Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 14, 2009Pope County, Swift County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at Jul 14, 2009, 4:23 PM CDT for Pope County, Swift County, Minnesota. It was in force for 37 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 14, 2009, 4:23 PM CDT (21:23 UTC)
Expired
Jul 14, 2009, 5:00 PM CDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Pope County, MN, Swift County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 155 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:24 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 14, 4:23 PM CDTTORNADO4 Sw Gilchrist, MNSPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND
Jul 14, 4:36 PM CDTTORNADO6 Nne Swift Falls, MNTORNADO REPORTED NEAR SCANDINAVIAN LAKE

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 14, 2:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 152 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 2009-07-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 35 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 2009-07-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 108 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
35 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-90 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1035 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
108 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
178 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS53 KMPX 142123
TORMPX
MNC121-151-142200-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0020.090714T2123Z-090714T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
423 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN POPE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  NORTHEASTERN SWIFT COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 500 PM CDT

* AT 421 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD
  NEAR SWIFT FALLS...OR ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF SUNBURG. RADAR
  SHOWED THE SEVERE STORM MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  GILCHRIST...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM. IN ADDITION TO TORNADOES...
SUPERCELLS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXTREMELY LARGE HAIL AND
DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO SAFETY
INSIDE A STURDY SHELTER...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM
ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.

&&

LAT...LON 4558 9522 4543 9513 4536 9549 4544 9556
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 242DEG 21KT 4541 9542

$$

LS
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 142127
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
427 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

MNC121-151-142200-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-090714T2200Z/
POPE MN-SWIFT MN-
427 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN SWIFT AND SOUTHEASTERN POPE COUNTIES...

AT 425 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BETWEEN GILCHRIST AND SWIFT 
FALLS.

AT 425 PM CDT... THE TORNADIC SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
SWIFT FALLS...OR ABOUT 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF SUNBURG...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...GILCHRIST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

&&

LAT...LON 4558 9522 4543 9513 4536 9549 4544 9556
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 242DEG 21KT 4542 9540

$$

LS
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 142131
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
431 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

MNC151-142141-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-090714T2200Z/
SWIFT MN-
431 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN SWIFT COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

RADAR INDICATED THAT THE SEVERE STORM HAD MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA. THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

LAT...LON 4549 9543 4558 9522 4543 9513 4541 9528
      4541 9542
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 241DEG 27KT 4545 9532

$$

MNC121-142200-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-090714T2200Z/
POPE MN-
431 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN POPE COUNTY...

AT 426 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED ONE MILE WEST OF SWIFT FALLS.

AT 430 PM CDT... THE TORNADIC SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
GILCHRIST...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF SUNBURG...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...RURAL EASTERN POPE COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

&&

LAT...LON 4549 9543 4558 9522 4543 9513 4541 9528
      4541 9542
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 241DEG 27KT 4545 9532

$$

LS
000 
WWUS53 KMPX 142142
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
442 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

MNC121-142200-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-090714T2200Z/
POPE MN-
442 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN POPE COUNTY...

BETWEEN 425 PM AND 430 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED WITH THIS 
STORM NEAR SWIFT FALLS AND GILCHRIST.

AT 439 PM CDT... THE TORNADIC SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES
NORTHEAST OF GILCHRIST...OR ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTH OF SEDAN...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. SPOTTERS REPORTED THE TORNADO HAD LIFTED AS OF 
438 PM CDT... ALTHOUGH STRONG ROTATION WAS STILL REPORTED WITH THE 
STORM AND ADDITIONAL TORNADOES REMAIN POSSIBLE.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE... TERRACE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OR PRODUCING TORNADOES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

&&

LAT...LON 4550 9539 4558 9522 4543 9513 4541 9530
      4541 9533
TIME...MOT...LOC 2140Z 241DEG 27KT 4548 9524

$$

LS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 14, 1:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd78 min
Jul 14, 2:19 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXStearns41 min
Jul 14, 2:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMorrison49 min
Jul 14, 3:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXPope39 min
Jul 14, 3:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd38 min
Jul 14, 3:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXKandiyohi39 min
Jul 14, 3:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKandiyohi28 min
Jul 14, 3:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMorrison, Todd43 min
Jul 14, 4:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXPope49 min
Jul 14, 4:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns39 min
Jul 14, 4:44 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXKandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns46 min
Jul 14, 4:48 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXPope, Stearns42 min
Jul 14, 4:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas50 min
Jul 14, 5:00 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXKandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns45 min
Jul 14, 5:13 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXDouglas47 min
Jul 14, 5:32 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXStearns28 min
Jul 14, 5:38 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd37 min
Jul 14, 5:48 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMPXMorrison, Todd2 hr
Jul 14, 5:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBenton25 min
Jul 14, 5:54 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd66 min
Jul 14, 6:04 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBenton26 min
Jul 14, 6:07 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXSherburne23 min
Jul 14, 6:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Sherburne, Stearns52 min
Jul 14, 6:18 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXBenton, Sherburne, Stearns42 min
Jul 14, 6:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMorrison51 min
Jul 14, 6:41 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningMPXBenton, Stearns4 hr
Jul 14, 6:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXSherburne48 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes in 2009

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.