Strong Winds: April 15-16, 2008

Very strong winds blew across Minnesota on Tuesday April 15, and Wednesday April 16, 2008. The highest gusts were on April 15. The strongest peak wind found was at St. Charles in Olmstead County with a gust to 55mph on the 15th. For the Twin Cities the highest wind speed recorded was 45mph at 4:22pm, April 15. The high winds were enough to blow sand around, knock small branches down from trees and make it difficult to walk against the wind. The warm air and winds helped to erode the ice on lakes quite a bit over central and southern Minnesota.

Listed here are some Public Information Statements from the National Weather Service about the gusty winds.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
554 AM CDT WED APR 16 2008

...PEAK WIND GUSTS FOR SELECTED CITIES FROM TUESDAY THE 15TH...
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50 MPH OR GREATER
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FAIRMONT...........................53 MPH (235 PM)
ST JAMES...........................52 MPH (436 PM)
ALEXANDRIA.........................51 MPH (111 PM)
CRYSTAL............................50 MPH (605 PM)
REDWOOD FALLS......................50 MPH (457 PM)
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40 MPH OR GREATER
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GLENWOOD...........................49 MPH (215 PM, 335 PM)
ST CLOUD...........................48 MPH (358 PM)
MANKATO............................48 MPH (515 PM)
ST PAUL............................47 MPH (1257 PM, 459 PM)
CANBY..............................47 MPH (755 AM)
MADISON............................47 MPH (155 PM)
MONTEVIDEO.........................47 MPH (1155 AM)
NEW ULM............................47 MPH (155 PM, 255 PM)
STAPLES............................47 MPH (215 PM, 235 PM, 355 PM)
EDEN PRAIRIE.......................46 MPH (524 PM)
MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL INTL AIRPORT...45 MPH (422 PM)
FARIBAULT..........................45 MPH (455 PM)
OLIVIA.............................45 MPH (215 PM)
WASECA.............................45 MPH (315 PM)
BLAINE.............................44 MPH (447 PM)
MORRIS.............................44 MPH (1254 PM, 355 PM, 414 PM)
OWATONNA...........................44 MPH (355 PM)
BENSON.............................43 MPH (335 PM)
PRINCETON..........................43 MPH (435 PM, 515 PM)
RUSH CITY..........................43 MPH (235 PM)
OSCEOLA WI.........................43 MPH (455 PM)
APPLETON...........................41 MPH (315 PM, 355 PM)
LAKEVILLE..........................41 MPH (335 PM)
PAYNESVILLE........................41 MPH (315 PM, 335 PM)
RED WING...........................40 MPH (255 PM)
SOUTH ST PAUL......................40 MPH (535 PM)
MENOMONIE WI.......................40 MPH (335 PM)
NEW RICHMOND WI....................40 MPH (336 PM, 536 PM, 556 PM)
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30 MPH OR GREATER
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EAU CLAIRE WI......................39 MPH (353 PM)
GLENCOE............................39 MPH (357 PM)
LITTLE FALLS.......................39 MPH (335 PM, 355 PM, 415 PM)
MAPLE LAKE.........................38 MPH (315 PM)
RICE LAKE WI.......................38 MPH (613 PM)
BUFFALO............................37 MPH (355 PM)
CAMBRIDGE..........................37 MPH (255 PM, 315 PM, 435 PM, 515 PM)
HUTCHINSON.........................37 MPH (133 PM, 213 PM, 413 PM, 433 PM)
MORA...............................36 MPH (155 PM, 355 PM, 455 PM)
LADYSMITH WI.......................36 MPH (638 PM)
WILLMAR............................35 MPH (315 PM)
LITCHFIELD.........................31 MPH (315 PM, 355 PM)
$$


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
622 AM CDT WED APR 16 2008

...HIGHEST WINDS SORTED BY GUSTS IN THE PAST 24 HOURS...
IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

STATION                   COUNTY              TIME         GUST
ST CHARLES 4W RWIS        OLMSTED           621 PM      55 MPH
BYRON/KASSON RWIS         DODGE             326 PM      52 MPH
DEXTER RWIS               MOWER             401 PM      52 MPH
ROCHESTER ASOS            OLMSTED           454 PM      49 MPH
DODGE CENTER AWOS         DODGE             236 PM      47 MPH
PRESTON AWOS              FILLMORE          535 PM      47 MPH
READS LANDING             WABASHA           528 PM      47 MPH
AUSTIN AWOS               MOWER             357 PM      41 MPH
KELLOGG RWIS              WABASHA           404 PM      38 MPH
WINONA AWOS               WINONA           1255 AM      35 MPH

IN NORTHEAST IOWA...
STATION                   COUNTY              TIME         GUST

CHARLES CITY AWOS         FLOYD             315 PM      41 MPH
OELWEIN AWOS              FAYETTE           415 PM      40 MPH
DECORAH AWOS              WINNESHIEK        335 PM      36 MPH
IN WESTERN WISCONSIN...

STATION                   COUNTY              TIME         GUST
ARCADIA HILL RWIS         TREMPEALEAU      1111 PM      43 MPH
LA CROSSE ASOS            LA CROSSE         253 PM      40 MPH
TOMAH 4N RWIS             MONROE            507 PM      37 MPH
MOUNT STERLING 1S RWIS    CRAWFORD          309 PM      36 MPH
SPARTA AWOS               MONROE            355 PM      35 MPH
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AWOS     CRAWFORD          416 PM      35 MPH
WISC DELLS AWOS           SAUK              935 PM      35 MPH
BOSCOBEL ASOS             GRANT            1253 PM      35 MPH

KEY TO OBSERVATION TYPES
AWS - SENSORS FROM AWS INCORPORATED. OFTEN LOCATED AT SCHOOLS.
RWIS - ROAD WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS. LOCATED ON MAJOR ROADS AND BRIDGES.
RAWS - FIRE WEATHER OBSERVATIONS. OFTEN LOCATED IN FORESTS.
ASOS/AWOS - AVIATION WEATHER OBSERVATIONS. LOCATED AT AIRPORTS.
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT
AND EXPOSURE.  NOT ALL DATA LISTED IS CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.