Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 45, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 12, 20154 counties in Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jul 12, 2015, 5:18 PM CDT for 4 counties in Minnesota. It was in force for 42 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 12, 2015, 5:18 PM CDT (22:18 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 2015, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.75 in

Counties Becker County, MN, Otter Tail County, MN, Wadena County, MN, Wilkin County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 163 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:20 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 12, 3:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 250 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 2015-07-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1730 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 2015-07-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 21 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
1730 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-145 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
756 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
60 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

460 
WFUS53 KFGF 122218
TORFGF
MNC005-111-159-167-122300-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0045.150712T2218Z-150712T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
518 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL WILKIN COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  WEST CENTRAL WADENA COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  NORTHERN OTTER TAIL COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  SOUTHEASTERN BECKER COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 517 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR EDWARDS...OR 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF FERGUS
  FALLS...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

  HAZARD...TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

  SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD. 

  IMPACT...EXPECT DAMAGE TO MOBILE HOMES...ROOFS AND VEHICLES. 

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  SOUTHERN MAPLEWOOD STATE PARK AROUND 520 PM CDT.
  PHELPS AROUND 525 PM CDT.
  STAR LAKE...OTTERTAIL LAKE AND AMOR AROUND 530 PM CDT.
  DENT AND RICHVILLE AROUND 535 PM CDT.
  OTTERTAIL AROUND 540 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
THEY WILL SEND YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
GRAND FORKS.

IF ON OR NEAR STAR LAKE...GET AWAY FROM THE WATER AND MOVE TO SAFE 
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH 
TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE LARGE 
CAPSIZING WAVES...EVEN ON SMALL BODIES OF WATER. MOVE INTO DOCK AND 
SEEK SAFE SHELTER NOW. DO NOT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A 
THUNDERSTORM.

&&

LAT...LON 4624 9622 4651 9636 4684 9542 4651 9494
TIME...MOT...LOC 2217Z 248DEG 52KT 4637 9599 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

SPEICHER
2 follow-up statements
405 
WWUS53 KFGF 122232 RRA
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
532 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2015

MNC167-122239-
/O.CAN.KFGF.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-150712T2300Z/
WILKIN MN-
532 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2015

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL WILKIN COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT 
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

LAT...LON 4624 9622 4648 9628 4678 9534 4669 9520
      4651 9494
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 250DEG 59KT 4639 9572 

$$

MNC005-111-159-122300-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-150712T2300Z/
WADENA MN-OTTER TAIL MN-BECKER MN-
532 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL WADENA...CENTRAL OTTER TAIL AND SOUTHERN BECKER COUNTIES...
    
AT 529 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER WESTERN
OTTERTAIL LAKE...OR 18 MILES NORTHEAST OF FERGUS FALLS...MOVING EAST 
AT 25 MPH. THERE IS A SECOND STORM PRODUCING A TORNADO HEADED 
TOWARD FERGUS FALLS. THIS TORNADO IS ABOUT TO IMPACT OTTER TAIL LAKE.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...EXPECT DAMAGE TO MOBILE HOMES...ROOFS AND VEHICLES. 

THIS TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
   OTTER TAIL LAKE IMMEDIATELY.
   OTTERTAIL AND RICHVILLE AROUND 535 PM CDT.  
   NEW YORK MILLS AROUND 545 PM CDT.  
   BLUFFTON AROUND 550 PM CDT. 
   BLUE GRASS AROUND 600 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

IF ON OR NEAR OTTER TAIL LAKE...GET AWAY FROM THE WATER AND MOVE TO 
SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE 
ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE 
LARGE CAPSIZING WAVES...EVEN ON SMALL BODIES OF WATER. MOVE INTO 
DOCK AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER NOW. DO NOT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A 
THUNDERSTORM.

&&

LAT...LON 4624 9622 4648 9628 4678 9534 4669 9520
      4651 9494
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 250DEG 59KT 4639 9572 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

SPEICHER
849 
WWUS53 KFGF 122243
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
543 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2015

MNC005-111-159-122300-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-150712T2300Z/
WADENA MN-OTTER TAIL MN-BECKER MN-
543 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL WADENA...NORTHEASTERN OTTER TAIL AND SOUTHERN BECKER
COUNTIES...
    
AT 541 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER OTTERTAIL LAKE
         MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS EPORTED MULITPLE FUNNELS WITH THIS STORM. 

IMPACT...EXPECT DAMAGE TO MOBILE HOMES...ROOFS AND VEHICLES. 

THIS TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  NEW YORK MILLS AROUND 555 PM CDT.
  BLUFFTON AROUND 600 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

IF ON OR NEAR OTTER TAIL LAKE...GET AWAY FROM THE WATER AND
MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE
CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN
PRODUCE LARGE CAPSIZING WAVES...EVEN ON SMALL BODIES OF WATER. MOVE
INTO DOCK AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER NOW. DO NOT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN
A THUNDERSTORM.

&&

LAT...LON 4632 9583 4649 9587 4677 9538 4678 9534
      4669 9520 4651 9494
TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 257DEG 43KT 4640 9557 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$
SPEICHER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 4:50 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall, Pennington, Polk55 min
Jul 12, 6:25 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFRoseau65 min
Jul 12, 6:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFLake of the Woods42 min
Jul 12, 7:21 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFBeltrami54 min
Jul 12, 7:28 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFLake of the Woods32 min
Jul 12, 8:23 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFBeltrami67 min
Jul 12, 3:53 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFClay, Otter Tail, Wilkin52 min
Jul 12, 4:03 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFPolk42 min
Jul 12, 4:21 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBecker, Clay, Otter Tail, Wilkin39 min
Jul 12, 4:36 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFOtter Tail, Wilkin39 min
Jul 12, 4:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Marshall59 min
Jul 12, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall, Polk43 min
Jul 12, 5:04 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFKittson, Marshall41 min
Jul 12, 5:07 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFGrant, Otter Tail, Wilkin38 min
Jul 12, 5:37 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedFGFGrant, Otter Tail, Wilkin38 min
Jul 12, 5:40 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGFMarshall12 hr
Jul 12, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Marshall, Pennington, Roseau62 min
Jul 12, 5:49 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFOtter Tail, Wadena41 min
Jul 12, 6:08 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGFOtter Tail12 hr
Jul 12, 6:15 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFGrant, Otter Tail45 min
Jul 12, 6:23 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFClay, Wilkin52 min
Jul 12, 6:25 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFOtter Tail, Wadena50 min
Jul 12, 6:56 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFGrant49 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2015Every tornado warning in 2015Tornadoes in 2015

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.