Windswept Snow: October 26, 2008

A vigorous Canadian cold front moved across Minnesota on Saturday, October 25th. On Sunday, October 26 cold air behind this front ushered in very strong winds and November-like temperatures. The strongest wind gust recorded at the Twin Cities International Airport was 53mph at 9:10am. The strongest wind gust found in Minnesota was 67 mph at 7:53am five miles south of Marietta in Lac Qui Parle County near the South Dakota Border. Along with the strong winds, there were areas of snow. There was enough snow to shovel in west central Minnesota, where 1 to 2 inches were common. The highest snow total found was 3.3 inches near Dalton in Otter Tail County

Below are Public Information Statements courtesy the National Weather Service.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
930 PM CDT SUN OCT 26 2008

...STRONG WINDS AFFECT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN...

A STRONG COLD FRONT WHIPPED ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN
WISCONSIN TODAY...USHERING MUCH COLDER AIR...SNOW SHOWERS AND
STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS. THE FOLLOWING LIST OF PEAK WIND GUSTS AND
AVERAGE TWO MINUTE WIND SPEEDS WERE GATHERED FROM AUTOMATIC WEATHER
STATIONS ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. TIME
LISTED IS BASED ON HIGHEST OBSERVED VALUE AND OCCURRENCE.

# LAST OF SEVERAL OCCURRENCES

COUNTY      LOCATION        PEAK WIND GUST/TIME     AVERAGE 2 MIN
MINNESOTA                                            SPEED/TIME

DOUGLAS     ALEXANDRIA      56 MPH / 1022 AM        39 MPH / 1114 AM
TODD        STAPLES         35 MPH / 434 PM#        26 MPH / 1013 AM
TODD        LONG PRAIRIE    44 MPH / 424 PM         29 MPH / 1225 PM
STEVENS     MORRIS          55 MPH / 933 AM         46 MPH / 933 AM
POPE        GLENWOOD        55 MPH / 1033 AM        40 MPH / 150 PM
SWIFT       APPLETON        56 MPH / 933 AM         41 MPH / 1254 PM
SWIFT       BENSON          49 MPH / 1133 AM        37 MPH / 1133 AM#
KANDIYOHI   WILLMAR         52 MPH / 215 PM         41 MPH / 1135 AM#
LAC QUI PARLE
            MADISON         59 MPH / 1014 AM        40 MPH / 1034 AM
      MNDOT 5 S MARIETTA    67 MPH / 753 AM         48 MPH / 1208 PM
CHIPPEWA    MONTEVIDEO      54 MPH / 1054 AM        38 MPH / 354 PM
YELLOW MEDICINE
            CANBY           56 MPH / 1232 PM#       44 MPH / 1232 PM
      MNDOT HANLEY FALLS    61 MPH / 100 PM         41 MPH / 115 PM
            GRANITE FALLS   55 MPH / 831 AM         39 MPH / 1231 PM
RENVILLE    OLIVIA          52 MPH / 1056 AM        39 MPH / 1056 AM
REDWOOD     REDWOOD FALLS   58 MPH / 1149 AM        46 MPH / 803 AM
MEEKER      LITCHFIELD      44 MPH / 1254 PM#       31 MPH / 154 PM
MCLEOD      HUTCHINSON      46 MPH / 1232 PM#       30 MPH / 1054 AM
MCLEOD      GLENCOE         48 MPH / 1114 AM        36 MPH / 1114 AM
BROWN       NEW ULM         52 MPH / 831 AM         41 MPH / 831 AM
WATONWAN    ST JAMES        52 MPH / 955 AM         38 MPH / 215 PM
MARTIN      FAIRMONT        60 MPH / 115 PM         47 MPH / 115 PM
BLUE EARTH  MANKATO         56 MPH / 1155 AM        41 MPH / 1155 AM
WASECA      WASECA          54 MPH / 1216 AM        40 MPH / 1216 PM
STEELE      OWATONNA        52 MPH / 1217 PM        38 MPH / 1057 AM
FARIBAULT   MNDOT BLUE EARTH
                            62 MPH / 1201 PM        42 MPH / 1201 PM
FREEBORN    ALBERT LEA      51 MPH / 113 PM         38 MPH / 113 PM
RICE        FARIBAULT       43 MPH / 155 PM         33 MPH / 1214 PM
GOODHUE     STANTON         43 MPH / 1014 AM        35 MPH / 1014 AM
GOODHUE     RED WING        39 MPH / 1035 AM        25 MPH / 1035 AM
MORRISON    LITTLE FALLS    38 MPH / 815 AM         28 MPH / 955 AM
STEARNS     PAYNESVILLE     46 MPH / 1054 AM        31 MPH / 1054 AM
MILLE LACS  PRINCETON       37 MPH / 333 PM#        26 MPH / 1133 AM
KANABEC     MORA            35 MPH / 821 AM         24 MPH / 222 PM#
ISANTI      CAMBRIDGE       33 MPH / 715 AM         22 MPH / 615 PM
ANOKA       BLAINE          36 MPH / 550 PM         26 MPH / 945 AM
WRIGHT      MAPLE LAKE      41 MPH / 1213 PM        29 MPH / 1153 AM
WRIGHT      BUFFALO         44 MPH / 1214 PM        29 MPH / 934 AM
CARVER      CHANHASSEN NWS  47 MPH / 1018 AM
HENNEPIN    INTERNATIONAL
            AIRPORT
                            53 MPH / 910 AM         37 MPH / 911 AM
            CRYSTAL         30 MPH / 312 PM         23 MPH / 313 PM
            EDEN PRAIRIE    47 MPH / 1243 PM#       25 MPH /1208 PM#
RAMSEY      ST PAUL         45 MPH / 901 AM         29 MPH / 1252 PM
WASHINGTON  LAKE ELMO       41 MPH / 916 AM         25 MPH / 1016 AM
DAKOTA      SOUTH ST PAUL   36 MPH / 1035 AM#       26 MPH / 855 AM
DAKOTA      LAKEVILLE       37 MPH / 1034 AM        28 MPH / 1034 AM

WISCONSIN
POLK        OSCEOLA         36 MPH / 935 AM         28 MPH / 1034 AM
ST CROIX    NEW RICHMOND    35 MPH / 1055 AM#       28 MPH / 915 AM
BARRON      RICE LAKE       38 MPH / 935 AM         23 MPH / 915 AM
DUNN        MENOMONIE       37 MPH / 1239 PM#       29 MPH / 959 AM
RUSK        LADYSMITH       32 MPH / 1036 AM        24 MPH / 1036 AM
EAU CLAIRE  EAU CLAIRE      41 MPH / 1042 AM        32 MPH / 1044 AM


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1115 AM MON OCT 27 2008

...3-DAY SNOWFALL ROUND-UP...

THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOW AMOUNTS FOR THE PREVIOUS 3 DAYS
AS MEASURED IN THE MORNING BY NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS.
OBSERVATIONS ARE USUALLY TAKEN AT 7 AM.

  3-DAY SNOW TOTALS FOR MONDAY (10/27/08)
     AS OF 11:06 AM CDT

NORTH DAKOTA                                 3-DAY SNOW FALL
  LOCATION (COUNTY):                         AMT(IN) REPORTS

  SARLES 5NE (CAVALIER).........................1.5     (1)
  LANGDON EXP FARM (CAVALIER)...................1.5     (1)
  ASOS @ FARGO AIRPORT (CASS)...................1.4     (1)
  EDMORE (RAMSEY)...............................0.5     (1)
  HANSBORO (TOWNER).............................0.2     (1)
  GRAND FORKS NWS (GRAND FORKS).................0.2     (2)
  ASOS @ GRAND FORKS AP (GRAND FORKS)...........0.1     (2)
  STARKWEATHER (RAMSEY).........................TRACE   (1)
  PEMBINA (PEMBINA).............................TRACE   (1)
  CAVALIER (PEMBINA)............................TRACE   (1)
  COOPERSTOWN (GRIGGS)..........................TRACE   (1)

MINNESOTA                                    3-DAY SNOW FALL
  LOCATION (COUNTY):                         AMT(IN) REPORTS

  DALTON 3S (OTTER TAIL)........................3.3     (2)
  BRECKENRIDGE (WILKIN).........................3.0     (2)
  ROTHSAY (WILKIN)..............................2.5     (2)
  LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER)...................2.5     (2)
  PELICAN RAPIDS (OTTER TAIL)...................2.3     (2)
  SABIN (CLAY)..................................2.1     (1)
  PHELPS MILL (OTTER TAIL)......................2.0     (1)
  RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE).....................0.6     (2)
  SEBEKA (WADENA)...............................0.3     (2)
  NEW YORK MILLS (OTTER TAIL)...................0.1     (2)
  ITASCA U OF M (CLEARWATER)....................0.1     (1)
  WHEATON (TRAVERSE)............................TRACE   (1)
  WADENA (WADENA)...............................TRACE   (1)
  VIKING (MARSHALL).............................TRACE   (1)
  LANCASTER (KITTSON)...........................TRACE   (1)
  HALSTAD (NORMAN)..............................TRACE   (1)
  BEMIDJI (BELTRAMI)............................TRACE   (1)



PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED DATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
651 AM CDT MON OCT 27 2008

...THE FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON FALLS IN ROCHESTER MN...

ON OCTOBER 26TH...THE SNOW OBSERVER NEAR ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT REPORTED A TENTH OF AN INCH OF SNOW.  THIS WAS THE FIRST
SNOW OF THE 2008-09 SNOW SEASON.  NORMALLY THIS OCCURS ON OCTOBER
18TH.  MEANWHILE THE FIRST MEASURABLE SNOW TYPICALLY OCCURS ON
NOVEMBER 3RD.  NEARLY 7 OUT OF EVERY 10 OCTOBERS /69.4 PERCENT/ HAVE
AT LEAST A TRACE OF SNOW.  MEANWHILE MEASURABLE SNOW ONLY FALLS IN
TWO OUT OF EVERY FIVE OCTOBERS /37.8 PERCENT/.  THE AVERAGE OCTOBER
SNOWFALL IS AN INCH.  THE GREATEST SNOW FALL EVER RECORDED IN AN
OCTOBER WAS 10.0 INCHES BACK IN THE 1887-88 SNOW SEASON.

DURING THE LAST SNOW SEASON /2007-08/...THE FIRST TRACE OF THE YEAR
OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 5TH AND THE FIRST MEASURABLE SNOW FELL ON
NOVEMBER 17TH.  THE LAST SNOW OF THE SEASON FELL ON MAY 3RD.  THE
TOTAL SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON WAS 44.1 INCHES.  THIS WAS 8.6 INCHES
BELOW THE NORMAL OF 52.7 INCHES.  THIS WAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SNOW
IN A SEASON SINCE 2005-06 WHEN JUST 37.7 INCHES OF SNOW FELL.


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED DATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
633 AM CDT MON OCT 27 2008

...FIRST SNOW FLAKES OF THE SEASON FALLS IN LA CROSSE WI...

ON OCTOBER 26TH...THE SNOW OBSERVER NEAR LA CROSSE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
REPORTED A TRACE OF SNOW.  THIS WAS THE FIRST SNOW OF THE 2008-09
SNOW SEASON.  NORMALLY THIS OCCURS ON OCTOBER 25TH.  NEARLY THREE
OUT OF EVERY FIVE OCTOBERS /55.2 PERCENT/ HAVE AT LEAST A TRACE OF
SNOW.  MEANWHILE MEASURABLE SNOW ONLY FALLS IN TWO OUT OF EVERY TEN
OCTOBERS /18.4 PERCENT/.  THE AVERAGE OCTOBER SNOWFALL IS 2 TENTHS
OF AN INCH.  THE GREATEST SNOW FALL EVER RECORDED IN AN OCTOBER WAS
7.0 INCHES BACK IN THE 1917-18 SNOW SEASON.

DURING THE LAST SNOW SEASON /2007-08/...THE FIRST TRACE OF THE YEAR
OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 5TH AND THE LAST TRACE OF SNOW OCCURRED ON
APRIL 28TH.  BETWEEN THOSE DATES...THE SNOW OBSERVER NEAR LA CROSSE
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT REPORTED 67.9 INCHES OF SNOW.  THIS WAS THE
GREATEST SEASONAL SNOWFALL TOTAL SINCE THE 1996-97 SNOW SEASON
/69.2 INCHES/ AND IT WAS THE FIFTH GREATEST SEASONAL SNOWFALL
TOTAL.  SNOW RECORDS IN LA CROSSE DATE BACK TO APRIL 1884.
NORMALLY...LA CROSSE ONLY RECEIVES 44.3 INCHES OF SNOW.

AS USUAL HIGHER SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WERE REPORTED ON THE RIDGE TOPS
SURROUNDING THE LA CROSSE AREA DURING THE LAST SNOW SEASON.  THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE ON TOP OF LA CROSSE RIDGE RECEIVED
78.8 INCHES.




PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1030 AM CDT MON OCT 27 2008

THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOWFALL TOTALS...THROUGH 10AM TODAY...FOR THE
EVENT THAT BEGAN LATE SUNDAY MORNING. OUR APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO
SNOWFALL SPOTTERS AND CO-OPERATIVE OBSERVERS FOR THESE REPORTS.

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

0600 AM     SNOW             EMBARRASS               47.66N 92.20W
10/27/2008  M0.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             INTERNATIONAL FALLS     48.59N 93.41W
10/27/2008  M0.3 INCH        KOOCHICHING        MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0700 AM     SNOW             SILVER BAY              47.29N 91.28W
10/27/2008  M1.5 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     SNOW             TOWER                   47.81N 92.29W
10/27/2008  M0.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     SNOW             UPSON                   46.37N 90.41W
10/27/2008  M2.0 INCH        IRON               WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
10/27/2008  M0.2 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0800 AM     SNOW             WASHBURN                46.67N 90.89W
10/27/2008  M0.5 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             GURNEY                  46.47N 90.51W
10/27/2008  M1.5 INCH        IRON               WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0830 AM     SNOW             20 NE PARK FALLS        46.14N 90.15W
10/27/2008  E1.0 INCH        IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER


&&

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.


SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
  2.00   UPSON                    WI  IRON             0700 AM
  1.50   GURNEY                   WI  IRON             0800 AM
  1.50   SILVER BAY               MN  LAKE             0700 AM
  1.00   20 NE PARK FALLS         WI  IRON             0830 AM
  0.50   WASHBURN                 WI  BAYFIELD         0800 AM
  0.50   EMBARRASS                MN  ST. LOUIS        0600 AM
  0.30   TOWER                    MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
  0.30   INTERNATIONAL FALLS      MN  KOOCHICHING      0700 AM
  0.20   DULUTH                   MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM



PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
435 PM CDT MON OCT 27 2008

...FIRST MEASURABLE SNOWFALL FOR THE RED RIVER VALLEY REGION...

SINCE THE FIRST FAIRLY WIDESPREAD AND MEASURABLE SNOWFALL OCCURRED
ACROSS PARTS OF THE REGION SUNDAY...THE QUESTION COMES UP WAS THIS
UNUSUAL. BASED ON THE CLIMATOLOGICAL RECORD AVAILABLE MEASURABLE
SNOW IS NOT AT ALL UNCOMMON IN LATE OCTOBER. IN FACT...SNOW HAS
FALLEN IN LATE SEPTEMBER AS WELL AS EARLY OCTOBER IN OUR AREA.
TYPICALLY SNOW THAT FALLS THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON MELTS OFF AND MAY
EVEN BE FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF MUCH MILDER WEATHER.

NOTABLE EARLY SEASON SNOWS INCLUDE THE OCTOBER 2 1950 SNOWSTORM...
OCTOBER 7 AND 8 SNOWSTORM OF 1985 AND OCTOBER 24 2001.

BELOW IS A TABLE OF CLIMATOLOGICALLY AVERAGE FIRST ONE INCH SNOW FALL
BASED ON THE 1940 TO 2004 PERIOD OF RECORD. WHILE THIS IS NOT A
COMPREHENSIVE LIST IT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE AN IDEA AS TO WHEN THE
EARLIEST 1 INCH OF SNOW HAS FALLEN. DUE TO THE VARIABILITY OF WEATHER
AT ANY GIVEN LOCATION...THE FIRST INCH OF SNOW CAN BE MORE THAN TWO
MONTHS LATER.

                    EARLIEST                          EARLIEST
    NORTH DAKOTA    SNOW/YR  AVG 1IN  MINNESOTA       SNOW/YR   AVG 1IN
CAVALIER 7NW     SEP 26/1972 NOV 10   AGASSIZ WLR   OCT 14/1959 NOV 11
EDMORE 1NW       SEP 26/1972 NOV 10   BAUDETTE      SEP 26/1941 NOV  5
FARGO HECTOR FLD OCT  2/1950 NOV 15   CROOKSTON     OCT  5/1974 NOV 13
FORMAN 5SW       OCT  2/1950 NOV 24   DETROIT LAKES SEP 26/1942 NOV 17
GRAND FORKS NWS  OCT  2/1950 NOV 12   FERGUS FALLS  OCT  9/1970 NOV 17
HANSBORO 4NNE    SEP 11/1989 NOV  3   OTTERTAIL     OCT  2/1950 NOV  7
LEEDS            SEP 22/1995 NOV 11   RED LAKE      OCT  1/1974 NOV 17
LISBON           SEP 22/1942 NOV 20   THORHULT      OCT  2/1950 NOV  2
PETERSBURG       OCT  2/1950 NOV  3   WADENA 3S     SEP 25/1942 NOV 10
VALLEY CITY 3NNW OCT  2/1950 NOV 11   ITASCA ST PK  OCT  7/1970 NOV  5

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME STATIONS HAD A FEW MISSING YEARS DATA.

LOOKING AT THE ABOVE TABLE IT IS APPARENT THAT THE FIRST INCH OF SNOW
IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS CAN OCCUR QUITE EARLY. TRACE SNOW AMOUNTS HAVE
BEEN NOTED EARLIER THAN THE DATES LISTED ABOVE. ALSO...THERE IS NO
CORRELATION BETWEEN EARLY SEASON SNOWFALLS AND OVERALL WINTER
PRECIPITATION. IN FACT...SEVERAL OF THE WINTER SEASONS WITH EARLY
ACCUMULATING SNOWS ENDED UP WITH BELOW NORMAL SEASONAL SNOWFALL TOTALS.



PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1210 PM CDT MON OCT 27 2008

...HIGHEST WIND GUSTS RECORDING ON SUNDAY FOR SELECTED OBSERVATION SITES...


LOCATIONS IN THE NWS GRAND FORKS FORECAST AREA


HAMPDEN ND (FIRE WEATHER RAWS SITE)...........56 MPH AT 734 AM
FARGO AIRPORT (ASOS)..........................55 MPH AT 908 AM
MCHENRY ND (NDAWN)............................55 MPH AT 728 AM
DEVILS LAKE AIRPORT (AWOS)....................53 MPH AT 615 AM
WAHPETON/MOORETON ND (ND DOT RWIS SITE).......53 MPH AT 931 AM
WYNDMERE ND (NDAWN)...........................53 MPH AT 1135 AM
DAZEY ND (NDAWN)..............................52 MPH AT 445 AM
VERNDALE MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)................52 MPH AT 504 AM
MOORHEAD AIRPORT (AWOS).......................52 MPH AT 914 AM
WAHPETON AIRPORT (AWOS).......................52 MPH AT 555 AM
HALLOCK AIRPORT (AWOS)........................51 MPH AT 653 AM
NORTH GRAND FORKS (ND DOT RWIS SITE)..........51 MPH AT 651 AM
SOUTH GRAND FORKS (GF SCHOOL DISTRICT)........50 MPH AT 743 AM
EAST GRAND FORKS/FISHER (MN DOT RWIS SITE)....50 MPH AT 728 AM
HALSTAD ND (MN DOT RWIS SITE).................50 MPH AT 853 AM
DONALDSON MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)...............50 MPH AT 739 AM
ST VINCENT MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)..............49 MPH AT 653 AM
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE (ASOS).............49 MPH AT 559 AM
BROOKS MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)..................49 MPH AT 855 AM
FINGAL ND (NDAWN).............................49 MPH AT 1115 AM
LISBON ND (NDAWN).............................49 MPH AT 538 AM
CAREY ND (NDAWN)..............................48 MPH AT 759 AM
FERGUS FALLS AIRPORT (AWOS)...................48 MPH AT 933 AM
THIEF RIVER FALLS AIRPORT (AWOS)..............48 MPH AT 815 AM
BAKER ND (NDAWN)..............................47 MPH AT 110 PM
CROOKSTON AIRPORT (AWOS)......................47 MPH AT 755 AM
MICHIGAN ND (NDAWN)...........................47 MPH AT 524 AM
MAYVILLE ND (NDAWN)...........................47 MPH AT 903 AM
MCLEOD ND (FIRE WEATHER RAWS SITE)............47 MPH AT 1049 AM
MAHNOMEN MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)................46 MPH AT 452 AM
LAKE PARK MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)...............46 MPH AT 759 AM
FORT TOTTEN ND (FIRE WEATHER RAWS SITE).......45 MPH AT 456 AM
FOSSTON AIRPORT (AWOS)........................45 MPH AT 935 AM
TENNEY MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)..................45 MPH AT 658 AM
GATZKE MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)..................45 MPH AT 903 AM
BUFFALO ND (ND DOT RWIS SITE).................45 MPH AT 920 AM
BAUDETTE AIRPORT (ASOS).......................44 MPH AT 1051 PM
BADGER MN (MN DOT RWIS SITE)..................44 MPH AT 1029 PM
EKRE ND (NDAWN)...............................44 MPH AT 1011 AM
HILLSBORO ND (NDAWN)..........................44 MPH AT 921 AM
EMERADO ND (ND DOT RWIS SITE).................43 MPH AT 633 AM
10 N DRAYTON ND (ND DOT RWIS SITE)............43 MPH AT 923 AM
DETROIT LAKES AIRPORT (AWOS)..................43 MPH AT 833 AM
GALESBURG ND (NDAWN)..........................43 MPH AT 1104 AM
CANDO ND (PRIVATE CITIZEN WEATHER STATION)....42 MPH AT 1100 AM
PROSPER ND (NDAWN)............................42 MPH AT 1019 AM
PARK RAPIDS AIRPORT (ASOS)....................41 MPH AT 1253 AM
ROSEAU AIRPORT (AWOS).........................40 MPH AT 135 PM
WADENA AIRPORT (AWOS).........................39 MPH AT 1157 AM
BEMIDJI AIRPORT (AWOS)........................38 MPH AT 355 PM
WASKISH MN AIRPORT (AWOS).....................35 MPH AT 1231 PM


OTHER NEARBY OBSERVATION SITES

JAMESTOWN ND (ASOS)............................56 MPH AT 456 AM
ALEXANDRIA MN (ASOS)...........................56 MPH AT 1033 AM
BELCOURT ND (FIRE WEATHER RAWS SITE)...........55 MPH AT 622 AM
MORRIS MN (AWOS)...............................55 MPH AT 933 AM
MARION ND (NDAWN)..............................53 MPH AT 520 AM
WHEATON MN (AWOS)..............................52 MPH AT 914 AM
ELLENDALE ND (AT THE HIGH SCHOOL)..............51 MPH AT 200 PM
OAKES ND (NDAWN)...............................51 MPH AT 135 PM
BRITTON SD (AWOS)..............................46 MPH AT 455 AM


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED WIS REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
527 PM CDT SUN OCT 26 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT HITS THE UPPER MIDWEST SUNDAY...

STRONG WINDS CAUSING SCATTERED DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES SLAMMED THE
UPPER MIDWEST BEGINNING SUNDAY MORNING...PEAKING AROUND MIDDAY...AND
THEN CONTINUED TO A LESSER EXTENT SUNDAY AFTERNOON. AROUND THE
TRI-STATE REGION...NUMEROUS WIND GUSTS ABOVE 50 MPH WERE REPORTED BY
AUTOMATED WIND SENSORS AT MAJOR AIRPORTS AND ALONG MAJOR ROADWAYS
/RWIS DATA/ ESPECIALLY IN MINNESOTA AND IOWA. BELOW IS A PRELIMINARY
LIST OF PEAK WIND GUSTS AT OR ABOVE 50 MPH /IN MINNESOTA AND IOWA/
AND ABOVE 40 MPH /WISCONSIN/. FOR PEAK WIND GUSTS IN THE IMMEDIATE
LA CROSSE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST AREA...REFER TO PREVIOUS
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE.

...IOWA...

MASON CITY...........62 MPH
STORM LAKE RWIS......62 MPH
DE WITT RWIS.........61 MPH
MASON CITY RWIS......61 MPH
URBANA RWIS..........61 MPH
DE SOTO RWIS.........60 MPH
SPENCER..............60 MPH
GRINNELL RWIS........59 MPH
CRESTON RWIS.........59 MPH
ANKENY RWIS..........59 MPH
WATERLOO RWIS........59 MPH
MO VALLEY RWIS.......59 MPH
DENISON RWIS.........59 MPH
ALTON RWIS...........59 MPH
CLINTON..............59 MPH
CARROLL..............59 MPH
MARSHALLTOWN RWIS....58 MPH
SIGOURNEY RWIS.......58 MPH
HANLONTOWN RWIS......58 MPH
STEAMBOAT ROCK RWIS..58 MPH
BOONE................58 MPH
DAVENPORT............58 MPH
AMES.................58 MPH
NEW HAMPTON RWIS.....56 MPH
ALGONA RWIS..........56 MPH
CARROLL RWIS.........56 MPH
DES MOINES...........56 MPH
PLAINFIELD RWIS......55 MPH
JEFFERSON RWIS.......55 MPH
SPENCER RWIS.........55 MPH
DES MOINES I-35 RWIS.55 MPH
WILLIAMS RWIS........55 MPH
SHELDON..............55 MPH
ESTHERVILLE..........55 MPH
MARSHALLTOWN.........55 MPH
OTTUMWA RWIS.........54 MPH
LE MARS..............54 MPH
MUSCATINE............54 MPH
ADAIR RWIS...........53 MPH
GRINNELL.............53 MPH
DENISON..............53 MPH
VINTON...............53 MPH
DUBUQUE..............53 MPH
IOWA CITY RWIS.......52 MPH
PELLA RWIS...........52 MPH
CANTRIL RWIS.........52 MPH
EDDYVILLE RWIS.......52 MPH
ONAWA RWIS...........52 MPH
SIBLEY RWIS..........52 MPH
DAVENPORT RWIS.......52 MPH
COLFAX RWIS..........52 MPH
PERRY................52 MPH
FORT DODGE...........52 MPH
WEBSTER CITY.........52 MPH
ANKENY...............52 MPH
OTTUMWA..............52 MPH
IOWA FALLS...........51 MPH
CEDAR RAPIDS.........51 MPH
WATERLOO.............51 MPH
SIOUX CITY...........51 MPH
IOWA CITY............50 MPH
HARLAN...............50 MPH

...MINNESOTA...

DOVRAY RWIS..........65 MPH
I-90 MILEPOST 35.....62 MPH
BLUE EARTH RWIS......61 MPH
HENDRICKS RWIS.......61 MPH
MN 71 MILEPOST 43....61 MPH
WORTHINGTON..........61 MPH
HANLEY FALLS RWIS....60 MPH
I-90 MILEPOST 67.....60 MPH
LAKE BENTON RWIS.....60 MPH
SLAYTON..............60 MPH
FAIRMONT.............60 MPH
MADISON..............59 MPH
MADELIA RWIS.........58 MPH
WINDOM...............58 MPH
REDWOOD FALLS........58 MPH
MARSHALL.............58 MPH
TWIN LAKES RWIS......56 MPH
ALEXANDRIA...........56 MPH
CANBY................56 MPH
PIPESTONE............56 MPH
MANKATO..............56 MPH
GLENWOOD.............55 MPH
MORRIS...............55 MPH
ORTONVILLE...........55 MPH
BYRON RWIS...........54 MPH
WINTHROP RWIS........54 MPH
WASECA...............54 MPH
MONTEVIDEO...........54 MPH
APPLETON.............54 MPH
ALEXANDRIA RWIS......53 MPH
OWATONNA.............52 MPH
LUVERNE..............52 MPH
AUSTIN...............52 MPH
MOORHEAD.............52 MPH
WHEATON..............52 MPH
OLIVIA...............52 MPH
GRANITE FALLS........52 MPH
NEW PRAGUE RWIS......52 MPH
ST. JAMES............52 MPH
JACKSON..............51 MPH
ALBERT LEA...........51 MPH
TRACY................51 MPH
DODGE CENTER.........51 MPH
HALLOCK..............51 MPH
GRAND FORKS RWIS.....51 MPH
MN-7 MILEPOST 1 RWIS.51 MPH
NEW ULM..............50 MPH
BENSON...............50 MPH
OTTERTAIL RWIS.......50 MPH
ANTHONY RWIS.........50 MPH
DEXTER RWIS..........50 MPH
ALBERT LEA RWIS......50 MPH
I-90 MILEPOST 226....50 MPH

...WISCONSIN...

SULLIVAN NWS.........54 MPH
MINERAL POINT........53 MPH
ARCADIA RWIS.........48 MPH
MONROE RWIS..........46 MPH
KENOSHA..............46 MPH
LONE ROCK............46 MPH
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN.....46 MPH
NWS LA CROSSE........46 MPH
LA CROSSE ...........45 MPH
MOUNT STERLING RWIS..44 MPH
PLATTEVILLE..........43 MPH
MONROE...............43 MPH
JANESVILLE...........41 MPH
WAUKESHA.............40 MPH


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
330 PM CDT SUN OCT 26 2008

...HIGHEST WINDS SORTED BY GUSTS SO FAR TODAY...

STATION                   COUNTY              TIME    SPEED     GUST

NEW HAMPTON RWIS          CHICKASAW         302 PM   49 MPH   56 MPH
AUSTIN AWOS               MOWER            1115 AM   31 MPH   52 MPH
DODGE CENTER AWOS         DODGE            1014 AM   29 MPH   51 MPH
ARCADIA HILL RWIS         TREMPEALEAU      1110 AM   24 MPH   49 MPH
KELLOGG RWIS              WABASHA           149 PM   31 MPH   49 MPH
ST CHARLES 4W RWIS        OLMSTED          1126 AM   36 MPH   49 MPH
ROCHESTER ASOS            OLMSTED          1054 AM   26 MPH   47 MPH
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AWOS     CRAWFORD          115 PM   23 MPH   46 MPH
CANTON RWIS               FILLMORE         1159 AM   30 MPH   45 MPH
LA CROSSE ASOS            LA CROSSE         153 PM   28 MPH   45 MPH
NWS LA CROSSE             LA CROSSE        1219 PM   20 MPH   45 MPH
PRESTON AWOS              FILLMORE          958 AM   23 MPH   45 MPH
MOUNT STERLING 1S RWIS    CRAWFORD          207 PM   24 MPH   43 MPH
BOSCOBEL ASOS             GRANT            1253 PM   14 MPH   41 MPH
DECORAH 2SE RWIS          WINNESHIEK        114 PM   35 MPH   40 MPH
SPARTA AWOS               MONROE            115 PM   20 MPH   38 MPH
WINONA AWOS               WINONA            153 PM   22 MPH   38 MPH
PDC RWIS - MISS RIVER BRIDGE CRAWFORD      1206 PM   20 MPH   37 MPH
DICKEYVILLE RWIS          GRANT             102 PM   20 MPH   37 MPH
DECORAH AWOS              WINNESHIEK        235 PM   18 MPH   37 MPH
MEDFORD AWOS              TAYLOR           1115 AM   20 MPH   37 MPH
VOLK FIELD                JUNEAU           1255 PM   20 MPH   37 MPH
3N LA CRESCENT APRS       HOUSTON           303 PM    3 MPH   36 MPH
I-90 AT I-94 RWIS         JUNEAU            205 PM   22 MPH   36 MPH
WISC DELLS AWOS           SAUK             1055 AM   18 MPH   35 MPH
MAUSTON APRS              JUNEAU           1104 AM   16 MPH   33 MPH
OELWEIN AWOS              FAYETTE           915 AM   22 MPH   33 MPH
NECEDAH RAWS              JUNEAU           1148 AM   17 MPH   32 MPH
TOMAH 4N RWIS             MONROE            106 PM   20 MPH   31 MPH
DIAMOND LAKE RAWS         TAYLOR           1114 AM   16 MPH   31 MPH
CHARLES CITY AWOS         FLOYD             855 AM   21 MPH   31 MPH
5W TOMAH RWIS             MONROE           1108 AM   10 MPH   30 MPH
STANLEY 1 SE RWIS         CHIPPEWA         1122 AM   20 MPH   30 MPH
CALEDONIA RWIS            HOUSTON           921 AM   10 MPH   29 MPH
FRENCH ISLAND RWIS        LA CROSSE         105 PM    8 MPH   29 MPH
BLACK RIVER FALLS RAWS    JACKSON           115 PM   12 MPH   26 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.