Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 33, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 11, 2008Kandiyohi County, Meeker County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at Jul 11, 2008, 6:28 PM CDT for Kandiyohi County, Meeker County, Minnesota. It was in force for 47 min. 9 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, 6:28 PM CDT (23:28 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 2008, 7:15 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Kandiyohi County, MN, Meeker County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:31 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, 6:29 PM CDTTORNADO1 Sw Willmar, MNONE QUARTER MILE SW OF WILMAR WITH DEBRIS IN THE AIR. STILL ON THE GROUND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
Jul 11, 6:32 PM CDTTORNADOSe Willmar, MNNEAR INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 8 AND 19.
Jul 11, 6:35 PM CDTTORNADO4 S Willmar, MNSHED FLATTENED. SMALL TRAILER TURNED ON ITS SIDE. SEVERAL FARM TRACTORS TURNED ON THEIR SIDES. OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY 71 AND COUNTY RD. 19.
Jul 11, 6:38 PM CDTTORNADO1 E Willmar, MNAPPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS WIDE. HIT A FARM AND PICKED UP A LARGE AMOUNT OF METAL DEBRIS. MOVING 40 TO 50 MPH TOWARD THE EAST.
Jul 11, 6:42 PM CDTTORNADO3 E Willmar, MNTORNADO WEAKENED INTO THE ROPE STAGE. MOVING ENE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 MPH.
Jul 11, 6:45 PM CDTTORNADO4 Se Willmar, MN2 HOUSES HEAVILY DAMAGED ON SW 26TH AVE NEAR 40TH ST SE.
Jul 11, 6:46 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 S Willmar, MNSHED FLATTENED. SMALL TRAILOR TURNED ON ITS SIDE. SEVERAL FARM TRACTORS TURNED ON THEIR SIDES. OCCURRED AT 23171 S. WILMAR ROAD AND COUNTY RD. 19. DAMAGE RESULTED FROM TORNADO.
Jul 11, 6:48 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD1 Sw Grove City, MN
Jul 11, 6:54 PM CDTTORNADO1 E Willmar, MNONE HOUSE SEVERELY DAMAGED. TWO TURKEY BARNS FLATTENED.

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, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 101 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 KMPX 112328
TORMPX
MNC067-093-120015-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0033.080711T2328Z-080712T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
628 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN KANDIYOHI COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  WESTERN MEEKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 715 PM CDT

* AT 626 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO 4 MILES
  SOUTH OF PRIAM...OR ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF RAYMOND. RADAR SHOWED THE
  TORNADIC STORM MOVING NORTHEAST AT 42 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS INCLUDE...
  PRIAM...
  BLOMKEST...
  SVEA...
  WILLMAR...
  KANDIYOHI...
  ATWATER...
  GROVE CITY...
  STROUT...

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.

LAT...LON 4531 9459 4500 9455 4490 9518 4506 9525
TIME...MOT...LOC 2328Z 243DEG 36KT 4502 9513

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 112346
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
645 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

MNC067-093-120015-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0033.000000T0000Z-080712T0015Z/
KANDIYOHI MN-MEEKER MN-
645 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
MEEKER AND SOUTHERN KANDIYOHI COUNTIES...

AT 640 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED SIX MILES EAST OF WILLMAR...
MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

AT 643 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED ANOTHER SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS
LOCATED 4 MILES EAST OF SVEA...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE SVEA...STROUT...PRINSBURG...
LAKE LILLIAN...KANDIYOHI...GROVE CITY...BLOMKEST AND ATWATER.

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.

LAT...LON 4490 9518 4499 9520 4509 9509 4517 9496
      4531 9459 4502 9455 4501 9456 4500 9455
TIME...MOT...LOC 2345Z 251DEG 40KT 4502 9491

$$
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 112351
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
651 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

MNC067-093-120015-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0033.000000T0000Z-080712T0015Z/
KANDIYOHI MN-MEEKER MN-
651 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
MEEKER AND SOUTHEASTERN KANDIYOHI COUNTIES...

AT 647 PM CDT...RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM
WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF LAKE LILLIAN...AND MOVING EAST AT 40
MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE SVEA...STROUT...LAKE
LILLIAN...KANDIYOHI...GROVE CITY...BLOMKEST AND ATWATER.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OR PRODUCING TORNADOES.

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.

LAT...LON 4490 9518 4510 9503 4517 9496 4531 9459
      4502 9455 4500 9457
TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 251DEG 40KT 4505 9484

$$
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 112359
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
659 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

MNC067-093-120015-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0033.000000T0000Z-080712T0015Z/
KANDIYOHI MN-MEEKER MN-
659 PM CDT FRI JUL 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
MEEKER AND EAST CENTRAL KANDIYOHI COUNTIES...

AT 656 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG
ROTATION.  THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES
SOUTH OF ATWATER...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE STROUT...GROVE CITY AND
ATWATER.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON 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.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS.

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.

LAT...LON 4494 9498 4513 9488 4531 9459 4520 9458
      4519 9457 4502 9455 4500 9457
TIME...MOT...LOC 2359Z 263DEG 49KT 4504 9472

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 11:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas41 min
Jul 10, 11:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXPope, Stevens, Swift55 min
Jul 10, 11:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas, Morrison, Pope, Stearns, Todd65 min
Jul 11, 12:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift59 min
Jul 11, 12:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns53 min
Jul 11, 1:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Renville, Swift, Yellow Medicine54 min
Jul 11, 1:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison65 min
Jul 11, 4:45 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXTodd30 min
Jul 11, 5:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Kandiyohi, Pope, Swift47 min
Jul 11, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXTodd45 min
Jul 11, 5:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMorrison46 min
Jul 11, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns57 min
Jul 11, 6:36 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXKandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns54 min
Jul 11, 6:40 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXMeeker, Stearns65 min
Jul 11, 6:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRedwood, Renville, Sibley55 min
Jul 11, 6:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison54 min
Jul 11, 6:54 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXRenville36 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.