Summary of May 25, 2008 Hugo Tornado

Overview

On May 25, 2008 supercell thunderstorms produced large hail and tornadoes from the northern Twin Cities metro area to western Wisconsin. Four tornadoes touched down in Minnesota and one touched down in Wisconsin. The strongest tornado was an EF-3 which hit Hugo, Minnesota and destroyed trees, houses, barns, and silos. A waterspout was reported on southeast Leech Lake at 5:48 PM in Cass County. Hail was also a major threat with these storms. Hail larger than golf balls was reported in St. Cloud, Anoka, Blaine, and Hugo. Hail in Lino Lakes remained on the ground for 20 hours after the storm, and the largest hail in Minnesota was 3.5 inches in diameter.

Tornado
Photos
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Tornadoes:

Tornado #1 - Coon Rapids, Blaine
Anoka County

Date	25 May 2008
Time (Local)	4:35 PM-4:47 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	86-110 mph
Path Length	6 miles
Max Width	100 yards
Summary: This tornado touched down in Coon Rapids, at the northeast corner of the intersection of Highway 10 and Main Street, and moved east-southeast. It ended in central Blaine, near the TPC Golf Club, east of Highway 65 and north of 109th Avenue. Trees, sheds, garages, and a roof were damaged, and a house was pushed off its foundation.

Track Map

Tornado #2- Lino Lakes, Hugo
Anoka and Washington Counties

Date	25 May 2008
Time (Local)	4:55 PM-5:05 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-3
Est. Peak Winds	136-165 mph
Path Length	6 miles
Max Width	1/8 mile
Injuries/Deaths	1 fatality, 9 injured
Summary: This tornado touched down on the eastern side of Lino Lakes, at the eastern shore of Peltier Lake. It then tracked east and crossed Interstate 35E. It intensified to an EF-3 as it moved into northwestern Washington County and north of downtown Hugo. The tornado dissipated in eastern Hugo, north of Irish Avenue and 140th Street. It knocked over trees, lifted boat docks, and significantly damaged houses. A few barns, grain bins, and silos were also damaged.

Track Map

Tornado #3- Warner Nature Reserve
Washington County

Date	25 May 2008
Time (Local)	5:10 PM-5:12 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	65-85 mph
Path Length	1 mile
Max Width	50 yards
Summary: Five miles east of the dissipation point of the Hugo tornado, a tornado developed and tracked across the Warner Nature Reserve, about three miles southwest of Marine on St. Croix. Hundreds of trees were toppled.

Tornado #4- Marine on St. Croix
Washington and Polk Counties

Date	25 May 2008
Time (Local)	5:15 PM-5:18 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	65-85 mph
Path Length	1.25 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Summary: This tornado developed in northeastern Washington County, at the northern edge of Marine on St. Croix. It crossed the St. Croix River and moved into Polk County Wisconsin. It dissipated 3.5 miles southwest of East Farmington, just north of the Polk and St. Croix County line. The damage was confined to a few hundred trees, some of which fell on homes in Marine on St. Croix.

Tornado #5- Menomonie, Connorsville
Dunn County

Date	25 May 2008
Time (Local)	5:55 PM-6:00 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	65-85 mph
Path Length	4 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Summary: This tornado touched down in northwestern Dunn County, 20 to 25 miles north-northwest of Menomonie and 3.5 miles northwest of Connorsville. It dissipated five miles north-northeast of Connorsville. Numerous trees and a few barns, silos, and outbuildings were damaged.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Photos:


Hailstones in Somerset WI	Destroyed house in Hugo	Tree damage at Warner Nature Reserve	House damage in Hugo

Radar:


Reflectivity (left) showing hook echo near Coon Rapids and storm relative motion (right)	Reflectivity showing hook echo near Blaine	Reflectivity (left) showing hook echo near Hugo and storm relative motion (right)	Reflectivity of storms

Storm Reports

Environment

Low pressure was located over North Dakota while a strong low-level jet transported moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to southern Minnesota. High values of effective bulk shear (45-75 knots) and MLCAPE provided a favorable environment for supercell formation. The 12Z and 17Z soundings showed dry mid-levels conductive for downdrafts and high mid-level lapse rates.


Combined 12Z and 17Z soundings	850 mb analysis at 12Z	300 mb analysis at 12Z


Effective bulk shear at 19Z	MLCAPE and MLCIN at 19Z	Significant Tornado Parameter at 19Z

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