Thunderstorm Wind in Sibley County, Minnesota

A trained spotter reported numerous 3 inch diameter branches down as well as a 10 inch diameter pine tree that was uprooted.

An early morning line of showers and thunderstorms intensified during the afternoon upon encountering a favorable environment for severe thunderstorms. Steep mid-level lapse rates combined with strong instability. The storms produced damaging wind gusts which downed trees in several areas and mostly quarter to hen egg size hail, but some hail was much larger.

A hailstone in Stevens County measured six inches in diameter (it was photographed next to a ruler). This at least tied the record for the largest hailstone in Minnesota. Storm Data records also indicate six inch diameter hail in Nobles County on July 28, 1986, and in Murray County on July 4, 1968. The hail was collected about 13 to 15 minutes after the hail ended but was not saved in a freezer.