Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 22, 2011Polk County, Wisconsin; Chisago County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 22, 2011, 3:34 PM CDT for Polk County, Wisconsin; Chisago County, Minnesota. It was in force for 41 min. 1 report 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, 3:34 PM CDT (20:34 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2011, 4:15 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Chisago County, MN, Polk County, WI

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:38 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, 3:42 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDLindstrom, 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 22, 12:07 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 98 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.

888 
WFUS53 KMPX 222034
TORMPX
MNC025-WIC095-222115-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0020.110522T2034Z-110522T2115Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN CHISAGO COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  NORTHWESTERN POLK COUNTY IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...

* UNTIL 415 PM CDT

* AT 332 PM CDT...RADAR WAS TRACKING A SEVERE STORM WITH STRONG
  ROTATION. THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS 2 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF LINDSTROM...AND MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  WOLF CREEK...
  SUNRISE...
  ALMELUMD...
  ST CROIX WILD RIVER STATE PARK...

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 4564 9290 4564 9264 4539 9273 4539 9298
TIME...MOT...LOC 2033Z 202DEG 34KT 4542 9285

$$
3 follow-up statements
129 
WWUS53 KMPX 222045
SVSMPX

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

MNC025-WIC095-222115-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110522T2115Z/
CHISAGO MN-POLK WI-
345 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN POLK AND
EASTERN CHISAGO COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM CDT...

AT 342 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED MULTIPLE FUNNEL 
CLOUDS NORTH OF LINDSTROM MOVING NORTH NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS 
DANGEROUS STORM WHICH WILL IMPACT AREAS NORTH AND NORTHEAST OF 
LINDSTROM. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM!

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WOLF CREEK...
  SUNRISE...
  ALMELUMD...
  ST CROIX WILD RIVER STATE 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4564 9290 4564 9264 4539 9273 4539 9298
TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 203DEG 23KT 4549 9281

$$
500 
WWUS53 KMPX 222058
SVSMPX

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

MNC025-WIC095-222115-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110522T2115Z/
CHISAGO MN-POLK WI-
358 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN POLK AND
EASTERN CHISAGO COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM CDT...

AT 345 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS OBSERVED MULTIPLE FUNNEL 
CLOUDS NEAR AND NORTH OF LINDSTROM. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 
SOUTHWEST OF WOLF CREEK...OR 9 MILES EAST OF NORTH BRANCH...MOVING 
NORTH AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WOLF CREEK...
  SUNRISE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 4564 9290 4564 9264 4539 9273 4539 9298
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 198DEG 30KT 4553 9279

$$
285 
WWUS53 KMPX 222111
SVSMPX

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

MNC025-WIC095-222126-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110522T2115Z/
CHISAGO MN-POLK WI-
411 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN POLK AND EASTERN CHISAGO
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 415 PM CDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED
AREA.

ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM. 

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN THE TWIN CITIES.

LAT...LON 4564 9290 4564 9264 4539 9273 4539 9298
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 198DEG 30KT 4566 9273

$$

JLT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 10:57 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXPierce48 min
May 22, 11:28 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXDunn, Pierce, Saint Croix47 min
May 22, 12:05 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBarron, Dunn, Polk, Saint Croix40 min
May 22, 12:58 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBarron, Chippewa, Rusk47 min
May 22, 1:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Rusk44 min
May 22, 2:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDunn, Pierce, Saint Croix49 min
May 22, 2:55 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXDunn, Pierce, Saint Croix35 min
May 22, 3:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDunn38 min
May 22, 3:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXChippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin46 min
May 22, 4:16 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRusk29 min
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, 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, 2:10 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXAnoka, Hennepin, Ramsey35 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

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Wisconsin, 2011Tornado 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.