Storms come in strong, but end quietly

Thunderstorms and lightning came in full force early morning Tuesday in the Brainerd lakes area, but the day ended on a quiet note as the second set of storms made its way around the lakes area.

After a day where there were several severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings being issued for the lakes area that also involved a good portion of the state, Brainerd finished with .79 inches of rain and Mission Township had close to an inch or .92 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Duluth.

Roman Bertes, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Tuesday said he had no rainfall totals earlier in the day, but said the Doppler radar indicated that about two to five inches of rain fell just south of Pine River, Leader area, Pequot Lakes and Nisswa in the morning storm.

Bertes said the first severe thunderstorm warning at 6:32 a.m. indicated the potential of destructive winds of 70 mph in Crow Wing and southern Cass County, but he did not hear of any official report that the area saw that high of wind. Another warning came shortly after in west central Aitkin County. A tornado watch went into effect around 3:30 p.m. for 29 counties that included Crow Wing, Cass, Morrison, Todd, Aitkin, Wadena and Mille Lacs counties, but the watch was canceled around 6:30 p.m.

"We didn't see any tornadoes associated in the Brainerd area, but the winds were stronger to the west, but they weakened before they got there (Brainerd.)," said Bertes.

Bertes said the storms were the result of a fairly big cold front in Canada.

Thunderstorms and lightening made its presence in many areas in the lakes area. Just after 1 p.m. a tornado warning was issued for central Wadena County, as storm cells grew more severe and as they lined up just south of Detroit Lakes and began marching to the east. The warning was canceled about 1:30 p.m. as the storm moved east.

The National Weather Service reported a strong thunderstorm capable of half-inch hail and wind gusts of 40 mph was indicated on Doppler radar south of Nimrod at 1 p.m. heading toward Lake Shore, Pequot Lakes, Jenkins, Breezy Point, Merrifield and Crosslake and Fifty Lakes.

Kevin Kraujalis of the National Weather Service in Duluth said Tuesday night that "the main event," or the second set of storms, missed Brainerd and went south.

"The storm came in but developed around us (Brainerd) and picked up steam and blew to the south and to the east," Kraujalis. "The storm will continue to go south and east and tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday will be a nice day. Then there is another chance of rain Friday, but it won't be as nearly as intense as it was today, but it'll be something that we'll have to monitor."

Dave Kellenbenz, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Forks that covers Wadena County, said there were reports of nickel-size hail in Sebeka and dime-size hail was reported four miles north of Blue Grass, which also received four to five inches of rain. Kellenbenz said radar showed that Wadena had two to 2 1/2 inches of rain.

Central Wadena County also was in a flash flood warning earlier Tuesday with radar estimates of five to six inches of rain falling near Pelican Rapids.

South of St. Cloud, counties were in a dangerous heat index with warmth and humidity combining for an uncomfortable heat index of more than 100 degrees across portions of central and southeastern Minnesota.

Morrison County had two reports of lightning striking two homes in Buh Township, north of Pierz.

At 5:34 p.m., Terry Froelich reported that his house located at the 25000 block of 193rd Street had been struck by lightning and there was smoke in his house. Deputies found that the phone box attached to The house had been struck damaging the phone box and the phone line going into the house.

Then at 5:50 p.m., Lois Virnig reported that her house located IN the 17000 block of 275th Avenue,also was damaged by lightning. The house was struck on the northwest corner and the siding, wood frame and basement area of the house was damaged. The lightning strike also made a hole into the side of the house going into the basement.

The family was in the basement during the storm that was coming through the area when the lightning hit the house in the same corner that they had been sitting, it was reported.

No one was injured in both incidents.

The Pierz Fire Department also assisted the sheriff's office at the two homes.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.