Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 31, 2008Sherburne County, Wright County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 31, 2008, 5:16 PM CDT for Sherburne County, Wright County, Minnesota. It was in force for 44 min. 7 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
May 31, 2008, 5:16 PM CDT (22:16 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 2008, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Sherburne County, MN, Wright County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:17 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
May 31, 5:21 PM CDTHAIL 15 N Big Lake, MN
May 31, 5:24 PM CDTHAIL 1.751 N Big Lake, MN
May 31, 5:25 PM CDTHAIL 1.51 E Big Lake, MN
May 31, 5:26 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDBig Lake, MNVISIBLE FUNNEL HALFWAY TO GROUND NOTED. HOWEVER THE BLOWING DUST NEAR FUNNEL IS UNIDIRECTIONAL AND SHOWS NO ROTATION AND IS LIKELY RFD WIND.
May 31, 5:29 PM CDTHAIL 0.75Monticello, MN
May 31, 5:30 PM CDTHAIL 0.751 N Big Lake, MN
May 31, 5:47 PM CDTHAIL 0.75Albertville, 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
May 31, 2:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 51 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 2008-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 16 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 2008-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -6 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
16 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-33 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
722 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
7 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS53 KMPX 312216
TORMPX
MNC141-171-312300-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0013.080531T2216Z-080531T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
516 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN SHERBURNE COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  NORTHEASTERN WRIGHT COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 512 PM CDT...RADAR WAS TRACKING A SEVERE STORM WITH STRONG
  ROTATION. THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS 2 MILES EAST OF
  BECKER...OR ABOUT OVER BECKER...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 27 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ZIMMERMAN...
  BIG LAKE...
  MONTICELLO...
  ELK RIVER...
  OTSEGO...
  ALBERTVILLE...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 4526 9352 4517 9382 4537 9396 4545 9357
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 323DEG 23KT 4536 9380

$$

MDB
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 312221
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
521 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008

MNC141-171-312300-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-080531T2300Z/
SHERBURNE MN-WRIGHT MN-
521 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN WRIGHT AND SOUTHERN SHERBURNE COUNTIES...

AT 517 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THE MOST DANGEROUS PART
OF THE STORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF BIG LAKE...AND MOVING 
SOUTHEAST AT 26 MPH. GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS 
STORM.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE OTSEGO...ENFIELD...
ZIMMERMAN...MONTICELLO...ELK RIVER...BIG LAKE...BECKER AND
ALBERTVILLE.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 4526 9352 4517 9382 4537 9396 4545 9357
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 323DEG 23KT 4534 9377

$$

MDB
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 312231
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
529 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008

MNC141-171-312300-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-080531T2300Z/
SHERBURNE MN-WRIGHT MN-
529 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN WRIGHT AND SOUTHEASTERN SHERBURNE COUNTIES...

AT 525 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION. TRAINED STORM SPOTTERS ALSO 
REPORTED A ROTATING WALL CLOUD AND ARE WATCHING THE STORM CLOSELY.  
THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BIG LAKE...OR 
NORTHWEST OF ALBERTVILLE...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 28 MPH. GOLF BALL 
HAIL IS ALSO EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE OTSEGO...ENFIELD...
ZIMMERMAN...MONTICELLO...ELK RIVER...BIG LAKE...BECKER AND
ALBERTVILLE.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 4526 9352 4517 9382 4537 9396 4545 9357
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 320DEG 24KT 4529 9371

$$

MDB
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 312254
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
553 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008

MNC141-171-312303-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-080531T2300Z/
SHERBURNE MN-WRIGHT MN-
553 PM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN WRIGHT AND SOUTHEASTERN
SHERBURNE COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 600 PM CDT...

THE STORM HAS MOVED INTO NORTHERN HENNEPIN...THEREFORE THE WARNING 
WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

LAT...LON 4526 9352 4517 9382 4537 9396 4545 9357
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 320DEG 24KT 4517 9356

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 30, 7:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBlue Earth, Waseca36 min
May 31, 2:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXLe Sueur51 min
May 31, 3:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXLe Sueur, Rice, Steele, Waseca67 min
May 31, 4:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXFaribault, Freeborn, Steele, Waseca48 min
May 31, 4:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Sherburne60 min
May 31, 4:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMorrison67 min
May 31, 4:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison62 min
May 31, 5:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXSherburne, Wright59 min
May 31, 5:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXAnoka, Hennepin, Ramsey65 min
May 31, 5:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Mille Lacs, Morrison62 min
May 31, 5:38 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXHennepin, Wright40 min
May 31, 6:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChisago, Isanti58 min
May 31, 6:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott50 min
May 31, 6:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison46 min
May 31, 6:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXAnoka, Chisago, Washington45 min
May 31, 6:55 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXAnoka, Chisago, Washington50 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.