Duluth, MN

Weather Forecast Office

August 14, 2020, Severe Wind and Flash Flooding

Overview

Late in the afternoon on Friday, August 14, scattered strong to severe thunderstorms tracked east across Minnesota. While the storms initially produced small hail, wind damage, and minor flooding as they tracked across the Iron Range, a cluster of storms rapidly matured and surged eastward after moving across Lake Mille Lacs, producing a few brief tornadoes as they approached the Interstate 35 corridor. These tornadoes were all brief in duration and short in length, with the strongest tornado producing high-end EF-1 damage west of Moose Lake. The line of storms then took on a bowing structure and produced widespread wind damage along and east of the I-35 corridor, especially in Pine and Carlton counties. While some of this damage was initially suspected to be possibly from a tornado, further inspection of ground, aerial, and satellite imagery did not find sufficient evidence that a tornado occurred east of I-35. NWS appreciates the numerous photos and videos of damage that assisted greatly in the assessment of this storm damage from spotters, Carlton County Emergency Management, and the public.

Wind
Tornadoes
Flooding
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Wind

The bulk of the damage from this event was from strong, damaging winds that fell numerous trees. There was a few reports of hail, but nothing larger than the size of a nickel.


Large tree down in Superior, WI (courtesy of Lylia Stroup)	Large tree down in Superior, WI (courtesy of Dan Hanger)	Numerous trees down west of Kerrick in northern Pine County, MN (Lynn Marie Vongrowen)	Tree snapped in Siren, WI (courtesy of Michael Clark)

Container train blown over at the Duluth Port Terminal (courtesy David Schauer)	Tree damage a few miles west of Kerrick, MN (courtesy Bob Goebel)	Tree damage a few miles west of Kerrick, MN (courtesy Bob Goebel)	Tree damage a few miles west of Kerrick, MN (courtesy Bob Goebel)

Tornadoes

Tornado - Lawler, MN
Aitkin County, MN

Date	August 14, 2020
Time (Local)	6:57 - 7:02 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	1.5 miles
Max Width	100 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: The tornado touched down in a stand of trees south of 360th Street approximately 1.5 miles southwest of Lawler, MN, at 6:57 PM CDT. It tracked north-northeast across 360th Street breaking and uprooting trees. The tornado then tracked over a homestead on Kestrel Avenue approximately 1 mile north of Lawler doing damage to trees, an electrical pole, and some outbuildings.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File


Tree damage (courtesy of Tim Nistler)	Tree damage (courtesy of Tim Nistler)	Tree damage (courtesy of Tim Nistler)	Tree and property damage (courtesy of Tim Nistler)

Video - Lawler Tornado (Tim Nistler video)

Tornado - West of Moose Lake, MN
Carlton County, MN

Date	August 14, 2020
Time (Local)	7:10 - 7:13 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	110 mph
Path Length	2.7 miles
Max Width	150 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A tornado tracked north-northwest west of Moose Lake, MN, embedded within a line of thunderstorms. This tornado produced the most significant damage of this severe weather event, damaging multiple properties including lifting the roof off of a two-car garage and destroying at least one metal shed building. There were also pockets of tree damage along the path of the tornado, with numerous trees snapped 10-20 feet above the ground. Damage was strewn across fields, with several two-by-fours driven into the Earth.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File


Tree damage (courtesy of Nate Schrom)	Destroyed shed (courtesy of Nate Schrom)	Damaged garage. Note the divided highway sign which came from miles away. (courtesy of Nate Schrom)	Garage with removed roof (courtesy of Nate Schrom)

Snapped utility pole (courtesy of Nate Schrom)	Extensive tree damage (courtesy of Nate Schrom)	Extensive tree damage (courtesy of Nate Schrom)	Extensive tree damage (courtesy of Nate Schrom)

Denuded trees (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	A stripped and snapped tree (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	Extensive tree damage (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	Extensive tree damage (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)

Snapped trees and metal roof sections in the trees (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	A large tree damaged behind a home (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	Extensive tree damage (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	Extensive tree damage (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)

Metal roofing and snapped trees (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	Destroyed shed (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	Uprooted tree (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	Metal roofing strewn into a nearby field (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)

Metal roofing blown into a treeline (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)	Metal roofing strewn into a nearby field (courtesy of Patty Breska Jeffers)

Tornado - Automba, MN
Carlton County, MN

Date	August 14, 2020
Time (Local)	7:12 - 7:15 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	2.0 miles
Max Width	100 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A brief radar-confirmed tornado produced a two mile swath of tree damage across mainly forested areas near Automba. No property damage reports were received. Damage path estimated using satellite imagery and rating determined based on other similar damage reports from this event.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Flooding

We received some reports of flash flooding, especially in Itasca and St. Louis counties. There were reports of localized flooding in the city of Grand Rapids, with a culvert washed out on County Road 69 near Birch Drive south of Marble. There was also water over roadways in parts of Keewatin and Nashwauk.


Road flooding southeast of Grand Rapids, MN	Radar estimated rainfall

Radar


Radar loop of the Lawler Tornado. Note the TDS in the CC at lower right.	Radar loop of a TDS and rotation near Automba. No damage reports were received in this area.

A weak TDS was observed on radar near Moose Lake.	Another TDS was observed on radar near Scotts Corner.

Storm Reports

Click the image above for Storm Reports from around the country.

View a Local Storm Reports map here: http://www.mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/lsr/#DLH/202008142233/202008151645/0100.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
355 PM CDT MON AUG 17 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0533 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNW CROSSLAKE         46.71N 94.11W
08/14/2020                   CROW WING          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL DOWNED TREES.

0546 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S FIFTY LAKES         46.73N 94.09W
08/14/2020                   CROW WING          MN   PUBLIC

            ABOUT 15 ACRES WORTH OF TREES WERE DOWNED OF
            HEAVILY DAMAGED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF FIFTY
            LAKES. PHOTOS SHOW ALL TREES DOWNED OR BENT
            OVER IN THE SAME DIRECTION. TIME ESTIMATED
            BY RADAR.

0609 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 WNW WOODROW           46.40N 94.13W
08/14/2020  M40 MPH          CROW WING          MN   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KBRD BRAINERD AIRPORT.

0613 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     CROSBY                  46.49N 93.96W
08/14/2020                   CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL CLOUD OBSERVED BY TRAINED SPOTTER.

0615 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 E AITKIN              46.53N 93.67W
08/14/2020  M44 MPH          AITKIN             MN   AWOS

            AWOS STATION KAIT AITKIN AIRPORT.

0620 PM     FLASH FLOOD      7 S DAYS HIGH LANDING   47.16N 93.78W
08/14/2020                   CASS               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CASS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE CALLED TO REPORT
            FLOODING ACROSS THE ROAD ON STATE RD 6 NEAR
            WILLOW LAKE.

0622 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SSE LIBBY             46.74N 93.29W
08/14/2020                   AITKIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DELAYED REPORT. MANY TREES DOWN, DOCKS
            DAMAGED, AND POWERLINES DOWN DUE TO WIND IN
            THE BIG SANDY LAKE AREA. LOCATION
            APPROXIMATE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0623 PM     HAIL             1 SSW GRAND RAPIDS      47.22N 93.53W
08/14/2020  E0.88 INCH       ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER


0623 PM     HAIL             1 SW GRAND RAPIDS       47.22N 93.54W
08/14/2020  E0.88 INCH       ITASCA             MN   PUBLIC


0624 PM     HAIL             1 NW GRAND RAPIDS       47.24N 93.53W
08/14/2020  M0.25 INCH       ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER



0625 PM     HAIL             1 SW GRAND RAPIDS       47.22N 93.54W
08/14/2020  E0.25 INCH       ITASCA             MN   PUBLIC

            SPORADIC PEA SIZED HAIL. REPORT SENT IN VIA
            SOCIAL MEDIA.

0632 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 WNW CALUMET           47.32N 93.28W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUD WITHIN A ROTATING
            SHELF CLOUD. DIFFICULT TO SEE IF FUNNEL WAS
            TOUCHING THE GROUND SINCE IT APPEARED TO BE
            RAIN WRAPPED. LOCATION APPROXIMATE...SPOTTER
            REPORTED SEEING THIS FUNNEL NEAR MARBLE ON
            US-169.

0634 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SSE BOVEY             47.25N 93.38W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

            SEVERAL TREES REPORTED DOWN AT THE TROUT
            LAKE CAMPGROUND NEAR GRAND RAPIDS.

0639 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N LA PRAIRIE          47.24N 93.49W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STATE PATROL REPORTS THAT 2 FEET OF WATER
            WAS COVERING THE ROAD ON 169 NEAR GLENWOOD
            DRIVE. ROAD WILL BE SHUT DOWN.

0639 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 N LA PRAIRIE          47.24N 93.49W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STATE PATROL REPORTS THAT 2 FEET OF WATER
            WAS COVERING THE ROAD ON 169 NEAR GLENWOOD
            DRIVE. ROAD WILL BE SHUT DOWN.

0642 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HILL CITY               46.99N 93.60W
08/14/2020                   AITKIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DELAYED REPORT. SOME MINOR TREE DAMAGE IN
            THE HILL CITY AREA. LOCATION APPROXIMATE.
            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0648 PM     TSTM WND DMG     8 ESE MCGRATH           46.22N 93.12W
08/14/2020                   AITKIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DELAYED REPORT. DOCKS FLIPPED OVER NEAR
            GIESE DUE TO STRONG WINDS. LOCATION
            APPROXIMATE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0657 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 NE GRAND RAPIDS       47.24N 93.51W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   PUBLIC

            LOCALIZED FLOODING IN THE CITY OF GRAND
            RAPIDS. NOTABLE LOCATIONS INCLUDE ACE
            HARDWARE ON 5TH STREET AND OTHER DOWNTOWN
            BUSINESS LOCATIONS.

0657 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NE GRAND RAPIDS       47.24N 93.51W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   PUBLIC

            LOCALIZED FLOODING IN THE CITY OF GRAND
            RAPIDS. NOTABLE LOCATIONS INCLUDE ACE
            HARDWARE ON 5TH STREET AND OTHER DOWNTOWN
            BUSINESS LOCATIONS.

0658 PM     TORNADO          1 W LAWLER              46.53N 93.18W
08/14/2020                   AITKIN             MN   PUBLIC

            DELAYED REPORT. DRONE VIDEO SHOWED TORNADO
            DAMAGE TO A STAND OF TREES. SEVERAL TREES
            WERE BROKEN APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 FT AGL
            WITH SEVERAL MORE TREES UPROOTED. DAMAGE IS
            CONSISTENT WITH LOW-END EF-1 TORNADO WITH
            MAX WIND GUSTS OF 85 TO 90 MPH. TIME
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0658 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W LAWLER              46.54N 93.19W
08/14/2020                   AITKIN             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MULTIPLE TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0658 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SW FINLAYSON          46.15N 92.99W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   PUBLIC

            DELAYED REPORT. PART OF A METAL ROOF WAS
            PEELED OFF OF A HOUSE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE
            TO A BARN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF GRONINGEN
            ROAD AND FOX ROAD DUE TO STRONG WINDS. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0700 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NNW SANDSTONE         46.16N 92.90W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   PUBLIC

            TREE BLOWN DOWN OVER DRIVEWAY. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR. ALSO REPORTED 1.2 INCHES
            OF TOTAL RAINFALL.

0700 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAWLER                  46.54N 93.17W
08/14/2020                   AITKIN             MN   PUBLIC

            MULTIPLE TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0700 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 ESE FINLAYSON         46.20N 92.91W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   PUBLIC

            TREES WERE DOWN IN FINLAYSON. MOSTLY DEAD
            BIRCH AND DEAD TAMARACK BUT A FEW LIVE
            POPPLE TREES WERE UPROOTED AS WELL.

0701 PM     TORNADO          1 N LAWLER              46.55N 93.17W
08/14/2020                   AITKIN             MN   PUBLIC

            DELAYED REPORT. DRONE VIDEO SHOWED TORNADO
            DAMAGE TO A STAND OF TREES AND A FEW
            OUTBUILDINGS. SEVERAL MATURE SOFTWOOD TREES
            WERE BROKEN A FEW FEET ABOVE GROUND AND
            SEVERAL MORE WERE UPROOTED. AN OUTBUILDING
            HAD A GARAGE DOOR DISHED IN. AN ELECTRICAL
            POLE WAS BROKEN A FEW FEET ABOVE GROUND
            LEVEL. DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH HIGH-END
            EF-0 TORNADO WITH MAX WIND GUSTS OF 75 TO 85
            MPH. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0702 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SANDSTONE               46.13N 92.86W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL 3-5 INCH DIAMETER TREES REPORTED
            BROKEN. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0704 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HIBBING                 47.41N 92.94W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

            A FEW TREES WERE DOWN IN HIBBING WITH AT
            LEAST ONE PARTIALLY BLOCKING A STREET.

0704 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE SANDSTONE         46.13N 92.83W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   PUBLIC

            TEN INCH DIAMETER TREE BROKEN. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0704 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSW WILLOW RIVER      46.29N 92.85W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   PUBLIC

            TREES WERE FALLING ALONG MN-61 AS SPOTTER
            WAS DRIVING SOUTH BETWEEN WILLOW RIVER AND
            RUTLEDGE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0705 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE HIBBING           47.37N 92.93W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

            A POWER LINE WAS DOWN AND LAYING ACROSS PART
            OF TOWNLINE ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0706 PM     FLOOD            LAWLER                  46.54N 93.17W
08/14/2020                   AITKIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DELAYED REPORT. A FEW CULVERTS WASHED OUT
            DUE TO FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAIN. LOCATION
            APPROXIMATE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0710 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E STURGEON LAKE       46.38N 92.81W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   PUBLIC

            MULTIPLE TREES DOWN WITHIN THE CITY OF
            STURGEON LAKE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0714 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WNW KERRICK           46.35N 92.63W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   PUBLIC

            A TREE FELL ONTO A CABIN WITH LOTS OF
            ADDITIONAL TREE DAMAGE AROUND THE PROPERTY
            AS WELL. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0715 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 E HINCKLEY            46.02N 92.90W
08/14/2020  M49 MPH          PINE               MN   AWOS

            AWOS STATION K04W HINCKLEY AIRPORT.

0716 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHISHOLM                47.49N 92.88W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            POWER LINES WERE IN THE TREES WITH
            SMOLDERING LIMBS. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0717 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W MOOSE LAKE          46.44N 92.84W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   PUBLIC

            REPORTS OF STRUCTURES DAMAGED BETWEEN
            HIGHWAY 27 AND E COUNTY ROAD 134,
            EAST-SOUTHEAST OF MOOSE LAKE, INCLUDING A
            POLE SHED AND HOMESTEAD. TIME ESTIMATED BY
            RADAR.

0718 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NW MOOSE LAKE         46.48N 92.80W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   PUBLIC

            BARNS DOWN BETWEEN MOOSE LAKE AND KETTLE
            RIVER. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0720 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NNW DUQUETTE          46.41N 92.58W
08/14/2020                   PINE               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE REPORTED VIA LAW
            ENFORCEMENT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0720 PM     HAIL             KEEWATIN                47.40N 93.08W
08/14/2020  M0.25 INCH       ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA SIZE HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WITH
            2.99 INCHES OF RAINFALL ACCUMULATION.

0725 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE MOOSE LAKE        46.44N 92.72W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINE DOWN IN DITCH REPORTED VIA LAW
            ENFORCEMENT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0735 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W SCOTTS CORNER       46.59N 92.46W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   PUBLIC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 2
            W SCOTTS CORNER. OVER 100 TREES DOWN AT THE
            LOCATION WITH THE TREES STACKED UP ON EACH
            OTHER. DAMAGE MAY BE FROM A TORNADO. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0735 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 NE NEMADJI            46.52N 92.51W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   PUBLIC

            VIDEO SENT IN VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OF MULTIPLE
            TREES UPROOTED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0741 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 WSW FOND DU LAC       46.66N 92.33W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   PUBLIC

            A TREE WAS DOWN OVER THE ROADWAY IN JAY
            COOKE STATE PARK. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0741 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 WNW SCOTTS CORNER     46.63N 92.53W
08/14/2020  M41 MPH          CARLTON            MN   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MN097 ATKINSON BRIDGE I-35
            MILE POST 231.

0742 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WSW SCOTTS CORNER     46.59N 92.47W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINE DOWN AND GOING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY
            REPORTED VIA LAW ENFORCEMENT. TIME ESTIMATED
            FROM RADAR.

0745 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNW SCOTTS CORNER     46.63N 92.45W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINE DOWN REPORTED VIA LAW
            ENFORCEMENT.

0745 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 E MAHTOWA             46.56N 92.53W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORT OF A A TREE DOWN ACROSS THE ROAD VIA
            LAW ENFORCEMENT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0745 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W THOMSON             46.66N 92.40W
08/14/2020                   CARLTON            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PINE TREE DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY 210 REPORTED
            VIA LAW ENFORCEMENT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
            RADAR.

0747 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SUPERIOR                46.72N 92.10W
08/14/2020                   DOUGLAS            WI   PUBLIC

            A LARGE TREE WAS UPROOTED NEAR DULUTH CITY
            HALL. A FEW OTHER REPORTS OF DOWNED TREES
            AND BRANCHES WERE RECEIVED FROM THE CENTRAL
            PART OF SUPERIOR AS WELL. TIME ESTIMATED BY
            RADAR.

0750 PM     FLASH FLOOD      HIBBING                 47.40N 92.94W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FLOODED ROADWAYS ALONG
            US 169 AND MANY CITY STREETS IN HIBBING WERE
            RECEIVED.

0752 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SUPERIOR                46.72N 92.09W
08/14/2020                   DOUGLAS            WI   PUBLIC

            LARGE TREE DOWN IN SUPERIOR. REPORT WITH
            PICTURE RECEIVED VIA FACEBOOK. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0755 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 WSW CLOQUET           46.70N 92.50W
08/14/2020  M46 MPH          CARLTON            MN   AWOS

            AWOS STATION KCOQ CLOQUET AIRPORT.

0757 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE DULUTH            46.75N 92.10W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 2
            SSE DULUTH. A STRING OF LOADED DOUBLE STACK
            CONTAINER RAILROAD CARS WERE BLOWN OVER ON
            THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DULUTH PORT TERMINAL.

0758 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NW MUNGER             46.81N 92.35W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            A TREE WAS DOWN ON A POWER LINE IN SOLWAY
            TOWNSHIP. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0758 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NNW SUPERIOR          46.73N 92.09W
08/14/2020                   DOUGLAS            WI   PUBLIC

            THE ROOF OF AN LARGE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING WAS
            SEVERELY DAMAGED AND PARTIALLY BLOWN OFF.
            REPORT AND PICTURE RECEIVED VIA FACEBOOK.

0800 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 SSE TACONITE          47.28N 93.32W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   PUBLIC

            A CULVERT WAS WASHED OUT ON COUNTY ROAD 69
            NEAR BIRCH DRIVE SOUTH OF MARBLE AND CR 69
            IS CLOSED.

0800 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NE DULUTH             46.81N 92.07W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

            A TREE WAS DOWN ON A POWER LINE ON EAST 1ST
            STREET AND THE TREE WAS ON FIRE. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0800 PM     FLASH FLOOD      KEEWATIN                47.40N 93.08W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTS OF A MINIMUM OF 9 INCHES OF STANDING
            WATER ON ROADWAYS IN PARTS OF KEEWATIN.
            AROUND 12 INCHES OF WATER IN SOME SPOTS.
            REPORTS OF FLOODING IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN
            TOWN. SPOTTER REPORTED 3.96 INCHES OF RAIN.

0800 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LESTER PARK             46.84N 92.02W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            A LARGE TREE WAS DOWN ON A POWER LINE ON
            TIOGA STREET AND WAS ON FIRE. TIME ESTIMATED
            BY RADAR.

0801 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 5 SE DULUTH             46.72N 92.05W
08/14/2020  M49 MPH          ST. LOUIS          MN   AWOS

            REPORTED BY THE KDYT DULUTH SKY HARBOR AWOS.

0802 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N SOLON SPRINGS       46.36N 91.82W
08/14/2020                   DOUGLAS            WI   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN, SOME AS LARGE AS 10
            INCHES IN DIAMETER. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0802 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NNE DULUTH            46.82N 92.09W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORT OF METAL SHEETING DANGLING FROM A
            BUILDING THAT COULD POSE A THREAT TO POWER
            LINES.

0803 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NASHWAUK                47.38N 93.17W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WATER TO A DEPTH OF 4 FEET WAS REPORTED OVER
            PEARSON AVENUE IN NASHWAUK.

0803 PM     TSTM WND GST     8 WNW MINONG            46.14N 91.98W
08/14/2020  M41 MPH          WASHBURN           WI   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MRZW3 MINONG RAWS.

0804 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SOLON SPRINGS           46.35N 91.82W
08/14/2020                   DOUGLAS            WI   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            A TREE WAS DOWN OVER A ROADWAY IN SOLON
            SPRINGS. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0805 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 NE HERMANTOWN         46.85N 92.20W
08/14/2020  M41 MPH          ST. LOUIS          MN   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KDLH DULUTH INTERNATIONAL
            AIRPORT.

0812 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 SSE DULUTH            46.77N 92.11W
08/14/2020  M47 MPH          ST. LOUIS          MN   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MN082 DULUTH I-35 AND
            GARFIELD RWIS.

0813 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NW FRENCH RIVER       46.94N 91.94W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            A TREE WAS LEANING ON A POWER LINE ALONG
            LISMORE ROAD IN NORMANNA TOWNSHIP. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0822 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N PALMERS             46.94N 91.85W
08/14/2020                   ST. LOUIS          MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            A TREE WAS DOWNED ONTO A POWER LINE ALONG
            HOMESTEAD ROAD IN CLIFTON TOWNSHIP. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0851 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 S LA PRAIRIE          47.15N 93.50W
08/14/2020                   ITASCA             MN   PUBLIC

            FLOODING OVER ROADWAY WITH WATER UNDERMINING
            THE BLACKTOP. REPORT AND PICTURE OF THE
            FLOODING SENT IN VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0930 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 2 SE SILVER BAY         47.27N 91.25W
08/14/2020  M29 MPH          LSZ143             MN   MESONET

            MESONET STATION SLVM5 2.0 SE SILVER BAY.

Environment

The environment was favorable for severe weather with a large upper-level trough and a strengthening mid-level jet curving into the region. A surface cold front, as seen by the wind shift in Figure 3, was the primary thunderstorm initiation mechanism. Deep-layer shear was very supportive of strong, convective updrafts with values ranging between 35 to 45 knots for most locations. Mixed-layer CAPE values were higher to the southwest of the region, but still in the 1000 to 2000 J/kg range across the south. LCLs and 0-1 km SRH were favorable for some low-level rotation, which ultimately became tornadic in some locations. Moreover, the Derecho Composite Parameter, which is used to gauge the support for strong winds, was quite high across our southwest.


Figure 1: 500 mb map, with heights, temperatures, and wind velocities	Figure 2: 850 mb map, with heights, temperatures, dew points, and wind velocities	Figure 3: Mean Sea Level Pressure

Near-storm environment:


Figure 4: Effective Bulk Shear (2000 UTC)	Figure 5: MLCAPE (2000 UTC)	Figure 6: SigTor Parameter (2200 UTC)


Figure 7: 850-300 mb mean wind (2000 UTC)	Figure 8: LCL Height and 0-1 km SRH	Figure 9: Derecho Composite Parameter

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Excessive Rainfall in the Southern Plains; Extreme Heat Coming to the Southwest U.S.

August 14, 2020, Severe Wind and Flash Flooding