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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Stormy Wednesday : Giant hail, damaging winds and a waterspout

Scattered tree damage in parts of Minnesota. Additional storms possible overnight.

A possible waterspout
A possible waterspout on Swan Lake near Penguilly, Minnesota.
Andrew Swan

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It was a dark and stormy Wednesday across Minnesota.

Severe storms peppered several parts of Minnesota with hail and high winds. Andrew Bell sent me this great video of a possible waterspout racing across Swan Lake in the Pengilly-Grand Rapids-Hibbing area. (video above)

Seveal reports of wind damage rolled into NWS offices around our region.

Here are a few select storm reports.

  • 1 E Le Sueur [Le Sueur Co, MN] Trained Spotter reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 31 Jul, 7:00 PM CDT -- Multiple large trees down. Time estimated from radar.

  • 1 NNW Gaylord [Sibley Co, MN] Storm Chaser reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 6:25 PM CDT -- Multiple trees and branches downed up to 20 inches in diameter. Time estimated from radar.

  • Alexandria [Douglas Co, MN] Trained Spotter reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 2:08 PM CDT -- Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Multiple trees downed on power lines and roads.

  • 2 SW Lester Park [St. Louis Co, MN] Public reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 5:30 PM CDT -- A roof was blown off of an addition to a home near Northwoods Country Club. Time estimated by radar.

  • 4 W Carlton [Carlton Co, MN] Public reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 5:01 PM CDT -- A tree fell on a car west of Black Bear Casino.

  • 3 E Wilton [Beltrami Co, MN] Trained Spotter reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 3:40 PM CDT -- Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 E Wilton. Relayed report of tree damage and a flying porta potty that traveled 50ft at the BJI airport. Wind measured at 57mph.

  • 2 WNW Frazee [Becker Co, MN] Public reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 2:20 PM CDT -- Machine Shed lost roof and trees snapped near Eagle Lake at Blues campground.

  • 6 E Phelps [Otter Tail Co, MN] Public reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 1:45 PM CDT -- Estimated 80mph winds at leading edge of storm. Boat canopies destroyed. 30 ft tree snapped at base and fallen. Deck furniture thrown. Numerous other branches and limbs down.

  • 1 NNW Grand Rapids [Itasca Co, MN] Park/Forest Srvc reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 4:45 PM CDT -- Multiple mature pine trees down along US2 in Grand Rapids. Time estimated by radar.

  • 1 N Kettle River [Carlton Co, MN] Trained Spotter reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 4:39 PM CDT -- Reports of branches down with a mature pine tree down across the road on the north side of town.

  • 1 SW Crosby [Crow Wing Co, MN] Public reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 3:40 PM CDT -- Report from mPING of 3-inch tree limbs broken. Time estimated by radar.

Here are some hail reports from Wednesday.

A person holds a large hailstone in their hand
Very large hail -- reports of grapefruit size or larger -- fell across parts of Big Stone and Stevens counties in western Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon. This hail was photographed in Graceville.
Photo courtesy of Carol Bauer

  • 1 W St. Louis Park [Hennepin Co, MN] Public reports Hail of half dollar size (M1.25 Inch) at 4:53 PM CDT -- Half Dollar sized hail report provided by mPing.

  • Olivia [Renville Co, MN] Public reports Hail of quarter size (E1.00 Inch) at 5:19 PM CDT -- Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

  • 3 N Chokio [Stevens Co, MN] Law Enforcement reports Hail of golf ball size (M1.75 Inch) at 4:54 PM CDT --

  • 6 NNW Northfield [Dakota Co, MN] Public reports Hail of egg size (M2.00 Inch) at 5:45 PM CDT -- Delayed report by the Sherrifs office.

Storms will continue to rumble across Minnesota overnight.

Thursday brings a chance for spotty showers in the east, but most of Minnesota will remain dry.

Highs on Thursday will be mostly in the 80s.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday.
NOAA

Sunshine returns Friday and Saturday with highs around 90 degrees once again.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday.
NOAA