Overview
Two separate wake low events occurred within the span of 24 to 36 hours, bringing widespread 50 to 70+ mph wind gusts and associated tree and roof damage. |
Wind
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Peak Wind Gusts (mph) From First Wake Low - Morning of May 19th | Peak Wind Gusts (mph) from Second Wake Low - Evening of May 19th |
-------------------------- FIRST WAKE LOW --------------------------------------------------
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0526 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 N Elk Point 42.79N 96.71W 05/19/2025 M58 MPH Union SD Public Via personal weather station. 0544 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 SSE Alcester 42.92N 96.59W 05/19/2025 M63 MPH Union SD Public Via personal weather station. 0553 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 SE Alcester 42.97N 96.52W 05/19/2025 M62 MPH Union SD Public Via personal weather station. 0606 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 E Alcester 43.01N 96.55W 05/19/2025 M72 MPH Union SD Public Via personal weather station. 0530 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 WSW Wall Lake 43.49N 97.08W 05/19/2025 M56 MPH Turner SD Mesonet Mesonet station PKMS2 Parker 7NNE. 0630 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NNE Flandreau 44.09N 96.58W 05/19/2025 M60 MPH Moody SD Mesonet Mesonet station FLNS2 Flandreau 3 NNE (SD Mesonet). 0542 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SE Montrose 43.67N 97.15W 05/19/2025 M55 MPH McCook SD Mesonet Mesonet station 18 SD RWIS Montrose. 0526 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 W Lane 44.07N 98.45W 05/19/2025 M58 MPH Jerauld SD Mesonet Mesonet station 305 SD RWIS Lane. 0329 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 E Dixon 43.39N 99.44W 05/19/2025 M56 MPH Gregory SD Mesonet Mesonet station 283 SD RWIS Dixon. 0437 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 S Corsica 43.38N 98.41W 05/19/2025 M56 MPH Douglas SD Mesonet Mesonet station 304 SD RWIS Corsica. 0509 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 N Mitchell 43.77N 98.04W 05/19/2025 M56 MPH Davison SD ASOS ASOS station KMHE Mitchell Municipal Airport. 0417 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NE Dante 43.08N 98.13W 05/19/2025 M57 MPH Charles Mix SD Mesonet Mesonet station 324 SD RWIS WAGNER. 0441 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 W Geddes 43.26N 98.76W 05/19/2025 M56 MPH Charles Mix SD Mesonet Mesonet station RLAS2 Lake Andes RAWS. 0445 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 9 SW Platte 43.30N 98.99W 05/19/2025 M60 MPH Charles Mix SD Public Via personal weather station. 0414 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 S Kimball 43.74N 98.96W 05/19/2025 M71 MPH Brule SD Mesonet Mesonet station 25 SD RWIS Kimball. 0425 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SSE Kimball 43.69N 98.91W 05/19/2025 E58 MPH Brule SD Public Via personal weather station. 0430 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 ENE White Lake 43.73N 98.69W 05/19/2025 M64 MPH Aurora SD Mesonet Mesonet station WTES2 White Lake (SD Mesonet). 0508 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SSW Newcastle 42.60N 96.91W 05/19/2025 M58 MPH Dixon NE Public Via personal weather station. 0611 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Ponca 42.57N 96.72W 05/19/2025 M61 MPH Dixon NE Public Via personal weather station. 0612 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NW Ponca 42.59N 96.75W 05/19/2025 M60 MPH Dixon NE Public Via personal weather station. 0755 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NE Rushmore 43.64N 95.77W 05/19/2025 M56 MPH Nobles MN Mesonet Mesonet station MN007 I-90 - Rushmore - Mp 35. 0815 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 W Dovray 44.06N 95.60W 05/19/2025 M57 MPH Murray MN Mesonet Mesonet station MN038 T.h.30 - Dovray - Mp 49. 0744 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Moville 42.49N 96.06W 05/19/2025 M61 MPH Woodbury IA Public Via personal weather station. 0505 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 W Sheldon 43.19N 95.92W 05/19/2025 M64 MPH Sioux IA Public Via personal weather station. 0610 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SSW Hawarden 42.99N 96.49W 05/19/2025 M57 MPH Sioux IA Mesonet Mesonet station FW6302 Hawarden. 0610 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Hawarden 43.00N 96.48W 05/19/2025 Sioux IA Emergency Mngr Tree damage across town as well as tin peeled off of local business. 0625 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 W Rock Valley 43.19N 96.41W 05/19/2025 E73 MPH Sioux IA Public Via personal weather station. 0630 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SE Hawarden 42.97N 96.42W 05/19/2025 M64 MPH Sioux IA Public Via personal weather station. 0635 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Rock Valley 43.20N 96.30W 05/19/2025 Sioux IA Trained Spotter Pictures via trained spotter as well as social media of tree damage across town. Time estimated. 0710 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WNW Hull 43.20N 96.16W 05/19/2025 M58 MPH Sioux IA Public Via personal weather station. 0546 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Akron 42.83N 96.56W 05/19/2025 Plymouth IA Public Picture via social media of tree damage across town. 0640 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Remsen 42.81N 95.97W 05/19/2025 Plymouth IA Broadcast Media Picture of large tree down. Time estimated. 0633 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 W Larchwood 43.45N 96.53W 05/19/2025 M59 MPH Lyon IA Public Via personal weather station. 0643 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Rock Rapids 43.43N 96.17W 05/19/2025 Lyon IA Emergency Mngr Approximately 3 to 4 dozen trees down across town. Time estimated. 0643 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SSW Rock Rapids 43.41N 96.18W 05/19/2025 M61 MPH Lyon IA Public Via personal weather station. 0647 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 E Lester 43.43N 96.25W 05/19/2025 M72 MPH Lyon IA Public Via personal weather station. 0730 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 E Rock Rapids 43.44N 96.05W 05/19/2025 M63 MPH Lyon IA Public Via personal weather station.
--------------------SECOND WAKE LOW ---------------------------------------------------------
1055 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 N Cleghorn 42.89N 95.70W 05/19/2025 M72 MPH Cherokee IA Public Report via personal weather station. 1028 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ESE Round Lake 43.53N 95.41W 05/19/2025 M71 MPH Jackson MN Public Report via personal weather station. 0821 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 E Lester 43.43N 96.25W 05/19/2025 M68 MPH Lyon IA Public Report via personal weather station. 0756 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 N Salix 42.36N 96.27W 05/19/2025 M67 MPH Woodbury IA Public Report via personal weather station. 1100 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 N Mountain Lake 44.10N 94.92W 05/19/2025 M66 MPH Cottonwood MN Public Report via personal weather station. 0945 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 S Sioux Center 43.05N 96.17W 05/19/2025 M65 MPH Sioux IA Public Report via personal weather station. 1112 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SSW Heron Lake 43.77N 95.34W 05/19/2025 M65 MPH Jackson MN Public Report via personal weather station. 1200 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 SSW Marcus 42.73N 95.86W 05/20/2025 M65 MPH Plymouth IA Public Report via personal weather station. 1100 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ENE Bingham Lake 43.92N 95.00W 05/19/2025 M64 MPH Cottonwood MN Mesonet Mesonet station MN150 T.h.60 - Mountain Lake - Mp 48. 0655 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NW Beresford 43.09N 96.79W 05/19/2025 M63 MPH Lincoln SD Public Report via personal weather station. 1034 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Lake Park 43.44N 95.33W 05/19/2025 M62 MPH Dickinson IA Public Report via personal weather station. 1055 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 S Windom 43.85N 95.12W 05/19/2025 M62 MPH Jackson MN Public Report via personal weather station. 1151 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 ENE Dundee 43.88N 95.38W 05/19/2025 M62 MPH Cottonwood MN Public Report via personal weather station. 1150 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 ENE Jeffers 44.08N 95.12W 05/19/2025 M61 MPH Cottonwood MN Mesonet Mesonet station MN071 T.h.71 - Jeffers - Mp 43. 0830 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 ESE Struble 42.88N 96.12W 05/19/2025 M60 MPH Plymouth IA Public Report via personal weather station. 1018 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 NW Jackson 43.67N 95.05W 05/19/2025 M60 MPH Jackson MN Public Report via personal weather station. 1020 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 S Mountain Lake 43.91N 94.92W 05/19/2025 M60 MPH Cottonwood MN Public Report via personal weather station. 0631 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSW Beresford 43.04N 96.80W 05/19/2025 M59 MPH Union SD Mesonet Mesonet station 16 SD RWIS Beresford. 0756 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NE Rock Rapids 43.45N 96.13W 05/19/2025 M59 MPH Lyon IA Public Report via personal weather station. 0819 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 W Rock Valley 43.19N 96.41W 05/19/2025 M59 MPH Sioux IA Public Report via personal weather station. 1115 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNE Windom 43.90N 95.10W 05/19/2025 M58 MPH Cottonwood MN AWOS AWOS station KMWM Windom Municipal Airport. 0800 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE Sergeant Bluff 42.41N 96.35W 05/19/2025 Woodbury IA Emergency Mngr 4 foot diameter tree fell on a house. Time estimated. 0800 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 E Salix 42.31N 96.22W 05/19/2025 Woodbury IA Emergency Mngr Power lines down. Time estimated. 0800 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ESE Sergeant Bluff 42.39N 96.34W 05/19/2025 Woodbury IA Emergency Mngr 2 foot diameter tree fell into swimming pool. 0801 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WSW Bronson 42.40N 96.26W 05/19/2025 Woodbury IA Emergency Mngr 1 mile of power lines down from snapped poles, outbuildings damaged,, and roofs damaged. Time is estimated. 0802 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 W Lawton 42.48N 96.28W 05/19/2025 Woodbury IA Emergency Mngr Power lines down. Time estimated. 0802 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 E Sioux City 42.50N 96.31W 05/19/2025 Woodbury IA Emergency Mngr Outbuilding destroyed. Time estimated.
Photos & Video
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What is a Wake Low?
What is a wake low? As you can see in the picture above (courtesy of the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET)), it is a small area of low pressure that forms 30 to 50 miles (50 to 100 km) behind a line of showers or thunderstorms. Right behind the line of thunderstorms is a feature called a meso high. The mesohigh is the result of cold air being produced by evaporation of rain within the thunderstorms. The strength of the mesohigh is typically determined by how cold the air is behind the line of thunderstorms. Behind the mesohigh is the wake low. The presence of the wake low results in a large pressure gradient between the line of thunderstorms and the wake low. As a result, air will accelerate toward the wake from the storm, producing strong easterly winds which reach their peak as the pressure reaches its lowest values.
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