Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 9, 2019Otter Tail County, Wilkin County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jul 9, 2019, 6:12 PM CDT for Otter Tail County, Wilkin County, Minnesota. It was in force for 48 min. 3 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 9, 2019, 6:12 PM CDT (23:12 UTC)
Expired: Jul 9, 2019, 7:00 PM CDT
In force: 48 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Otter Tail County, MN, Wilkin County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 148 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:12 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 9, 6:20 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	11 Ne Breckenridge, MN	THE TORNADO IS THE THIRD TORNADO FORMED IN A CYCLIC SERIES. IT TRACKED FOR ABOUT A MILE TO ABOUT 8SW ROTHSAY BY 623 PM CDT. AT ONE POINT IT SNAPPED SEVERAL ASH TREES IN A FIELD SHELTERBELT. PEAK WINDS ESTIMATED TO 105 MPH WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 150 YARDS.
Jul 9, 6:45 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	2 Wsw Erhard, MN	THIS TORNADO TRACKED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ROUGHLY 2 MILES, ENDING IN CENTRAL ERHARD, BY ABOUT 651 PM CDT. THE TORNADO BROKE DOWN NUMEROUS LARGE TREE BRANCHES AND LIMBS IN SHELTER BELTS AND TREE CLAIMS ALONG ITS PATH. AN ASSORTMENT OF ASH AND ELM TREES WERE SNAPP
Jul 9, 6:48 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	2 N Carlisle, MN	REPORT WITH PHOTO SENT. WALL CLOUD WITH WEAK AND BRIEF DIFFUSE FUNNEL.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 8 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Aberdeen, SD (KABR), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 227 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: 5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -80 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 923 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 214 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 231 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

280 
WFUS53 KFGF 092312
TORFGF
MNC111-167-100000-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0011.190709T2312Z-190710T0000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
612 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  West central Otter Tail County in west central Minnesota...
  Northeastern Wilkin County in west central Minnesota...

* Until 700 PM CDT.
    
* At 612 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Everdell, or 7 miles northeast of Wahpeton, moving
  northeast at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles.

* Locations impacted include...
  Rothsay, Elizabeth and Carlisle. 

This includes Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 35 and
51.
 
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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4626 9651 4641 9661 4658 9619 4634 9604
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 245DEG 19KT 4634 9649 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

Lee

2 follow-up statements

181 
WWUS53 KFGF 092327
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
627 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

MNC111-167-100000-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-190710T0000Z/
Otter Tail MN-Wilkin MN-
627 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL OTTER TAIL AND EAST CENTRAL WILKIN COUNTIES...
    
At 627 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Everdell, or 11 miles northeast of Wahpeton, moving
northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...TORNADO.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Expect damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles.

Locations impacted include...
Rothsay, Elizabeth and Carlisle. 

This includes Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 36 and
51.
 
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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4630 9641 4641 9650 4658 9619 4634 9604
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 246DEG 18KT 4636 9640 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

Lee

644 
WWUS53 KFGF 092356
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
656 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

MNC111-167-100006-
/O.EXP.KFGF.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-190710T0000Z/
Otter Tail MN-Wilkin MN-
656 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL OTTER TAIL AND EAST CENTRAL
WILKIN COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 700 PM CDT...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Grand Forks.

LAT...LON 4630 9641 4641 9650 4658 9619 4634 9604
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 245DEG 19KT 4642 9620 

$$

Lee

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jul 9, 3:07 PM CDT, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 9, 3:07 PM CDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
307 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 307 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

Area of showers will continue to move northward through the
region. Most areas have received 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain from
this recent period of rain. Not much if any lightning with this
activity.

The southern parts of the region are drying, with satellite
showing a few breaks in the clouds. This brings up the next
concern of storms across the southern forecast area. MLCAPE
1000-1500 J/KG along a surface boundary with adequate low level
vorticity and effective shear around 30 knots. An ideal low topped
supercell environment (see mesoscale discussion issued earlier).

Tonight-Wednesday...Upper level low propagates eastward.
Anticipate deformation band rain showers to move through the
region by late tonight and into Wednesday, along with gusty
northerly winds. High pressure moves in by later in the day on
Wednesday.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 307 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

Return flow on Thursday will bring warmer temperatures and
increasing moisture again as surface high pressure retreats over
Wisconsin. Expect breezy conditions as the pressure gradient begins
to tighten up. Otherwise...some shower and storm activity will
trigger ahead of the system. Behind the system...winds will become
more northerly but only expecting slight cooling.

Friday through Sunday will see a more progressive pattern as the
mean jet position lays along the international border. A series of
impulses will traverse the flow and bring additional chances for
light precipitation.

The next significant system to cross the region is forecast to be
late Sunday into early Monday. Temperatures will rebound to above
seasonal norms...with another batch of precipitation to accompany
it...to end the period.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon)
Issued at 100 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

Most areas within the current area of showers IFR/MVFR. Expect
some improvement once showers pass to the north, but this
improvement will be relatively short-lived (especially closer to
the International border). Winds become northwest by tomorrow
morning and gusty. Best chance for a thunderstorm will be KFAR,
although coverage will be isolated.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...None.
MN...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...TG
LONG TERM...Hopkins
AVIATION...TG

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 9, 3:41 PM CDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
341 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-101215-
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-
West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake-
East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-
West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Towner-Cavalier-
Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh County-Eddy-Nelson-
Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-
Richland-Western Walsh County-
341 PM CDT Tue Jul 9 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Isolated severe thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening
across southeast North Dakota and adjacent portions of Minnesota.
Threats include hail up to 1.5 inches and wind gusts to 60 mph. A
tornado is also possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

The next main chances of thunderstorms will occur Thursday
evening and again next Monday. The atmosphere is such so that it
is possible strong or severe storms may occur.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

dtr/TG

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 9, 5:48 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
548 PM CDT TUE JUL 9 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0544 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 WNW FAIRMOUNT         46.07N 96.64W
07/09/2019                   Richland           ND   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jul 9, 5:51 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
551 PM CDT TUE JUL 9 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0548 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 SW HICKSON            46.66N 96.82W
07/09/2019                   Cass               ND   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL OVER THE I-29 EXIT NEAR HICKSON-OXBOW MOVING
            NORTHEAST.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jul 9, 5:53 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
553 PM CDT TUE JUL 9 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0552 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 W WAHPETON            46.27N 96.63W
07/09/2019                   Richland           ND   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONE FUNNEL CLOUD WEST SOUTHWEST OF WAHPETON AND A SECOND
            FUNNEL NORTHWEST OF WAHPETON.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jul 9, 5:55 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
555 PM CDT TUE JUL 9 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0554 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     BRECKENRIDGE            46.26N 96.59W
07/09/2019                   WILKIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FUNNEL CLOUD NEARLY OVERHEAD.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jul 9, 6:02 PM CDT, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
602 PM CDT TUE JUL 9 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0605 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 S HAMAR               47.76N 98.57W
07/08/2019                   Eddy               ND   PUBLIC

            LARGE BRANCHES AND LIMBS WERE BROKEN DOWN IN FARMSTEADS
            AND TREE CLAIMS THROUGH CENTRAL COLVIN TOWNSHIP.

0558 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 N OXBOW               46.91N 96.80W
07/09/2019                   Cass               ND   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jul 9, 6:08 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
608 PM CDT TUE JUL 9 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0603 PM     TORNADO          3 N BRECKENRIDGE        46.31N 96.59W
07/09/2019                   Wilkin             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ROPING OUT NNE OF WAHPETON OR NORTH OF
            BRECKENRIDGE.

&&

GGUST

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 8, 7:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake	53 min
Jul 8, 7:11 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	FGF	Kittson	4 hr
Jul 8, 7:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Clay, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake	54 min
Jul 8, 8:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Becker, Clay, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk	62 min
Jul 8, 8:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Clearwater, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake	46 min
Jul 8, 9:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami, Clearwater, Polk	55 min
Jul 8, 9:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Becker, Clay, Norman, Otter Tail, Wilkin	62 min
Jul 8, 9:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Becker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen	46 min
Jul 8, 10:01 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	FGF	Clay	3 hr
Jul 8, 10:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami, Clearwater	50 min
Jul 8, 10:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Becker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen	54 min
Jul 8, 10:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, Wilkin	63 min
Jul 8, 11:05 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	FGF	Clay	5 hr
Jul 8, 11:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Beltrami	45 min
Jul 8, 11:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Hubbard	63 min
Jul 8, 11:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Becker, Grant, Otter Tail, Wadena, Wilkin	62 min
Jul 8, 11:53 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	FGF	Becker, Clay	4 hr
Jul 9, 12:44 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Wadena	31 min
Jul 9, 1:14 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Hubbard, Wadena	16 min
Jul 9, 9:37 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	FGF	Clay	10 days
Jul 9, 9:37 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	FGF	Clay	8 days
Jul 9, 5:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Clay	23 min
Jul 9, 5:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Wilkin	50 min
Jul 9, 5:44 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Clay, Wilkin	46 min
Jul 9, 5:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Wilkin	44 min
Jul 9, 6:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Becker, Clay	23 min
Jul 9, 6:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Becker, Clay	30 min
Jul 9, 6:49 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	FGF	Clay	2 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2019 Every tornado warning in 2019 Tornadoes in 2019

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.