Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 22, 2011Anoka County, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 22, 2011, 2:10 PM CDT for Anoka County, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Minnesota. It was in force for 35 min. 10 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, 2:10 PM CDT (19:10 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2011, 2:45 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Anoka County, MN, Hennepin County, MN, Ramsey County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:09 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, 2:15 PM CDTTORNADOMinneapolis, MN*** 1 FATAL, 30 INJ *** THE ONE FATALITY OCCURRED AT THE INTERSECTION OF 37TH AND FREMONT AVENUE NORTH. TWO PERSON WERE REPORTED CRITICALLY INJURED.12 PEOPLE HAD MODERATE INJURIES AND 15 HAD MINOR INJURIES.
May 22, 2:16 PM CDTTORNADOMinneapolis, MNTREES DOWN 21ST AND THOMAS NORTH
May 22, 2:16 PM CDTTORNADOSt Louis Park, MNDEBRIS CLOUD HIGHWAY 100 AND 394..SURFACE LEVEL ROTATION
May 22, 2:23 PM CDTTORNADOBrooklyn Center, MNAT HIGHWAY 694 OVER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
May 22, 2:27 PM CDTTORNADOMinneapolis, MN29TH AND LOGAN NORTH
May 22, 2:30 PM CDTHAIL 1Fridley, MNALSO WIND DAMAGE TO GARDEN SHEDS AT HIGHWAY 100 AND 694
May 22, 2:34 PM CDTTORNADOFridley, MN51ST AND UNIVERSITY AVENUE...ROOF OFF HOUSE
May 22, 2:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGFridley, MNCENTRAL AVE. AND 73RD ST 6 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN
May 22, 2:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGMinneapolis, MNFOLLOWUP REPORT...SOUTH OF 12TH AND UPTON EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE SOME STRUCTURE DAMAGE AS WELL...APPEARS TO BE WIND NOT TORNADO DAMAGE
May 22, 2:47 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGMinneapolis, MN12 TO 18 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN IN THEO. WIRTH PARK...SPOTTER SAYS POSIBLE TORNADO

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, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 33 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.

362 
WFUS53 KMPX 221910
TORMPX
MNC003-053-123-221945-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0015.110522T1910Z-110522T1945Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
210 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME SOUTHERN ANOKA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  EAST CENTRAL HENNEPIN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  NORTHWESTERN RAMSEY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 245 PM CDT

* AT 209 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A STORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO. THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS NEAR ST LOUIS
  PARK...OR OVER ST LOUIS PARK...AND MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  NEW HOPE...
  ROBBINSDALE...
  CRYSTAL...
  COLUMBIA HEIGHTS...
  BROOKLYN CENTER...
  HILLTOP...
  NEW BRIGHTON...
  FRIDLEY...
  BROOKLYN PARK...
  ARDEN HILLS...
  SHOREVIEW...
  MOUNDS VIEW...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA AND NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN.

&&

LAT...LON 4516 9334 4509 9313 4492 9330 4497 9344
TIME...MOT...LOC 1911Z 200DEG 36KT 4498 9333

$$
3 follow-up statements
162 
WWUS53 KMPX 221915
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
215 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC003-053-123-221945-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110522T1945Z/
ANOKA MN-HENNEPIN MN-RAMSEY MN-
215 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN RAMSEY...EAST
CENTRAL HENNEPIN AND SOUTH CENTRAL ANOKA COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT...

AT 214 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS STORM
WAS LOCATED NEAR GOLDEN VALLEY...OR NEAR MINNEAPOLIS...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CRYSTAL...ROBBINSDALE...BROOKLYN CENTER...COLUMBIA HEIGHTS...
  HILLTOP...BROOKLYN PARK...FRIDLEY...NEW BRIGHTON...ARDEN HILLS...
  SPRING LAKE PARK AND MOUNDS VIEW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT... EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY HIDE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 4516 9334 4509 9313 4492 9330 4497 9344
TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 209DEG 32KT 4501 9331

$$

JLT
404 
WWUS53 KMPX 221916
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
216 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC003-053-123-221945-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110522T1945Z/
ANOKA MN-HENNEPIN MN-RAMSEY MN-
216 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN RAMSEY...EAST
CENTRAL HENNEPIN AND SOUTH CENTRAL ANOKA COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT...

AT 215 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO...WITH 
DEBRIS NEAR HIGHWAY 100 AND 394...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BROOKLYN CENTER...COLUMBIA HEIGHTS...HILLTOP...BROOKLYN PARK...
  FRIDLEY...NEW BRIGHTON...ARDEN HILLS...SPRING LAKE PARK AND MOUNDS
  VIEW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT... EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY HIDE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 4516 9334 4509 9313 4492 9330 4497 9344
TIME...MOT...LOC 1916Z 209DEG 32KT 4501 9331

$$

JLT
511 
WWUS53 KMPX 221920
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
220 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

MNC003-053-123-221945-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110522T1945Z/
ANOKA MN-HENNEPIN MN-RAMSEY MN-
220 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN RAMSEY...EAST
CENTRAL HENNEPIN AND SOUTH CENTRAL ANOKA COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT...

AT 218 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR 
INTERSTATE 94 AND DOWLING IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS...HEADING FOR 
BROOKLYN CENTER AND FRIDLEY. TAKE COVER NOW!

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COLUMBIA HEIGHTS...BROOKLYN CENTER...HILLTOP...NEW BRIGHTON...
  FRIDLEY...BROOKLYN PARK...ARDEN HILLS...MOUNDS VIEW AND SPRING LAKE
  PARK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT... EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY HIDE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 4516 9334 4509 9313 4492 9330 4497 9344
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 200DEG 34KT 4505 9329

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 7:00 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXAnoka, Hennepin45 min
May 21, 7:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXHennepin, Wright51 min
May 21, 7:25 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXAnoka35 min
May 21, 7:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXPope44 min
May 21, 8:00 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMPXAnoka, Hennepin, Wright3 hr
May 21, 8:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMartin39 min
May 21, 8:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMartin61 min
May 21, 8:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd61 min
May 21, 9:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXTodd64 min
May 21, 9:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXWatonwan50 min
May 21, 9:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRedwood48 min
May 21, 10:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXYellow Medicine48 min
May 21, 10:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRedwood34 min
May 21, 10:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBrown, Martin, Redwood, Watonwan62 min
May 21, 10:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Pope, Renville, Stevens, Swift47 min
May 22, 12:46 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXLe Sueur, Rice, Steele, Waseca44 min
May 22, 10:57 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXDakota, Goodhue, Rice48 min
May 22, 11:02 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXAnoka, Hennepin, Ramsey43 min
May 22, 12:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXLe Sueur, Rice, Steele, Waseca52 min
May 22, 12:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXCarver, Le Sueur, Scott52 min
May 22, 1:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Rice, Steele67 min
May 22, 1:35 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXHennepin40 min
May 22, 2:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXGoodhue40 min
May 22, 2:24 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXAnoka, Hennepin, Ramsey36 min
May 22, 2:45 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXAnoka, Ramsey, Washington30 min
May 22, 3:10 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXChisago, Washington35 min
May 22, 3:34 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXChisago41 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.