Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 19, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

May 4, 2012Jackson County, Minnesota

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at May 4, 2012, 2:24 PM CDT for Jackson County, Minnesota. It was in force for 36 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 4, 2012, 2:24 PM CDT (19:24 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2012, 3:00 PM CDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Jackson County, MN

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 123 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:25 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 4, 2:40 PM CDTTORNADO7 Sw Lakefield, MN
May 4, 2:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 W Lakefield, MNROOF RIPPED OFF AN OPEN FACED HOG BARN.
May 4, 2:49 PM CDTTORNADO2 S Lakefield, MNTORNADO TOUCHDOWN 2 MILES SOUTH OF LAKEFIELD MN.
May 4, 3:05 PM CDTTORNADO5 Se Lakefield, MNBRIEF TOUCHDOWN

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 4, 2:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 191 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 2012-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2012-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -52 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1101 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-52 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
15 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

800 
WFUS53 KFSD 041924
TORFSD
MNC063-042000-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0019.120504T1924Z-120504T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
224 PM CDT FRI MAY 4 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 300 PM CDT

* AT 223 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO. THIS TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES EAST OF
  WORTHINGTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* THIS TORNADIC STORM WILL AFFECT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF 
  SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN THE VICINITY OF INTERSTATE 90.

LARGE HAIL TO GOLF BALL SIZE AND 60 MPH WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH 
THIS STORM.

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 4350 9503 4350 9546 4367 9545 4368 9502
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 274DEG 28KT 4362 9546

$$

SCHUMACHER
3 follow-up statements
476 
WWUS53 KFSD 041937
SVSFSD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
237 PM CDT FRI MAY 4 2012

MNC063-042000-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-120504T2000Z/
JACKSON MN-
237 PM CDT FRI MAY 4 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON
COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 237 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A CONFIRMED TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES
NORTHEAST OF ROUND LAKE...OR 13 MILES EAST OF WORTHINGTON...MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH.

AT 228 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE NOBLES AND 
JACKSON COUNTY LINE...5 MILES NORTH OF ROUND LAKE.

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.

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 4350 9503 4350 9546 4367 9545 4368 9502
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 274DEG 28KT 4361 9531

$$

SCHUMACHER
947 
WWUS53 KFSD 041945
SVSFSD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
245 PM CDT FRI MAY 4 2012

MNC063-042000-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-120504T2000Z/
JACKSON MN-
245 PM CDT FRI MAY 4 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN JACKSON COUNTY
UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 245 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A CONFIRMED TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES WEST
OF LAKEFIELD...OR 15 MILES WEST OF JACKSON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

AT 240 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES WEST OF 
LAKEFIELD NEAR INTERESTATE 90. 

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.

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 4350 9503 4350 9538 4367 9541 4368 9502
TIME...MOT...LOC 1945Z 269DEG 20KT 4364 9528

$$

SCHUMACHER
508 
WWUS53 KFSD 041952
SVSFSD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
252 PM CDT FRI MAY 4 2012

MNC063-042000-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-120504T2000Z/
JACKSON MN-
252 PM CDT FRI MAY 4 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN JACKSON COUNTY
UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 251 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A CONFIRMED TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
LAKEFIELD...OR 11 MILES WEST OF JACKSON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

AT 250 PM...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF 
INTERSTATE 90 AND JUST WEST OF THE LAKEFIELD EXIT NEAR HIGHWAY 86. 
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED DEBRIS WITH THE TORNADO. 

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.

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 4350 9503 4350 9538 4367 9541 4368 9502
TIME...MOT...LOC 1951Z 263DEG 25KT 4363 9518

$$

SCHUMACHER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 1:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDMurray, Nobles47 min
May 4, 2:06 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDJackson, Nobles24 min
May 4, 2:18 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDJackson, Nobles27 min
May 4, 2:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDCottonwood, Jackson32 min
May 4, 2:58 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDJackson32 min
May 4, 3:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDJackson24 min
May 4, 3:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDJackson37 min
May 4, 3:48 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFSDJackson, Nobles5 hr

Nearby

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