Severe storms hit Winona and Fillmore counties hard. Widespread tree damage reported in Winona. Also Hot and very windy Wednesday ahead of front wind gusts over 50MPH reported!

Torrential downpour from a afternoon an afternoon strong storm May 24th 2012

Strong to severe storms swept through the area today as a stationary front got its act together and finally pushed east. Thunderstorms formed along this front along I-35 and slowly gained in strength as they moved east. After producing heavy downpours and gusty winds through communities west of and along highway 52 including in Rochester, they became severe and produced very high winds and widespread significant tree damage in Fillmore and Winona counties. A gust of 64MPH was reported in Harmony, and trees and powerlines were down in Fountain. Some of the worst damage done in the area was around and in the city of Winona. Strong winds down trees throughout the city. Powerouteges were reported in Goodview a Winona Suburb.

Radar image as storms approached Winona

This is a radar image taken from NWS La Cross as the storm pushed into the city of Winona. Notice a nice but un defined edge bowing area on the storm

Reports

Winona Widespread Tree Damage

Goodview, Trees down Power Outages.

Harmony, 64MPH wind gust Trees Down

Fountain Trees and powerlines down on Main St


Wednesdays Hot weather and strong S winds. 
 

 Significant blowing dust near Hayfield May 23rd 2012

The passing of a warm front and s strong low pressure system to our north with a tight gradient set us up for a hot and hot and very windy Wednesday! The wind was a hot, dry and very strong out of the South all day. It especially became strong in the afternoon when they were gusting across the Southern Minnesota Plain from 45 to 50MPH. The wind made driving difficult and causing minor problems such as breaking tree limbs and loose items blowing around. Significant blowing dust was a problem as well as dry conditions and Freshly plowed fields was allowing the winds to pick up the soil and blow it into the air. I personally was driving west during the day and I've never seen soil being picked up like this off fields it was a neat thing to see. In some cases the dust was blowing so bad that it was difficult to see where it was blinding views on roads at certain fields.

Highest wind gusts and temps.

The highest wind gust seen was in open areas near Zumbrota where a gust of 51MPH was reported. The least windiest area was Winona which recorded a 30MPH gust