720 AM TSTM WND GST RAYMOND 45.02N 95.24W
07/31/2008 E60.00 MPH KANDIYOHI MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0720 AM TSTM WND DMG LAKE LILLIAN 44.95N 94.88W
07/31/2008 KANDIYOHI MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0723 AM TSTM WND GST 1 SSE RENVILLE 44.78N 95.20W
07/31/2008 M75.00 MPH RENVILLE MN MESONET
WEST HIGH SCHOOL.
0727 AM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 W LITCHFIELD 45.12N 94.59W
07/31/2008 MEEKER MN TRAINED SPOTTER
FUNNEL DROPPED BRIEFLY THEN WENT BACK UP.
0730 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 W OLIVIA 44.79N 95.11W
07/31/2008 RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
ONE FOOT DIAMETER TREES DOWN.
0734 AM TSTM WND GST 3 W NEW ULM 44.32N 94.52W
07/31/2008 M68.00 MPH BROWN MN AWOS
AIRPORT.
0736 AM TSTM WND GST 2 W WINTHROP 44.54N 94.41W
07/31/2008 M60.00 MPH SIBLEY MN MESONET
MNDOT.
0742 AM TSTM WND GST 4 N GAYLORD 44.61N 94.22W
07/31/2008 M67.00 MPH SIBLEY MN STORM CHASER
0750 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 ESE NEW SWEDEN 44.45N 94.16W
07/31/2008 NICOLLET MN TRAINED SPOTTER
ARM SIZE BRANCHES BROKEN OFF.
0754 AM TSTM WND DMG NEW ULM 44.31N 94.46W
07/31/2008 BROWN MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0804 AM TSTM WND GST 4 NNW GREENLAND 44.26N 93.75W
07/31/2008 M65.00 MPH LE SUEUR MN TRAINED SPOTTER
ELYSIAN WEATHER STATION.
0807 AM TSTM WND DMG MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
07/31/2008 BLUE EARTH MN AMATEUR RADIO
4 INCH BRANCHES, 6 TO 10 INCH TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0807 AM TSTM WND GST NNE LE CENTER 44.39N 93.73W
07/31/2008 M84.00 MPH LE SUEUR MN MESONET
LE CENTER HIGH SCHOOL.
0814 AM TSTM WND DMG MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
07/31/2008 BLUE EARTH MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES REPORTED DOWN AROUND MANKATO.
0816 AM TSTM WND GST 4 W MORRISTOWN 44.22N 93.53W
07/31/2008 M58.00 MPH RICE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES DOWN NEAR HWY 60.
0820 AM FUNNEL CLOUD HOWARD LAKE 45.06N 94.07W
07/31/2008 WRIGHT MN PUBLIC
CITIZEN REPORT...NOT CONFIRMED.
0823 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 S MORRISTOWN 44.21N 93.44W
07/31/2008 RICE MN AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE HAY BALES BLOWN ACROSS ROAD. 18 INCH DIAMETER TREE
BLOWN DOWN.
0824 AM NON-TSTM WND GST REDWOOD FALLS 44.54N 95.11W
07/31/2008 M59.00 MPH REDWOOD MN ASOS
0830 AM HAIL 2 N FREEBORN 43.80N 93.56W
07/31/2008 M0.75 INCH FREEBORN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
ESTIMATED 50 MPH WIND GUST.
0830 AM TSTM WND DMG OWATONNA 44.09N 93.22W
07/31/2008 STEELE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TREES DOWN IN CENTRAL PARK. MINOR STREET FLOODING.
PORT-O-POTTY BLOWN 20 FEET. SMALL TO MEDIUM LIMBS ON
GROUND...DEBRIS EVERYWHERE.
0833 AM TSTM WND GST 4 N MORRISTOWN 44.28N 93.44W
07/31/2008 M58.00 MPH RICE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0835 AM TSTM WND GST OWATONNA 44.09N 93.22W
07/31/2008 M72.00 MPH STEELE MN AWOS
AIRPORT.
0836 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 S FARIBAULT 44.22N 93.27W
07/31/2008 RICE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
SEMI TRUCK BLOWN OVER ON I-35.
0836 AM TSTM WND DMG MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
07/31/2008 BLUE EARTH MN TRAINED SPOTTER
MN VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP TENTS AND CROWD CONTROL FENCES
ALL BLOWN DOWN. 8 INCH DIAMETER LIMB OFF TREE...ON MSMU
CAMPUS. SEVERAL OTHER 2 TO 4 INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES.
POWER OUT IN SOME AREAS...NEAR CAMPUS.
0838 AM TSTM WND GST 4 N MORRISTOWN 44.28N 93.44W
07/31/2008 M68.00 MPH RICE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
CEDAR LAKE.
0838 AM TSTM WND GST 1 W MORRISTOWN 44.22N 93.46W
07/31/2008 M61.00 MPH RICE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
30 FOOT PINE TREE UPROOTED. 18 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN.
0840 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 N MANCHESTER 43.74N 93.45W
07/31/2008 FREEBORN MN AMATEUR RADIO
8 INCH DIAMETER BRANCH DOWN.
0840 AM TSTM WND DMG OWATONNA 44.09N 93.22W
07/31/2008 STEELE MN AMATEUR RADIO
ONE 6 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN. ONE 12 TO 18 IBCH DIAMETER
TREE DOWN.
0840 AM TSTM WND DMG MEDFORD 44.17N 93.24W
07/31/2008 STEELE MN AMATEUR RADIO
MULTIPLE TREES UP TO 24 INCH DIAMETER BLOWN DOWN IN TOWN
ROADS BLOCKED. HARDWOODS SNAPPED OFF AT 6 FEET OFF
GROUND...PINES ARE UPROOTED.
0840 AM TSTM WND DMG BLOOMING PRAIRIE 43.87N 93.05W
07/31/2008 STEELE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
SMALL TREE DOWN...MANY BRANCHES AND OTHER DEBRIS ON
LAWNS.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
125 PM CDT THU JUL 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0852 AM TSTM WND GST 1 W DODGE CENTER 44.03N 92.87W
07/31/2008 M84.00 MPH DODGE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0852 AM TSTM WND GST WEST CONCORD 44.15N 92.90W
07/31/2008 M60.00 MPH DODGE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0855 AM TSTM WND GST WEST CONCORD 44.15N 92.90W
07/31/2008 M50.00 MPH DODGE MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0855 AM TSTM WND GST DODGE CENTER 44.03N 92.85W
07/31/2008 M63.00 MPH DODGE MN AWOS
0858 AM TSTM WND GST BYRON 44.03N 92.65W
07/31/2008 M54.00 MPH OLMSTED MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0925 AM TSTM WND DMG SPRING VALLEY 43.69N 92.39W
07/31/2008 FILLMORE MN AMATEUR RADIO
TREE DOWN
0940 AM TSTM WND GST ROCHESTER 44.01N 92.48W
07/31/2008 M61.00 MPH OLMSTED MN ASOS
1055 AM TSTM WND GST PRAIRIE DU CHIEN 43.04N 91.14W
07/31/2008 M60.00 MPH CRAWFORD WI AWOS
1100 AM TSTM WND GST 3 S LYNXVILLE 43.20N 91.05W
07/31/2008 M53.00 MPH CRAWFORD WI FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
1110 AM TSTM WND DMG PRAIRIE DU CHIEN 43.04N 91.14W
07/31/2008 CRAWFORD WI EMERGENCY MNGR
1 TELEPHONE POLE DOWN ALONG WITH TREE BRANCHES.
1124 AM TSTM WND GST LANCASTER 42.85N 90.71W
07/31/2008 E60.00 MPH GRANT WI PUBLIC
TREE BLOWN ONTO HOME BUT NO DAMAGE REPORTED.
1139 AM TSTM WND DMG PLATTEVILLE 42.74N 90.48W
07/31/2008 GRANT WI EMERGENCY MNGR
NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN TOWN.
Last modified: July 21, 2008
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