Severe Weather and Beneficial Rains:
April 18, 2004

A squall line quenched the southeast half of Minnesota but left damage in its path with strong winds, large hail and two tornadoes. The line of severe storms began over central Minnesota during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 18th. The line then developed to the southwest and extended back into Nebraska. The line slowed over East Central Minnesota and dumped some copious rains, with some places picking up one to two inches. There were some areas that received large hail as well. Baseball-sized hail was reported at Lake Benton southwest Minnesota. Two weak tornadoes were reported in Minnesota. One was north of Evan in Brown County and another 2 miles southwest of Adrian in Nobles County. In the end, the damage from the storms was less than expected but the heavy rains were more than welcome.

The image below provides a daily estimate of precipitation values for the period 7:00 AM, Sunday - April 18 through 7:00 AM, Friday - April 19. The data are provided by the WSI Corporation's (http://www.intellicast.com) analysis of National Weather Service radar imagery.

Total Rainfall from Radar-based Estimates - April 18 and 19 (through 7:00 AM)

Listed below are some storm reports courtesy the National Weather Service.


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... SUMMARY RETRANSMISSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
650 AM CDT MON APR 19 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..
0325 PM     HAIL             3 S COLD SPRING         45.41N 94.43W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        STEARNS            MN   AMATEUR RADIO   

0332 PM     HAIL             10 N SAUK RAPIDS        45.74N 94.17W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        BENTON             MN   AMATEUR RADIO   
0332 PM     HAIL             10 N BECKER             45.52N 93.87W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        SHERBURNE          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0345 PM     HAIL             1 E EDEN VALLEY         45.33N 94.55W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        STEARNS            MN   AMATEUR RADIO   
0350 PM     HAIL             2 E EDEN VALLEY         45.33N 94.55W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        STEARNS            MN   AMATEUR RADIO   

0358 PM     HAIL             2 W PRINCETON           45.57N 93.59W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        MILLE LACS         MN   AMATEUR RADIO   
0358 PM     HAIL             5 N KIMBALL             45.39N 94.30W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        STEARNS            MN   AMATEUR RADIO   

0400 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     13 NW CAMBRIDGE         45.70N 93.42W 
04/18/2004                   ISANTI             MN   PUBLIC          
            FUNNEL MAY HAVE TOUCHED DOWN 2 W DALBO.

0400 PM     HAIL             4 NE CLEAR LAKE         45.49N 93.94W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        SHERBURNE          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 
            GROUND WAS WHITE

0400 PM     HAIL             SARTELL                 45.62N 94.21W 
04/18/2004  1.75 INCH        STEARNS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 
0405 PM     HAIL             8 W GRASSTON            45.79N 93.32W 
04/18/2004  1.75 INCH        KANABEC            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            CORRECTION OF 2 W BROWERVILLE AT 1630
0410 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 NE BECKER             45.38N 93.86W 
04/18/2004                   SHERBURNE          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0426 PM     HAIL             PRINCETON               45.57N 93.59W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        MILLE LACS         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 
0436 PM     HAIL             8 W CAMBRIDGE           45.56N 93.39W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        ISANTI             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            SMALL TREES DOWN ALSO
0442 PM     HAIL             CAMBRIDGE               45.56N 93.23W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        ISANTI             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            DOWNTOWN 
0444 PM     HAIL             13 SW ST CLOUD          45.42N 94.36W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        STEARNS            MN   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0444 PM     TSTM WND DMG     13 SW ST CLOUD          45.42N 94.36W 
04/18/2004                   STEARNS            MN   NWS EMPLOYEE    
            SMALL TREES DOWN. PART OF HOUSE ROOF MISSING. ESTIMATED 
            60 MPH GUST. 

0450 PM     HAIL             3 S BRAHAM              45.68N 93.17W 
04/18/2004  1.50 INCH        ISANTI             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0500 PM     HAIL             2 W RUSH CITY           45.68N 93.01W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        CHISAGO            MN   AMATEUR RADIO   

0510 PM     HAIL             5 W MONTICELLO          45.30N 93.91W 
04/18/2004  1.25 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   AMATEUR RADIO   

0516 PM     HAIL             BECKER                  45.37N 93.87W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        SHERBURNE          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0517 PM     HAIL             RUSH CITY               45.68N 92.97W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        CHISAGO            MN   NWS EMPLOYEE    
0527 PM     HAIL             MORGAN                  44.42N 94.92W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        REDWOOD            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0530 PM     TORNADO          6 N EVAN                44.44N 94.84W 
04/18/2004                   BROWN              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 
            METEOROLOGIST SPOTTED SMALL TORNADO NORTH OF EVAN THAT 
            LASTED ABOUT ONE MINUTE. 

0535 PM     HAIL             4 S HOWARD LAKE         45.00N 94.07W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 
            MEASURED JUST NORTH OF WINSTEAD

0538 PM     HAIL             HUTCHINSON              44.89N 94.37W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0545 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HUTCHINSON              44.89N 94.37W 
04/18/2004                   MCLEOD             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            ALSO IN STEWART. POWER OUT WITH LINES AND TREES DOWN.
0550 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE HUTCHINSON         44.89N 94.37W 
04/18/2004                   MCLEOD             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            FEW SHEDS AND GARAGES DOWN. POWER LINES ALSO DOWN.
0555 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STEWART                 44.73N 94.49W 
04/18/2004                   MCLEOD             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            CORN BINS BLOWN OVER.
0605 PM     TSTM WND GST     NEW RICHMOND            45.12N 92.54W 
04/18/2004  58 MPH           ST. CROIX          WI   AWOS            

            SHEET METAL DAMAGE TO 3 HANGARS
0615 PM     HAIL             HANOVER                 45.16N 93.66W 
04/18/2004  1.75 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0620 PM     HAIL             BISCAY                  44.83N 94.27W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0620 PM     TSTM WND DMG     VADNAIS HEIGHTS         45.06N 93.07W 
04/18/2004                   RAMSEY             MN   AMATEUR RADIO   

            5 INCH TREE DOWN 
0631 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N LESTER PRAIRIE      44.91N 94.04W 
04/18/2004  62 MPH           MCLEOD             MN   MESONET         

0638 PM     HAIL             ROGERS                  45.19N 93.55W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0638 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     5 W SPRINGFIELD         44.24N 95.08W 
04/18/2004                   BROWN              MN   PUBLIC          

0640 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FAIRFAX                 44.53N 94.72W 
04/18/2004                   RENVILLE           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 
            FEW TREES DOWN.

0643 PM     HAIL             RAMSEY                  45.26N 93.45W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        ANOKA              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0645 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WINSTED                 44.97N 94.05W 
04/18/2004                   MCLEOD             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            TWO OR THREE SHEDS DOWN. ROOF OFF GRAINERY 5 MILES WEST 
            OF WINSTEAD. 
0645 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SE GLENCOE            44.77N 94.15W 
04/18/2004                   MCLEOD             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            SHED DOWN. TREE ON POWER LINE IN TOWN. 
0646 PM     HAIL             HAMBURG                 44.73N 93.96W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        CARVER             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0655 PM     TSTM WND GST     ST JAMES                43.98N 94.63W 
04/18/2004  63 MPH           WATONWAN           MN   AWOS            

0710 PM     TSTM WND GST     HOPKINS                 44.93N 93.41W 
04/18/2004  60 MPH           HENNEPIN           MN   UNKNOWN         

0722 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 SW LAKE CRYSTAL       44.05N 94.29W 
04/18/2004  58 MPH           BLUE EARTH         MN   MESONET         

0723 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W 
04/18/2004                   HENNEPIN           MN   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            TREE FELL ON HOUSE. ROOF COLLOPSED.
0725 PM     HAIL             COLOGNE                 44.77N 93.79W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        CARVER             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0737 PM     HAIL             CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        CARVER             MN   UNKNOWN         
0737 PM     TSTM WND GST     CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W 
04/18/2004  60 MPH           CARVER             MN   UNKNOWN         

0740 PM     HAIL             SHERBURN                43.65N 94.73W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        MARTIN             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0740 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 S FAIRMONT           43.50N 94.46W 
04/18/2004                   MARTIN             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TREES DOWN, SHINGLES TORN OFF, SIDING OFF BARN TORN OFF.
0740 PM     HAIL             1 E CARVER              44.76N 93.61W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        SCOTT              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0742 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W BARRON              45.40N 91.93W 
04/18/2004                   BARRON             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT 
            FEW TREES DOWN.

0745 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N GOOD THUNDER        44.02N 94.07W 
04/18/2004                   BLUE EARTH         MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 
            ROOF PARTIALLY LIFTED OFF. MINOR HOUSE DAMAGE.

0745 PM     TSTM WND GST     SHERBURN                43.65N 94.73W 
04/18/2004  60 MPH           MARTIN             MN   PUBLIC          
            SMALL DENTS TO GUTTERS AND CARS. FEW DOWNED TREE LIMBS. 

0745 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MANKATO                 44.17N 93.99W 
04/18/2004                   BLUE EARTH         MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 
            SHED AND FEW TREES DOWN.

0745 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ELMORE                  43.51N 94.09W 
04/18/2004                   FARIBAULT          MN   PUBLIC          
            LARGE BRANCHES DOWN. TREE REPORTED DOWN.

0748 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 N MONTGOMERY          44.51N 93.58W 
04/18/2004  66 MPH           LE SUEUR           MN   MESONET         
            MEASURED AT NEW PRAGUE

0748 PM     TSTM WND GST     NEW PRAGUE              44.55N 93.57W 
04/18/2004  66 MPH           SCOTT              MN   MESONET         

0805 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NE KASOTA             44.31N 93.94W 
04/18/2004                   LE SUEUR           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            ROOF PARTIALLY BLOWN OFF A TAVERN.
0807 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N JANESVILLE          44.15N 93.71W 
04/18/2004  60 MPH           WASECA             MN   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            REPORTED NEAR LAKE ELYSIAN
0810 PM     HAIL             WINNEBAGO               43.77N 94.17W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        FARIBAULT          MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0814 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 E LONSDALE            44.48N 93.39W 
04/18/2004  58 MPH           RICE               MN   MESONET         
            MEASURED AT LITTLE CHICAGO

0824 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NE LE SUEUR           44.50N 93.85W 
04/18/2004                   LE SUEUR           MN   AIRPLANE PILOT  
            MACHINE SHED BLOWN DOWN.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
923 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004

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

0412 PM     HAIL             1 SW FINLAYSON          46.19N 92.94W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0430 PM     HAIL             6 SE BROOKSTON          46.80N 92.51W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        SOUTHWEST ST. LOUIS MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0439 PM     HAIL             PINE CITY               45.83N 92.97W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0456 PM     HAIL             3 S SANDSTONE           46.08N 92.86W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0500 PM     HAIL             2 E HINCKLEY            46.01N 92.90W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0522 PM     HAIL             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        SOUTHEAST ST. LOUIS MN   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0531 PM     HAIL             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        SOUTHEAST ST. LOUIS MN   NWS EMPLOYEE    


               STAND OF 60 FOOT TALL PINES BLOWN DOWN

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1117 PM CDT SUN APR 18 2004
..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0455 PM     HAIL             ADRIAN                  43.63N 95.93W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        NOBLES             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 


0520 PM     TORNADO          2 SW ADRIAN             43.61N 95.96W 
04/18/2004                   NOBLES             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0536 PM     HAIL             WESTBROOK               44.04N 95.43W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        COTTONWOOD         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0551 PM     HAIL             2 E HENDRICKS           44.51N 96.39W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        LINCOLN            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0555 PM     TSTM WND GST     WESTBROOK               44.04N 95.43W 
04/18/2004  65 MPH           COTTONWOOD         MN   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0558 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WESTBROOK               44.04N 95.43W 
04/18/2004                   COTTONWOOD         MN   EMERGENCY MNGR  
            TREES DOWN AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0558 PM     HAIL             WESTBROOK               44.04N 95.43W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        COTTONWOOD         MN   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0600 PM     HAIL             4 W ROUND LAKE          43.54N 95.55W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        NOBLES             MN   PUBLIC          

0605 PM     HAIL             3 W BREWSTER            43.70N 95.52W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        NOBLES             MN   PUBLIC          

0617 PM     HAIL             STORDEN                 44.04N 95.32W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        COTTONWOOD         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0617 PM     TSTM WND GST     STORDEN                 44.04N 95.32W 
04/18/2004  75 MPH           COTTONWOOD         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0617 PM     TSTM WND GST     WESTBROOK               44.04N 95.43W 
04/18/2004  75 MPH           COTTONWOOD         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0629 PM     HAIL             2 NE MARSHALL           44.47N 95.76W 
04/18/2004  1.00 INCH        LYON               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0630 PM     HAIL             WILDER                  43.83N 95.21W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        JACKSON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0633 PM     HAIL             2 N GHENT               44.54N 95.89W 
04/18/2004  1.50 INCH        LYON               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 
 
0640 PM     TSTM WND GST     8 W WINDOM              43.87N 95.28W 
04/18/2004  70 MPH           COTTONWOOD         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0640 PM     HAIL             8 W WINDOM              43.87N 95.28W 
04/18/2004  0.75 INCH        COTTONWOOD         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0655 PM     HAIL             3 S JACKSON             43.58N 94.99W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        JACKSON            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA 

0716 PM     HAIL             6 SW JACKSON            43.56N 95.07W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        JACKSON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0716 PM     HAIL             6 SW JACKSON            43.56N 95.07W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        JACKSON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0730 PM     HAIL             4 S ALPHA               43.58N 94.87W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        JACKSON            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA 

0730 PM     HAIL             ALPHA                   43.64N 94.87W 
04/18/2004  0.88 INCH        JACKSON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

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URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/severe040418.htm
Last modified: April 21, 2004