Nobles storm history

Sustained winds were frequently from 30 to 37 mph, with gusts measured as high as 45 mph at Automated Weather Observing System site KOTG at Worthington and Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN007 near Rushmore.

Several power poles were snapped by strong thunderstorm winds, which downed powerlines across Interstate 90. A car stopped on the roadway to avoid crossing downed powerlines, and was struck from behind by a tractor trailer, resulting in the (indirect) fatality of one vehicle pass…

Snow accumulated 1 to 3 inches, causing slippery roads which resulted in several vehicle accidents. One head on collision resulted in two fatalities.

Snowfall of 2 to 4 inches was accompanied by periods of freezing drizzle. A woman was killed and three other people were injured in a two vehicle accident on Minnesota Highway 91 north of Adrian.

Freezing rain caused light ice accumulations, but made roads and other surfaces icy, resulting in numerous accidents. One accident just west of Hadley killed a 16 year old high school boy.

Rainfall amounts across Nobles County from June 20-22 ranged from 4 to 10 inches. This rainfall resulted in widespread overland flooding across the county. Okabena Lake in Worthington also overflowed its banks, flooding the downtown area and residential properties surrounding the…

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing heavy ice accumulations, ranging up to a half inch. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 10 inches near Worthington. Many branches, limbs, w…

Two episodes of extended blizzard conditions occurred over a slightly less than 24 hour period, with a slight improvement in conditions during the late afternoon to early evening. Gusty northwest winds from 35 to 50 mph were concurrent with light to moderate snowfall, which total…

Sustained northwest winds occasionally reached 40 to 47 mph at Worthington and 2 miles northeast of Rushmore.

Whiteout conditions became common, especially over the northwestern corner of the county near Lismore and Wilmont, as northwest winds reached 35 to 50 mph and interacted with periods of light snow during the late morning and afternoon. Several cars entered the ditch due to poor v…

Wind chills reached as low as -28 degrees 2 miles northeast of Rushmore and at Bigelow, and -26 degrees at Worthington and Reading.

Synoptic northwest winds were occasionally sustained from 40 to 47 mph at a Minnesota Road Weather Information System sites 2 miles northeast of Rushmore as well as at an Automated Weather Observing System site at Worthington.

Snowfall totaled 2.5 inches 2 miles north-northeast of Worthington.

A long-duration snowfall totaled 6.0 inches in Worthington.

Sustained winds reached 40 to 44 mph at times at an Automated Weather Observing System site at Worthington.

Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak on July 27 as high as 108 degrees near Rushmore.

Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor along Interstate 90 near Rushmore.

Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 108 degrees with a maximum heat index of 108 degrees at a Road Weather Information System site near Rushmore on June 21 and 104 degrees at an Automated Weather Observing System site at Worthington on June 20.

Sustained easterly winds reached 30 to 40 mph with gusts as high as 56 mph near Rushmore and 49 mph at Worthington.

An extended period of strong winds reached sustained speeds as high 41 mph with gusts to 53 mph 2 miles northeast of Rushmore.

A brief landspout tornado was witnessed in an open field. From video evidence, the tornado touched down around 3 miles west-southwest of Brewster, just east of Sundberg Avenue north of 220th Street, and tracked to the east-northeast for around 2 minutes before dissipating. The to…

Sustained winds occasionally reached 40 to 44 mph during the morning at the Minnesota Department of Transportation site near Rushmore. The peak wind gust was 54 mph.

Sustained winds reached as high as 40 to 47 mph at times at Worthington.

Snowfall only totaled 1.0 to 1.5 inches around Worthington and northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 47 mph. Wind and snowfall combined to result in widespread white-out conditions, especially in rural areas. Roads were closed during the height of blizzard conditions.

Winds were sustained at times from 40 to 46 mph with a peak gust of 55 mph at Worthington and near Rushmore.

The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 45 below zero with 45 below zero observed at the Minnesota Department of Transportation site near Rushmore.

The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 41 below zero with 41 below zero observed at the Worthington Municipal Airport (KOTG).

The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 40 below zero with 40 below zero observed at a personal weather station near Reading. The Minnesota Department of Transportation site near Rushmore recorded a wind chill of 39 below zero.

Winds were sustained at times up to 36 mph at Rushmore and 33 mph at Worthington.

Winds were sustained from 30 to 39 mph with gusts as high as 49 mph near Rushmore and 47 mph at Worthington.

Winds were sustained from 30 to 38 mph at Worthington, with occasional wind gusts up to 50 mph measured near Rushmore.

Severe (D2) drought improved to moderate (D1) drought during mid-November with as much as 2 to 3 inches of rainfall at the beginning of the month.

A period of light to occasionally moderate snowfall totaled 1.0 inch at Worthington. Northwest winds gusted from 25 to 35 mph during snowfall and resulted in reduced visibility as low as 1 mile at times of greater snowfall.

Severe (D2) drought developed with precipitation from 5 to 6 inches below normal since August 1.

Afternoon and early evening heat index values reached as high as 110 degrees near Rushmore and 108 degrees at Worthington.

Afternoon and early evening heat index values reached as high as 104 degrees near Rushmore and at Worthington.

Afternoon and evening heat indices on July 13 ranged from 100 to 103 degrees with a maximum heat index of 103 degrees at Road Weather Information System site near Rushmore.

Intense rainfall renewed flooding across Interstate 90, especially in areas just east of Magnolia. As a result, sections of Interstate 90 were closed. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for areal and river flooding for Nobles County.

Thunderstorm wind gusts reached 60 mph by 0115 CST and peaked at 73 mph at 0117 CST, measured by the Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN007 near Rushmore.

Photo was provided of some significant tree damage on the edge of Ellsworth with up to one foot diameter tree limbs snapped off. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Strong synoptic winds gusted up to 50 mph near Rushmore and 48 mph at Worthington.

Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.