Severe Storms and Tornadoes: July 14, 2009

Severe thunderstorms developed out ahead of a cool front over western Minnesota during the afternoon of July 14th. Two tornadoes were reported in west central Minnesota. The first report was at 4:23PM, 4 miles southwest of Gilchrist in Pope County, this tornado was also sighted near Scandinavian Lake in Pope County at 4:36. Some turkey bans were destroyed in Swift Falls, Swift County near the Pope County line.

The second tornado touched down in Spicer at 4:40pm, causing damage to signs, vehicles and at least one home. The tornado then tracked across nearby Green Lake and flipped over some boats. No injuries were reported with the tornadoes.

Farther north, two men were reported missing on Blackduck Lake in Beltrami County when stormy conditions capsized their boat.

Below are storm reports and public information statements for the July 14, 2009 severe weather from the National Weather Service.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
513 PM CDT THU JUL 16 2009

...DAMAGE SURVEY RESULTS FROM THE JULY 14TH TORNADOES...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL FROM THE CHANHASSEN FORECAST
OFFICE CONDUCTED A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT IN THE SWIFT FALLS AND SPICER
MINNESOTA AREAS ON WEDNESDAY.

...SWIFT FALLS AREA TORNADO...

THE MAXIMUM INTENSITY TORNADO DAMAGE IN THE SWIFT FALLS AREA WAS
FOUND TO BE EF-2 WITH ESTIMATED WINDS BETWEEN 110 AND 119 MPH. THERE
WERE NO REPORTED FATALITIES OR INJURIES WITH THIS TORNADO. THE
ENTIRE PATH LENGTH WAS APPROXIMATELY NINE MILES...WITH A MAXIMUM
WIDTH OF 350 YARDS. THE TWISTER BEGAN ABOUT THREE MILES SOUTHWEST OF
SWIFT FALLS IN FAR NORTHERN SWIFT COUNTY...TRACKED NORTHEAST THROUGH
SWIFT FALLS...AND ENDED ON THE SHORE OR POSSIBLY OVER SCANDINAVIAN
LAKE IN FAR SOUTHERN POPE COUNTY. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS
ALONG THE FIRST ONE MILE OF THE TORNADO PATH...WHERE TWO LARGE
TURKEY BARNS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE NEXT FIVE MILES OF THE
TRACK WERE HIGHLIGHTED BY EF-1 DAMAGE WITH WINDS BETWEEN 85 AND
100 MPH...WHICH INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE IN SWIFT FALLS.
THE TORNADO PRODUCED EF-1 DAMAGE TO TWO RESIDENCES...DESTROYING
TWO GARAGES AND OTHER OUTBUILDINGS WITH MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO THEIR
HOMES. THE TORNADO PRODUCED MAINLY MINOR CROP AND TREE DAMAGE OVER
THE LAST FOUR MILES OF ITS PATH. TOUCHDOWN TIME APPEARED TO BE
4:21 PM WITH AN END TIME AROUND 4:37 PM...FOR AN AVERAGE MOVEMENT
OF AROUND 34 MPH.


...SPICER AREA TORNADO AND WIND DAMAGE...

THE TORNADO THAT STRUCK SPICER IN CENTRAL KANDIYOHI COUNTY HAD A
MAXIMUM INTENSITY OF EF-1 DAMAGE WITH WINDS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 100
AND 109 MPH. THERE WERE NO REPORTED FATALITIES OR INJURIES WITH
THIS TORNADO. THE TRACK WAS APPROXIMATELY SIX AND A HALF
MILES...WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 250 YARDS. THE BEGINNING OF THE
PATH WAS TWO MILES SOUTHWEST OF SPICER. IT TRACKED NORTHEAST
THROUGH SPICER...INCLUDING ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORE OF GREEN
LAKE...EMERGED OVER THE LAKE...AND FADED SOON AFTER MOVING BACK
OVER LAND ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE SOUTH OF THE INLET FROM
CALHOUN LAKE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS ROUGHLY ONE TO TWO
MILES INTO THE TORNADO PATH...OR JUST SOUTHWEST OF SPICER...WHERE
A PORTION OF A HOME WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH SIGNIFICANT TREE
DAMAGE. WITHIN SPICER...THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO PRODUCE EF-1
DAMAGE BREAKING WINDOWS IN DOZENS OF VEHICLES ACROSS THE GREEN
LAKE MALL PARKING LOT AND UPLIFTING A LARGE PART OF A HOUSE AND
GARAGE ROOF. THE FINAL FOUR MILES OF THE TORNADO TRACK HAD MINOR
EF-0 TREE AND SHINGLE DAMAGE. TOUCHDOWN TIME APPEARED TO BE
4:41 PM WITH AN END TIME OF 4:53 PM...FOR AN AVERAGE MOVEMENT OF
AROUND 33 MPH.

APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE SOUTH OF THE SPICER TORNADO WAS
LOCALIZED BUT EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE. THE NATURE...LOCATION...AND
TIMING OF THIS DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
FROM THE REAR FLANK DOWNDRAFT OF THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM. THE
DAMAGE OCCURRED ROUGHLY AT THE SAME TIME THE TORNADO WAS
DISSIPATING. ESTIMATED WINDS WERE BETWEEN 90 AND 100 MPH. SUCH A
PHENOMENA CAN OCCUR WITH STRONGLY ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS AND CAN
OFTEN HAPPEN IN THE LATTER PERIOD OF THE TORNADO LIFE CYCLE.

FOR A LINK TO THE TORNADO RATING SCALE...OR ENHANCED FUJITA
SCALE...VISIT HTTP://WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/EFSCALE

$

FRIEDLEIN/GRIESINGER/KRAUSE




PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
745 PM CDT THU JUL 16 2009

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

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 NE BENSON             45.36N 95.55W
07/14/2009                   SWIFT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0421 PM     TORNADO          3 SW SWIFT FALLS        45.37N 95.48W
07/14/2009                   SWIFT              MN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            AN NWS STORM SURVEY AND VISUAL REPORTS CONFIRM A TORNADO
            FROM 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SWIFT FALLS TO 6 MILES
            NORTHWEST OF SWIFT FALLS. MAXIMUM DAMAGE WAS EF-2 WITH
            ESTIMATED WINDS 110-119 MPH. TORNADO DAMAGE INCLUDED
            DESTRUCTION OF TWO TURKEY BARNS AND SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS
            ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE IN SWIFT FALLS.

0441 PM     TORNADO          2 SW SPICER             45.21N 94.97W
07/14/2009                   KANDIYOHI          MN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            AN NWS STORM SURVEY...VISUAL REPORTS...AND VIDEO
            CONFIRMED A TORNADO FROM TWO MILES SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN
            SPICER TO APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF
            DOWNTOWN SPICER. MAXIMUM DAMAGE WAS EF-1 WITH ESTIMATED
            WINDS 100 TO 109 MPH. DAMAGE INCLUDED PARTIAL DESTRUCTION
            TO THE UPPER LEVEL OF ONE HOUSE...PARTIAL ROOF UPLIFT ON
            MULTIPLE HOUSES...MAJOR DAMAGE TO A FEW
            OUTBUILDINGS...AND DOZENS OF CAR WINDOWS BROKEN IN THE
            GREEN MALL PARKING LOT.

0453 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 E SPICER              45.23N 94.86W
07/14/2009                   KANDIYOHI          MN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            AN NWS STORM SURVEY FOUND STRAIGHT-LINE THUNDERSTORM WIND
            DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REAR-FLANK DOWNDRAFT OF THE
            TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH WENT THROUGH SPICER.
            LOCALIZED EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE WAS FOUND. ESTIMATED
            WINDS WERE BETWEEN 90 AND 100 MPH.

0508 PM     HAIL             5 SW EVANSVILLE         45.96N 95.75W
07/14/2009  M0.88 INCH       DOUGLAS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      STAPLES                 46.36N 94.80W
07/14/2009                   TODD               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            EVACUATIONS FOR HOMES ON 5TH ST. POWER SHUT OFF TO
            STAPLES HIGH RISE APTS ON 4TH ST.

0552 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 E RICHMOND            45.45N 94.48W
07/14/2009                   STEARNS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0625 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 N ST CLOUD            45.58N 94.17W
07/14/2009                   STEARNS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS IN THE ST
            CLOUD AREA.

0630 PM     FLOOD            ST CLOUD                45.55N 94.17W
07/14/2009                   STEARNS            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CO SHERIFF REPORTED LOCALIZED FLOODING PROBLEMS MAINLY
            URBAN AREAS IN STREETS

0635 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 WNW DUELM             45.58N 94.01W
07/14/2009                   BENTON             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTERS WERE NORTH OF DUELM LOOKING WEST.

0715 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ST JOSEPH               45.57N 94.32W
07/14/2009  M2.80 INCH       STEARNS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            RECIEVED 2.8 INCHES OF RAIN FROM AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS.


0731 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 N ST CLOUD            45.60N 94.18W
07/14/2009  M3.00 INCH       BENTON             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
942 AM CDT WED JUL 15 2009

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

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 NE BENSON             45.36N 95.55W
07/14/2009                   SWIFT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0423 PM     TORNADO          4 SW GILCHRIST          45.41N 95.37W
07/14/2009                   POPE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND

0436 PM     TORNADO          6 NNE SWIFT FALLS       45.49N 95.39W
07/14/2009                   POPE               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TORNADO REPORTED NEAR SCANDINAVIAN LAKE

0440 PM     TORNADO          SPICER                  45.23N 94.94W
07/14/2009                   KANDIYOHI          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE GROUND IN
            SPICER WITH DEBRIS SEEN AT A LOCAL SHOPPING MALL.

0450 PM     TORNADO          3 NE SPICER             45.26N 94.89W
07/14/2009                   KANDIYOHI          MN   PUBLIC

            TORNADO TRACKED ACROSS GREEN LAKE

0508 PM     HAIL             5 SW EVANSVILLE         45.96N 95.75W
07/14/2009  M0.88 INCH       DOUGLAS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      STAPLES                 46.36N 94.80W
07/14/2009                   TODD               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            EVACUATIONS FOR HOMES ON 5TH ST. POWER SHUT OFF TO
            STAPLES HIGH RISE APTS ON 4TH ST.

0552 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 E RICHMOND            45.45N 94.48W
07/14/2009                   STEARNS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0625 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 N ST CLOUD            45.58N 94.17W
07/14/2009                   STEARNS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS IN THE ST
            CLOUD AREA.

0630 PM     FLOOD            ST CLOUD                45.55N 94.17W
07/14/2009                   STEARNS            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CO SHERIFF REPORTED LOCALIZED FLOODING PROBLEMS MAINLY
            URBAN AREAS IN STREETS

0635 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 WNW DUELM             45.58N 94.01W
07/14/2009                   BENTON             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTERS WERE NORTH OF DUELM LOOKING WEST.

0715 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ST JOSEPH               45.57N 94.32W
07/14/2009  M2.80 INCH       STEARNS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            RECIEVED 2.8 INCHES OF RAIN FROM AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS.


0731 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 N ST CLOUD            45.60N 94.18W
07/14/2009  M3.00 INCH       BENTON             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0825 PM     HAIL             4 SSW WARMAN            46.01N 93.33W
07/14/2009  M0.50 INCH       KANABEC            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER


&&
CORRECTED 635 PM CDT REPORT FROM 4 WNW DUELM TO INDICATE FUNNEL CLOUD
RATHER THAN FLASH FLOOD.
$


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
346 AM CDT WED JUL 15 2009

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

0425 PM     HAIL             5 N PILLAGER            46.40N 94.48W
07/14/2009  M0.75 INCH       CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SOME SMALL BRANCHES DOWN.

0435 PM     HAIL             3 E PILLAGER            46.33N 94.41W
07/14/2009  E1.75 INCH       CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0435 PM     HAIL             N GULL LAKE             46.45N 94.35W
07/14/2009  M0.88 INCH       CASS               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0440 PM     HAIL             BRAINERD                46.35N 94.19W
07/14/2009  M0.88 INCH       CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0456 PM     TSTM WND GST     BRAINERD                46.35N 94.19W
07/14/2009  M60.00 MPH       CROW WING          MN   ASOS

            MEASURED AT BRAINERD AIRPORT KBRD.

0515 PM     HEAVY RAIN       1 E MERRIFIELD          46.47N 94.15W
07/14/2009  M5.00 INCH       CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0515 PM     HAIL             1 E MERRIFIELD          46.47N 94.15W
07/14/2009  M1.75 INCH       CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0535 PM     HEAVY RAIN       5 SW GRAND RAPIDS       47.18N 93.60W
07/14/2009  M2.75 INCH       ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2.75 INCHES IN 2 HOURS.

0543 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 N MOTLEY              46.36N 94.64W
07/14/2009  M3.25 INCH       CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3.25 INCHES OF RAIN IN 2.5 HOURS

0545 PM     HEAVY RAIN       NISSWA                  46.50N 94.30W
07/14/2009  M4.00 INCH       CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            4 INCHES OF RAIN IN 2 HOURS.

0615 PM     HAIL             BRAINERD                46.35N 94.19W
07/14/2009  M0.75 INCH       CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN PRIOR TO HAIL CAUSING STREET FLOODING.

0715 PM     FLASH FLOOD      AITKIN                  46.53N 93.71W
07/14/2009                   AITKIN             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STREETS INUNDATED WITH STANDING WATER. LOW LYING AREAS
            FILLING AND ONE CITY BLOCK AFFECTED BY WATER IN... OR
            APPROACHING BUILDINGS.

0715 PM     HEAVY RAIN       5 NE DEERWOOD           46.52N 93.82W
07/14/2009  M6.00 INCH       CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCHES OF RAIN IN 3 HOURS.

0815 PM     FLASH FLOOD      AITKIN                  46.53N 93.71W
07/14/2009                   AITKIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            RAIL ROAD TRACK WASHED OUT BY THE RIPPLE RIVER IN AITKIN.


0903 PM     HEAVY RAIN       5 N PILLAGER            46.40N 94.48W
07/14/2009  M6.30 INCH       CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0910 PM     TSTM WND GST     PORT WING               46.77N 91.39W
07/14/2009  M53.00 MPH       BAYFIELD           WI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0948 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SW DANBURY            45.97N 92.43W
07/14/2009                   BURNETT            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.




PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
0145 CDT TUE JUL 15 2009

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...


PRELIMINARY HEAVY RAIN TOTALS FROM TUESDAY JULY 14TH.

RAIN ACCUMULATION

6.30 INCHES8N PILLAGER

6.00 INCHES5NE DEER WOOD

5.00 INCHES 1S MERRIFIELD

4.20 INCHES5N BRAINERD

4.00 INCHES NISSWA

3.25 INCHES2N MOTLEY

2.75 INCHES 5SW GRAND RAPIDS

1.60 INCHESCLOQUET

1.42 INCHES             INTERNATIONAL FALLS

1.36 INCHES DULUTH AIRPORT

Last modified: January 6, 2017
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