Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 45, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 11, 2008Otter Tail County, Wadena County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jul 11, 2008, 4:40 PM CDT for Otter Tail County, Wadena County, Minnesota. It was in force for 41 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 11, 2008, 4:40 PM CDT (21:40 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 2008, 5:21 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Otter Tail County, MN, Wadena County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 208 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:40 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 11, 4:43 PM CDTTORNADO10 Ssw Wadena, MN
Jul 11, 4:50 PM CDTHAIL 0.757 E Henning, MN

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 11, 2:26 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 210 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2008-07-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 890 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2008-07-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 129 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
890 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-362 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1222 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
129 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
393 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WFUS53 KFGF 112140 RRA
TORFGF
MNC111-159-112245-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0045.080711T2140Z-080711T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
440 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN WADENA COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  EAST CENTRAL OTTER TAIL COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 545 PM CDT

* AT 435 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR DEER
  CREEK...OR 36 MILES EAST OF FERGUS FALLS...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
  AT 38 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BLUFFTON AT 445 PM CDT...
  WADENA AT 450 PM CDT...
  6 MILES NORTHWEST OF VERNDALE AT 455 PM CDT...
  9 MILES NORTHWEST OF ALDRICH AT 500 PM CDT...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO THE SAFEST PLACE IS A BASEMENT.
GET UNDER A STAIRWAY OR A PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA.

LAT...LON 4661 9500 4637 9490 4637 9517 4624 9516
      4621 9532 4642 9539
TIME...MOT...LOC 2140Z 241DEG 33KT 4639 9527

$$

GUST/PR
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS53 KFGF 112203
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
503 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

MNC111-159-112245-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-080711T2245Z/
WADENA MN-OTTER TAIL MN-
502 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL OTTER TAIL AND SOUTHWESTERN WADENA COUNTIES...

AT 458 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THE TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR VERNDALE...OR 47 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DETROIT LAKES...MOVING TO
THE NORTHEAST AT 37 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE ABOUT...
  8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BLUE GRASS BY 505 PM CDT...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO THE SAFEST PLACE IS A BASEMENT.
GET UNDER A STAIRWAY OR A PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA.

LAT...LON 4661 9500 4637 9490 4637 9517 4624 9516
      4621 9532 4642 9539
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 243DEG 32KT 4642 9500

$$

GUST/PR
000 
WWUS53 KFGF 112211 RRA
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
511 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

MNC111-112221-
/O.CAN.KFGF.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-080711T2245Z/
OTTER TAIL MN-
511 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL OTTER TAIL COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 511 PM CDT...TORNADO MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED AREA IN EAST CENTRAL
OTTER TAIL COUNTY. SO THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA.

LAT...LON 4637 9490 4637 9510 4649 9509 4661 9500
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 243DEG 30KT 4644 9493

$$

MNC159-112245-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-080711T2245Z/
WADENA MN-
511 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL WADENA COUNTY...

AT 507 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THE TORNADO WAS LOCATED
2 MILES NORTHEAST OF VERNDALE...OR 49 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DETROIT
LAKES...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO THE SAFEST PLACE IS A BASEMENT.
GET UNDER A STAIRWAY OR A PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA.

LAT...LON 4637 9490 4637 9510 4649 9509 4661 9500
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 243DEG 30KT 4644 9493

$$

GUST/PR
000 
WWUS53 KFGF 112221
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
521 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

MNC159-112231-
/O.CAN.KFGF.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-080711T2245Z/
WADENA MN-
521 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WADENA COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 517 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF STAPLES AIRPORT...OR 52
MILES SOUTHEAST OF DETROIT LAKES...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 34 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM HAS WEAKENED AND WAS NO LONGER CONSIDERED SEVERE. SO
THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA.

LAT...LON 4637 9490 4637 9510 4649 9509 4661 9500
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 243DEG 30KT 4648 9482

$$

GUST/PR

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 10:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFOtter Tail, Wilkin67 min
Jul 10, 11:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFGrant, Otter Tail57 min
Jul 11, 5:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBeltrami, Lake of the Woods, Roseau59 min
Jul 11, 6:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFLake of the Woods, Roseau63 min
Jul 11, 8:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFLake of the Woods38 min
Jul 11, 9:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall, Pennington, Polk65 min
Jul 11, 2:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMahnomen, Norman55 min
Jul 11, 3:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMahnomen, Norman, Polk67 min
Jul 11, 3:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Marshall, Roseau53 min
Jul 11, 3:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Otter Tail59 min
Jul 11, 3:34 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyFGFClearwater, Mahnomen41 min
Jul 11, 3:37 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFClearwater, Polk38 min
Jul 11, 3:41 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFMarshall, Roseau64 min
Jul 11, 3:45 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBeltrami, Clearwater, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake60 min
Jul 11, 3:46 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBecker, Otter Tail59 min
Jul 11, 4:13 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBecker40 min
Jul 11, 4:14 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFClearwater, Mahnomen, Polk61 min
Jul 11, 4:16 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBeltrami, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Roseau59 min
Jul 11, 4:23 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFOtter Tail52 min
Jul 11, 4:40 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFClearwater, Polk44 min
Jul 11, 4:44 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFLake of the Woods, Roseau61 min
Jul 11, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFHubbard, Wadena30 min
Jul 11, 5:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBeltrami, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington57 min
Jul 11, 5:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Hubbard, Otter Tail, Wadena31 min
Jul 11, 6:26 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFLake of the Woods21 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.