Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Lightning & Hail

The Minnesota Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency picked Severe weather, lightning and hail as the topic for Tuesday, April 8, 2025 during Severe Weather Awareness Week.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota experiences an average of 46 tornadoes per year.  In 2022, 83 tornadoes struck the state. the most in a year since the all-time record of 113, set in 2010.

Thunderstorms affect relatively small areas, compared with most other storms.  The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts for 30 minutes, but whatever their size, all thunderstorms are dangerous.

Severe thunderstorms produce large hail or winds of at least 58 mph.  Some wind gusts can exceed 100 mph and produce tornado-like damage.  That's why many communities will sound their outdoor sirens for damaging straight-line winds.

When a severe thunderstorm threatens, stay inside a strong structure.  Mobile home occupants should go to a more permanent structure.

Treat severe thunderstorms like tornadoes.  Move to an appropriate shelter fi you are in the path of the storm.

The strong rush of wind from a thunderstorm is called a downburst.  The primary cause is rain-cooled air that accelerates downward, producing potentially damaging gusts of wind.

Strong downbursts can be mistaken for tornadoes, and they're often accompanied by a roaring sound similar to that of a tornado.  Downbursts can easily overturn mobile homes, tea roofs off houses and topple trees.  Campers are especially vulnerable because trees can fall into campsites and onto tents.

Damage from severe wind accounts for half of all weather damage reports in the lower 48 states and is more common than damage from tornadoes.  These winds are often called straight-line winds to differentiate their damage from tornadoes.  Damaging winds are classified as those exceeding 50 mph.

Hail is a product of thunderstorms that causes nearly $1 billion in damage every year.  Most hail is about pea-size.  Much of it is the size of baseballs, and it can reach grapefruit-size.  Large hail stones fall faster than 100 mph and have been known to kill people.

Every thunderstorm produces lightning which kills an average of 43 Americans each year.  Hundreds more are severely injured.

Lightning safety tips

• NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area.
• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
• When you hear thunder, immediately move to a safe shelter; a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal topped vehicle with windows up.
• Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Indoor lightning safety

• Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks. baths and faucets.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.

Last resort outdoor risk reduction tips

• Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks.
• Never lie flat on the ground.
• Never shelter under an isolated tree.
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
• Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water.
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)

You've probably heard "When thunder roars, go indoors." but what if you can't hear thunder?  "See a flash. dash inside." is used in conjunction with the other slogan for the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Here is a listing of the manufactured housing community storm shelters for each community:

• Riverside Mobile Home Park, Morristown -   73 Charlotte Street Morristown
• Viking Terrace Northfield -           Lot 403 and Lot 405 Concrete Buildings
• Florella's Northfield-               SE corner of community, free standing storm shelter
• Sunrise Trailer Park Faribault-     Faribault Middle School
• Cannon River Mobile Home Park Faribault-   Lincoln Elementary School
• Chester Court Mobil Home Park Faribault-     Faribault High School
• Evergreen Estates Faribault-                          Faribault High School
• Knollwood Mobile Home Court Faribault-       Faribault High School