Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 16, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 22, 2011Fillmore County, Houston County, Minnesota

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at May 22, 2011, 3:46 PM CDT for Fillmore County, Houston County, Minnesota. It was in force for 29 min. 4 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 22, 2011, 3:46 PM CDT (20:46 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2011, 4:15 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Fillmore County, MN, Houston County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 27 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:47 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 22, 4:00 PM CDTTORNADO3 Nw Caledonia, MNSTORM SURVEY CONDUCTED 5/23. THE TORNADO BEGAN ONE HALF MILE WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 22 AND 76 IN CENTRAL HOUSTON COUNTY. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS 5 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF HOKAH WITH EF2 DAMAGE AND A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 100 YARDS. THE PATH CON
May 22, 4:15 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 60Hokah, MN
May 22, 4:16 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGHokah, MN1 FOOT DIAMETER PINE TREE SNAPPED. WIND ESTIMATED 60 MPH.
May 22, 4:21 PM CDTTORNADO2 S La Crescent, MNPOSSIBLE BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN. SEVERAL TREES SNAPPED OFF AND BRANCHES THROWN. 80 YARDS WIDE DAMAGE JUST NORTH OF ROOT RIVER ON HWY 26. REPORTED BY OFF DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE.

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 22, 12:07 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 209 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 2011-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 20 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 2011-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 207 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
20 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
981 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
207 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
243 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

422 
WFUS53 KARX 222046
TORARX
MNC045-055-222115-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0016.110522T2046Z-110522T2115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
346 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL FILLMORE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...
  NORTHERN HOUSTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 415 PM CDT

* AT 343 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO NEAR TAWNEY...OR 14 MILES WEST OF CALEDONIA...MOVING EAST
  AT 45 MPH. THIS WARNING EXTENDS THE PREVIOUS TORNADO WARNING FOR
  FILLMORE AND HOUSTON COUNTIES.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SHELDON AND BEAVER CREEK VALLEY STATE PARK AROUND 355 PM...
  HIGHWAY 44 AND SANDEN ROAD AROUND 405 PM...
  HOKAH AND MOUND PRAIRIE AROUND 410 PM...
  LA CRESCENT AND BROWNSVILLE AROUND 415 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND 
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4367 9187 4385 9129 4385 9128 4379 9126
      4375 9125 4369 9127 4357 9188
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 248DEG 39KT 4365 9174

$$

BOYNE
3 follow-up statements
952 
WWUS53 KARX 222054
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
354 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC045-222104-
/O.CAN.KARX.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T2115Z/
FILLMORE MN-
354 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL FILLMORE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED EAST INTO HOUSTON 
COUNTY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

LAT...LON 4385 9128 4375 9125 4369 9127 4360 9173
      4371 9173
TIME...MOT...LOC 2054Z 258DEG 37KT 4366 9163

$$

MNC055-222115-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T2115Z/
HOUSTON MN-
354 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN HOUSTON COUNTY
UNTIL 415 PM CDT...

AT 352 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR YUCATAN...OR 8 MILES WEST OF CALEDONIA...MOVING
EAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HIGHWAY 44 AND SANDEN ROAD AROUND 405 PM...
  MOUND PRAIRIE AROUND 410 PM...
  LA CRESCENT AND BROWNSVILLE AROUND 415 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4385 9128 4375 9125 4369 9127 4360 9173
      4371 9173
TIME...MOT...LOC 2054Z 258DEG 37KT 4366 9163

$$

BOYNE
645 
WWUS53 KARX 222059
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
359 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC055-222115-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T2115Z/
HOUSTON MN-
359 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN HOUSTON COUNTY
UNTIL 415 PM CDT...

AT 357 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR BEAVER CREEK VALLEY STATE PARK...OR NEAR
CALEDONIA...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HIGHWAY 44 AND SANDEN ROAD AROUND 405 PM...
  BROWNSVILLE AND HOKAH AROUND 415 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM SUNDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHEASTERN IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN.

&&

LAT...LON 4381 9127 4375 9125 4369 9127 4369 9128
      4362 9164 4372 9166
TIME...MOT...LOC 2100Z 258DEG 37KT 4367 9155

$$

BOYNE
505 
WWUS53 KARX 222109
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
409 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC055-222115-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T2115Z/
HOUSTON MN-
409 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN HOUSTON COUNTY
UNTIL 415 PM CDT...

AT 406 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR HIGHWAY 44 AND SANDEN ROAD...OR 7 MILES NORTH OF
CALEDONIA...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HOKAH AND BROWNSVILLE AROUND 415 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND 
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4381 9127 4375 9125 4369 9127 4369 9128
      4362 9164 4372 9166
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 254DEG 43KT 4374 9142

$$

BOYNE

The office that day

Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 1:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXDodge, Mower, Olmsted57 min
May 22, 2:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFillmore, Mower57 min
May 22, 2:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXDodge, Olmsted, Wabasha45 min
May 22, 2:43 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFillmore62 min
May 22, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXOlmsted, Winona37 min
May 22, 3:21 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyARXFillmore24 min
May 22, 4:16 PM CDTTornado WarningARXHouston29 min
May 22, 4:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXHouston, Winona66 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

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.