High Wind — Watonwan, Minnesota

2001-04-07 · Watonwan, Minnesota

Wider weather episode

A strong surface low pressure system moved out of the southwestern US and into north central Minnesota by the early afternoon on the 7th. This system produced numerous wind gusts in the 50 to 75 mph range across portions of southern Minnesota. The highest measured wind to be reported was 79 mph at Fairmont (Martin County). Other strong gusts that were measured include 71 mph at St. Clair (Blue Earth County), 69 mph at Waseca (Waseca County), 64 mph at Owatonna (Steele County), and 61 mph at Faribault (Rice County). Some damages of note include 30 homes with shingle damage in Mankato (Blue Earth Co.), Semi trailers blown over near Eagle Lake (Blue Earth County) and Goodhue (Goodhue County), roof off a barn near Cleveland (Le Sueur County), and a railroad cross arm blown over on power lines in St. James (Watonwan County). Strong winds estimated at around 70 mph (by the Ellendale Eagle newspaper) toppled a 45,000 bushel bin at the Cannon Valley Co-op Elevator in Ellendale (Steele County). A one hundred foot section of a turkey house roof in Lemond Township (Steele County), was torn away by strong winds. The Maple River school and bus garage in Minnesota Lake (Blue Earth County) incurred roof damage. Two fifty foot tall, WFS 50,000 bushel capacity empty grain bins were torn down near Mapleton in Blue Earth County. A large barn was destroyed, along with the Walters Liquor store building in or near Kiester (Faribault County).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5241952. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.