Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2016

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 11, 2016Meeker County, Stearns County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at Jul 11, 2016, 5:56 PM CDT for Meeker County, Stearns County, Minnesota. It was in force for 34 min. 2 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
Jul 11, 2016, 5:56 PM CDT (22:56 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 2016, 6:30 PM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Meeker County, MN, Stearns County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:56 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
Jul 11, 6:05 PM CDTTORNADO3 N Watkins, MNTORNADO CAUGHT ON VIDEO. TORNADO WAS ON GROUND FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES.
Jul 11, 6:16 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDRockville, MNFUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED NEAR ROCKVILLE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

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
Jul 11, 3:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr
Jul 11, 5:31 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 81 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 2016-07-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1818 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 2016-07-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 226 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
1818 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-153 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
882 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
226 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
235 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

822 
WFUS53 KMPX 112256
TORMPX
MNC093-145-112330-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0032.160711T2256Z-160711T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
556 PM CDT MON JUL 11 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN STEARNS COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
  NORTH CENTRAL MEEKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

* AT 555 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO
  WAS LOCATED OVER WATKINS...OR 21 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST. CLOUD...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

  THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW! 

  HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

  SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

  IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS 
           MAY BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE 
           HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES...
           BUSINESSES...AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE 
           DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. 

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  KIMBALL AROUND 605 PM CDT. 
  ROCKVILLE AROUND 620 PM CDT. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE ST
NICHOLAS AND LUXEMBURG.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW!
MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A MOBILE
HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 4525 9435 4532 9451 4551 9436 4543 9418
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 210DEG 25KT 4531 9442 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.00IN

$$
2 follow-up statements
305 
WWUS53 KMPX 112305
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
605 PM CDT MON JUL 11 2016

MNC093-112314-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-160711T2330Z/
MEEKER MN-
605 PM CDT MON JUL 11 2016

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
MINNESOTA.

LAT...LON 4533 9431 4537 9447 4551 9436 4543 9418
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 208DEG 25KT 4537 9438 

$$

MNC145-112330-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-160711T2330Z/
STEARNS MN-
605 PM CDT MON JUL 11 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN STEARNS COUNTY...
    
AT 604 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR ST NICHOLAS...OR 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST.
CLOUD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY
         BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES
         WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES...
         BUSINESSES...AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE
         DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. 

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ROCKVILLE AROUND 620 PM CDT. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE ST
NICHOLAS AND LUXEMBURG.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW!
MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A MOBILE
HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 4533 9431 4537 9447 4551 9436 4543 9418
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 208DEG 25KT 4537 9438 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.00IN

$$
341 
WWUS53 KMPX 112314
SVSMPX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
614 PM CDT MON JUL 11 2016

MNC145-112330-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-160711T2330Z/
STEARNS MN-
614 PM CDT MON JUL 11 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN STEARNS COUNTY...
    
AT 614 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER ROCKVILLE...OR
11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST. CLOUD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS...AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE
         IS LIKELY. 

THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
SOUTHEASTERN STEARNS COUNTY...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
LUXEMBURG.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4535 9429 4541 9444 4551 9436 4543 9418
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 210DEG 25KT 4543 9433 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 11, 2:31 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXDouglas, Todd74 min
Jul 11, 3:01 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXPope, Stevens44 min
Jul 11, 3:29 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMorrison, Pope, Stearns, Todd61 min
Jul 11, 4:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison40 min
Jul 11, 4:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison51 min
Jul 11, 6:50 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXChippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, Yellow Medicine85 min
Jul 11, 7:37 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningMPXChippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift113 min
Jul 11, 9:22 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningMPXChippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift6 hr
Jul 11, 9:35 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXKandiyohi, Morrison, Redwood, Renville, Stearns, Todd55 min
Jul 11, 10:04 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBenton, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs71 min
Jul 11, 11:21 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBenton, Stearns24 min
Jul 11, 11:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Sherburne, Stearns29 min
Jul 11, 12:41 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMorrison49 min
Jul 11, 1:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Mille Lacs, Morrison37 min
Jul 11, 1:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd38 min
Jul 11, 1:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs34 min
Jul 11, 2:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec35 min
Jul 11, 3:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd35 min
Jul 11, 3:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXIsanti, Sherburne33 min
Jul 11, 4:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXIsanti47 min
Jul 11, 5:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChisago, Isanti42 min
Jul 11, 5:13 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXMeeker32 min
Jul 11, 5:40 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedMPXMeeker, Stearns35 min
Jul 11, 6:02 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXMorrison, Stearns28 min
Jul 11, 6:09 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXMorrison17 min
Jul 11, 6:19 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXBenton, Stearns26 min
Jul 11, 6:43 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedMPXBenton, Stearns32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2016Every tornado warning in 2016Tornadoes in 2016

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.