Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 19, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 8, 2020Grant County, Otter Tail County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jul 8, 2020, 4:43 AM CDT for Grant County, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. It was in force for 47 min. 9 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 8, 2020, 4:43 AM CDT (09:43 UTC)
Expired
Jul 8, 2020, 5:30 AM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Grant County, MN, Otter Tail County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 182 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:42 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 8, 5:00 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGOttertail, MNRELAYED BY BROADCAST MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED. REPORT OF CLOSE TO TEN CAMPERS FLIPPED OVER AT LAKESIDE RV PARK. PICTURE SHARED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. NO INJURIES REPORTED AT THIS TIME.
Jul 8, 5:04 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Wsw Vining, MNNUMEROUS LARGE OAK BRANCHES BROKEN DOWN.
Jul 8, 5:10 AM CDTTORNADO 23 Sw Henning, MNA TORNADO WRAPPED IN HEAVY RAIN AND DOWNBURST WINDS TRACKED TO THE ENE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES,ENDING ABOUT 1 SSE OF HENNING BY 515 AM CDT. IT SNAPPED MULTIPLE POWER POLES AT THREE POINTS ALONG ITS PATH. IT ALSO TOSSED CALVING SHEDS AND FLIPPED AN IRIGATION SYSTEM,
Jul 8, 5:15 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 E Henning, MNTREES BLOWN DOWN, AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM FLIPPED, CALF SHEDS TOSSED. STRONG WINDS FROM 510 THROUGH 520 AM CDT. REPORTS AND PHOTOS POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
Jul 8, 5:15 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 E Henning, MNTREES BLOWN DOWN, AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM FLIPPED, CALF SHEDS TOSSED. STRONG WINDS FROM 510 THROUGH 520 AM CDT. REPORTS AND PHOTOS POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
Jul 8, 5:30 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 601 N New York Mills, MNPEAK WINDS MEASURED AT A PERSONAL WEATHER STATION. STRONG AND PERSISTENT WINDS WITH TREES LAYING SIDEWAYS. MULTIPLE GUSTS TO 60 MPH FROM 530 THROUGH 535 AM CDT.
Jul 8, 5:30 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 601 N New York Mills, MNPEAK WINDS MEASURED AT A PERSONAL WEATHER STATION. STRONG AND PERSISTENT WINDS WITH TREES LAYING SIDEWAYS. MULTIPLE GUSTS TO 60 MPH FROM 530 THROUGH 535 AM CDT.
Jul 8, 5:34 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 601 N New York Mills, MNPEAK WINDS MEASURED AT A PERSONAL WEATHER STATION. STRONG AND PERSISTENT WINDS WITH TREES LAYING SIDEWAYS.
Jul 8, 5:34 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 601 N New York Mills, MNPEAK WINDS MEASURED AT A PERSONAL WEATHER STATION. STRONG AND PERSISTENT WINDS WITH TREES LAYING SIDEWAYS.

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 7, 11:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 232 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 00:00Z on 2020-07-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1166 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 00:00Z on 2020-07-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 23 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
1166 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1464 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
51 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

413 
WFUS53 KFGF 080943
TORFGF
MNC051-111-081030-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0019.200708T0943Z-200708T1030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
443 AM CDT Wed Jul 8 2020

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Otter Tail County in west central Minnesota...
  North central Grant County in west central Minnesota...

* Until 530 AM CDT.
    
* At 442 AM CDT, a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing 
  a tornado was located near Phelps, or 12 miles northeast of Fergus 
  Falls, moving east at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Phelps and Star Lake around 445 AM CDT.
  Amor, Ottertail Lake and Battle Lake around 450 AM CDT.
  Glendalough State Park and Richville around 455 AM CDT.
  Ottertail around 500 AM CDT.
  Henning around 505 AM CDT.

This includes Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 57 and
71.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4610 9615 4655 9600 4669 9517 4611 9515
TIME...MOT...LOC 0942Z 265DEG 48KT 4641 9589 

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

$$

Knutsvig
1 follow-up statement
882 
WWUS53 KFGF 080955
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
455 AM CDT Wed Jul 8 2020

MNC051-081004-
/O.CAN.KFGF.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-200708T1030Z/
Grant MN-
455 AM CDT Wed Jul 8 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL GRANT 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 600 AM CDT for
west central Minnesota.

LAT...LON 4655 9583 4669 9517 4611 9515 4611 9602
TIME...MOT...LOC 0954Z 265DEG 48KT 4642 9564 

$$

MNC111-081030-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-200708T1030Z/
Otter Tail MN-
455 AM CDT Wed Jul 8 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 AM CDT FOR EASTERN
OTTER TAIL COUNTY...
    
At 454 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over northeastern Ottertail Lake, or 22 miles northeast
of Fergus Falls, moving east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...TORNADO.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Henning around 505 AM CDT.
  Deer Creek and New York Mills around 510 AM CDT.
  Bluffton around 515 AM CDT.

This includes Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 64 and
70.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4655 9583 4669 9517 4611 9515 4611 9602
TIME...MOT...LOC 0954Z 265DEG 48KT 4642 9564 

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

$$

Knutsvig

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 8, 1:42 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFWilkin63 min
Jul 8, 2:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFClay, Wilkin63 min
Jul 8, 2:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFClay, Norman, Polk57 min
Jul 8, 2:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Marshall, Polk53 min
Jul 8, 3:10 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFClay50 min
Jul 8, 3:17 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFClay58 min
Jul 8, 3:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFClay, Wilkin38 min
Jul 8, 3:36 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGFClay8 hr
Jul 8, 3:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFGrant, Otter Tail, Wilkin62 min
Jul 8, 4:14 AM CDTTornado WarningFGFOtter Tail, Wilkin31 min
Jul 8, 5:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFGrant, Otter Tail, Wilkin60 min
Jul 8, 5:20 AM CDTTornado WarningFGFBecker, Hubbard, Otter Tail, Wadena40 min
Jul 8, 5:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Hubbard, Otter Tail, Wadena27 min
Jul 8, 6:19 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFWadena56 min
Jul 8, 10:42 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningFGFClay4 days
Jul 8, 5:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFOtter Tail45 min
Jul 8, 5:08 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFGrant, Otter Tail52 min
Jul 8, 5:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFOtter Tail60 min
Jul 8, 6:05 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFOtter Tail25 min
Jul 8, 6:33 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFOtter Tail27 min
Jul 8, 6:35 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedFGFOtter Tail, Wadena25 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2020Every tornado warning in 2020Tornadoes in 2020

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.