August 2nd-Widespread storms cause severe wind damage and flooding. Noted for being significant for wind at my location with high wind reading.

Low hanging clouds from 2nd storm to hit my location August 2nd 2011

The area again dealt with severe storms this Tuesday, There were two strong waves in particular, one during the early morning hours, and a second in the mid morning hours. Whats different about this one is a large chunk the area was effected, with some areas getting hit by both damaging storms. Some locations were hit quite hard with wind, multiple trees were down some falling on cars and homes in SW Burnett County, and even a damage reported to a business roof in Western Polk County. It was severely damaging winds was the part that caused the most issues, but there was also significant flooding rains up to 3-4 inches and hail reported. This report will focus on the areas as a hole first with 2 storms, the morning and mid morning in particular will be mentioned.

Radar of the 4-5AM storms Northern Polk County.

Area Report 5AM storm

Rain and storms from ahead of a warm front cleared out prior to the 5AM in the morning storms that moved though. Although most of the precip had moved east of the area for most of the night, a warm front was left sitting over the area. Thunderstorms developed along this front North of Duluth and literally rode the front all the way south, first hitting Minong with measured near 50MPH winds. This storm continued to ride the front south, and eventually picked up in intensity as it pushed into Polk and Barron counties. A wind gust of 59MPH was reported Northwest of Rice Lake before the storm finally pushed into southern Polk County, where it caused wind damage around Clayton and east. Barron Electric reported to my uncle they were out getting trees and limbs out of powerlines all day from there coverage area. The storm really began to weaken as it pushed into Dunn County where it eventually went below severe limits.

Radar of 10AM storm

Area Report 10AM storm

For most the second storm was the most damaging. This storm developed right near the intersection of the systems cold front/warm front intersection and first developed in South Dakota. The storm moved very quickly at 50MPH across the State of Minnesota before finally reaching Wisconsin. Damage was first caused in Western Polk and Burnett counties, and damage here was quite significant. Widespread tree damage and some power line damage was reported in Trade Lake and near Osceola and Dresser. The storm began to weaken as it pushed into Northern Barron County, but still caused tree damage even as it exited Barron County. The most damage from this storms seems to be narrowed at a corridor of Northern Polk and Barron Counties, as well as Southern Burnett and Washburn counties.

* Clayton area storm-significant wind gust at my station*

Storm video around 5AM from West porch August 2nd 2011

Both storms hit my location, but the 1st 5AM storm was much more significant. and was definitely the most significant for wind I've seen in the past resent years. My gauge for the second time this year far surpassed any past reading I've recorded for a thunderstorm, with a reading of 46MPH measured on my gauge, This ties my stations highest ever wind reading. Leading up to this gust, I awoke just before the storm hit, long enough to see I was under a thunderstorm warning and see that that my friend Dirk Northwest of Rice Lake also was getting get hard with winds. The storm had no real sharp looking gust front at my location, but just before the rain hit very strong, powerful winds hit my yard with wind direction from the North even slightly easterly, which is odd for a storm. I really want to remind my self later when I read this that the wind was very strong and really came in two very strong bursts, The low pitch howl of high winds in distance trees and the eves of the house rattled most of the time when the gusts were occurring. When I looked at my gauge next to the porch I was filming from and saw 46MPH I was amazed because I've never had a reading that high on my tree canopy protected gauge from a thunderstorm. After the wind torrential rain and lots of lightning occurred until the storm finally passed. I got a total of 1.19" from both storms that hit today.

Large oak branch August 2nd.

My yard had some of the more significant damage I've seen in resent years from a thunderstorm. Roof damage occurred to our garage with shingles thrown across the yard. This oak branch above which was originally found thrown across the front yard into the lilac on the side side of the house was 3 feet in length and 1 inch in diameter, This is considered a special occasion because it is the largest living branch I've had come down in the past 3 from the Oak trees.
Backyard branch.

Other damage in my yard including this 2 feet in length Ash branch in the backyard, and a 8 foot in length dead branch which fell into the SE corner lilac bush. While I was out taking pictures, the sound of shifting and snapped tree limbs could be heard in the woods on the south side of my house.
Large tree down

Damage was quite a big more significant outside of my yard, with multiple trees and branches down. This large mature oak went down in my aunt and uncles cow pasture 1 mile south of town. We believe the very wet conditions may have contribute to why it fell. This is the second tree they lost in their pasture due too wind. Earlier in the morning my aunt and uncles street was blocked from two fallen dead elm trees which blocked the road and had to be removed.

Here is another image of a fair size spruce branch that fell in my aunts yard.


Tree down along N Polk/Barron st

This poplar tree also went down in the storm and was hanging near the roads edge.

Broken branch on 70th AVE

Other damage not pictured here included more large branches around various parts around, and some in Clayton.

Area Storm Reports-entire day, in order from time occurred

6AM storms

Minong 47MPH gust

6 miles NW Rice Lake 59MPH gust

Clayton, a few large branches and trees down with a 46MPH gust.

10AM storms

2 miles SW Osceola Part of a greenhouse roof blown off with multiple trees snapped in the area

Dresser, Tree down into power line

Trade Lake, Multiple trees down, falling on cars and homes.

Brill lots of 2-3 inch branches down.