End of Summer: Labor Day Storms of September 4, 2017

Sometimes the end of summer is quite defined and the Summer of 2017 was over in the course of an hour on Labor Day.

While not a severe line of storms, a line of heavy thunderstorms with a potent gust front swept southward across the Twin Cities during the late afternoon Hours of Labor Day, September 4, 2017. The day began with sunshine and temperatures rising to the middle 70's. Billowing clouds filled the early afternoon skies with darker clouds to the north. Out ahead of the storms were strong winds from the north with a peak gust of 51mph reported at the Twin Cities International Airport at 4:33pm. Rain-cooled air put an abrupt end to summer with temperatures falling from the mid-70's to the mid 50's. At the International Airport, the temperature fell 17 degrees in one hour from 74 to 57. Small pea-sized hail was reported across the eastern Twin Cities with small branches down in various areas. Some tree damage was later reported in the Owatonna area.

The cold air and the rain caused much scurrying at the Minnesota State Fair, with fair goers packing the food building and ponchos were a hot ticket item at the radio station booths. Many a Labor Day picnic found an indoor venue quickly. There was a report of some boats capsizing on Lake Minnetonka, but due to life vest use all were rescued safe.

Below is a list of storm reports gathered by the National Weather Service

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
458 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0430 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S LONG LAKE           44.94N 93.56W
09/04/2017                   HENNEPIN           MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            BOATS CAPSIZED ON LAKE MINNETONKA. NO
            REPORTS OF INJURIES. TIME ESTIMATED.


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
459 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0433 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 E RICHFIELD           44.88N 93.22W
09/04/2017  M51 MPH          HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS

            MEASURED 51 MPH WIND GUST AT MSP
            INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
514 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0427 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 ESE ST. PAUL          44.93N 93.06W
09/04/2017  M49 MPH          RAMSEY             MN   ASOS

            49 MPH GUST MEASURED AT ST. PAUL DOWNTOWN
            HOLMAN FIELD.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
523 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0446 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 SW EDEN PRAIRIE       44.83N 93.46W
09/04/2017  M39 MPH          HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS

            39 MPH GUST MEASURED AT FLYING CLOUD
            AIRPORT.

0418 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 SW BROOKLYN CENTER    45.06N 93.35W
09/04/2017  M40 MPH          HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS

            40 MPH MEASURED GUST AT CRYSTAL AIRPORT.

0329 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 E ST. CLOUD           45.55N 94.06W
09/04/2017  M43 MPH          SHERBURNE          MN   ASOS

            43 MPH GUST MEASURED AT ST. CLOUD AIRPORT.




PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
530 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0513 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 E GLENWOOD            45.65N 95.32W
09/04/2017  M47 MPH          POPE               MN   ASOS

            47 MPH GUST MEASURED AT GLENWOOD AIRPORT.

0512 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SSE LAKEVILLE         44.63N 93.23W
09/04/2017  M39 MPH          DAKOTA             MN   AWOS

            39 MPH GUST MEASURED AT AIRLAKE AIRPORT.

0453 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 SW ALEXANDRIA         45.87N 95.40W
09/04/2017  M45 MPH          DOUGLAS            MN   ASOS

            45 MPH GUST MEASURED AT CHANDLER FIELD.



PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
717 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 ENE OWATONNA          44.10N 93.20W
09/04/2017                   STEELE             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES OF 10 TO 24 INCHES IN DIAMETER
            UPROOTED AT THE BROOKTREE GOLF COURSE.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
628 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 PM     TSTM WND DMG     OWATONNA                44.09N 93.22W
09/04/2017                   STEELE             MN   911 CALL CENTER

            POWER POLES DOWN ACROSS OWATONNA.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
626 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0535 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JANESVILLE              44.12N 93.71W
09/04/2017                   WASECA             MN   911 CALL CENTER

            A LARGE TREE OVER 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS
            KNOCKED OVER.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
548 PM CDT MON SEP 4 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0534 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 NW FARIBAULT          44.33N 93.31W
09/04/2017  M54 MPH          RICE               MN   AWOS

            54 MPH GUST MEASURED AT FARIBAULT AIRPORT.