Severe Storms and Tornado Damage: June 5-6, 2008

Another round of stormy weather hit Minnesota on June 5 and 6. A very strong area of low pressure moved rapidly northward from Nebraska into South Dakota on June 5. Thunderstorms developed rapidly through the day across the upper midwest. By The early afternoon on the 5th, the storms had reached the Twin Cities. There were reports of some large hail, including some of the same places that saw large hail in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities during the severe weather event of May 31.

June 5 Severe Weather

For the first time this season, 70 degree dew point temperature air surged into southern Minnesota. With plenty of moisture around, this weather system was an efficient rain-maker and many places in Minnesota saw from a half inch to two inches of rain. A few spots picked up more, most notably in Wilkin County, and along the north shore of Lake Superior. The highest rainfall total found was at the Grand Marais Airport with 4.96 inches. Nearby a Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District rain gauge volunteer reported 4.94 inches. The Twin Cities International Airport had 1.25 inches of rain, but the rain fell hard enough to cause some minor street flooding in Minneapolis.

There was more significant flooding along the north shore where officials in Cook County reported widespread flooding and washed out county roadways. Flooding was also reported along Highway 61, where travel was restricted to one lane in Lutsen.

June 6 Severe Weather

By the morning of Friday June 6, the low pressure center was over eastern North Dakota. In the unstable air mass that remained, thunderstorms developed shortly after sunrise to the southeast of the center of the low pressure. These storms quickly intensified and a tornado was reported in Menahga in Wadena County at 9:25am. This tornadic thunderstorm then moved swiftly to the northeast and a tornado caused extensive roof damage on the east side of Park rapids by 9:35am. A half-mile wide path of destruction was reported from Park Rapids northward. By 9:48am several houses were reported to be destroyed in the tiny town of Emmaville, about 10 miles northeast of Park Rapids.

Listed below are Local Storm Reports from the National Weather Service.

 

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
1028 AM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

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

1023 AM     TORNADO          1 S EMMAVILLE           47.05N 94.98W
06/06/2008                   HUBBARD            MN   OTHER FEDERAL

            HEAVY DAMAGE NORTH AND NORTHWEST SIDE OF PICKEREL LAKE.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
1008 AM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

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

0929 AM     TORNADO          MENAHGA                 46.75N 95.10W
06/06/2008                   WADENA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE OBSERVED NEAR MENAHGA.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
1007 AM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

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

0932 AM     TORNADO          3 E PARK RAPIDS         46.92N 95.00W
06/06/2008                   HUBBARD            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CONFIRMED TOUCHDOWN WITH DAMAGE.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
1001 AM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

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

0942 AM     TORNADO          PARK RAPIDS             46.92N 95.06W
06/06/2008                   HUBBARD            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ONE HALF MILE WIDE PATH OF DESTRUCTION REPORTED FROM PARK
            RAPIDS NORTHWARD.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
958 AM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

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

0948 AM     TORNADO          EMMAVILLE               47.07N 94.98W
06/06/2008                   HUBBARD            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL HOUSES DESTROYED BY TORNADO.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
953 AM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

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

0935 AM     TORNADO          PARK RAPIDS             46.92N 95.06W
06/06/2008                   HUBBARD            MN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO PRODUCED WIDESPREAD ROOF DAMAGE EAST SIDE OF PARK
            RAPIDS.TREES DOWN CARS IN DITCH 1 MILE NORTH OF HWY 34 ON
            CTY ROAD 4 NEAR EMMAVILLE/LAKE GEORGE.TREES DOWN SOUTH OF
            TOWN. TORNADO MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
944 AM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

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

0925 AM     TORNADO          MENAHGA                 46.75N 95.10W
06/06/2008                   WADENA             MN   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM PUBLIC RELAYED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1031 PM CDT THU JUN 05 2008

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

1028 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG FAIRMONT                43.64N 94.46W
06/05/2008                   MARTIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TWO LARGE TREES TOPPLED. ONE TEN INCHES IN DIAMETER.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1000 PM CDT THU JUN 05 2008

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

0241 PM     HAIL             1 SE MORGAN             44.41N 94.91W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       REDWOOD            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0302 PM     HAIL             8 SW NEW ULM            44.23N 94.57W
06/05/2008  M0.75 INCH       BROWN              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0314 PM     HAIL             2 SE NEW ULM            44.29N 94.43W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       BROWN              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0315 PM     HAIL             GAYLORD                 44.55N 94.22W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       SIBLEY             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0321 PM     HAIL             7 NE NEW ULM            44.38N 94.36W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       NICOLLET           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0330 PM     HAIL             HAMBURG                 44.73N 93.96W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       CARVER             MN   PUBLIC

0338 PM     HAIL             8 SE GAYLORD            44.47N 94.10W
06/05/2008  M0.75 INCH       SIBLEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0340 PM     HAIL             WACONIA                 44.85N 93.79W
06/05/2008  M0.75 INCH       CARVER             MN   PUBLIC

0343 PM     HAIL             WACONIA                 44.85N 93.79W
06/05/2008  M0.75 INCH       CARVER             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OCCURED AT HIGHWAY 5 AND 284. HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.

0349 PM     HAIL             VICTORIA                44.87N 93.66W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       CARVER             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

0351 PM     HAIL             CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       CARVER             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

            REPORTED BY OFF DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE.

0353 PM     HAIL             CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
06/05/2008  M1.00 INCH       CARVER             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0355 PM     HAIL             1 N SHOREWOOD           44.91N 93.59W
06/05/2008  M0.75 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAIL WAS OBSERVED IN TONKA BAY

0401 PM     HAIL             PLYMOUTH                45.02N 93.46W
06/05/2008  M1.25 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .5 MILES NORTH OF 394 AT 694

0403 PM     HAIL             MINNETONKA              44.91N 93.50W
06/05/2008  M1.00 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            OBSERVED AT THE INTERSECTION OF CARLSON PARKWAY AND 494

0410 PM     HAIL             CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W
06/05/2008  M0.75 INCH       CARVER             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0411 PM     HAIL             MAPLE GROVE             45.11N 93.46W
06/05/2008  M0.75 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL WAS OBSERVED AT THE INTERSECTION OF 63RD AND HWY 169


0412 PM     HAIL             CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       CARVER             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0413 PM     HAIL             BROOKLYN CENTER         45.07N 93.32W
06/05/2008  M0.88 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0450 PM     HEAVY RAIN       MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W
06/05/2008  E0.00 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            46TH STREET AND HIAWATHA AVE S 80 PERCENT OF ROAD FLOODED
            ESTIMATED AT 3-5 INCHES DEEP.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
641 AM CDT FRI JUN 06 2008

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

0155 AM     TSTM WND GST     CHARLES CITY            43.07N 92.68W
06/06/2008  M59.00 MPH       FLOYD              IA   AWOS

0158 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 S FREDERICKSBURG      42.94N 92.20W
06/06/2008  M50.00 MPH       CHICKASAW          IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0159 AM     TSTM WND GST     JACKSON JUNCTION        43.10N 92.05W
06/06/2008  M47.00 MPH       WINNESHIEK         IA   MESONET

            TURKEY VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

0209 AM     TSTM WND GST     NEW HAMPTON             43.06N 92.31W
06/06/2008  M41.00 MPH       CHICKASAW          IA   MESONET

0229 AM     TSTM WND GST     CANTON                  43.53N 91.93W
06/06/2008  M63.00 MPH       FILLMORE           MN   MESONET

            THIS REPORT CAME FROM THE MINNESOTA RWIS SENSOR AT MILE
            POST 2 ON US-52

0234 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E WHALAN              43.73N 91.91W
06/06/2008                   FILLMORE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS TREE DOWN 1E OF WHALAN.

0245 AM     TSTM WND DMG     RUSHFORD                43.81N 91.75W
06/06/2008                   FILLMORE           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL 3 TO 6 INCH DIAMETER TREE BRANCHES DOWN
            THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

0256 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W SPILLVILLE          43.20N 91.99W
06/06/2008                   WINNESHIEK         IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            COUPLE OF TREES BLOWN DOWN.

0257 AM     TSTM WND GST     MONONA                  43.05N 91.39W
06/06/2008  M48.00 MPH       CLAYTON            IA   MESONET

0259 AM     TSTM WND GST     WINONA                  44.05N 91.66W
06/06/2008  M40.00 MPH       WINONA             MN   MESONET

            WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

0300 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WINONA                  44.05N 91.66W
06/06/2008                   WINONA             MN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS NUMEROUS 12 INCH DIAMETER TREES
            DOWN MAINLY IN THE TOWN OF WINONA.

0301 AM     TSTM WND GST     ALMA                    44.33N 91.92W
06/06/2008  M51.00 MPH       BUFFALO            WI   MESONET

            SCHOOL NET

0310 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 N LA CRESCENT         43.86N 91.30W
06/06/2008  M45.00 MPH       WINONA             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0316 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LA CROSSE               43.83N 91.23W
06/06/2008                   LA CROSSE          WI   BROADCAST MEDIA

            WKBT VIEWER REPORTED THAT A LARGE TREE WAS BLOWN DOWN ON
            TO CASS STREET

0318 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 E LA CROSSE           43.83N 91.17W
06/06/2008  M51.00 MPH       LA CROSSE          WI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED AT THE NWS LA CROSSE OFFICE.

0320 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 S HOLMEN              43.93N 91.26W
06/06/2008  E55.00 MPH       LA CROSSE          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

0325 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WEST SALEM              43.90N 91.08W
06/06/2008                   LA CROSSE          WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE BLOWN DOWN ON GARLAND STREET

Last modified: June 30, 2017
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