At the tail end of a hot and muggy day, a large line of severe thunderstorms raced eastward across central and northern Minnesota on July 21st. The storms moved into northeast Minnesota after midnight. High winds downed trees and power lines. Wind gusts were measured at 74mph just east of Floodwood in St. Louis County. There was damage at the Eveleth-Virginia Airport with one hangar and the plane that was inside was destroyed.
Trees were also blown down in parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Hardest hit was a swath just south of Lake LaCroix. Seven campers were injured by the falling trees in two different groups.
One tornado was reported in Polk County near Eldred.
In addition to the severe weather, heavy rains fell as well with the most rain falling in northwest Minnesota. Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Marshall County saw the most rain reported so far with 4.43 inches of rain in a span of about 12 hours. The southern half of Minnesota did not receive any rain at all from these storms.
Below are storm reports and public information statements and storm reports from the National Weather Service.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 425 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2014 ...TORNADO DAMAGE CONFIRMED IN POLK COUNTY MINNESOTA... AN NWS STORM DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM HAS CONFIRMED THAT AT LEAST ONE TORNADO WAS INVOLVED IN THE STORM DAMAGES WHICH OCCURRED ACROSS SOUTHWEST POLK COUNTY ON MONDAY EVENING...JULY 21ST. THE TORNADO DAMAGE ORIGINATED IN RURAL ROOME TOWNSHIP...NEAR ELDRED...AND CONTINUED TOWARDS CROOKSTON. THIS TORNADO WAS LIKELY ENSHROUDED IN HEAVY RAIN AND DOWNBURST WINDS...MAKING TORNADO IDENTIFICATION QUITE DIFFICULT...AND MASKING TORNADO DAMAGE WITHIN THE MORE WIDESPREAD DOWNBURST WIND DAMAGES. THE TORNADO DAMAGE SURVEY IS STILL UNDERWAY...AND MAY PROCEED INTO SOUTHWEST RED LAKE COUNTY THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON. MORE DETAILS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONCE THE TEAM HAS COMPLETED THEIR WORK AND HAS RETURNED TO THE OFFICE...LATER THIS EVENING. PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 323 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2014 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 1137 PM TSTM WND DMG NISSWA 46.50N 94.30W 07/21/2014 CROW WING MN PUBLIC LOTS OF TREES BLOWN DOWN IN NISSWA. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 1146 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SW INTERNATIONAL FALL 48.57N 93.44W 07/21/2014 KOOCHICHING MN PUBLIC MORE THAN 200 TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN AT A COUNTRY CLUB. PARTS OF THE ROOF FROM THE OUTDOOR DECK BY THE CLUBHOUSE ENDED UP ON THE NUMBER 18 TEE. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 1148 PM TSTM WND DMG W INTERNATIONAL FALLS 48.59N 93.41W 07/21/2014 KOOCHICHING MN PUBLIC A CARPORT AND WOODSHED WERE BLOWN DOWN AND DESTROYED. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0101 AM TSTM WND DMG 7 S EVELETH 47.36N 92.54W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC A 25 INCH DIAMATER TREE WAS BLOWN DOWN. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0103 AM TSTM WND DMG VIRGINIA 47.52N 92.51W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC A LARGE TREE WAS UPROOTED. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0107 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 S ESKO 46.68N 92.36W 07/22/2014 CARLTON MN PUBLIC A FEW TREES ABOUT 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER WERE BLOWN DOWN. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0118 AM TSTM WND DMG WEST DULUTH 46.74N 92.19W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC A LARGE TREE WAS BLOWN OVER AND FELL ONTO A FENCE. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS BASED ON RADAR. 0121 AM TSTM WND DMG E SUPERIOR 46.70N 92.06W 07/22/2014 DOUGLAS WI PUBLIC A LARGE TREE LIMB FELL ONTO A GARAGE. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0122 AM TSTM WND DMG CONGDON PARK 46.82N 92.06W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC A PINE TREE WAS BLOWN DOWN OVER THE ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF VERMILLION ROAD AND LAKEVIEW DRIVE IN DULUTH. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0134 AM TSTM WND DMG BABBITT 47.65N 91.94W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC TREES WERE UPROOTED AND A LARGE SHED WAS DESTROYED. 0134 AM TSTM WND DMG BABBITT 47.65N 91.94W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. 0137 AM TSTM WND DMG POPLAR 46.58N 91.79W 07/22/2014 DOUGLAS WI PUBLIC A LARGE TREE ABOUT 24 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS BLOWN DOWN ONTO A FENCE. THE REPORT WAS GATHERED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 157 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2014 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 1108 PM TSTM WND DMG 10 S BIRCHDALE 48.48N 94.08W 07/21/2014 KOOCHICHING MN PUBLIC 2 TREES DOWN ACROSS COUNTY ROAD 86. 1126 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW FEDERAL DAM 47.25N 94.22W 07/21/2014 CASS MN CO-OP OBSERVER NUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED WITH SOME SHEARED OFF ABOVE THE GROUND. POWER STILL OUT AS OF 947 AM. 1140 PM TSTM WND DMG LITTLEFORK 48.40N 93.56W 07/21/2014 KOOCHICHING MN PUBLIC SEVERAL TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 1145 PM HAIL 3 N BRAINERD 46.40N 94.19W 07/21/2014 E0.25 INCH CROW WING MN CO-OP OBSERVER 1150 PM TSTM WND DMG LITTLEFORK 48.40N 93.56W 07/21/2014 KOOCHICHING MN LAW ENFORCEMENT POWER OUTAGE 1150 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 S CROSSLAKE 46.61N 94.09W 07/21/2014 CROW WING MN PUBLIC TREE DOWN AND PONTOON BOAT FLIPPED ON HORSESHOE LAKE. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 1150 PM TSTM WND DMG 11 WSW INTERNATIONAL FA 48.53N 93.63W 07/21/2014 KOOCHICHING MN LAW ENFORCEMENT POWER OUTAGE. 1156 PM TSTM WND GST BOWSTRING 47.54N 93.80W 07/21/2014 E45.00 MPH ITASCA MN AMATEUR RADIO 1157 PM TSTM WND GST EMILY 46.76N 93.96W 07/21/2014 E45.00 MPH CROW WING MN TRAINED SPOTTER 1205 AM TSTM WND GST PEQUOT LAKES 46.60N 94.32W 07/22/2014 E45.00 MPH CROW WING MN LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES DOWN 1205 AM TSTM WND GST NISSWA 46.50N 94.30W 07/22/2014 E45.00 MPH CROW WING MN LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES DOWN 1209 AM TSTM WND DMG 8 N TOGO 47.94N 93.16W 07/22/2014 KOOCHICHING MN TRAINED SPOTTER TREES DOWN 1214 AM TSTM WND GST 6 S COHASSET 47.18N 93.62W 07/22/2014 E45.00 MPH ITASCA MN AMATEUR RADIO 1214 AM TSTM WND GST 5 E SQUAW LAKE 47.63N 94.03W 07/22/2014 E45.00 MPH ITASCA MN AMATEUR RADIO 1218 AM TSTM WND DMG 10 N TOGO 47.97N 93.16W 07/22/2014 KOOCHICHING MN TRAINED SPOTTER TREES DOWN 1229 AM TSTM WND DMG HILL CITY 46.99N 93.60W 07/22/2014 AITKIN MN LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES DOWN. 1229 AM TSTM WND GST MCGREGOR 46.61N 93.31W 07/22/2014 E50.00 MPH AITKIN MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 1229 AM TSTM WND DMG AITKIN 46.53N 93.71W 07/22/2014 AITKIN MN LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES DOWN. 1230 AM TSTM WND DMG BIG SANDY LAKE 46.76N 93.29W 07/22/2014 AITKIN MN AMATEUR RADIO SEVERAL TREES A FOOT IN DIAMETER DOWN. 1230 AM TSTM WND DMG BIG SANDY LAKE 46.76N 93.29W 07/22/2014 AITKIN MN BROADCAST MEDIA TREE FELL ON RV. BOAT DOCK DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED. 1242 AM TSTM WND GST 4 NE FLOODWOOD 46.97N 92.87W 07/22/2014 M74.00 MPH ST. LOUIS MN CO-OP OBSERVER TREES DOWN AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. 1247 AM TSTM WND DMG HILL CITY 46.99N 93.60W 07/22/2014 AITKIN MN AMATEUR RADIO 8 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN BLOCKING HIGHWAY 169. POWER OUTAGE. 1247 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 E SQUAW LAKE 47.63N 94.03W 07/22/2014 ITASCA MN AMATEUR RADIO DEAD TREE 14 TO 16 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN. 1247 AM TSTM WND GST AITKIN 46.53N 93.71W 07/22/2014 E70.00 MPH AITKIN MN LAW ENFORCEMENT NUMEROUS TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY 0102 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 S EVELETH 47.42N 92.54W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC A COUPLE STRUCTURES JUST WEST OF HIGHWAY 53 TOOK DAMAGE WITH SOME WALLS TORN OFF. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0103 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 SE EVELETH 47.43N 92.50W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE LOTS OF LARGE TREES DOWN. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0103 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 SSE EVELETH 47.42N 92.52W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE DAMAGE AT THE EVELETH-VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. ONE HANGER AND THE PLANE INSIDE WERE DESTROYED. TWO OTHER HANGERS WERE DAMAGED. ONE GARAGE ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0109 AM TSTM WND DMG GRAND LAKE 46.88N 92.40W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC POWER OUTAGE. 0109 AM TSTM WND DMG FLOODWOOD 46.93N 92.92W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN TRAINED SPOTTER TREES DOWN. ONE WAS 12 INCHES IN DIAMETER. 0113 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 ESE BIWABIK 47.53N 92.33W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN TRAINED SPOTTER DOCK ON EMBARRASS LAKE FLIPPED OVER. AN 8 INCH DIAMETER TREE SNAPPED AND FELL ON THE DOCK. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0115 AM TSTM WND DMG RICE LAKE TWP 46.90N 92.11W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC 6-12 INCH DIAMETER ASPEN TREE SNAPPED. TIME ESTIMATED OFF RADAR. REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPH VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 0115 AM TSTM WND DMG AURORA 47.53N 92.24W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC MANY SMALL TREES AND SOME LARGE TREES DOWN IN AURORA. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0117 AM TSTM WND DMG HOYT LAKES 47.51N 92.15W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN TRAINED SPOTTER MANY TREES BETWEEN 6 AND 12 INCHES IN DIAMETER ARE DOWN IN HOYT LAKES. 0123 AM TSTM WND GST DULUTH 46.78N 92.12W 07/22/2014 M50.00 MPH ST. LOUIS MN ASOS 0124 AM TSTM WND DMG EMBARRASS 47.66N 92.20W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. 0124 AM TSTM WND DMG BABBITT 47.65N 91.94W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. 0130 AM MARINE TSTM WIND DULUTH 46.78N 92.12W 07/22/2014 M46.00 MPH ST. LOUIS MN MESONET MEASURED AT DULM5. 0136 AM TSTM WND DMG EVELETH 47.46N 92.54W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT POWER LINES DOWN ROUTE 53 AND 37. 0200 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 1 N PORT WING 46.79N 91.39W 07/22/2014 M38.00 MPH BAYFIELD WI BUOY 0200 AM TSTM WND DMG IRON RIVER 46.56N 91.41W 07/22/2014 BAYFIELD WI PUBLIC 4-5 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN AND CORN FLATTENED. TIME ESTIMATE. 0214 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 N SAND BAY 46.95N 90.89W 07/22/2014 BAYFIELD WI CO-OP OBSERVER SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWN ON LITTLE SAND BAY ROAD 0215 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 6 NNE DEVILS ISLAND 47.15N 90.68W 07/22/2014 M61.00 MPH LSZ162 WI SHIP TIME ESTIMATED. SHIP STEWART J. CORT. 0220 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW BAYFIELD 46.79N 90.86W 07/22/2014 BAYFIELD WI CO-OP OBSERVER 5-6 INCH DIAMETER TREE BROKEN. 0222 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 6 N DEVILS ISLAND 47.16N 90.73W 07/22/2014 E45.00 MPH LSZ162 WI SHIP SHIP ALGOLAKE. THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN. TIME ESTIMATED OFF RADAR. 0224 AM TSTM WND GST ASHLAND 46.58N 90.87W 07/22/2014 M46.00 MPH ASHLAND WI ASOS 0225 AM TSTM WND DMG SEA GULL LAKE 48.13N 90.95W 07/22/2014 COOK MN EMERGENCY MNGR WIDESPREAD TREES DOWN NEAR END OF GUNFLINT TRAIL NEAR SEAGULL LAKE. 0229 AM TSTM WND DMG DULUTH HEIGHTS 46.82N 92.16W 07/22/2014 ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC POWER OUTAGE. 0356 AM HAIL 20 E HAYWARD 46.01N 91.06W 07/22/2014 M0.75 INCH SAWYER WI TRAINED SPOTTER COVERS THE GROUND PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 1120 AM CDT TUE JUL 22 2014 ...MORNING RAINFALL ROUNDUP... * FOR NORTHWEST MINNESOTA * AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA THE FOLLOWING ARE STORM TOTALS BASED ON DAILY 24-HOUR RAIN AMOUNTS AS OF 7 AM AND REPORTED BY NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS AND AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS. SOME ADDITIONAL STORM TOTALS REPORTED BY UNOFFICAL OBSERVERS AND THE PUBLIC HAVE ALSO BEEN ADDED. ...24-HOUR RAINFALL AMOUNTS ENDING TUESDAY(07/22/14)... PRECIPITATION IN MINNESOTA... RAINFALL LOCATION (COUNTY): IN INCHES RAWS @ AGASSIZ NWR (MARSHALL)................................. 4.43 ASOS @ BAUDETTE (LAKE OF THE WOODS)........................... 4.28 CAMP NORRIS DNR (BELTRAMI).................................... 4.20 BAUDETTE (LAKE OF THE WOODS).................................. 3.75 GREENBUSH (ROSEAU)............................................ 3.67 NDAWN @ MAVIE (PENNINGTON).................................... 3.56 NDAWN @ WARREN (MARSHALL)..................................... 3.52 WARREN 7NW (MARSHALL)......................................... 3.31 RAWS @ BAUDETTE...MN DNR WX (LAKE OF THE WOODS)............... 3.13 HALLOCK (KITTSON)............................................. 3.10 ARGYLE (MARSHALL)............................................. 2.78 WEST BRANCH WARROAD RIVER NR WARROAD..CSAH5(LAKE OF THE WOODS) 2.71 NDAWN @ GREENBUSH 4S (ROSEAU)................................. 2.35 AWOS @ THIEF RIVER FALLS (PENNINGTON)......................... 2.22 CLEMENTSON (LAKE OF THE WOODS)................................ 2.09 RAWS @ KELLIHER...MN DNR WX (BELTRAMI)........................ 2.02 RAWS @ ROSEAU (ROSEAU)........................................ 1.82 RAWS @ KARLSTAD MN (TWIN LAKES WMA) (KITTSON)................. 1.78 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE)..................................... 1.77 NDAWN @ HUMBOLDT (KITTSON).................................... 1.72 LANCASTER (KITTSON)........................................... 1.68 CROOKSTON (POLK).............................................. 1.65 BEMIDJI (BELTRAMI)............................................ 1.65 NDAWN @ KENNEDY (KITTSON)..................................... 1.55 ROSEAU (ROSEAU)............................................... 1.49 AWOS @ HALLOCK (KITTSON)...................................... 1.49 ROOSEVELT 5N (LAKE OF THE WOODS).............................. 1.47 RAWS @ LAKE ITASCA 2SE (CLEARWATER)........................... 1.44 RAWS @ BEMIDJI...MN DNR WX (BELTRAMI)......................... 1.41 AWOS @ FOSSTON (POLK)......................................... 1.27 AWOS @ WASKISH (BELTRAMI)..................................... 1.23 WASKISH (BELTRAMI)............................................ 1.11 ADA (NORMAN).................................................. 1.05 BEMIDJI 3E (BELTRAMI)......................................... 0.98 NDAWN @ ELDRED (POLK)......................................... 0.96 NDAWN @ PERLEY (NORMAN)....................................... 0.86 LAKE PARK 6S (BECKER)......................................... 0.73 AWOS @ BEMIDJI (BELTRAMI)..................................... 0.68 RAWS @ DETROIT LAKES RAWS (BECKER)............................ 0.66 HAWLEY 9.1 SSE (CLAY)......................................... 0.63 AWOS @ DETROIT LAKES (BECKER)................................. 0.59 WADENA (WADENA)............................................... 0.54 NEW YORK MILLS (OTTER TAIL)................................... 0.53 TAMARAC WILDLIFE REFUGE (BECKER).............................. 0.50 TAMARC WMR (BECKER)........................................... 0.50 SABIN (CLAY).................................................. 0.46 PELICAN RAPIDS 6E (OTTER TAIL)................................ 0.44 FERGUS FALLS 1NNE (OTTER TAIL)................................ 0.42 FERGUS FALLS 1E (OTTER TAIL).................................. 0.40 AWOS @ FERGUS FALLS (OTTER TAIL).............................. 0.40 RAWS @ BADOURA...MN DNR WX (HUBBARD).......................... 0.38 ROTHSAY (WILKIN).............................................. 0.37 MENAHGA 1E (WADENA)........................................... 0.34 LEAF RIVER NR STAPLES...CSAH29 (WADENA)....................... 0.34 OTTERTAIL (OTTER TAIL)........................................ 0.33 LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER)................................... 0.33 UNDERWOOD 8NNE (OTTER TAIL)................................... 0.32 BRECKENRIDGE 3SE (WILKIN)..................................... 0.31 BRECKENRIDGE (WILKIN)......................................... 0.27 ASOS @ PARK RAPIDS (HUBBARD).................................. 0.24 OTTER TAIL RIVER AT BRECKENRIDGE (WILKIN)..................... 0.24 ORWELL DAM (OTTER TAIL)....................................... 0.07 NORCROSS (MUSTINKA R.) (GRANT)................................ 0.03