Thunderstorm winds reach Category 1 hurricane strength in some areas of southwest Minnesota
Back-to-back early morning Monday, June 22 thunderstorms brought wild, wild wind gusts of up to approximately 75 miles per hour (Category 1 hurricane strength winds range from 74-95 miles per hour) in some parts of southwest and south-central Minnesota (along with southeastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa), toppling trees, causing significant damage and downing electric lines, cutting off power in some areas. KELO-TV radar indicated a 100 mile per hour wind gust north of Luverne at about 5 a.m.
At the Windom Municipal Airport, National Weather Service records show that the top wind gust speed recorded was 68 miles per hour at 6:54 a.m. Gusts of 59 miles per hour were noted at 7:14 a.m. and at 56 miles per hour at 7:34 a.m. During that same time, sustained winds were at 50 miles per hour.
The storm system itself moved through the area traveling 60-70 miles per hour.
Rainfall amounts were approximately 1 inch-to-1 1/2 inches.
In South Dakota, many areas (including around Garretson and Brandon, along with DeSmet) at winds of 80-to-1oo miles per hour. Peak winds in Sioux Falls, South Dakota reached 73 miles per hour.
Wind gust reports in Sheldon, Iowa were clocked at 95 miles per hour.
* Note from the City of Mountain Lake: City staff will ONLY pick up branches that fall on city streets. Branches or fallen trees on private properties within the city should be taken to the city’s burn site. The burn site is open today (Monday, June 22). Do NOT place any branches or trees from your property on the boulevard.
Below is a photo gallery of wind damage from within the city limits of Mountain Lake:
A VERY LARGE branch from a tree on the front yard of Mike and Kelly Nelson crashed onto two vehicles parked along 6th Avenue. Most severely damaged was Daniel Nelson’s 1983 Pontiac Firebird – the limb landing right in the center of the car’s Firebird on its hood. Behind the Firebird was parked Ashton Nelson’s Dodge, which had its back window completely demolished.
A CLOSER LOOK at the smashed windshield, hood and roof of Daniel Nelson’s Firebird – along with the huge chunk of tree that quickly changed its appearance. (Daniel, meanwhile, is in the Dominican Republic on a missions trip with other young adults from his church.)
MEANWHILE, IN THE back yard of Jordan and Sonia Brugman, another older shade tree splintered, a large section of branches falling on a children’s play area.
GOING EAST ON 6th Avenue, a tree on the yard of Pat Oja was uprooted and toppled onto the chimney and back entrance of the house, along with a corner of the garage.
ANOTHER VIEW OF Oja’s downed tree – from the vantage point of the tree’s root system.
IT WAS NOT a good wind storm for vehicles, as another tree landed on top of this car at a home just south of the railroad tracks on the west side of 10th Street South.
THIS HEAVY LIMB caused significant damage on the vehicle, smashing the car roof and trunk – and breaking to smithereens the the rear window.
THE STRONG, GUSTY winds even spun the 10th Street, 1st Avenue South Street sign off its post.
ON 2ND AVENUE, a downed tree blocked travel near Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
ALONG 10TH STREET, winds cracked over this home’s tree onto the front yard.
THIS STREET POLE at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Cottonwood County Road #1 also went down due to the strong gusts of wind.
A SPLINTERED TREE at a home on Klein Street, winds splitting the top of the tree in two different directions.
A DOWNED TREE makes the exit or entrance to this street impossible.
NO NEED TODAY for a “Stop” sign at the intersection of 5th Avenue with 11th Street – the toppled tree branch already sends the message.
SOMEWHERE UNDERNEATH THESE branches is a boat belonging to Jesse and Carolyn Karschnik.
AT VOSS PARK near Butterfield, this branch “speared” right through the roof – and existed out the window – of a neighboring camper to one owned by Jill and Mark Saunders. (Jill Saunders photo)
VIRGIL FREITAG, LEFT and Wade Meyer, right, go up higih to remove the offending branch.
ANOTHER SPLINTERED TREE with broken branch at Voss Park, being assessed by Adleigh Olson, left and Aidan Olson, right. (Jill Saunders photo)
