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Wildfire Smoke and Severe Thunderstorms in the East; Monsoon Thunderstorms in the Southwest

Wildfire smoke continues to impact air quality from the Great Lakes region into New England and the Mid-Atlantic today with widespread Air Quality Alerts in effect. Severe thunderstorms are expected across portions of the Ohio Valley and Lower Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, this afternoon into the evening. Monsoonal thunderstorms may bring areas of flooding to the Southwest. Read More >

Overview

A line of thunderstorms moved through parts of the region during the later afternoon and evening of July 19th. It produced damaging wind gusts over parts of southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, into southwest Wisconsin.  There was at least three tornadoes - one EF-1 in McGregor, IA, an EF-0 in Howard County, IA, and an EF-1 in Fillmore County, MN.

The strong wind cores hit areas between Claremont and West Concord, MN in Dodge County, from Osage to Alta Vista, IA, and in the McGregor, IA area.  Numerous wind gusts of 70 mph or slightly higher were received.

Later in the evening, storms redeveloped further north in western Wisconsin. These repeatedly hit the same areas just east of the Mississippi River into the Wisconsin River valley.  Many towns were flooded out by 6-8" of rain and many rivers rose or will rise to major flood stage. 

 

 

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Loop of radar imagery between 4:00-9:00 p.m. on July 19th
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