Two waves of thunderstorms moved across southern and central Minnesota over a span of 12 to 18 hours and produced up to 2 to 5 inches of rainfall across portions of the area.  The first complex moved across southern Minnesota and produced large hail near New Ulm.  This area quickly moved off to the east into western Wisconsin before dissipating in the afternoon. A second complex of thunderstorms developed across southeast South Dakota in the afternoon, and moved northeast into west central Minnesota and produced large hail near Chokio, Minnesota. This complex then move eastward into east central Minnesota and produced large hail and torrential rainfall during the early morning hours across the Twin Cities Metro area.  Two indirect deaths occurred in a house fire in Blue Earth, Minnesota, Sunday morning May 6 around 5 a.m.  The deceased were a 39 year old male and a 47 year old male. An investigation found the cause of the fire had been a lightning strike to the home, which had no functioning smoke detectors.

Hail in SCOTT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 00:45:00 to 06-MAY-12 00:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: SPRING LAKE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

One half to three quarters of an inch diameter hail fell across the area for approximately 10 minutes.

Hail in SCOTT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 00:47:00 to 06-MAY-12 00:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRIOR LAKE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CARVER, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 00:47:00 to 06-MAY-12 00:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: VICTORIA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CARVER, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 00:35:00 to 06-MAY-12 00:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLOGNE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SCOTT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 00:56:00 to 06-MAY-12 00:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRIOR LAKE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in HENNEPIN, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 01:06:00 to 06-MAY-12 01:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in HENNEPIN, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 01:18:00 to 06-MAY-12 01:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 01:44:00 to 06-MAY-12 01:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: HASTINGS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 01:53:00 to 06-MAY-12 01:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAGAN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in NICOLLET, MINNESOTA
From 05-MAY-12 12:01:00 to 05-MAY-12 12:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: COURTLAND
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BROWN, MINNESOTA
From 05-MAY-12 11:48:00 to 05-MAY-12 11:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW ULM
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Thunderstorm Wind in REDWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 05-MAY-12 22:48:00 to 05-MAY-12 22:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: (RWF)REDWOOD FALLS A
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in HENNEPIN, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 01:15:00 to 06-MAY-12 01:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several large tree limbs were blown down across Bloomington, Minnesota.  In addition, numerous wind sensors across the Twin Cities measured wind speeds between 45 and 55 mph.

Heavy Rain in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 06:15:00 to 06-MAY-12 06:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARMINGTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An observer in Farmington, Minnesota, measured 4.37 inches of rainfall over the past 24 hours.

Heavy Rain in CARVER, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 07:00:00 to 06-MAY-12 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WACONIA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An observer in Waconia, Minnesota, measured 2.70 inches of rainfall over the past 24 hours.

Heavy Rain in SCOTT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 07:00:00 to 06-MAY-12 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: JORDAN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

An observer in Jordon, Minnesota, measured 2.98 inches of rainfall over the past 24 hours.

Hail in BROWN, MINNESOTA
From 05-MAY-12 11:52:00 to 05-MAY-12 11:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW ULM ARPT
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Lightning in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 05-MAY-12 14:30:00 to 05-MAY-12 14:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAKDALE
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A lightning strike caused a house fire in Oakdale, Minnesota during the afternoon of Saturday May 5th.  The fire was confined to the attic and was quickly extinguished.

Lightning in FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 05:00:00 to 06-MAY-12 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLUE EARTH
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Two people were killed in a house fire in Blue Earth, Minnesota, Sunday morning around 5 a.m.  The deceased were a 39 year old male, and a 47 year old male. An investigation found the cause of the fire had been a lightning strike to the home, which had no functioning smoke detectors.

Hail in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 05-MAY-12 17:33:00 to 05-MAY-12 17:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUXEMBURG
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 05-MAY-12 20:45:00 to 05-MAY-12 20:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHOKIO
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CARVER, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAY-12 00:39:00 to 06-MAY-12 00:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: WACONIA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee