Tornado risk near Aitkin, Flash Flood Warnings North

(Update: 5:53 pm). This is a "storm relative motion"display from Doppler Radar in the Twin Cities, showing the velocity of raindrops and hailstones moving toward (green), and away from (red) the radar installation in Chanhassen. There is evidence of a possible tornado, or a downburst, a severe T-storm downdraft reaching the ground, spreading out, producing straight-line winds as high as 80-100 mph. Doppler is suggesting over 130 mph. of "wind shear" or rotation with this storm - it's extremely dangerous and people living near Aitkin, Palisade and McGregor should be in the basement.

In addition the NWS has just issued a Flash Flood Warning for much of the Brainerd Lakes region. As much as 4" of rain has fallen in less than 2 hours. The ground simply can't absorb all that rainwater - much of it is running off into streets, streams and rivers - if you live in a flood-prone region or poor drainage area be prepared to seek higher ground. Do NOT drive through flooded out roads, this is the #1 cause of flood-related deaths. There's simply no way to estimate how deep the water is, only 2 feet of moving water can turn your car or SUV into a boat, with potentially deadly results! More information:

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
547 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH MN HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
CENTRAL AITKIN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
CROW WING COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BRAINERD...
SOUTHERN CASS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 745 PM CDT

* AT 541 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED FLASH FLOODING
ALONG AN AREA FROM NEAR MOTLEY...THROUGH BRAINERD. THE STORMS
CONTINUED TO BUILD ALONG THIS AREA AND WERE GRADUALLY MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LITTLE PINE...PINE KNOLL...WEALTHWOOD...AITKIN...GLORY...MALMO...
HASSMAN...ROSSBURG...WALDECK...GLEN...WAUKENABO...BAIN...
KIMBERLY...PALISADE...DADS CORNER...MCGREGOR...LIBBY...SHESHEBEE
AND LAWLER

AT 645 PM...RAINFALL OF 4 INCHES WAS REPORTED IN NISSWA AND MUCH OF
THE AREA HAS LIKELY SEEN IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL
OF 2 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM THE MOTLEY AND PILLAGER
AREAS...NORTHEAST INTO BRAINERD...IRONTON AND AITKIN. AREAS
SURROUNDING THIS LINE WILL ALSO SEE FLASH FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
WARNED AREA.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.