Widespread Wind Damage
Bow Echo - June 21^st, 2013

 Summary:

A powerful complex of thunderstorms, known as a bow echo, moved across parts of central and northeast South Dakota and west central Minnesota during the afternoon hours of June 21^st, 2013. Damaging winds around 90 mph at times uprooted large trees and caused considerable structural damage and loss of power to those in its path. The worst wind damage was located near Lake Poinsett, Watertown, Milbank and Ortonville, MN. A survey team checked out a few of these locations on Monday June 24th and confirmed the strong wind damage, with estimated wind speeds of around 90 mph in the areas of the worst damage. Some of the more notable damage included a downtown Ortonville building constructed in 1919 that lost its roof and affected 10 businesses, the bowling alley in Clear Lake that lost its roof, numerous pole barns destroyed, and countless trees that were uprooted into homes, cabins and trailers. Along with the straight line wind damage, embedded tornadoes also developed along the leading edge of the line of storms. Three brief touchdowns were confirmed. The first was around 1:59 PM about 8 miles northwest of Miller, and the second tornado was reported around 2:55 PM and was approximately 2 miles northwest of Carpenter in southern Clark County. A third tornado was reported 5 miles west northwest of Lake Norden at 334 pm. Tornado damage was difficult to assess as the strong straight line winds associated with the bow echo dominated the damage signatures or the tornados were reported in open agricultural fields.

Damage Photos (click to enlarge):

Clear Lake

Lake Poinsett North

Lake Poinsett South

 Big Stone County

 

 

Clark County Tornado

Courtesy of Bill Doms

 

Radar Imagery, Etc. (click to enlarge):

0.5 Degree Reflectivity Loop of Event	MODIS "False Color" Satellite Imagery from Wednesday, July 17th, 2013

All Storm Reports from June 21, 2013:

Click here for map form

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD

713 PM CDT FRI JUN 21 2013

 

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

 

1130 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 SW OKATON             43.83N 100.96W

06/21/2013  E60 MPH          JONES              SD   PUBLIC

 

            60 PLUS MPH WINDS WITH DIME SIZE HAIL.

 

1140 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 W OKATON              43.88N 100.95W

06/21/2013  E70 MPH          JONES              SD   PUBLIC

 

1155 AM     TSTM WND GST     MURDO                   43.89N 100.71W

06/21/2013  M68 MPH          JONES              SD   MESONET

 

            REPORTED BY MESONET STATION IN MURDO

 

1200 PM     TSTM WND GST     8 E MURDO               43.89N 100.55W

06/21/2013  E60 MPH          JONES              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

1200 PM     HAIL             MURDO                   43.89N 100.71W

06/21/2013  E1.00 INCH       JONES              SD   BROADCAST MEDIA

 

1212 PM     HAIL             1 E KELDRON             45.93N 101.79W

06/21/2013  E1.50 INCH       CORSON             SD   PUBLIC

 

1225 PM     HAIL             MORRISTOWN              45.94N 101.72W

06/21/2013  E2.75 INCH       CORSON             SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

1239 PM     TSTM WND GST     13 N VIVIAN             44.12N 100.29W

06/21/2013  M75 MPH          LYMAN              SD   MESONET

 

1242 PM     HAIL             9 E MORRISTOWN          45.94N 101.53W

06/21/2013  E2.00 INCH       CORSON             SD   PUBLIC

 

1244 PM     HAIL             3 E PIERRE              44.37N 100.26W

06/21/2013  E1.00 INCH       HUGHES             SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

1256 PM     HAIL             2 E HIGHMORE            44.52N  99.40W

06/21/2013  E1.00 INCH       HYDE               SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

0120 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 W OACOMA              43.80N  99.42W

06/21/2013  M58 MPH          LYMAN              SD   MESONET

 

0123 PM     TORNADO          2 N TULARE              44.77N  98.51W

06/21/2013                   SPINK              SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            SMALL TORNADO REPORTED NEAR TULARE

 

0125 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 W STEPHAN             44.25N  99.47W

06/21/2013  E70 MPH          HYDE               SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

0125 PM     HAIL             1 W STEPHAN             44.25N  99.47W

06/21/2013  E1.00 INCH       HYDE               SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

0127 PM     HAIL             7 W TULARE              44.74N  98.65W

06/21/2013  E1.00 INCH       SPINK              SD   PUBLIC

 

            LOT OF HAIL

 

0140 PM     HAIL             8 NW MILLER             44.60N  99.10W

06/21/2013  E1.00 INCH       HAND               SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

0148 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 NW MILLER             44.53N  99.00W

06/21/2013                   HAND               SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

0155 PM     TSTM WND DMG     REE HEIGHTS             44.52N  99.20W

06/21/2013                   HAND               SD   COCORAHS

 

            SEVERAL MEDIUM SIZE BRANCHES DOWN

 

0158 PM     TORNADO          10 N MILLER             44.66N  98.99W

06/21/2013                   HAND               SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN

 

0200 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 E DANFORTH            44.25N  98.76W

06/21/2013  M85 MPH          HAND               SD   MESONET

 

0205 PM     FLASH FLOOD      TULARE                  44.74N  98.51W

06/21/2013                   SPINK              SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            MAJOR STREET FLOODING IN TULARE.

 

0208 PM     HAIL             HENRY                   44.88N  97.46W

06/21/2013  E1.00 INCH       CODINGTON          SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

 

0209 PM     TORNADO          GLENDALE COLONY         44.80N  98.29W

06/21/2013                   SPINK              SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN

 

0213 PM     HAIL             2 SW MILLER             44.50N  99.02W

06/21/2013  E0.88 INCH       HAND               SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

0215 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W MILLER              44.52N  99.03W

06/21/2013                   HAND               SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

            2 LARGE FUEL TANKS BLOWN OVER

 

0217 PM     HAIL             WATERTOWN               44.91N  97.17W

06/21/2013  E0.88 INCH       CODINGTON          SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

            NICKEL HAIL AT LAKE KAMPESKA

 

0220 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SPINK COLONY            44.75N  98.29W

06/21/2013                   SPINK              SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            WIND DAMAGE TO A BUILDING AND WINDOWS. TREES ALSO

            DAMAGED.

 

0222 PM     HAIL             3 N MILLER              44.56N  98.99W

06/21/2013  E1.00 INCH       HAND               SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

            HEAVY RAIN ALSO REPORTED

 

0222 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 N MILLER              44.56N  98.99W

06/21/2013  E55 MPH          HAND               SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

            HEAVY RAIN ALSO REPORTED

 

0223 PM     HAIL             2 SW HENRY              44.86N  97.49W

06/21/2013  E0.50 INCH       CLARK              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

0225 PM     HAIL             6 W HILLSIDE COLONY     44.74N  98.17W

06/21/2013  M4.00 INCH       SPINK              SD   PUBLIC

 

            HAILED FOR APPX 15 MINUTES...PUBLIC REPORT RELAYED FROM

            NSSL SHAVE

 

0245 PM     FLASH FLOOD      11 SSE MILLER           44.37N  98.90W

06/21/2013                   HAND               SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            CULVERT WASHED OUT BY FLOOD WATERS.

 

0254 PM     TSTM WND GST     FORDHAM COLONY          44.77N  97.91W

06/21/2013  E76 MPH          CLARK              SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            WIND GUSTS REPORTED 70 TO 76 MPH

 

0255 PM     TORNADO          2 NW CARPENTER          44.66N  97.94W

06/21/2013                   CLARK              SD   PUBLIC

 

0255 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WSW GETTYSBURG        45.00N  99.97W

06/21/2013  M72 MPH          POTTER             SD   MESONET

 

0308 PM     TORNADO          4 S FORDHAM COLONY      44.71N  97.91W

06/21/2013                   CLARK              SD   PUBLIC

 

            TORNADO IS RAIN WRAPPED WITH OVER 100 MPH INFLOW WINDS

            BEING REPORTED.

 

0310 PM     TSTM WND DMG     VIENNA                  44.70N  97.50W

06/21/2013                   CLARK              SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            TREES DOWN BLOCKING HIWAY. TREES ALSO DOWN AT WILLOW

            LAKE. 2 TO 3 MILES EAST OF WILLOW LAKE A GRAIN BIN

            COLLAPSED.

 

0330 PM     HAIL             3 W LAKE NORDEN         44.58N  97.27W

06/21/2013  E2.50 INCH       HAMLIN             SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

0333 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 S SELBY               45.43N 100.03W

06/21/2013                   WALWORTH           SD   PUBLIC

 

            PICKUP AND CAMPER BLOWN OFF HIGHWAY BY STRONG EAST

            WINDS.

 

0334 PM     TORNADO          5 WNW LAKE NORDEN       44.61N  97.30W

06/21/2013                   HAMLIN             SD   PUBLIC

 

            RAIN WRAPPED TORNADO REPORTED

 

0337 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 W LAKE NORDEN         44.58N  97.25W

06/21/2013  E65 MPH          HAMLIN             SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            SOME TREE DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED

 

0340 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 S GARDEN CITY         44.90N  97.58W

06/21/2013  E60 MPH          CLARK              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

0343 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 W STONE BRIDGE        44.60N  97.12W

06/21/2013                   HAMLIN             SD   STORM CHASER

 

            MAJOR DAMAGE REPORTED TO BUILDINGS AND BARRNS AT THE

            INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAYS 81 AND 28

 

0343 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HAZEL                   44.76N  97.38W

06/21/2013                   HAMLIN             SD   PUBLIC

 

            MANY ROADS IN HAZEL BLOCKED BY DOWNED TREES.

 

0351 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NW LAKE NORDEN        44.59N  97.22W

06/21/2013  E80 MPH          HAMLIN             SD   PUBLIC

 

0400 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 S GARDEN CITY         44.90N  97.58W

06/21/2013                   CLARK              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

            10 INCH DIAMETER TREE BRANCH DOWN ON GARAGE ROOF

 

0405 PM     TSTM WND GST     WATERTOWN               44.91N  97.17W

06/21/2013  E70 MPH          CODINGTON          SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            EMERGENCY MANAGER ESTIMATED WINDS TO 70 MPH NEAR LAKE

            KAMPESKA

 

0407 PM     TSTM WND GST     WATERTOWN               44.91N  97.17W

06/21/2013  M64 MPH          CODINGTON          SD   ASOS

 

0410 PM     TSTM WND GST     WATERTOWN               44.91N  97.17W

06/21/2013  M82 MPH          CODINGTON          SD   ASOS

 

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLEAR LAKE              44.77N  96.68W

06/21/2013                   DEUEL              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED MAJOR TREE AND STRUCTURAL

            DAMAGE IN AND AROUND CLEAR LAKE

 

0435 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WATERTOWN               44.91N  97.17W

06/21/2013                   CODINGTON          SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS MAJOR STREET FLOODING IN

            WATERTOWN.

 

0450 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N MILBANK             45.25N  96.63W

06/21/2013                   GRANT              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

            WIND DAMAGE STARTED 2 MILES NORTH OF MILBANK AND

            CONTINUED SOUTH INTO TOWN ON STATE HIGHWAY 15

 

0455 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MILBANK                 45.22N  96.63W

06/21/2013                   GRANT              SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS MAJOR TREE AND STRUCTURAL

            DAMAGE IN AND AROUND MILBANK

 

0505 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N ORTONVILLE          45.32N  96.44W

06/21/2013                   BIG STONE          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

 

            ESTIMATED WIND 80 PLUS MPH. SEVERAL LARGE MATURE TREES

            DOWN.

 

0505 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 W ODESSA              45.26N  96.35W

06/21/2013  M66 MPH          BIG STONE          MN   MESONET

 

            TIME BASED OFF OF RADAR

 

0510 PM     TSTM WND GST     ORTONVILLE              45.30N  96.44W

06/21/2013  M63 MPH          BIG STONE          MN   ASOS

 

0510 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S CORONA              45.29N  96.77W

06/21/2013                   GRANT              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

 

            TREE TOPPED AND BRANCHES DOWN

 

0514 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 ESE ORTONVILLE        45.27N  96.33W

06/21/2013  M66 MPH          BIG STONE          MN   MESONET

 

0519 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ORTONVILLE              45.30N  96.44W

06/21/2013                   BIG STONE          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

            SEVERAL TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. PART OF A ROOF AND

            WALL OF A BUIDING DAMAGED.

 

0545 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ORTONVILLE              45.30N  96.44W

06/21/2013                   BIG STONE          MN   EMERGENCY MNGR

 

            EM REPORTS MAJOR DAMAGE IN AND AROUND ORTONVILLE WITH

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN... ROOFS DESTROYED AND GRAIN BINS

            DAMAGED. EVENT STARTED AROUND 510 PM AND CONTINUED

            THROUGH 545 PM.

 

Meteorological Analysis (click to enlarge):

The images below depict the synoptic and mesoscale environment at 2000 UTC (3PM CDT) – or right around when the strongest winds hit the Hayti, Lake Norden, Lake Poinsett, Castlewood, and Clear Lake areas. 

20Z - Surface MSLP, Temperature, Dewpoint	20Z - Lowest 100mb MLCAPE	20Z - 0-6KM Bulk Shear Magnitude

 

20Z - Supercell Composite Parameter	20Z - Craven/Brooks Significant Severe (MLCAPE*0-6KM Shear)	20Z – Derecho Composite