Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Duluth, MN

July 4, 2012Cass County, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

NWS Duluth, MN issued this tornado warning at Jul 4, 2012, 10:14 PM CDT for Cass County, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It was in force for 34 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: Jul 4, 2012, 10:14 PM CDT (03:14 UTC)
Expired: Jul 4, 2012, 10:48 PM CDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Duluth, MN
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Cass County, MN, Crow Wing County, MN

The radar

The Duluth radar (KDLH), 176 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:16 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 4, 10:38 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 58	2 Ne Brainerd, MN	ALSO RECEIVED PEA SIZE HAIL

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jul 4, 7:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr
Jul 4, 8:59 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 183 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2542 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -39 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1972 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 95 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 5.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

091 
WFUS53 KDLH 050314
TORDLH
MNC021-035-050400-
/O.NEW.KDLH.TO.W.0007.120705T0314Z-120705T0400Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1014 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH MN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL CROW WING COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL CASS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 1100 PM CDT

* AT 1011 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CASINO...OR
  18 MILES WEST OF BRAINERD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  PILLAGER...SYLVAN...LAKE SHORE...EAST GULL LAKE...GULL LAKE...
  NISSWA...BAXTER...LAKE HUBERT...NORTH LONG LAKE...EDWARD LAKE...
  WOODROW...MERRIFIELD AND LEGIONVILLE

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1.5 
INCH HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

&&

LAT...LON 4651 9462 4657 9404 4631 9407 4630 9437
      4632 9442 4630 9455 4634 9465
TIME...MOT...LOC 0314Z 270DEG 17KT 4645 9452

$$

SENGENBERGER

2 follow-up statements

189 
WWUS53 KDLH 050332 RRA
SVSDLH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1032 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2012

MNC021-035-050400-
/O.CON.KDLH.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120705T0400Z/
CROW WING MN-CASS MN-
1032 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL CASS
AND CENTRAL CROW WING COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM CDT...

AT 1030 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR EAST GULL LAKE...OR 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF
BRAINERD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF FUNNELS WITH THESE STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BRAINERD...BAXTER AND WOODROW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 4632 9442 4637 9441 4643 9431 4646 9405
      4631 9407 4630 9437
TIME...MOT...LOC 0332Z 270DEG 17KT 4645 9440

$$

SENGENBERGER

901 
WWUS53 KDLH 050348
SVSDLH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1048 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2012

MNC021-035-050358-
/O.CAN.KDLH.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120705T0400Z/
CROW WING MN-CASS MN-
1048 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL CASS AND CENTRAL
CROW WING COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND MOVED OUT OF
THE WARNED AREA.  HOWEVER SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL
POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

IN ADDITION...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 0300AM CDT.

LAT...LON 4632 9442 4637 9441 4643 9431 4646 9405
      4631 9407 4630 9437
TIME...MOT...LOC 0348Z 270DEG 17KT 4645 9429

$$

SENGENBERGER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 4, 7:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DLH	Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, Pine and 1 more	45 min
Jul 4, 7:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DLH	Aitkin, Carlton, Crow Wing, Pine	52 min
Jul 4, 8:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DLH	Aitkin, Carlton, Pine	47 min
Jul 4, 9:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DLH	Cass, Crow Wing	43 min
Jul 4, 9:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DLH	Cook	21 min
Jul 4, 9:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DLH	Cass	52 min
Jul 4, 9:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DLH	Aitkin	43 min
Jul 4, 9:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DLH	Pine	40 min
Jul 4, 9:53 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DLH	Koochiching	52 min
Jul 4, 9:53 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DLH	Cass, Crow Wing	22 min
Jul 4, 9:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DLH	Aitkin, Crow Wing	51 min
Jul 4, 10:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DLH	Aitkin, Crow Wing	36 min
Jul 4, 10:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DLH	Cass, Crow Wing	23 min
Jul 4, 10:37 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	DLH	Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Pine	5 hr
Jul 4, 10:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DLH	Aitkin, Carlton	45 min
Jul 4, 11:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DLH	Pine	58 min
Jul 5, 12:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DLH	Cook	36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2012 Every tornado warning in 2012 Tornadoes in 2012

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.