| Event |
Strong Wind |
| Magnitude |
47 kts. |
| State |
MINNESOTA |
| County/Area |
WATONWAN |
| WFO |
MPX |
| Begin Date |
05/20/2009 13:00:00 CST-6 |
| End Date |
05/20/2009 15:00:00 CST-6 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect |
0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect |
0/0 |
| Property Damage |
5.00K |
| Crop Damage |
0.00K |
| Episode Narrative |
A very unusual warm, windy and dry air mass moved northward across the upper midwest on May 20. During the early morning hours of May 20th, sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph occurred across west central Minnesota. These winds continued through the day and expanded eastward across eastern Minnesota by the lunch hour. During the afternoon, peak wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph occurred across a large area of southern and east central Minnesota...as well as portions of west central Minnesota. These winds in combination of the recent dry soil conditions across southern Minnesota, led to areas of blowing dust which was the top soil of many farms across southern Minnesota. Visibilities were reduced as low as two miles in the blowing dust which was transported northeast across most of east central Minnesota during the afternoon. During the time of peak wind gusts, there were several reports of large trees blown down and minor damage to roofs. The following are some of the highest wind speeds recorded on Wednesday.
Redwood Falls. 55 mph.|St. James. 54 mph.|Fairmont. 54 mph.|Waseca. 53 mph. |Owatonna. 51 mph.|Tracy. 51 mph. |Twin Cities International Airport. 50 mph.|Eden Prairie. 50 mph. |
| Event Narrative |
Two areas in St. James, Minnesota had minor wind damage as strong winds develop during the afternoon of May 20th. The residence of Mr. Hillis Peterson had one of their large Basswood trees fall. His home was on 11th Ave South in St. James. In addition, the business of Performance Plating, which is also on 11th Ave, had a section of their roof torn loose by the high winds. |
