Sioux Falls Dodges Strong Wind Friday Night - July 23, 2010

Sioux Falls dodged strong winds Friday night.  Numerous lines of thunderstorms occurred Friday evening and night throughout this area.  One line was situated right along Interstate 90 and was moving straight eastward at 40 to 50 mph during Friday evening.  This line was producing 60 to 80 mph winds along the I 90 corridor from about 815 pm to 920 pm west of Sioux Falls, causing damage in some locations.  Just west of Sioux Falls beginning in western Minnehaha county, the storms began to rapidly weaken, producing wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph on average.  Then by about 1030 pm, the  line of storms very rapidly reintensified east of Sioux Falls along I 90 in southwest Minnesota in central and eastern Rock county.  With the damage reported, some of these winds along I 90 corridor in southwest Minnesota likely exceeded 80 mph.  

Here are some selected wind reports from the evening of July 23rd, 2010 highlighting this phenomenon.  Notice how strong winds occurred as far east as the Salem SD exit on I 90 - then stopped.  The strong winds then picked up again in Rock county, continuing eastward through southwest Minnesota. 

Time        Report                                Location

826 pm    60 mph wind                             5 NNE Stickney, Aurora county

845 pm    Power lines and trees down              Mitchell, Davison county

845 pm    70 mph wind                             6 NNW Ethan, Davison county

845 pm    House on HWY 37 lost part of roof       3 S Mitchell, Davison county

848 pm    70 mph wind                             4 S Mitchell, Davison county

855 pm    70 mph wind                             Fulton, Hanson county

910 pm    70 mph wind, billboards down            4 S Spencer, McCook county

920 pm    63 mph wind                             4 S Salem, McCook county

1025pm    House and barn down, trees down         7 NNW Luverne, Rock county

1030pm    Barn down killing cattle                2 N Hardwick, Rock county

1045pm    60 mph wind                             1 SW Adrian, Nobles county

1048pm    67 mph wind                             Adrian, Nobles county

1050pm    Large trees down                        Adrian, Nobles county

1050pm    Storage shed collapsed                  Adrian, Nobles county

1054pm    71 mph wind                             2 N Rushmore, Nobles county

1055pm    Roof blown off barn                     2 S Rushmore, Nobles county

1105pm    Semi blown off I 90                     Worthington, Nobles county

1105pm    Numerous trees down                     Worthington, Nobles county

1110pm    60 mph wind                             Round Lake, Nobles county

1125pm    60 mph wind, branches down              Heron Lake, Jackson county